Featured snippets, or “position zero results” are crisp, bite-sized answers to the most common search queries. These appear right on top of SERPs.

Featured snippets have emerged as a quick and easy way for users to address their search queries without clicking and entering any website. Aligning your content to some specific structural formats is the key that the best freelance content writers use to present your content as featured snippets.

In this blog, you will learn some of the best hacks on how to optimize for SERP features for your content to appear in the featured snippets section.

What Are The 4 Types of Google Featured Snippets?

Google’s Featured snippets come in an array of types. However, here are 4 of the most common snippet types that we usually come across in search engines-

1. Paragraph snippets

As the name suggests, paragraph snippets contain a few sentences of text, that address the user search query directly. This is one of the most common types of featured snippets that you will come across nowadays.

The content that appears as paragraph snippets generally addresses the following kinds of queries-

• Who?
• What?
• Where?
• When?

Paragraph snippets are often accompanied by images to make users better understand their search queries. Also, if you are seeking straightforward answers in the form of definitions, paragraph snippets are the best solution.

You must also remember that paragraph snippets are one of the most common kinds of featured snippets. Hence, if Google cannot pull content from existing websites in tabular or listicle format, it will automatically revert to producing answers in paragraph-style snippet format.

2. Listicle snippets

When you enter search queries for instructions, guides, or rankings, Google features both numbered and bulleted lists as snippets to answer them!

Usually, numbered lists appear when you are looking for rankings, or stepwise formats, or instructions. A bulleted list happens to cater to more generalized search queries and is often extracted from H2 headers present in content, or a summarized list that a writer puts at the beginning of their content.

If you want to increase the chances of appearing in Google’s featured snippets, make sure to structure your content effectively and answer the user’s question directly. Also, use clear headings and subheadings to organize your content, and include engaging information that’s easy to comprehend.

3. Tabular snippets

Supposedly, if you are searching for information like “top 10 most populous countries”, or things that require a comparison or presentation of data, Google will display tabular snippets with relevant data.

One thing that you need to remember is that the type of content that appears in this format typically addresses complex questions. Tabular snippets are for complex questions that require more than just a straightforward answer. Things like “pros and cons of different kinds of investments”, or the “best restaurants to try out in New York” involves offering different perspectives and expert opinions.

Hence, if your content is well-structured and informative and aligns with users’ search queries, it may appear in a tabular snippet even if you didn’t include a table in your content!

4. Video snippets

Simply speaking, video snippets are answers that Google displays in search results when it assumes that a video is the most relevant answer to a user’s search query.

If you were searching for information that requires a particular demonstration, or visual explanation, like DIY methods to make a pen-stand,” or “best tutorials to lay a wood flooring,” the search engine might display a video snippet from a website or a YouTube channel that offers the information in a step-wise format.

A visual format is much more helpful than writer explanations, as a user can witness the procedure in action, and replicate it themselves simultaneously for better results!
Optimizing your video content, like titles and descriptions, is crucial to increasing your chances of appearing in video snippets effectively. This also helps drive more organic traffic to your website!

If you hire freelance content writers for your website, make sure to instruct them about optimizing content for featured snippet sections for better user engagement.

Tips and Tricks To Optimize Content For Featured Snippets

Let’s cut to the chase and look at some of the best hacks on how to optimize for featured snippets to rank on Google-

1. Maintain A Proper Structure

Users look for quick and informative answers in the featured snippet section. So, you must structure your content effectively to make it convenient for the search engine, as well as the users to find what they’re looking for. Utilize clear title heads, and sub-heads, and pay special attention to key elements.

2. Keyword Optimization

Optimizing the content with relevant keywords is another way to get featured in the Featured Snippets section! But, remember to avoid keyword stuffing, and make use of natural language that users would find to be valuable. This is one of the best ways to optimize for featured snippets.

3. Address The Essential Queries

Professional blog content writing services always make sure that the essential or common user queries are addressed in their content. Providing answers to the common inquiries “who, what, where, how” etc. increases the chances of your content getting updated in the featured snippets.

4. Don’t Forget About Formats

Website content writing services make use of certain formats that make it convenient for their content to rank in the featured snippets. Make sure to stick to those formats. Listicle or numerical formats for stepwise procedures, tabular formats for comparison, and paragraph formats for definition enhance the chances of getting ranked in the point zero results section.

Wrapping It Up

Google’s featured snippets section has radically changed the way users search for information. So, if you want to climb up the SERP ranks, make sure to hire content writers and optimize your content for the featured snippets section for substantial growth in credibility and ranks! We at Content Freelancing, hire the best content writers specializing in a range of niches. Contact us if you want to avail our services.