You have certainly come across results in your Google searches that are ranked higher than the organic results and provide you with the information you need, or at least an important part of it. This position is called Google’s Position Zero. The main feature of this result is that it directly and in the most concise form provides the information the user needs without having to click on the URL.
Content that is ranked zero in search results and higher than the ranks one and above must be much better and superior to its competitors in terms of quality and credibility. In this position, a part of your content that is very directly related to the user’s needs is displayed. Reaching Google’s position zero is the dream of many websites and webmasters.
But how can you achieve Google’s position zero? What content is this position displayed for and what criteria does Google use to give this rank to a content? These are the most important questions that we are going to answer in this article. If you also dream of having your content on the first page of Google, join us.
What is Google Position Zero?
Google’s Position Zero, abbreviated as P0, is the first organic (non-advertised) Google search result that is displayed above all other results, even position one, for a particular search. This result, in addition to information, includes the URL and title of the website page.
The purpose of providing this result, also called a featured answer, is to answer the audience’s question without them having to click on the link to that result. A result that is displayed as Google’s Position Zero can appear after or before the ads. For example, if you search for the phrase what is P0 in Google, you will encounter the following page. As you can see, at the top of the page, you will see Google’s Position Zero.
Zero rank in search results has been one of Google’s fundamental steps in providing fast and valuable answers to users in recent years. This feature was introduced after Google launched the Knowledge Graph.
Why is Google Position Zero important?
A position zero in search results is considered SEO gold. Simply put, achieving such a position equals improved click-through rates, leads, and ultimately more revenue from your website or achieving other goals you have in mind. Here are some of the benefits:
Improving your ranking in SERP results
If your content can occupy the P0 position for a specific topic, your position in the SERP or other searches that users perform with related topics and words will definitely improve. The reason for this is the huge amount of traffic that this position brings to your website. On the other hand, Google recognizes that your website has more useful information for users than other websites about that specific phrase.
Increasing CTR by being in the Google Position Zero
Many website owners believe that showing the information the audience needs without having to click on the website link causes their click-through rate (CTR) to drop. However, according to statistics, the Google’s position zero receives the most clicks. Increased leads, conversion rates, and higher revenue are direct results of increased CTR.
Growing ever-increasing in zero results over time
According to statistics from Search Engine Magazine, about 12 percent of search results performed on Google by 2020 included zero positions. This statistic has definitely increased today, at the end of September 2022. The website also says that by 2020, about 28.5% of searchers will have clicked on Google’s position zero. So businesses should not consider themselves winners even by achieving position one, because position zero is on the rise in SERP results.
Where does the content that appears in Google Position Zero come from?
When users search for a topic, Google’s algorithms identify top content or a piece of it that has already attracted users’ attention as a Featured Snippet and place it in position zero. This content has usually previously held positions between one and four in the organic results. Therefore, it is clear that the content that is considered worthy of this position is the same organic content that performs better than the rest in all indicators.
Google uses the same algorithms it always uses for ranking to identify such zero-rank content. So, if some of your content is already ranking well, there’s a good chance that with a little effort and highlighting a piece of it, you can get it to zero-rank.
How to reach Google Position Zero?
To reach Google’s position zero, first of all, you need to know what content formats this position is assigned to. These formats include:
- Short text paragraphs
- Numbered or bulleted lists
- Tables
- Videos (especially YouTube videos)
- Images
- Charts
The content you intend to rank zero in search results must be in one of the above formats and of the appropriate size. However, paragraphs have so far accounted for the largest share of Google’s position zero content. But more important than size and format, it is the quality of content information and its credibility that is important to Google. With this in mind and awareness of the content that is placed in this position, follow the steps below to acquire P0.
Identifying suitable opportunities for Google Position Zero
Not every topic and content is suitable for reaching Google’s position zero. To know the right content for this ranking, know the right content format for that topic. Even if your content does not fit into one of the mentioned categories, try to shape it in one of the mentioned directions, but be careful not to stray from your purpose and the right content format. In that case, you will also lose the chance to get further rankings. Keywords that you have already ranked well for can be a good start.
Adhering to the principles of content SEO
Be sure to follow the principles of producing SEO-oriented content. The most important of these principles are:
- A descriptive, attractive, unique, and short title, including primary and secondary keywords
- Use H1 to H5 tags to make the content visually appealing and increase its readability, as well as making Google’s crawlers’ work easier and faster
- Put Alt tags for your images using relevant words and primary and secondary keywords
- Include new content in your sitemap
- Use short and descriptive URLs
- Use attractive and optimized title tags and meta descriptions
- Use useful and relevant internal links in your content
- Make the appearance of the content and website more attractive and optimized
Producing deep and useful content
The most important step on the path to achieving Google’s position zero is to produce truly useful and excellent content. Only such content can receive truly positive feedback from users. For this purpose, consider the following qualitative and quantitative indicators in content production:
- Produce evergreen content whose information is valid for a long time and does not need to be updated.
- Do not be satisfied with the previous knowledge available on the Internet and show new value from yourself
- Avoid filling the content with keywords (Keyword Stuffing) and also use related words
Be sure to use tables, paragraphs with sufficient length and very concise and practical information, charts and lists.
Adhering to the principles of external and technical SEO
In addition to internal SEO, you should also pay attention to the principles of external SEO or Off-page content. The main pillar of external SEO is link building or backlinking. Invite users to read your content, tell you their opinion, and finally link to you if they want. Also, promote your content on your social networks and any other online activities you have (such as participating in webinars and podcasts).
Also, do not neglect technical optimization and improving your website’s user experience. Do not forget that to reach position zero, you must have a website with an excellent user experience.
