Snippet Optimization Guidelines
Follow these optimization guidelines only if I ask you to write the article with snippet optimization. If I don’t, just write the article naturally as you would.
First, watch this video to have a basic idea about the snippet optimization
Hopefully, you’ve got a basic idea about snippet optimization. While writing the answer paragraph, keep these guidelines in mind:
1. As you already now know, the answer paragraph needs to be the second paragraph in the article. However, the first paragraph should tie in to the second/answer paragraph. What I meant is, the flow from the first paragraph to the second paragraph should be natural. The second paragraph shouldn’t start out of the blue, without any context from the first paragraph.
Have a look at the above picture. The first paragraph flows in to the second paragraph. The last line of the first paragraph asks the question how long do painted turtles live and the exact answer is the second paragraph.
2. The answer paragraph shouldn’t start with Yes/No. It needs to be standalone. Suppose, the question is ‘Can you bathe a rabbit?’ Let’s see a wrong and right example for this question.
Yes, you can. (Wrong because it starts it Yes. Answer paragraph can’t start with Yes/No)
You can bathe a rabbit. (Right as the line is standalone)
3. The answer paragraph needs to start with the most informative/helpful part of the answer. You can add relevant information after the first line.
Suppose, the question is ‘How long do painted turtles live?’
Let’s see a wrong and right example for this question.
In captivity, the lifespan of a painted turtle ranges between 25 to 50 years. The life expectancy totally depends on the subspecies and care level. (Right as the answer paragraph starts with the most informative/helpful part of the answer, the exact figure of the lifespan. Later, it discusses other relevant info to the main answer.)
The life expectancy of a painted turtle totally depends on the subspecies and care level. In captivity, the lifespan of a painted turtle ranges between 25 to 50 years. (Wrong because the answer paragraph doesn’t start with the most informative/helpful part of the answer.)
4. The third paragraph needs to explain there are many more factors to this answer and the readers should read the whole article to get a full picture. In a word, in the third paragraph, you’ll need to encourage the readers to read the whole article.
Here are some examples of good answer paragraphs with the 1st, 2nd and 3rd paragraph laid out:
I hope you’re clear about snippet optimization. If not, I am always there to help. Don’t hesitate to knock.