Overview –– A featured snippet is a search result that appears above the regular results on a Google search page. It is intended to give the searcher quick and relevant information about their query. As per a study by Getstat, featured snippets appeared on about 11% of 5.5 million SERPs. They are generated algorithmically based on a variety of factors, including the quality and relevance of the content.
Getting into featured snippets might seem difficult, but with the right strategy, you can easily get your website to rank for it. Here are some tips to help you write content that will win featured snippets:
Answer the question in the beginning
Featured snippets are a great way to provide an answer to a question that a user might have. They are designed to give users the information they're looking for as quickly and easily as possible. Because of this reason, answering questions at the start of your content increases your chances of winning featured snippets.
To do this, take some time to understand what users are looking for when they enter a particular query. What kind of information do they need? What are they hoping to achieve? Answering these questions will help you write content that is relevant and useful to users, which is essential for winning featured snippets.
Keep it short and to the point
If you want to get featured in Google's coveted "featured snippet" position, it's important to keep your content short and to the point. Google's algorithms are designed to surface the most relevant and useful information for users, so if your content is concise and relevant, you're more likely to get featured.
Of course, simply being short and to the point isn't enough to guarantee you a featured snippet. Your content also needs to be well-written and free of errors, and it should be comprehensive enough to answer the user's query.
Add relevant keywords or their synonyms
One way to make sure that your answer appears as a featured snippet is to include the relevant keywords in your response. Adding keywords or their synonyms will help Google determine that your information is the best answer for the user’s query.
Come up with comparison tables where possible
If you want to win a featured snippet, one of the best things you can do is to create a comparison table. They are a great way to provide quick, relevant answers to user questions. Tables also help to increase your chances of winning a featured snippet by giving the search engine a clear understanding of what your content is about and what kind of information it contains. They also highlight the unique features of your product or service and show how it stacks up against the competition.
Structure your content using lists
Lists are the perfect way to structure your content if you want to win a featured snippet. When you list out your information in a numbered or bulleted format, it makes it easy for Google to understand and quickly find the answer to a question.
According to SEMrush, lists and tables are two ways to get yourself into featured snippets followed by video content. To snatch a featured snippet, start by breaking down the answer to questions that your target audience is asking. Once you have a structure in mind, do some research to find the answer. Then, use that information to create a list-style article answers as headings.
Make sure that your content is well written and provides clear and concise answers to questions. If you can hook readers with an interesting headline and keep them engaged with valuable information, you’ll be on your way to winning featured snippets for your website.
Optimize your images
Images can also help you earn featured snippets. Optimize your images by including keywords in their file names and alt text. This will help search engines understand what your images are about and match them with relevant user queries.
Conclusion
Featured snippets can help you attract more traffic to your website, so it is worth taking the time to optimize your content for them. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can improve your content to rank higher in Google search results and earn a featured snippet.
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