Google Featured Snippets Examples

This article about Google Featured Snippets examples contains 20 of my snippets. It also includes a brief history. Plus, the reason for featured snippets and how to get into them.

You probably noticed doing a Google search when a large area appears about one result above all the others. Sometimes it takes up 1/4 to 1/3 of the entire page. That’s a Google Featured Snippet. The Holy Grail of SEO Google search results. Here's an example:

Google uses a featured snippet to showcase the best answer to your search question (query). Google creates a special box with an important paragraph or listicle from the recommended site.

"A featured snippet shows up as a block that contains the exact answer to your query. It is found right above the first organic search results, which is why it’s also called 'position 0'.”

Viewers notice it immediately as it stands proudly above the ads and the other search results including the #1 SERP. Naturally, over 80% of the viewers click on that site first to get an answer to the query. That’s why SEO gurus consider getting into a Google Featured Snippet the Holy Grail. Source

How Important to SEO is Getting into a Google Featured Snippet?

According to RankRanger: "Scoring Featured Snippets is just one of those SEO topics that has become almost mythological. Getting your URL into a zero position box is the win of all wins". Source 

According to a 2020 Ahref study, only "12.29% of search queries have featured snippets in their search results". Source

Neil Patel, a known SEO guru explains: "Featured snippets are the first thing that most people see when searching for a word or phrase."

That's how important a Google Featured Snippet is for SEO.

Google Featured Snippets History

In 2013, Google began experimenting with showcasing the best answers to queries called the “quick answers”. Source

In 2015, the “quick answer” evolved into an Answer Box (also called “Featured Results”).

By 2016, quick answer boxes became known as “Featured Snippets”. In the same year, Google added a “People Also Ask” below the featured snippet box which took up more space on the page.

In 2017, Google added “feedback options” so viewers share opinions on the quality of the featured answer. This data helped Google to improve its algorithm.

In 2018, Danny Sullivan the Google Public Liaison for Search published an explanation of the featured snippets. He explained instances when “near-matches” appeared when a perfect match didn’t exist. Also, times when more than one featured snippet occurs due to different products satisfying the query.

The Reason for Google Featured Snippets

In 1998, when Google began operations the #1 search result became the Holy Grail of SEO. Over the years, the #1 became obsolete as searchers from different locations and needs wouldn’t view the same #1 as the best answer.

Google’s algorithms took into account a searcher’s location and history of search preferences. This made the #1 SERP different for individual searchers.

Thus, the Google Featured Snippet allows a multifaceted search with quick specific answers. After all, Google wants happy searchers to find their answers quickly. The featured snippet became more accurate, intuitive, and helpful.

How to Get into Google Featured Snippets

Before getting into examples of Google Featured Snippets, knowing how to get into them becomes important.

I wrote a LinkedIn post about How to Get into Google Featured Snippets in 2018.

My post explains the three main types of snippets (Lists, Paragraphs, and Tables). Also, how to format your answer based on what searchers ask. And, the best words to use.

Google Featured Snippets Examples

My article above explains the most popular title words to get into featured snippets. Here are some examples of those words. 

HOW

Using “How” initially in the title. My LinkedIn post above explains the importance of using the word “How” in your title. Here’s an example from my Drillers blog post titled, How the Spindletop Oil Discovery Changed Texas and U.S. History:

Here’s another example of using “How” in your title from my Transaction Monster Blog post titled: How Transaction Coordinators Can Prevent Lawsuits

HOW Becomes a Google Featured Snippet and #1 SERP

Not all #1 Google SERPs become featured snippets. Any of the Google Top 10 SERPs become candidates as a featured snippet. Source

The best results involve getting your #1 Google SERP also included with the featured snippet. Here’s an example from my blog post How to Avoid Clouding Title:

But, the above three Snippet examples copy the exact title of the blog post!

The best keyword phrase is one that Google rewards as a featured snippet. If Google likes your title, you succeeded with your SEO effort.

Google explains this is in its support webpage: "Create good titles." and "Create descriptive page titles." Also, "Titles are critical to giving users a quick insight into the content of a result and why it’s relevant to their query. It's often the primary piece of information used to decide which result to click on, so it's important to use high-quality titles on your web pages." Source

Thus, Google looks for "high-quality titles" as the three examples above demonstrate.

TIPS

Starting with the word “Tips” in your title is another Google favorite for its snippets. Here’s an example of my Tips for Effective Open House Advertising article:

Google Featured Snippet with an Image

Getting your featured snippet with an image attracts more attention than mere words. The image jumps out at viewers. Here’s an example from my Real Estate Express Blog titled Tips for Effective Open House Advertising which differs from the snippet above.

LISTS

Google likes lists. You often see lists as a Google Featured Snippet. For example, my post for the Transaction Monster Blog titled How Transaction Coordinators can Prevent Lawsuits:

Also, the longer the list, the better. I wrote the following blog post for Big Block Realty: San Diego Real Estate Closing Costs where I listed 14 of them.

A second featured snippet for the same blog post appeared at another time different from the one shown above.

[Added on October 29th] I originally wrote the San Diego Closing Costs post in 2017. On October 17, 2020, the same blog post appears as a different Google Featured Snippet nearly three years later:

What more can I say about Google liking long lists?

TAXES

 Google likes tax-savings tips. Here is my Last-Minute Tax Savings for 2017 post I wrote for the Smart Agents Real Estate Marketing blog as the ghostwriter for Joe Nickelson:

Also, my Open Escrow Blog post titled Tax-Savings Tips for Real Estate Investors 2019:

HOT TOPICS

People love to read about hot topics. Controversial, current trends, latest movies, fashion, famous people's lives, and scandals remain hot topics.

