The document outlines strategies for optimizing content to achieve featured snippets in Google search results, emphasizing the importance of understanding keywords, user intent, and competitive analysis. Key best practices include creating organized content, adding relevant graphics, and implementing on-page SEO techniques. It also addresses common FAQs related to featured snippets, such as the possibility of earning one soon after publication and the significance of external links in optimization.

1. Optimizing for
Featured Snippets
A position that most SEOs aims at!
Twitter: @himani_kankaria

2. Who am I?
An independent digital branding & marketing
consultant, content specialist
An eCommerce marketing consultant at
eComKeeda.com
Featured at world's top 202 SEO experts by
Search Engine Journal
An influencer at Semrush, brand ambassador
at Hootsuite
Twitter: @himani_kankaria

3. 1
3
Today's Agenda
How do I get a
featured snippet?
Best practices or tips
to optimize for FS
Common FAQs Open for live questions
2
4
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4. Let's begin!
Are you ready?
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5. Google Search Zero Click Paid CTR
75%
50%
25%
0%
2020 2019
Comparison of data by
Rand Fishkin
Compared to 2019, the
zero-click searches have
increased to a great extent
while organic search and
paid CTRs have gone down.
Twitter: @himani_kankaria

6. Navigating from the
results directly to an app
Looking up quick
facts
Finding local
business details
Reformulating queries
to find more relevant
results
Google says, people uses Search for,
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7. Featured snippets give answers on Google
how does this affect the CTR?
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8. Queries that
receives lesser CTR
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Queries with questions that
requires specific answers
and not explanation
PC: Bill Slawki on SEObytheSEA

9. Whether to optimize for the
Featured Snippets or not?
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10. You MUST
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11. How to get
a featured snippet?
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12. Identify the keywords that have FS
1.
Enter the keyword
in Semrush
Keyword Magic
Tool and apply
Advanced Filters
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13. Analyze the
type of FS
available for
targeted
keywords*
2.
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14. Understand the user search intent
3.
Get
Instant
Answer
Gain
knowledge
Navigate to
branded
websites
Make a
purchase
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15. Run a competitive analysis on SERPs
4.
Enter the keyword in Semrush SEO Content Template
Twitter: @himani_kankaria

16. Create / Update a content outline
5.
Based on the competitive content ranking on Google's
top 10, create a new outline or update the existing one
to make sure your content is eligible to serve the user's
search intent.
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17. Validate if the content is written as per
6.
Your
targeted
audience
Defined user
search intent
Targeted
keywords
Suggestions
listed earlier
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18. Organize your content
7.
Organized content has the
higher chances to get into
the Featured Snippets
PC: Link-assistant.com
Twitter: @himani_kankaria

19. Add the relevant graphics
8.
Except for Table and
Video FS types, images
play a crucial role for
owning a FS
Twitter: @himani_kankaria

20. Implement basic on-page SEO
9.
Title tag
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Heading tags
Internal links
Meta description
Image ALT
External links

21. Add the schema markup tags
10.
Source: https://www.semrush.com/blog/what-is-schema-beginner-s-guide-to-structured-data/
Twitter: @himani_kankaria

22. My best practices to optimize for
featured snippets
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23. Plan your content calendar for you & writers
1.
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You can copy and use this template - https://bit.ly/3sBzTkj

24. Work hard on
keyword research
2.
Target keywords for your
blog to rank and not just
the money keywords
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25. We took only underlined keywords and not every keyword suggested by the tool
*Not all keywords are
included in this
screenshot
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26. Look at the CTR
of the query
being on the
Featured
Snippet!
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27. Add question keywords in heading tags
3.
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28. Aim to create the best content
4.
Basic info that users expect
Add more value than competing
blogs
Explain in a simple & better way
Use media to hook readers
Write research-based
over opinion-based
Twitter: @himani_kankaria

29. Keep checking results every 7, 14, 21 days
Decreased impressions and CTR both
Decreased impressions, if from relevant search queries
Decreased CTR, if from relevant search queries
Keep Optimizing
5.
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30. Use a mix of internal & external links
6.
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31. Common FAQs on
featured snippets
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32. Is it possible to earn a featured snippet
right after publishing content?
1.
Yes, in a week's time BUT only if two or three of your
blogs are already on the Featured Snippets
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33. How many words a content must have?
2.
Depends on the topic- What vs Why vs How
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34. Can we optimize it for service pages?
3.
Usually FS are for informative search intent. So, it
depends on how informative your page is, the
authority of the page & site, depth of the content,
graphics, backlinks & more
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35. If we're not ranking on page 1, 2, 3, then?
4.
Then you've a long way to go!
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36. Keywords with how much search
volume to target?
5.
Starting for the first time, pick up low-search volume
ones and then gradually start targeting the content
with high-search volume keywords.
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37. Does structured data influence
reaching to featured snippets faster?
6.
No, clarified by Brodie Clark on Moz recently. But, if you have
one, nothing is wrong because ultimately you're helping
Google understand your pages better and may help you
reach to page 1.
Twitter: @himani_kankaria

38. Why do you recommend having
external links to optimize for FS?
7.
Because Google uses links to find new pages. So when
some authoritative site receives a backlink, Google will
crawl that link and might index faster and better.
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39. Consistency to
optimization is the key
to the success of
Featured Snippets
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- Himani Kankaria
LinkedIn: himanikankaria