Position Zero

Why It Matters

Position zero is what voice assistants read aloud in response to queries - capturing 40-60% of voice search results. It provides massive visibility even for brands not ranking #1, and drives significantly higher CTR than traditional first-page results.

How It Works

Google extracts concise answers from top-ranking pages and displays them in a featured snippet box. Voice assistants pull answers primarily from position zero, making it the most valuable search position for voice queries. Content must directly answer questions in 40-60 words to qualify.

Use Cases

• A health blog captures position zero for 'what is intermittent fasting' with a concise 50-word definition, dominating voice search results
• A home services company owns position zero for 'how to fix a leaky faucet' with numbered steps, getting voice assistant reads
• A tech site ranks position zero for 'what is blockchain' becoming the default answer for all voice queries

Best Practices

• Target question keywords and provide direct, concise answers (40-60 words) immediately after the question
• Use structured formats: numbered lists for processes, bulleted lists for items, tables for comparisons
• Place target questions as H2 headings with answers in the paragraph directly below
• Optimize existing content ranking positions 1-5 - these are most likely to win position zero
• Include definitions in the first paragraph for 'what is' queries
• Monitor Search Console for queries where you rank top 5 but don't have the snippet