6 Expert Tips for Winning Featured Snippets
Securing a featured snippet can dramatically increase your website's visibility and click-through rates in search results. This guide compiles actionable strategies from SEO professionals who have successfully claimed these coveted positions for their clients. Learn six proven techniques that focus on content structure, user intent, and search engine preferences to improve your chances of earning position zero.
Prioritize Query Types and Clean Layouts
The first step in the process of optimising content on the website for featured snippets is identifying question-based queries like "what is" or "how to." This can be done by keyword research tools, following Google's People Also Ask. The next step would be to arrange the answers under the respective H2/H3 headings (for example, "What is SEO?") and offer short paragraphs of 40-60 words, step-wise numbered lists, or tables for comparison, as formats as above are precisely what Google snippets prefer. In addition, FAQ schema markup should be applied to show the content's intention, and therefore, the content will be able to get visibility without keyword stuffing.
One thing that I have come to understand during my six years of writing articles that rank highly is that the direct answer approach works best. Remove everything that is not needed. Begin with a short statement, like "is", such as "Featured snippets are the zero-position SERP boxes of Google pulled from the top results."
Build a Standalone Snippet Block Early
When I'm chasing featured snippets, I start by hunting questions I already rank for in the top 10. Then I reshape the page so Google can copy the answer without thinking. I put the exact question in a header, and I answer it right under that in 40 to 55 words. After that, I expand with short paragraphs, a clean list, or a simple table. I keep definitions tight, and I use plain terms customers actually type.
One tip that keeps working for me is building a "snippet block" near the top. It's a mini answer that can stand alone. One sentence first, then 3 to 6 steps. I also check Search Console weekly. If a page climbs but won't win, I rewrite only that block and leave the rest. Small edits beat full rewrites.
Mirror Real Customer Language for Fit
For featured snippets, I start by mining customer support tickets and live chat transcripts to capture the exact language customers use around long-tail, high-intent questions. This reveals low-competition topics and the exact phrasing people use, which I turn into clear, focused content. Tip: mirror that wording in your content so it directly matches how users ask the question.
Lead with Clarity and Brand Authority
The Franchise Fame approach to optimizing content for featured snippets is built around strategic clarity rather than tactical keyword chasing. At an agency level, we focus on structuring content so search engines can easily identify the best possible answer to a specific question.
What we consistently see working across our client sites is answering the primary question immediately and clearly, without forcing users to scroll or decode dense content. We guide our teams to structure pages with question-based headings followed by concise, direct responses. Featured snippets reward content that removes ambiguity. If Google can extract a clean answer in seconds, that page has a strong advantage.
From a strategic standpoint, we optimize for human readability first. Content that is easy for people to scan is also easier for search engines to interpret. Short paragraphs, bullet points, and clearly separated sections improve extractability, which is critical for snippet placement. We also encourage natural language that mirrors how real people search, rather than rigid keyword formulas.
Credibility plays a major role as well. Google is far more likely to feature content from brands it already trusts. That is why we prioritize Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trust across every page. Pages informed by real-world insights, practitioner experience, or proprietary data consistently outperform generic summaries when it comes to featured snippets.
One practical tip based on our experience is this: optimize each page to answer one primary question exceptionally well. When content is tightly focused, clearly structured, and supported by brand authority, it dramatically increases the likelihood of earning and retaining a featured snippet position.
Start Definitions with the Exact Term
One tip that's worked well for us when answering a 'what is' question is to start your sentence with the term itself.
Instead of writing 'Many businesses are discovering these highlighted boxes at the top of search results...' - instead you can write 'Featured snippets are the highlighted answer boxes at the top of Google search results.'
Give Google a sentence they can pull without editing.
Shane Penrod | CMO | PPC & Co
Match Existing Format and Frontload Answers
My approach is to first look at what the current featured snippet looks like in terms of the answer length and formatting - for example, is it made up of paragraphs, item lists, tables or something else?
Then I try to create content that is detailed but also concise enough so it will fit nicely into the current featured snippet content format without Google having to rewrite it.
My tip to win more featured snippets
Nail the page and content structure.
Look at the page you are wanting to achieve a featured snippet.
The first content of the page should be a heading 2 (<h2> tag) containing the query/question that you are trying to win a featured snippet for.
Directly under that heading 2, write your answer.
Your answer should be a full sentence answer (work part of the question in your answer) that is as short and punchy as possible whilst still being the best answer to the question.
Your answer should be good enough that a user could read it, be satisfied and move on without needing to read more on your page if they don't want to.
