What Is Position Zero (P0): Your Guide to SEO Gold

Ahh, the Position Zero (P0) search result, coveted by SEOs everywhere. If you’re working to increase visibility for your website, you’ve likely heard about the mythical postion 0 spot…somehow there is a better placement than position 1. So what exactly is Position Zero on Google, and why does it matter for your SEO strategy? In this post, we’ll explore the ins and outs of the golden SERP spot to uncover what Position Zero means for your business.

What is position zero in Google?

Position Zero refers to the first Google search result that appears above standard organic listings and is usually included in a Google SERP feature, like featured snipperts or as an AI Overview citation.

AI overview citation example

As Google has increased the frequency of AI overviews in search results, one of the coveted “position zero” slots is  getting your website listed in the AI Overviews citation window, often to the right of the AI overview.

Featured snippet example

Another feature in SERPs where your website can be listed above traditional organic results is in the featured snippets. While these still show up on occasion in Google results, they have largely been replaced by Google’s AI Overviews feature.

Both AI Overviews and Featured Snippets present searchers with a direct answer to the query. Now that we covered what Position Zero is and what a P0 search result looks like, let’s take a look at a short history of the P0 result.

History of position zero

Over the past few years, Google’s search landscape has continued to evolve to provide searchers with quick, valuable answers to their search queries. In an attempt to directly answer search questions, Google launched the Knowledge Graph, originally based completely on human-curated information from databases like Freebase and Wikidata. Searching the question, “who is the CEO of Apple,” yields this Knowledge panel or instant answer box, based on information from Google’s Knowledge Graph. In January 2014 Google launched Featured Snippets, which pull information directly from website copy. For example, searching, “how to write a check,” yields a position zero result from Huntington with a list of steps and link to their site for searchers to learn more. Beginning in 2024, Google started aggressively rolling out AI Overviews, which answer questions directly but with generated content, not pulling directly from cited websites.

With Google relying on their Gemini technology for AI Overviews, there is a wide variety of places Google will pull from when it comes to Position Zero content.

Where does Position 0 content come from?

When people search online, Google has a lot of deep technology running behind the scenes. With the rise of AI, Google quickly determines if a search query could be answered instantly with text provided by Gemini (AI Overviews or Google’s new AI Mode) or through a featured snippet (a snippet of text from a trusted, relevant website). Or Google could decide the best result for a search query is a more traditional list of “10 blue links” that points searches directly to websites.

Here’s why P0 is so important for your business.

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Why does P0 matter? Hint: It’s SEO gold

If you currently have an SEO strategy in place, you understand the importance of ranking at the top of search results. When you meet searchers at the top of results for keywords related to your business, you earn more clicks, leads, and ultimately revenue for your business. Now, Position Zero lets you leverage top rankings — above the first position — to drive relevant traffic to your website. Let’s look at a few reasons why SEO matters for your SEO strategy and business goals.

Position Zero helps you occupy more SERP territory

First, earning a P0 spot allows your business to capture territory in the SERPs. With more information than traditional search results, P0 results take up more space on results pages, pushing competitors further down the page. P0 results allow your business to gain valuable exposure in SERPs, and they help searchers learn more about your business, products, and services.

Position Zero boosts your click-through rate (CTR)

It’s a well-known fact that the first SERP result receives the majority of clicks. And engaging Position Zero results allow you to leapfrog the first position to earn even more clicks and site traffic. While site owners have worried that direct answers would reduce clicks, research has shown the opposite, with P0 holders reporting a boost in click-through rates (CTR). These clicks are the first step to earning more leads, conversions, and revenue — and they’re extremely valuable for businesses in any industry.

Position Zero results are essential for voice search

Since search engines use Position Zero information for voice search results, it’s essential to optimize your content for P0. Otherwise, you’ll miss out on valuable voice search traffic, leads, and revenue.

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Position Zero results are becoming more prevalent

Our study revealed AI Overviews now show up in over 25% of search queries. If you’ve earned top rankings for your target keywords, don’t get comfortable. Position Zero results continue to steal SERP territory and traffic — and if you don’t optimize for P0, competitors will likely surpass you in search results.

