Definition
A featured snippet is a box at the top of some Google Search results that shows an excerpt from a web page answering the query directly. It may be a paragraph, a list or a table, and it includes a link to the source page. Google selects the excerpt automatically.
For example, a search for “what is a sales pipeline” might show a featured snippet with a two-sentence definition from a Closedesk glossary page. If Bizbloom wants that position, its own page needs an equally clear definition near the top, although Google decides which page to show.
Why it matters
Featured snippets reward the same habits that help content appear in AI answers: a clearly stated question, a direct answer and a well-structured page. Pages that win snippets often contain passages that are easy to extract, which also suits assistants that build answers from passages. Tracking which competitor pages hold snippets for your key queries shows what format and depth of answer the search system currently prefers.
What to do
- Find queries where a featured snippet appears and note which page and format it uses.
- Answer the question in a short, direct paragraph directly under a matching heading.
- Use lists or tables when the question asks for steps or comparisons.
Common questions
What is the difference between a featured snippet and an AI Overview?
A featured snippet quotes an excerpt from one page. An AI Overview is a generated summary that can combine information from several pages and links to multiple sources. Both appear at the top of some Google results, and which one shows depends on the query.
How do I get a featured snippet?
There is no way to guarantee one. Pages that already rank well for a query and answer it directly, in a clear paragraph, list or table under a relevant heading, are more likely to be selected. Match the format Google currently shows for that query.