Featured snippet
A highlighted answer box Google sometimes shows.
What a featured snippet is
A featured snippet is a highlighted block near the top of some results pages that shows an extract from one web page answering the query directly, with a link to the source. It might be a paragraph, a list or a table. Google chooses the snippet automatically. You can't mark a page up to get one. Google's featured snippets documentation explains how it works and how to opt out.
What it looks like
A vet practice writes a clear, two-sentence answer to "how often do puppies need vaccinations" near the top of its vaccination page, followed by details and a booking link. Google uses that answer as a featured snippet, and some readers book their puppy in.
What it means for your clicks
Featured snippets can bring visibility for question-style searches, but they can also answer the question so fully that fewer people click. They're most useful when the answer naturally leads to needing your service, such as "how often should a boiler be serviced" for a heating engineer.
Snippets also change often. A page may hold one for weeks and then lose it to another source, so it's best treated as a bonus rather than a goal to report on.
How to see if you appear in a featured snippet
In Search Console, look for question-style queries where your page ranks in the top few positions. Search them yourself to see whether a featured snippet appears and who holds it. Answering the question directly and concisely, right after a clear heading, gives Google an easy passage to use.
Wrong assumptions
- Writing answers so vague that they can't be quoted.
- Trying to force snippets with markup. There isn't any for this.
- Chasing snippets for questions unrelated to your services.
- Hiding the answer below long introductions.
Related search results terms
- SERP feature: Non-classic result units such as maps, videos or AI Overviews.
- People Also Ask: Expandable related questions on many results pages.
- Zero-click search: When the SERP answers without a click to a website.
- AI Overview: Google's AI-generated summary unit on some queries.
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