Have you ever heard of position 0 on Google ? If not, no worries! This article deals specifically with this subject. For 5 years, the internet giant has updated its SERP (Search Engine Result Page) by adding a new position above the first, that of position zero. Companies and e-retailers are increasingly interested in it in order to increase traffic to their sites . Here is everything you need to know about the intricacies of position 0 and best practices for obtaining it in a very short time.
But actually, what is position 0?
In simple terms, position 0 is the first result that appears on a SERP page on Google . It is located above the first position without being a paid result. Indeed, it is displayed above a waterline in front of all natural results, hence the name “zero position”.
Concretely, it is a direct response or a short and simple response to a query from an Internet user. It is called “Featured Snippet” in English . Which literally means in French, “the featured extract” . Compared to the other results, the text snippet on position 0 is much longer, almost a paragraph. Generally, it corresponds to content that is optimized and well positioned on Google , being among the top 10.
Position zero therefore represents the holy grail of SEO . But, it is displayed differently on the SERP depending on different queries.
The different forms of display of the zero position
Classic text accounts for about 82% of 0 positions . Accompanied by an image, the display is presented with an extract containing the key words. Most often, it is a definition . But position 0 displays more than one way. Google's objective is to respond to queries as best as possible. So, she can offer a tutorial video to answer a question. For example, “how to install a ceiling light?” »
Then, it is quite common to see lists with bullets or numbers in the zero position. This type of snippet represents a total of 11% of Featured Snippets . The information is presented online or presented as steps to complete. The most concrete example of a query is that of a top list . For example, “Top 10 films to see in 2022” .
Finally, there are the tables which represent around 7% of the 0 positions . They generally display price lists or a comparison of several products. Obviously, for Google to display this type of zero position, Internet users' queries must contain specific keywords: price, comparison, best product, etc.
Good reasons to covet this position
The habits of Internet users on search engines, notably Google, are no longer a secret. They favor the first positions , but especially the first. And since position 0 is above everyone else, it goes without saying that companies have every interest in coveting this place. The resulting advantages are numerous:
- acquisition of quality organic traffic,
- improvement of e-notoriety,
- increased visibility.
At the same time, it is possible to increase your sales or the number of subscribers to your newsletter. The incredible thing about position 0 is that Google chooses which results to display organically . In other words, it is entirely possible to reach this position for free by carrying out some optimizations . The key is to understand how Google judges content eligible for position zero .
Reaching position 0: actions to take
Before knowing the actions to take to climb to the top of a Google SERP, you need to understand how the algorithm selects content . You must already meet a few criteria to hope to have a chance. Indeed, the page must be among the first 10 positions , that is to say on the first page of Google. Then, the subject must answer a question directly. Then, the text or content must be well structured and easy to read both for Internet users and for the algorithm in question. As a result, the actions to be implemented concern the content more than the container or the site itself.
On-Site Optimization
The long road to the Holy Grail of SEO On-page or On-site optimization . In this sense, you have to work on the different tags, namely the meta titles, the descriptions, all the Hn (H1, H2, H3, etc.). You should also not omit the Alt tags from the images. Indeed, it is interesting to add relevant keywords in the descriptions .
Give clear answers
To be displayed in position 0, there is nothing better than to clearly answer a question . This is the kind of content that Google appreciates the most. But you have to give answers to several types of questions to attract the search engine. The ideal would be to have several answers in the same content. The questions will be put on H2 or H3 .
Add the right keywords and adopt a good writing style
It is clear that to have a good positioning on Google, you must already know the keywords most used by Internet users . It is important to add the most relevant ones without overoptimizing content. The most difficult thing is to integrate them in a natural way while giving a direct answer.
To do this, there is no better than the inverted pyramid . Google 's reading algorithms will greatly appreciate if important information is in the first 150 words . Furthermore, you must also offer different types of content to hope to be displayed on position 0.
In summary, reaching position 0 is not an easy feat, it takes time and strategies. But it is not an unattainable goal either, quite the contrary. However, one detail must be highlighted about the zero position. The latter can encourage the “Zero click” trend. And for good reason, if the answer you give is too explicit, Internet users may not click on the link for more information. So it’s up to you to play well with words to invite them to click.
