Introduction
Every day, we are surrounded by information. Some of it is useful, and some of it is not. The challenge for all of us is to figure out which information is worth our time and attention. And that’s where the art of filtering comes in.
When it comes to the internet, we are bombarded with an endless stream of content. We have to sift through this content to find the nuggets of information that are relevant and useful to us.
Search engines like Google have become very good at helping us filter this content. They use a variety of factors to determine which content is most relevant and useful for any given search query. One of the factors that Google takes into account is the structure of your content. This is where snippets come in.
In this article, we’ll take a look at what snippets are, how they work, and how you can use them to improve your website’s visibility and ranking.
What Are Rich Snippets?
Rich snippets are pieces of structured data that give search engines additional information about your content.
This additional information is meant to help search engines understand your content better and display your content in a more useful way for searchers.
They are also meant to give searchers a better idea of what your content is about before they click on a search result.
For example, if you search for “pizza near me” on Google, you’ll see a variety of results, including a map with pizza places:
The listings that include a map are called “rich snippets.” They provide searchers with additional information that is not included in the regular search results.
In the example above, the rich snippet tells us the name of the business, the address, the phone number, and the average rating. This information is very useful for searchers who are looking for a pizza place.
Rich snippets can include a variety of different pieces of information. The type of information that is included in a rich snippet depends on the type of content that you have on your website.
For example, if you have a recipe on your website, the rich snippet for that recipe might include the cooking time, the number of servings, and the calories per serving.
If you have a product on your website, the rich snippet for that product might include the price, the availability, and customer reviews.
These snippets are not just limited to listings in Google Maps. They can also include results from other types of searches, such as product searches, recipe searches, and event searches.
How Do Rich Snippets Work?
Rich snippets are created using a technology called schema.org. Schema.org is a collaborative effort by Google, Microsoft, Yahoo!, and Yandex to create a shared vocabulary for structured data.
Schema.org is a way to markup your content so that search engines can understand it better. It’s similar to how HTML tags are used to markup content for web browsers.
Schema.org provides a set of standard types of information that can be included in rich snippets. These types include things like recipes, products, events, and people.
You can see the full list of types here: schema.org/docs/full.html
In addition to the standard types, you can also create your custom types. This allows you to markup your content in a way that is specific to your website.
For example, if you have a website about cars, you could create a custom type for “car reviews.” This would allow you to markup your car review content so that it can be included in rich snippets.
How Do You Create Rich Snippets?
The first step is to identify the type of information that you want to include in your rich snippet. As we mentioned above, there are standard types that you can choose from, or you can create your custom type.
Once you’ve identified the type of information that you want to include, you need to markup your content using schema.org.
Schema.org provides a set of tags that you can use to markup your content. These tags are called “properties.”
For example, the “name” property can be used to markup the name of a person, place, or thing. The “address” property can be used to markup the address of a place.
As mentioned before, you can see the full list of properties here: schema.org/docs/properties.html
Once you’ve identified the properties that you want to use, you need to add them to your content. You can do this by adding HTML tags to your content.
For example, let’s say you have a recipe on your website and you want to markup the recipe title, the cooking time, and the number of servings.
You would add the following HTML to your recipe:
<div itemscope itemtype=”http://schema.org/Recipe”>
<h1 itemprop=”name”>The Best Chocolate Cake</h1>
<p>Cook time: <span itemprop=”cookTime”>1 hour</span></p>
<p>Servings: <span itemprop=”recipeYield”>12</span></p>
</div>
The above HTML would create a rich snippet that looks like this:
The Best Chocolate Cake
Cook time: 1 hour
Servings: 12
As you can see, the title, cook time, and the number of servings are all included in the rich snippet.
To add rich snippets to your website, you need to make sure that your content is properly marked up using schema.org. Once your content is marked up, Google will be able to find and index it.
If you’re not sure how to mark up your content, you can use Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper. This tool will allow you to add rich snippets to your content without having to know how to code.
Once you’ve marked up your content, you need to submit it to Google using the Structured Data Testing Tool. This tool will allow you to test your markup and make sure that it’s valid.
