Featured snippet

A featured snippet can put your page above the ten blue links. You get brand exposure and qualified clicks when your answer fits the query.

As of 2026, many informational searches show an AI Overview above everything. It cites a handful of pages with links. Those cited pages get the clicks from the overview. The organic results below usually get fewer clicks than before.

So you target two wins: get cited in the overview, or earn the featured snippet when no overview shows. Both require ranking on the query and answering it plainly near the top of your page.

1. 1

   Find candidate queries in Search Console

   Open Performance. Filter by queries that contain question words, comparisons, or definitions. Sort by impressions where you are in the top 10 average position.

2. 2

   Check the results page

   Search the query in a logged out browser. Note if you see an AI Overview, a featured snippet, or neither. Record which URL is cited or quoted.

3. 3

   Track clicks against layout

   In Search Console, watch clicks and average position on the query over 28 days. When an overview appears, expect impressions without matching clicks. When only a snippet shows and you hold it, you often see a higher click-through rate.

4. 4

   Inspect your quoted text

   If your page is quoted, make sure the quoted lines are accurate and current. If you must restrict what can be quoted, use nosnippet, max-snippet or data-nosnippet on specific parts.

• Match the intent: pick a query you can answer in one or two sentences, then expand. Example: “what is usage based pricing” on /guides/pricing-models.
• Put the answer near the top: use a clear H1 or H2 with the question, followed by a crisp definition or outcome. No fluff before the answer.
• Structure the follow-up: add a short list, steps, or a small table if it helps the reader. Example: an ordered list of setup steps on /guides/getting-started.
• Use the exact words the searcher uses: mirror the phrasing in the heading and the first sentence. Stay factual and neutral.
• Keep pages focused: one primary question per page. If two of your URLs could answer the same query, pick one and link the other to it.
• Support the page: link to it from /blog, /docs and /pricing where relevant. Make the anchor match the query.

A fixed page reads like this: H1 “What is usage based pricing”, first paragraph defines it in one sentence, then a short list of pros and cons with plain language.

• Chasing every snippet: focus on queries tied to your product. A glossary page that cannot lead to a signup or a trial is a low priority.
• Thin intros: do not start with brand claims or a story. Lead with the answer. You can add context below.
• Overlapping pages: if /blog/what-is-x and /docs/what-is-x both try to win the same box, they can harm each other. Consolidate and redirect.
• Hiding everything with nosnippet: this also removes your regular snippet in results. Use data-nosnippet only on lines you cannot show.
• Ignoring AI Overviews: if an overview always shows for a head term, target the longer variants where the overview does not appear, or where you can be cited.