Position Zero leads to zero-click searches

Most of the impacts of P0 are positive for marketers, but not all. One thing to watch out for is the fact that featured snippets are intended to answer users’ questions right in search results, so many of them don’t actually end up clicking on the link (leading to something called zero-click searches). That means that even when P0 contributes to your sales, they won’t always result in immediate, attributable clicks.

Don’t let that discourage you from optimizing for them, though. Even if they’re harder to track, they’re still a great opportunity for getting in front of more users. In fact, as Position Zero results continue to gain prevalence, it’s more important than ever to optimize your site for P0 rankings.

Wondering how to get started? Here’s a quick guide to ranking in Position Zero.

How to rank in Position Zero: 7 types of P0-ranking content

Position Zero content takes on several formats — and if you are trying to achieve P0 rankings, you’ll want to add these formats to your content strategy.

Position Zero formats

Featured snippets typically include the following formats:

• Paragraphs
• Numbered and bulleted lists
• Tables
• Videos
• Images
• Charts

In addition to adopting the content formats above, certain types of content work well for achieving Position Zero spots.

1. 5W answers (who, what, when, where, why)

Featured snippets exist to answer the 5W questions: Who, what, when, where, and why. If your content succinctly and accurately answers those questions, you’ll be more likely to appear in Position Zero — like this result for, “why is the sky blue.” Struggling to answer the 5Ws? Take a look at Google’s “People also ask” feature to uncover common questions related to a topic. Then, you’ll want to ensure that you answer the question in a short paragraph or list, and dedicate the rest of your page to unpacking the topic more in-depth.

2. How-tos

How-to searches are also prime for triggering P0 results. For example, the age-old search, “how to tie a tie,” yields the following P0 information. Many “how-to” searches yield P0 results with step-by-step instructions to guide searchers through the process. In the example above, Real Men Real Style supplemented the numbered list with a handy graphic showing disgruntled tie-wearers exactly how to tie the perfect knot.

3. Definitions

Definitions also work well for featured snippet takeovers. Searchers looking for definitions want quick answers — and P0 spots provide them with the information they need. This P0 result for “define hat trick” helps searchers score (see what I did there?) a snapshot of the term’s meaning.

4. Comparisons

Often, searchers want a quick comparison when deciding on brands or products to purchase. This P0 result for “Nike vs. Adidas” gives an overview of the competing brands with a link for searchers to learn more. It’s extremely easy to format this type of content too with lists, bullet points, or tables — all great for capturing the P0 spot.

5. Price/cost information

Searches related to price or cost also yield P0 results, which give searchers helpful breakdowns of how much they should expect to pay. Want to know how much it costs to vacation in Alaska? Here’s a quick estimate in the form of a Position Zero result — and you can click the link to view a custom price calculator. Excuse me while I book a flight!

6. Top/best lists

Lists of the top or best products aid searchers in the purchase process — and you guessed it, they make great P0 results. Need to satisfy your sweet tooth? Peep this list of the “best chocolate brands.” Shout out to my fellow Hershey’s lovers!

7. Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Not to be confused with frequently asked question pages (FAQs) that typically contain answers to a wide array of questions, PO FAQ content answers common questions about a particular topic. And it comes from pages that provide in-depth answers about topics like, “dairy-free options Ben & Jerry’s.” Dairy-free ice cream enthusiasts, no need to wonder any longer. Your beloved Ben & Jerry’s does indeed offer non-dairy options, and HuffPost is here to answer your burning questions. Speaking of burning questions — now that we’ve answered your need-to-know “what is rank 0” questions, it’s time to get started optimizing for Position Zero.

Capture valuable P0 spots with WebFX!

At WebFX, our featured snippet creation & optimization services, SEO services, and content marketing plans are designed to boost your performance in search results, so you can earn P0 spots for top keywords. Don’t take our word for it, though. Learn what WebFX clients have to say about our work. If you like what you see, contact us today to start capturing valuable P0 search territory!