Once your markup is valid, Google will start displaying your snippets in search results.
It’s important to note that you cannot control how your rich snippets will appear in search results. Google will decide how to display your rich snippets based on the information that you’ve marked up.
How can you use rich snippets to improve your website’s traffic?
Rich snippets can improve your website traffic in two ways:
1. They can help your website stand out in search results.
2. They can help Google understand your content better.
Let’s take a look at each of these in more detail
1. Rich snippets can help your website stand out in search results.
If you have rich snippets on your website, your listings will stand out in search results. This can help to increase your click-through rate (CTR) and traffic.
2. Rich snippets can help Google understand your content better.
Rich snippets can help Google understand the content on your website better. This can lead to better search engine optimization (SEO) and improved visibility and ranking.
Tips for using rich snippets
Here are some tips that you can use to make the most of rich snippets on your website:
1. Use schema.org to markup your content.
2. Use the Google Structured Data Markup Helper to add rich snippets to your content.
3. Use the Google Structured Data Testing Tool to test your markup.
4. Submit your markup to Google using the Structured Data Testing Tool.
5. Monitor your rich snippets in search results.
6. Make sure your rich snippets are accurate and up-to-date.
7. Use rich snippets to improve your website’s visibility and ranking.
Rich snippets can be a powerful tool to improve your website’s visibility and ranking. Follow the tips above to make the most of rich snippets on your website.
Not only there are rich snippets, but there are also rich cards, featured snippets, and other SERP features that can be added. These are things like customer reviews, rating stars, author information, and more that can appear in the search results for your website.
What Are Featured Snippets?
Featured snippets are a type of rich snippet that is designed to give users the answer to their questions without having to click through to a website.
Google will choose a featured snippet from a website based on the content that is most relevant to the user’s query.
A featured snippet will typically appear above the organic listings in the search results.
Here’s an example of a featured snippet:
As you can see, the featured snippet includes the question that the user asked, as well as the answer. The answer is pulled from the website that is being featured.
Featured snippets can be a great way to increase your website’s traffic. They can also help you to rank higher in the search results.
How do featured snippets work?
When someone types a question into Google, the search engine will try to find the best answer to that question.
Google will look at several factors to determine which answer is the best. These factors include:
- The relevance of the content
- The length of the content
- The structure of the content
- If the content contains rich snippets
- If the content is from a reputable source
Google will also look at other factors, such as the user’s search history and location.
Once Google has determined which answer is the best, it will choose a featured snippet from one of the websites that contain that answer.
The website that is chosen to have its content featured in a snippet will get a significant boost in traffic.
How to get your content featured in a snippet
There is no surefire way to guarantee that your content will be featured in a snippet. However, there are a few things that you can do to increase your chances:
- Make sure that your content is relevant to the user’s query.
- Make sure that your content is well-written and free of errors.
- Make sure that your content is comprehensive. The more complete your answer is, the more likely it is to be featured.
- Use rich snippets in your content. Rich snippets are a type of code that can be added to your content to make it easier for Google to understand.
- Make sure that your website is from a reputable source. Google is more likely to feature content from websites that are seen as reliable sources of information.
No guarantee following these tips will get your content featured in a snippet. However, if you create high-quality, relevant content, you stand a good chance of being featured.
How do you create featured snippets?
To create featured snippets, Google looks for pages that provide clear, concise, and accurate answers to questions. It then displays a summary of the answer in a box at the top of the search results.
If you want your website to be featured in Google’s featured snippets, there are a few things you can do:
1. Make sure your content is well-written and informative.
2. Use clear and concise language.
3. Structure your content in an easy-to-read format.
4. Use headings and subheadings to break up your content.
5. Include images, videos, or infographics to help explain your answer.
6. Optimize your page for the relevant keywords.
7. Promote your content through social media and other channels.
8. Monitor your website’s traffic to see if you’re getting any clicks from featured snippets.
Featured snippets are a great way to improve your website’s visibility and search engine ranking just like the rich snippets. By following the tips above, you can increase your chances of being featured in a featured snippet.
