Have you noticed lately that when you ask Google a question, an answer pops up at the top of the search results page? That’s a featured snippet. Featured snippets help businesses gain visibility and authority in their niche because they’re the first result people see. Earning a featured snippet on Google proves that you know what you are talking about, and that you can help people solve their problems. With a strong content marketing strategy, your website could make the featured snippet list. So, without further ado, let’s discuss how to earn a featured snippet on Google.
Types of Featured Snippets
Featured snippets are concise, direct answers or quick summaries to questions or search queries you may put in a search engine. Google will crawl the web to find the page that best answers your question, and display an excerpt in the snippet. The featured snippets usually appear at the top of the search results. However, if there are sponsored results, they will appear first. You can also find featured snippets in the “People also ask” section.
There are several different formats for featured snippets:
- Paragraph Snippets
These are the most common types of snippets you will encounter on Google. Paragraph snippets directly answer the search query with text in paragraph format. They can appear as text alone, or include images as well.
- List Snippets
These snippets format the relevant information into a numbered or bulleted list. List snippets are easy to read, and they can answer many types of queries.
- Table Snippets
For search queries that involve structured data, table snippets condense information into a table format. They provide quick access to the information readers need and allow them to compare data sets immediately.
- Video Snippets
Perhaps the least common type of featured snippet, these snippets show a video that directly answers the query. They usually come with a time stamp so you can quickly find the answer within the video.
How to Earn a Featured Snippet on Google
When you click on a featured snippet, Google will take you to the source page and highlight the relevant information. This drives a lot of traffic to the website that earned the featured snippet. But earning that top-place ranking is no easy feat. Here are a few steps you can take to gain that coveted position at the top of the search results.
1: Understand Search Intent
Search intent means knowing what someone wants to accomplish when they type a question into a search engine. To do this, you can use keyword research tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, AnswerThePublic, or the “People also ask” section on Google. These tools will help you better understand search intent so you can create content with valuable information and provide the answers people are looking for.
2: Create Concise, Easy-to-Read Content
Google’s search algorithm prioritizes content that is well-structured and easy to understand. Your content needs to be approachable, so that you can engage your audience and make them want to learn more. The more concise and readable your content is, the more likely people will be to click on your site. Images and videos will also make your content more engaging and accessible.
Here are some tips for creating approachable but informative content:
- Keep introductions short.
- Write for a seventh-grade reading level.
- Restrict paragraph length to five lines or two to four sentences.
- Do your best to use an active voice.
- Always choose value over word count—cut what you don’t need.
- Write as if you are an expert in your field.
- Your content should be conversational, like you are talking to a friend.
- Always be a writer first, then go back and edit.
- Answer questions with one or two sentences right after the question is asked.
- Add images, videos, lists, or tables to your content, to make it more user-friendly.
3: Use Relevant Headings and Subheadings
If you want to earn a featured snippet, the information on your site needs to be easy to find. Headings don’t only inform your readers, they also help Google find the relevant information. Using descriptive headings and subheadings in your content provides a clear structure for the topic. Headings also help break down your content into concise, easy-to-read snippets of information.
4: Use On-Page SEO
On-page SEO involves optimizing your content to improve its visibility and search engine rankings. Applying these techniques will increase your chances of becoming a featured snippet. For example, you should use your target keyword in the title tag, the meta description, and the URL.
5: Prioritize User Experience
From providing valuable content to designing an attractive site that loads quickly, your content should always prioritize your audience. And with most people using mobile devices for online searches, you’ll also want to make sure your website is mobile-friendly. Google’s algorithm prefers to feature snippets from content that prioritizes the user experience.
We Can Help Your Website Earn Featured Snippets on Google
Getting that featured snippet spot could be a real game-changer for your business. It will increase your visibility and authority, and most of all, it will direct more traffic to your site. But there’s a lot of work that goes into earning that featured snippet position. You need to be an expert in digital marketing, content creation, and search engine optimization.
The team at New Wine Digital has the skills it takes to get your website ranking in the top results. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your business thrive.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (03/11/2025) Image by Firmbee from Pixabay