Position zero
What is position zero?
Position zero is an informal SEO term for the featured snippet, the highlighted answer box that Google shows above the first standard organic result. It is called “zero” because it sits above position 1. Google itself does not use the term; in Search Console, a featured snippet counts as a normal position, usually 1.
Since January 2020, the page shown in the featured snippet is not also listed again as a standard result on page one, so winning position zero replaces your normal listing rather than adding to it. Today many informational queries show an AI Overview at the top, and some SEOs use “position zero” more loosely for whatever answer sits there.
Why position zero matters for SEO
Being the featured snippet gives you the most prominent organic placement on the page, and can lift a page from lower on page one to the top. It also makes your content the answer voice assistants may read out.
Because the answer is right there, some searchers will not click. Position zero is worth most when the query needs more than a one-line answer.
How to win position zero
Rank on page one first, then structure the answer: a heading that matches the question, a direct 40 to 60 word answer below it, and lists or tables where the query calls for them. See how to get a featured snippet for the full steps, and track which snippets you hold with rank tracking.
Position zero FAQ
Is position zero better than position 1?
It is more prominent, but it replaces your standard listing rather than adding to it, and it can reduce clicks when the answer is fully visible. For most queries it is still worth having.
Do AI Overviews replace position zero?
On many informational queries an AI Overview now appears at the top, above or instead of a featured snippet. Clear, quotable answers help you appear in both.
Related SEO terms
A featured snippet is a highlighted extract from a web page shown near the top of Google’s results to answer the query directly, with a link to the source.
SERP features are the results on Google’s results page that are not plain blue links, such as AI Overviews, featured snippets, local packs and videos.
People Also Ask is a Google results box of questions related to the search. Each one expands to show a short answer from a web page, with a link.
AI Overviews are AI-generated summaries that Google shows at the top of some search results, with links to the web pages they draw on.
Zero-click searches are searches that end without a click to any website, because the answer is on the results page or the user gives up.