In the world of search engine optimisation (SEO), one of the most coveted positions in the search engine results pages (SERPs) is the featured snippet. Also known as "position zero," featured snippets are brief excerpts of information that appear at the top of Google's search results, providing users with a direct answer to their query without requiring them to click through to a website. These snippets are highly visible and can significantly increase your website's visibility and organic traffic. In this article, we will explore what featured snippets are, their importance, and how to achieve them with Wix SEO. However, in order to achieve a featured snippet, it is highly recommended that you add structured data to pages on your website.
What are Featured Snippets?
Featured snippets are short summaries of content that are extracted from web pages and displayed at the top of Google's search results. These snippets aim to provide users with a concise answer to their query directly in the search results, saving them time and effort. Featured snippets usually appear in response to question-based queries, and they can take various formats, including paragraphs, lists, tables, and even videos.
Examples of Featured Snippets
Paragraph Snippet:
Question:
"What is the capital of France?"
Snippet:
"The capital of France is Paris. It is known for its iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and Louvre Museum."
List Snippet:
Question:
"Best beaches in Bali"
Snippet:
Kuta Beach Seminyak Beach Nusa Dua Beach Padang Padang Beach Jimbaran Beach
Table Snippet:
Question:
"Calories in common fruits"
Snippet:
| Fruit | Calories (per 100g) | | Apple | 52 | | Banana | 96 | | Orange | 43 | | Strawberry | 32 | | Watermelon | 30 |
The Importance of Featured Snippets
Increased Visibility: Featured snippets are positioned above the organic search results, giving your website maximum visibility and exposure to users.
Higher Click-Through Rates: While featured snippets provide immediate answers, they also generate curiosity, driving users to click through to your website for more detailed information.
Enhanced Authority and Credibility: Being featured in a snippet establishes your website as a trusted source of information in your industry, boosting your credibility and authority.
Competitive Advantage: Obtaining a featured snippet allows you to outshine and outperform competitors and capture more attention from search engine users. It gives you an edge by occupying the top spot in the SERPs, even if your website ranks below other organic search results.
Voice Search Optimisation: With the rise of voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant, featured snippets play a crucial role in voice search results. When users ask voice-enabled devices questions, they often receive responses from featured snippets. By optimising your website content for snippets, you increase the likelihood of being selected as the voice search answer.
Improved User Experience: Featured snippets provide immediate answers to users' queries, saving them time and effort. By delivering concise and relevant information upfront, you enhance the user experience, making it more likely for visitors to engage with your website further.
Achieving Featured Snippets with Wix
Wix, website builder, offers several features and tools to optimise your website for featured snippets.
Here's how you can maximise your chances of achieving featured snippets with Wix SEO:
Conduct Keyword Research: Identify the key questions your target audience is asking and create content that provides clear and concise answers. Use tools like Wix SEO Wiz to help you identify relevant keywords.
Optimise Content Structure: Structure your content using header tags (H1, H2, etc.) to highlight important points and make it easier for search engines to understand the organiSation of your content.
Provide Clear and Concise Answers: Craft your content to directly answer user queries. Use concise paragraphs, bullet points, and numbered lists to provide information that can be easily extracted by search engines for featured snippets.
Utilise Schema Markup: Wix offers built-in schema markup options that help search engines understand the context of your content. Implement schema markup to enhance the chances of your content being featured in snippets.
Optimise Meta Tags: Ensure that your meta title and meta descriptions accurately reflect the content on your page. Clear and compelling meta tags can increase the likelihood of your page being selected for a featured snippet.
Improve Page Load Speed: Optimise your website's performance by compressing images, leveraging caching, and minimising code. Faster page load speeds improve user experience and can positively impact your search rankings.
Focus on Mobile Optimisation: With the majority of searches now conducted on mobile devices, it's crucial to ensure your website is mobile-friendly. Wix provides responsive templates, allowing your content to adapt seamlessly across different screen sizes.
Monitor and Improve: Regularly analyse your website's performance and track the appearance of featured snippets. Use Wix Analytics to gain insights into user behaviour and make data-driven improvements to your content strategy.
The Conclusion: Featured Snippets
Featured snippets play a vital role in modern SEO, providing an opportunity to showcase your website's content and increase organic visibility. By implementing the above strategies with Wix SEO, you can optimise your website to achieve featured snippets, driving more traffic and establishing your website as an authoritative source in your industry.
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