First is the worst, second is the best, third is the one with the hairy chest! This little rhyme has been said on playgrounds across the country for generations and I’m sure will be said for many more to come. However, in the world of SEO, Google says that you don’t want first, second or third… you want Position Zero.
Position Zero is a feature that Google has been using for years and while you may not recognize the name, you might recognize what it looks like:
What Is It?
The name Position Zero relates to the location of the search result in Googles list. Traditionally, the top result for Google is known as rank one. By appearing before rank one, you achieve Position Zero status. Position Zero may also be referred to as a featured snippet, rank zero, ranking zero, or positioning zero.
How Does It Work?
Getting to be in Position Zero is 100% based on how relevant the content on your site is to a specific search. If Google deems your content the most relevant out of all content, you will be given Position Zero and a summary of your content that relates to the search will be automatically populated by Google. The content that appears when you achieve Position Zero status isn’t pulled from the beginning of your page or from a specific section. Google’s program has the ability to scan your page and gather a selection of content from your entire website to give the information that they feel is most pertinent to the user. Google even has the ability to take large chunks of content and formulate them into a list.
Why Should I Care?
Why does any of this matter? Because the marketing mantra for years has been “Content is King” and Google has placed an even larger relevance on content with Position Zero. Position Zero not only comes in at the top of the page for search results but it is also larger in size than a traditional search result. It commands a user’s attention and makes it easy to get the immediate information they want while providing a direct link to your website to learn more.
Who Can Take Advantage?
Literally everyone! There are no barriers to entry when it comes to Position Zero, like stated earlier, it is strictly content-based. Take advantage of Position Zero by creating content geared towards the way people search. Work on having content on your page that answers the specific and common questions asked about your industry. This type of content will put you one step closer to achieving Position Zero.
If you have any questions about Position Zero, SEO, or need assistance writing content to get you into Position Zero status, don’t hesitate to give us a call at (605) 716-5666!
