What is a featured snippet (position zero)?

The main formats

• Paragraph: a short definition or explanation, typically 40 to 60 words.
• List: numbered steps or bullet points.
• Table: comparisons, prices or specifications.
• Video: a clip with a key moment highlighted.

How Google chooses snippets

Google selects content automatically from pages that already rank well and that answer the question clearly. There is no markup that guarantees a snippet. What helps is a precise heading that matches the question, followed immediately by a concise, self-contained answer.

How to write for snippets

1. Find questions your customers actually ask: “how much does a boiler service cost”, “how long does a root canal take”.
2. Use the question, or a close variant, as a heading.
3. Answer directly in the first sentence or two, then add detail below.
4. Use numbered lists for processes and tables for comparisons.
5. Keep the page accurate, up to date and well structured.

Why it also helps AI search

Content written as a direct, well-structured answer is easier for AI assistants and Google’s AI Overviews to quote, which is why snippet-friendly writing overlaps with answer engine optimisation.

How Starboost handles it

We restructure key pages around the questions customers ask, using direct answers, clear headings and structured data, and we measure the effect on traffic and enquiries.