Featured Snippet
The answer box that appears at the top of some search results (position zero). Formatting your content to directly answer questions increases your chance of winning these.
Why It Matters
Featured snippets sit above the #1 organic result. They get massive visibility and significant click-through rates, especially for informational queries. Winning a featured snippet can catapult a page from the middle of page one to the very top of the SERP.
They're also the primary source for voice search answers. When someone asks Google Assistant or Siri a question, the response typically comes from the featured snippet. As voice search grows, snippets become even more valuable.
In Practice
Structure your content to directly answer questions. Use clear headings (H2/H3) that pose the question, followed by a concise answer in the first paragraph - typically 40-60 words for paragraph snippets.
For list-based snippets, use proper HTML list markup (ordered or unordered). For table snippets, use actual HTML tables. Google pulls from well-structured content.
Target questions your audience actually asks. "People Also Ask" boxes show you related questions Google already associates with a topic. Answer those directly in your content.
Related Terms
Glossary
SERP (Search Engine Results Page)
The page Google shows after a search - the competitive landscape you're fighting in.
Glossary
People Also Ask (PAA)
Expandable question boxes in search results - a growing source of SERP visibility.
Glossary
Search Intent
The reason behind a search query - matching it is more important than matching keywords.
Glossary
Header Tags (H1-H6)
HTML heading elements that structure content hierarchically for users and search engines.
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