Depending on the type of the snippet, the answer is usually a short paragraph, concluded in 1-2 sentences, a single list, a table, or a visual. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The result for the featured snippet is displayed from one source only.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just like in the featured snippet example below, Google provided \u201creasons why AI won\u2019t replace humans\u201d in a paragraph box from a single source: LinkedIn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Below are some other types of snippets:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Featured snippets are important because they can increase clicks and traffic to your content. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Even if your original page does not rank on the first page of search results, you can still appear in a snippet. This gives you the chance to display a short section of your content at the top of the results and attract visitors to your site. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some users might find their quick answer directly in the snippet and choose not to click through. However, isn\u2019t it still better to have your content featured in snippets, especially if your page is hidden on the second or third page of results? That visibility is better than none. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The key is to provide clear, helpful answers to users\u2019 questions and optimize your content so Google considers it worthy of a snippet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Starting from 2024, Google started to roll out a new SERP feature, which appeared along with (and now, mostly, instead of) featured snippets: AI Overviews<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Compared to featured snippets, AI Overviews generate a quick answer to the searched query from multiple sources. Just like featured snippets, the AI Overviews results appear right after the search bar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Featured snippets rely on schema markups to display the exact wording, sentence, or paragraph from a single source (usually a high-ranking one). <\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, AI overviews go deeper into searching by using generative AI and APIs to pull out, analyze, and provide an overall AI summary of the searched information from multiple websites (no matter the ranking).<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the example below, AI Overviews answered our \u201cWhat is SEO?\u201d query by providing information from multiple sources, appearing on the right side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As AI Overviews came forward, many wondered if it was taking up the SERP instead of the Featured Snippets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ryan Law, the Director of Content Marketing at Ahrefs, in his LinkedIn post<\/a>, talked about a decline in featured snippets results, while AI Overviews results were gradually starting from early 2025. Their team analyzed 1 million SERPs to identify these changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In their SERP features study<\/a>, they indicate a significant decline in featured snippets SERP visibility<\/em><\/strong> from 15.41% (January 2025) to 5.53% (June 2025) and a significant rise in AI_overview SERP visibility<\/strong><\/em> from 3.93% (January 2025) to 27.43% (June 2025).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, a SEMrush study<\/a> of over 10 million keywords indicated that as of March 2025, 13.14% of US desktop queries triggered AI Overviews, out of which 88.1% are of informational intent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These numbers pinpoint that AI is drastically changing the search results landscape. So, to be able to stand out in search results, your content should be optimized for both featured snippets and AI overviews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No one other than our SEO and content writing specialists could give some tips on how to get a featured snippet on Google. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, we took the chance to interview our team members, and here are the steps we took.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For featured snippets, Google prefers targeted and precise answers to users\u2019 questions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Make sure your content answers questions starting with \u201cwhat is?\u201d or \u201chow to?\u201d, as well as includes long-tail keywords and definitions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep your answers as precise as possible, but not too short.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also include a question in your headings and provide clear and specific answers below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This way, Google will easily recognize that there is a direct answer\/definition to the user\u2019s question, and your chances of being featured on snippets will rise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Since the main point of featured snippets is to provide answers to users\u2019 questions, including the FAQ section in your content will be especially helpful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Consider including 3-4 questions with their answers below your content, which are also relevant to it. This will maximize the chances of these questions being searched and appearing on featured snippets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google uses schema markup<\/a> in your website\u2019s HTML to better understand your content. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Schema markups appear in a coded form. They provide the search engines with all the necessary information about your content, for example, the title of your article, the heading sequences (H1, H2, H3), the author\u2019s name, the published date, or what kind of content you have (a how-to or product information). <\/p>\n\n\n\n In case you included an FAQ section in your content, make sure you also have it in your schema markup to tell Google that you have a Q&A section. This will double the chances of Google featuring your FAQ in featured snippets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Therefore, in order to hint to the search engines that your content can qualify for featured snippets, make sure to optimize your website schema markup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Featured snippets are highly competitive, as people search for new information every single day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even if you make it to featured snippets, your competitors can still outrank you and take your positions. This mostly happens when you fail to update your content<\/a> and provide users with fresh information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Try to go deeper into your topic, update with fresh information, and provide new steps or tips, if relevant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay special attention to the \u201cPeople also ask\u201d section on Google and answer the questions asked there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After you are done with featured snippet optimization, you can check whether or not you\u2019ve appeared on featured snippets and for which keywords on Ahrefs or Google Search Console.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To do so, follow these steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Frame-27.png\")
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Why are Featured Snippets Important for SEO?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
AI Overviews vs Featured Snippets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"An](\"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Frame-23.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Frame-31.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Frame-32.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow to Optimize Content for Featured Snippets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Answer the User\u2019s Question<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Include FAQs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"An](\"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Frame-30.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOptimize Your Schema Markup<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Regularly Update Your Content<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"An](\"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Frame-29.png\")
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![\"Keywords](\"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Frame-26.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n