Position Zero: Everything You Need To Know

Position Zero, often called a “Featured Snippet,” is that special block of text that appears at the very top of Google’s search results, above even the first organic listing.

When you type in a query like “How do I tie a bow tie?” and see a box containing a quick explanation or set of steps, that is Position Zero. It is Google’s way of showing what it believes is the best snippet to answer your question immediately.

Google had been testing this idea for a few years, but the modern featured snippet format became common around 2014. Many noticed that these answer boxes (often called Position 0 or P0 for short) stood out from the other 10 results.

It was as if Google had selected certain pages as the best sources of answers—content so reliable that users might not even click through to read more.

Some site owners were worried about losing traffic, but many later found that showing up in that top spot actually increased their click-through rates. People tend to trust answers highlighted by Google and often click to read more.

I have worked on earning a few P0 placements myself. Sometimes it feels almost addictive—you write an article, optimize your content well, monitor your analytics, and hope to see that Featured Snippet label appear in the SERP.

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Common Forms of Rich Snippets

Here are the most common rich snippets type seen on Google.

Paragraph/Definition Snippet

‍Shows a short block of text (40–50 words) defining or explaining something.
Often triggered by questions like “What is … ?” or “Why … ?”
Example: “What is a convertible note?” or “Why do cats knead blankets?”

List Snippet

‍Displays a series of bullet points or numbered steps.
Common for queries like “How to … ?” or “Best ways to … ?”
Example: “How to bake sourdough bread” with steps 1, 2, 3, 4 in the snippet.

Table Snippet

‍Shows tabular data automatically pulled from a webpage.
Works well for price comparisons, schedules, or nutritional information.
Example: “Levels of iron in vegetables” might show a table with iron mg per serving.

Video Snippet

‍Displays a short part of a YouTube video (often with timestamps when relevant).
Often used for tutorials, how-tos, or demonstrations.
Example: “How to fix a dripping faucet” might show a clip from a hardware channel.

FAQ / Q&A Snippet

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Extracts a question-and-answer pair from a page, sometimes displayed in a collapsible “People Also Ask” or a single FAQ box.
It appears as a featured snippet when Google considers it the best brief answer.
Example: “What are the best practices for vacuum sealing?” might show a short Q&A format.

I remember writing a guide on “how to set up daily meditation” (a personal project), only to find one day that Google had turned 40 words of it into a bullet-list snippet. I experienced a traffic surge that month, and it was surprising. This taught me a valuable lesson: Google prefers content that is direct, structured, and authoritative. Provide exactly that and you increase your chances at position zero.

There are no secret shortcuts or lines of code that force a top snippet. I have gathered guidelines from various SEO experts, official Google statements, and personal experience to compile these 10 tips:

Identify Snippet-Friendly Questions

Focus on queries that often produce featured snippets, like how-tos and definitions. Use tools like Google’s “People Also Ask,” Semrush, or AnswerThePublic. Specific questions increase your chances of providing the perfect short answer.

Keep Your Answer to 40–55 Words

Google prefers answers of 40–55 words. Ensure your content is concise and place a clear summary at the top of the page, followed by detailed information.

Use Heading Tags (H2/H3) to Ask the Exact Question

Include the exact question in an H2 or H3 tag, and answer it directly below in a brief paragraph or list. This helps Google link the question and answer.

Structure Lists and Steps Clearly

For list-based snippets, use bullet points or numbers immediately after the heading. Extra steps can encourage click-throughs.

Use FAQ Schema

Apply FAQ schema to Q&A content to improve snippet chances. Proper schema markup can elevate your content to position zero.

Include a Table if It Suits Your Content

Use HTML tables for clear data like comparisons or statistics. Google often prefers tables for presenting data, especially in comparison queries.

Build Authority and Trust

Cite reputable sources and display credentials to build trust. Google favors content from trusted sources.

Aim for a High SERP Ranking

Most snippets come from page 1 sites. Focus on SEO, backlinks, and on-page factors to improve your ranking and snippet chances.

Analyze Existing Snippets and Improve on Them

Study competitors' snippets and refine your content with clearer steps or updated data to offer a better alternative.

Monitor and Adjust Your Content

Track snippet-related keywords with tools like Semrush or Ahrefs. If you lose a snippet, adjust your content to regain it.