Featured snippets are one of the most important aspects of SEO today. They can increase your website’s visibility and help you to rank higher in search engine results pages. But what are they, and how can you make sure that your website appears as one? In this article, we’ll answer all of your questions about them and explain how you can use them to improve your SEO.
What are featured snippets?
These are short pieces of text that appear at the top of search engine results pages (SERPs). They are designed to give users a quick answer to their query, without having to click through to a website. Google pulls the featured snippet from the web page that it believes best answers the user’s question.
They can take one of three different forms:
- A paragraph of text
- A list
- An image
How do featured snippets work?
When a user types a question into Google, the search engine tries to understand the user’s intent. It then looks through its index of web pages to find the best answer to the query. The snippet is taken from the web page that Google believes best answers the query.
Google also considers other factors when choosing which web page to feature in the snippets, such as the page’s title and metatags.
What are the benefits of appearing in featured snippets?
There are a number of benefits to appearing in this part of the query, including:
1. Increased visibility.
These are one of the first things that users see when they perform a search. This means that appearing here can help to increase the visibility of your website. For example, if you appear in the query for “how to make a cake,” then users searching for that query will see your website before they see any other results.
2. Higher click-through rates.
Featured snippets also tend to have higher click-through rates than other results on the SERP. This is because users are more likely to click on a result that they believe will give them the information they’re looking for.
Just put yourself in your user’s shoes. When you google something, you want the best and most relevant answer to show up right? That’s what they are for. They are there to give users a quick answer to their query, without having to click through to a website.
3. Improved SEO.
Appearing in this part of the query can also help to improve your website’s SEO. This is because Google considers featured snippets to be a valuable source of information for users. As a result, websites that appear in them are more likely to rank higher in search engine results pages.
Image by Photo Mix from PixabayHow can you make sure that your website appears here?
There are a number of things that you can do to make sthis happen:
1. Use keyword-rich titles and metatags.
Make sure that your website’s titles and metatags are keyword-rich. This will help Google to understand what your website is about and make it more likely to appear where you want it to.
2. Structure your content using lists and headers.
Featured snippets are often pulled from content that is structured using lists or headers. So, if you want your website to appear there and reap the benefits, make sure to structure your content using lists or headers.
3. Optimize your website for voice search.
Another thing to keep in mind is that this feature is often pulled from websites that have been optimized for voice search. Voice search is one of the most common ways people search for things online, especially if they own a home assistant.
To optimize your site for voice search, you can use keyword-rich titles and metatags, as well as structured content.
4. Target long-tail keywords.
Long-tail keywords are more likely to be featured in snippets than short-tail keywords. These types of keywords are usually more specific and less competitive. As a result, they’re easier to rank for and more likely to appear where you want them to.
Keep your specific industry in mind and try to target long-tail keywords that are relevant to your business.
5. Monitor your website’s performance.
Use Google Search Console to monitor your website’s performance. This tool will show you which queries your website is appearing in. It will also give you insights into how well your website is performing in general. This way, you can make sure you’re being featured and change your tactic if you’re not.
Image by Pexels from PixabayWhat Kind of Results Can You Expect?
This handy little feature can provide your website with a significant boost in traffic. In some cases, websites see their traffic increase by over 100%.
As well as that, they can help you build your brand voice and authority. If you’re being featured in the search query, it automatically makes potential customers think you have something high-quality to offer.
Let’s not forget that click-through rates are also higher than other results on the SERP. This is because users are more likely to click on a result that they believe will give them the information they’re looking for.
All of this combines to create an improved SEO strategy for your website, which can lead to even more organic traffic in the long run.
What To Do If Google Removes You From The Query?
If Google stop featuring your website, it might be an indication that there is a technical problem with your site. If you’re monitoring your performance regularly and have already optimized for voice search, then a technical issue is a likely culprit.
To get to the bottom of the issue, you’ll need to use Google Search Console to see if there are any crawl errors on your website. If you find any, fix them as soon as possible.
Conclusion
Featured snippets are an important part of SEO because they provide users with quick and relevant answers to their queries. They also help to improve your website’s SEO by increasing your click-through rate and brand authority. This can be a great advantage over your competition and with these tips, you’ll get there in no time.
Author bio
Melissa Collins is a digital business developer based in Wilmington, Delaware. Her primary focus is on digital marketing such as SEO and content marketing. She enjoys email marketing and writing for Digital Strategy One in her free time.