[Added on October 29th] Bitcoin became a hot topic in the 2010s. I published the next Google Featured Snippet in October 2018. Two years later, it remains a snippet:

As long as Bitcoin remains a newsworthy "hot topic", my snippet may remain one until someone else publishes a better-quality article or blog post.

How to Stay as a Google Featured Snippet

A problem with featured snippets is they don’t stick around long enough. Some featured snippets remain on top for a month or less. Yet, others stay on top for several months or a year.

To stay on top for multiple years becomes the next challenge. Google loves high-quality content. If better quality content comes along Google will replace the featured snippet with a better one.

Some of my featured snippets remained on top for over four years (and still counting). An example includes my Real Estate Express Blog post: Tips for Effective Open House Advertising. The blog post got published on April 21, 2016. As seen below, on October 10, 2020, it still appears as a Google Featured Snippet:

Another example, my We Lease Blog post titled How to Make Millions with Rental Properties published in July 2019 and still a featured snippet over a year later:

Multiple Google Featured Snippets for Same Blog Post

Imagine getting multiple Google Featured Snippets for the same blog post simultaneously. That happened to me.

See my LinkedIn blog post: U.S. Companies can Legally Hire Foreigners Living in other Countries. I published it on January 4, 2016, and as of October 8, 2020, it still remains on top for three different keyword phrases:

1. "U.S. companies hiring foreigners in other countries"

2. "Can U.S. companies hire foreigners?"

3. "Can a U.S. company hire a foreigner?"

How Fast can Your Content get into a Google Featured Snippet?

No one can guarantee a fast Google Featured Snippet result. But, based on my experiences it can take a few months.

Here’s a featured snippet web page I wrote for the Lowenthal & Lowenthal law firm in Hawaii titled: Moped Accident Attorneys in Maui. I searched for “moped accident attorney maui”. Notice that I wrote it in June 2020 and the screenshot shows an October 9, 2020 date. It took less than four months to appear as a Google Featured Snippet:

Another example includes my McKissock Real Estate Learning Blog post of August 5, 2020, titled: FSBO Ethics: What to Consider when working with FSBOs. Notice the screenshot date of October 9, 2020. It took two months to appear as a Google Featured Snippet.

Getting into Google Featured Snippets and Top 5 Multiple Times

Finally, sometimes Google rewards quality content by including different web pages from the same website as the featured snippet and Top 3 SERPs. An example includes web pages I wrote for a Panama immigration law firm’s website:

Even a LinkedIn Blog Post can get into Google Featured Snippets

Yes, even writing LinkedIn blog posts may get you into a Google Featured Snippet. Take a look at my How to Avoid Copyright and Plagiarism post:

Notice that I published this on July 16, 2018, and the screenshot taken on October 8, 2020, more than two years later.

Conclusion

 These Google Featured Snippets examples provide some tips to help you.

Quality Content

First of all, Google only selects one of its Top 10 SERPs as a featured snippet. Not every search result includes a Google Featured Snippet. Only those with content worthy enough to catch Google's algorithm attention get selected,

Thus, Google Featured Snippet requires quality content.

Using the word “How”

Use the word “How” to begin your titles and headlines. The word how triggers a helpful article, blog post, or web page. Google likes “How to” content.

Often, Google ranks a “How to” as the #1 SERP and selects it as the featured snippet.

Using the word “Tips”

Google likes content offering tips for its searchers. Again, a tip helps viewers as a “how-to-do”.

Using a List

Google really likes lists. A listicle often gets selected as a Google Featured Snippet. Lists make it easier to explain complex things.

Tax Advice

I found that my tax savings tips and advice content gets selected by Google as a featured snippet. Who doesn't want to legally pay fewer taxes? A popular topic amongst Google searches.

Hot Topics

Google rewards hot topics. Controversies, scandals, the latest trends, and famous people always remain hot topics.

Getting your Image into the Google Featured Snippet

Images speak a thousand words as an old saying states. A quality image aligned with the main topic emphasizes the purpose of the content. Always add an Alt tag describing what the image means because it helps when Google's spider crawls through your site.

Staying as a Google Featured Snippet

Sometimes a featured snippet only remains for a short time. Maybe a better quality content or list takes its place?

Some of my featured snippets examples here stayed on top for at least four years (and more).

Quality content trumps lower quality over time.

Getting Multiple Featured Snippets for the same content

Remaining a Google Featured Snippet for a long time and getting your image included becomes very desirable.

But, getting multiple featured snippets for the same content becomes even more desirable. That's because of the extra exposure.

High-quality content for many keyword phrases gets rewarded by Google.

Fast selection of your content as a Google Featured Snippet

No guarantees exist for a fast selection of your content as a featured snippet. But, based on my experience, it could take two to four months for Google to make the selection.

Top 5 SERPs and Google Featured Snippet

A website rich with high-quality content in several web pages stands a better chance to get into Google's Top 5 SERPs and as a featured snippet.

It doesn't matter what content platform you use

I gained success with some of my LinkedIn blog posts. It's rare you see a LinkedIn post in Google's Top 10 SERPs.

So, to help this blog post to become a Google Featured Snippet. Here's my list of tips to use:

• Quality Content;
• Use the word “How”;
• Use the word “Tips”;
• Create a list;
• Give tax advice;
• Use a hot topic;
• Add a quality relevant image; and use
• High-quality content for many keywords.

Steven Rich, MBA

Copyright ? 2020 - Steven Rich, MBA

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