Pick the right targets
Start with queries where you already rank in the top ten. Look for questions that show a snippet or a “People also ask” box, and note the current format: paragraph, list or table.
Match the format
- Paragraph: a 40–60 word direct answer under a question heading.
- List: an H2 like “Steps to…” followed by a clean ordered list.
- Table: a simple HTML table with clear column headings.
See how your site scores on this in about two minutes.
Make it quotable
Start the answer by restating the question’s subject (“A website audit is…”). Avoid “As mentioned above” and other phrases that only make sense in context.
Measure and iterate
Track impressions and click-through rate in Search Console. If a competitor holds the snippet, compare their answer with yours and make yours clearer and more complete.
Frequently asked questions
Do featured snippets reduce clicks?
Sometimes, for very simple facts. For most questions, being the snippet still brings more traffic and trust than ranking below it.
Can I stop Google showing my snippet?
Yes, with the nosnippet or data-nosnippet attributes, but this is rarely a good idea.