How can you use featured snippets to increase your website’s visibility?
If your website is featured in a featured snippet, you will get a significant boost in traffic. This can help you to increase your website’s visibility and improve your search engine ranking.
In addition to increasing your website’s traffic, being featured in a featured snippet can also help you to rank higher in the search results. This is because Google considers featured snippets to be high-quality results.
To increase your chances of being featured in a featured snippet, you should create high-quality, relevant content that is well-written and free of errors. You should also use rich snippets to help Google understand your content. If you follow these tips, you will have a better chance of being featured in a featured snippet.
What are the benefits of being featured in a featured snippet?
There are many benefits to being featured in a featured snippet. The most obvious benefit is that you will get a significant boost in traffic. This can lead to an increase in your website’s visibility and search engine ranking. In addition, being featured in a featured snippet can also help you to rank higher in the search results. This is because Google considers featured snippets to be high-quality results. Finally, being featured in a featured snippet can help you to build trust with your audience and establish your website as a reliable source of information.
How can I find out if my website is already being featured in a featured snippet?
If you think your website may already be featured in a featured snippet, you can use the Google Search Console to check. Simply go to the Search Appearance > Featured Snippets section and look for your website. If your website is appearing in featured snippets, you will see it listed here. You can also use this tool to monitor your website’s featured snippet performance over time.
In conclusion, featured snippets are a great way to improve your website’s visibility and search engine ranking. By following the tips above, you can increase your chances of being featured in a featured snippet. If you are already being featured in a featured snippet, you can use the Google Search Console to monitor your website’s performance. So, start writing great content and optimizing your pages with snippeting today!
But first, the question is to choose one, or both?
If you want to increase your chances of being featured in a featured snippet, you should create high-quality, relevant content that is well-written and free of errors. You should also use rich snippets to help Google understand your content. Keep in mind that, although featured snippets can be a great way to increase your website’s visibility and search engine ranking, they are not the only way. You should also focus on other SEO strategies, such as keyword optimization and link building.
No matter what SEO strategies you use, remember to learn and put into action these tips to have a better chance of being featured.
Featured Snippets vs Rich Snippets: Which One Should You Use?
The answer to this question depends on your goals and objectives. If you’re primarily focused on improving your website’s visibility and ranking, then featured snippets are the way to go. However, if you’re more interested in driving traffic and generating leads, then rich snippets would be a better option.
Both featured snippets and rich snippets have their advantages and disadvantages. It’s up to you to decide which one would be more beneficial for your website.
Here’s a quick overview of the main differences between featured snippets and rich snippets:
- Featured snippets are designed to give users the answer to their questions without having to click through to a website.
- Rich snippets provide additional information about your websites, such as reviews, ratings, prices, and more.
- Featured snippets are displayed at the top of the search results, whereas rich snippets are displayed below the organic listings.
- To be featured in a featured snippet, your content must be well-written and informative. For rich snippets, you need to mark up your content with structured data.
- Both featured snippets and rich snippets can improve your website’s visibility and ranking. However, featured snippets are more advantageous if you’re focused on ranking, while rich snippets are better for driving traffic and generating leads.
Now that you know the differences between the featured snippet and the rich snippet, it’s time to decide which one is right for you. If you’re not sure, why not try both and see which one gives you better results. Good luck!
Conclusion
Guessing which one will give you better results is like guessing at a game of chance, but we can help! They each have their unique pros and cons to see if either would work for your website’s needs before deciding on just one type or the other.
At 12 channels, our subject matter experts have a wide range of experience in both Rich Snippets and Featured Snippets. We can help you determine if your website is a good candidate for either, or if it might be better to focus on other areas of SEO. Give us a call today!
Bonus Lesson: Rich Cards
Rich cards are a type of rich snippet that is optimized for mobile devices. They are designed to give users the most relevant information at a glance.
To create rich cards for your website, you need to mark up your content using the schema.org format. Once your content is marked up, you can submit it to Google using the Structured Data Testing Tool, just like you did with rich snippets but now you’re adding different code. If your rich cards are valid, Google will start displaying them in search results.
