| name | featured-snippet-optimizer |
| description | Optimizes content to win featured snippets with format analysis, answer structure, and formatting. Use when targeting position zero in Google search results. |
| allowed-tools | Read Write Glob |
| metadata | {"author":"matthewhitcham","version":"1.0"} |
Featured Snippet Optimizer
When to Use This Skill
Use this skill when you need to:
- Optimize existing content to win featured snippets (position zero)
- Analyze which snippet format Google prefers for a target query
- Structure answers in paragraph, list, or table format for snippet extraction
- Identify featured snippet opportunities across your content
DO NOT use this skill for general SEO content writing, meta tag optimization, or link building. This is specifically for formatting content to capture featured snippets.
Core Principle
FEATURED SNIPPETS ANSWER THE QUESTION DIRECTLY, CONCISELY, AND IN THE FORMAT GOOGLE PREFERS — STRUCTURE YOUR CONTENT TO BE THE EASIEST ANSWER FOR GOOGLE TO EXTRACT.
Phase 1: Brief
Required Inputs
| Input | What to Ask | Default |
|---|
| Target queries | "What questions do you want to win snippets for?" | No default — must be provided |
| Existing content | "Do you have published content targeting these queries?" | Yes — URL(s) provided |
| Current ranking | "Where do you currently rank for these queries?" | Page 1 or 2 |
| Content type | "What format is your content? (blog, FAQ, guide)" | Blog post |
GATE: Confirm target queries before analyzing snippet opportunities.
Phase 2: Snippet Analysis
Current SERP Assessment
For each target query, document:
## Snippet Opportunity Analysis
**Query:** [Target question]
**Current snippet holder:** [URL / "No snippet currently"]
**Snippet format:** Paragraph / Numbered list / Bulleted list / Table
**Your current position:** [X]
**Snippet eligibility:** High / Medium / Low
- High: You rank on page 1 and the query has a clear answer format
- Medium: You rank on page 1-2, snippet exists but is weak
- Low: You don't rank top 20 or the query rarely triggers snippets
Snippet Format Patterns
## Format Selection Guide
**Paragraph snippets** (40-50 words) work best for:
- "What is..." definitions
- "Why does..." explanations
- Single-answer factual questions
**Numbered list snippets** work best for:
- "How to..." step-by-step processes
- "Steps to..." procedures
- Ranked lists
**Bulleted list snippets** work best for:
- "Types of..." or "Examples of..."
- Lists of tips, features, or items
- Unranked collections
**Table snippets** work best for:
- Comparisons (X vs Y)
- Pricing or specification data
- Schedules or structured data
GATE: Present the analysis and confirm which queries to optimize for.
Phase 3: Optimize Content
Paragraph Snippet Optimization
## Structure for Paragraph Snippets
**Step 1:** Use the exact query as an H2 or H3 heading
Example: "## What Is Email Marketing?"
**Step 2:** Immediately below the heading, answer in 40-50 words
Example: "Email marketing is the practice of sending targeted messages
to a subscriber list to build relationships, promote products, and
drive conversions. It remains one of the highest-ROI marketing channels,
generating an average return of $36 for every $1 spent."
**Step 3:** Follow with expanded explanation, examples, and depth
List Snippet Optimization
## Structure for List Snippets
**Step 1:** Use the query as a heading
Example: "## How to Set Up an Email List"
**Step 2:** Immediately follow with a numbered or bulleted list
Example:
1. Choose an email service provider
2. Create a signup form
3. Add the form to your website
4. Set up a welcome email
5. Drive traffic to the signup form
**Step 3:** Expand each item below the list with 2-3 sentences of detail
Table Snippet Optimization
## Structure for Table Snippets
**Step 1:** Use a comparison heading
Example: "## Email Marketing Platforms Compared"
**Step 2:** Create a clean HTML/Markdown table
| Platform | Price | Best For |
|----------|-------|----------|
| ConvertKit | $29/mo | Creators |
| Mailchimp | $13/mo | Small business |
**Step 3:** Add context paragraphs above or below the table
Content Restructuring Recommendations
For each target query, provide:
- Exact heading to use
- Optimized answer text (snippet-ready)
- Where to place it in the existing content
- Additional supporting content to add
Phase 4: Polish
1. Implementation Checklist
2. People Also Ask Opportunities
List related PAA questions that appear for each target query — these are additional snippet opportunities within the same content.
3. Monitoring
- Track snippet ownership weekly for target queries
- If snippet is lost, check: did the ranking drop? Did Google change the format preference? Did a competitor optimize better?
- Featured snippets can flip frequently — continued content quality is the best defense
Anti-Patterns
- Targeting snippets you don't rank for — you generally need to rank in the top 10 to be considered for a snippet. Rankings first, snippets second.
- Over-optimizing the answer — unnaturally stuffing keywords into the snippet answer makes it sound robotic and less likely to be selected.
- Wrong format — providing a paragraph answer when Google wants a list wastes the optimization effort.
- Too long or too short — paragraph snippets over 60 words get truncated. Lists over 8 items get "More items..." which can work but is less clean.
- No supporting content — a page with only a snippet-length answer is thin content. The snippet is the hook; the page must deliver depth.
Recovery
- Not ranking on page 1: Focus on improving overall rankings before snippet optimization. You need to be in the top 10 first.
- Snippet keeps going to a competitor: Analyze their format and structure. Match or beat their snippet answer quality, and ensure your page has superior depth.
- Google stopped showing a snippet for the query: Some queries lose their snippet over time. Shift focus to other snippet opportunities.
- Multiple pages competing for the same snippet: Consolidate content into one authoritative page to avoid cannibalization.
