Glossary
What is Featured snippet?
A featured snippet is an answer extracted from a web page and shown at the top of Google's results, above the normal listings.
Updated
A featured snippet is the box at the top of some search results that answers the question directly, with the source page linked beneath. It's sometimes called "position zero".
Common formats
Paragraph answers, numbered steps, bullet lists and tables.
Earning one
- Pick a question-style query where a snippet already appears.
- Answer it plainly and completely in a short block (often 40 to 60 words), directly under a heading that states the question.
- Use the format the existing snippet uses: steps for how-tos, a table for comparisons.
- Rank on page one first: snippets are almost always drawn from pages that already rank well.
Worth knowing
Snippets can raise visibility and also reduce clicks when the answer is complete in the box. They change often, and you can't ask for one: you can only make your page the best candidate.
See also answer engine optimization.
Related
- SERPA SERP, or search engine results page, is the page a search engine shows for a query: ads, organic results, and features like snippets and answer boxes.
- Answer engine optimization (AEO)Answer engine optimization is shaping content so AI assistants and answer boxes can quote it: clear answers, solid sourcing and structure.
- Schema markupSchema markup is structured data added to a page, usually as JSON-LD, that tells search engines exactly what the page contains so it can qualify for rich results.