Are featured snippets (position zero) still relevant with AI? Or should I focus on AI optimization instead?

Featured snippets are NOT dead - they’ve evolved. Here’s the relationship:

The connection:

Featured snippets often BECOME AI Overview content. Google uses the same sources.

What this means:

Content that wins featured snippets is exactly the kind of content AI Overviews want to cite:

• Direct answers
• Clear structure
• Question-response format

The optimization overlap:

They’re the same thing. Featured snippet optimization IS Google AI optimization.

How to optimize for both simultaneously:

1. Question-based headings

• Win snippet: H2/H3 as exact question match
• Win AI: Same - clear question structure

2. Direct answer first

• Win snippet: Answer in first 40-60 words after heading
• Win AI: Same - answer-first content

3. Structured format

• Win snippet: Tables, numbered lists, bulleted lists
• Win AI: Same - extractable structure

4. Comprehensive coverage

• Win snippet: Complete answer that stands alone
• Win AI: Same - complete, citable answers

The unified approach:

For each target query:

1. Create heading as question
2. Answer directly in first 2 sentences
3. Expand with structured detail
4. Cover related questions in additional sections

This wins featured snippets and performs well for AI.

That’s reassuring. My featured snippet work hasn’t been wasted.

Follow-up question: Does this relationship hold for OTHER AI platforms, or just Google?

Platform-by-platform:

Google AI Overview:

• Strong connection to featured snippets
• Same optimization works for both
• Correlation: High

ChatGPT:

• Different source preferences (Wikipedia heavy)
• Featured snippet optimization helps content quality
• But not direct causation like Google
• Correlation: Medium

Perplexity:

• Real-time search, different algorithm
• Quality content signals help
• Reddit/community weight different from snippets
• Correlation: Medium-low

Claude:

• Training data focus
• Content quality matters
• No direct snippet connection
• Correlation: Low

Copilot:

• Bing-powered
• Bing has its own featured snippets
• Similar dynamic to Google
• Correlation: High

Summary:

Featured snippet optimization is most directly valuable for Google AI and Copilot (Bing).

For ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude - the skills transfer (clear, structured content) but there’s no direct causation.

How to think about your strategy:

Keep doing:

• Featured snippet optimization (helps Google AI directly)
• Answer-first content structure
• Question-based headings
• Structured formatting

Add:

• Multi-platform AI tracking
• Platform-specific considerations where high value
• Third-party authority building (helps all AI)

Don’t:

• Abandon featured snippet work
• Think of it as either/or
• Ignore the skills transfer

The smart approach:

Featured snippet optimization is your Google AI strategy. Layer on other platform considerations where ROI justifies.

You’re not choosing between featured snippets and AI. Featured snippets are the Google AI path.

Clear now. Featured snippets evolved into AI sources, not became obsolete.

My adjusted strategy:

Continue:

• Featured snippet optimization (now also Google AI optimization)
• Answer-first content structure
• Question-based headings

Add:

• Track AI Overview citations alongside snippet wins
• Monitor how snippet content appears in AI Overviews
• Add Am I Cited for multi-platform tracking

Expand (if resources allow):

• Platform-specific optimization for ChatGPT, Perplexity
• Third-party authority building

The foundation I’ve built remains valuable.

How to measure the featured snippet -> AI connection:

Track:

1. Featured snippets won (Search Console)
2. AI Overview appearances (manual or tool)
3. Overlap between snippet and AI content

What to look for:

• When you win a featured snippet, do you appear in AI Overview?
• When you lose a snippet, do you lose AI visibility?
• Which snippet formats translate best to AI?

Reporting:

This reveals the relationship for your specific content.

Future perspective:

Featured snippets were Google’s first attempt at “zero-click answers.” AI Overviews are the evolution.

The trend:

• 2014+: Featured snippets emerge
• 2023: AI Overviews begin testing
• 2024-2025: AI Overviews widespread
• Future: Deeper AI integration

What stays constant:

Google wants to show the best answer quickly. The format changed (snippet -> AI Overview) but the goal remains.

Content that best answers questions will win, regardless of format.

Your moat:

Skills you’ve built for featured snippets - identifying answerable queries, structuring for extraction, writing concise answers - these transfer directly.

You’re ahead of marketers who never learned snippet optimization. The game evolved; your skills remain relevant.

Quick practical tips:

For existing snippet content:

• Keep it updated (freshness helps AI too)
• Add FAQ sections (more extraction points)
• Ensure schema is current

For new content:

• Target answerable questions
• Lead with direct answer
• Use structured formatting throughout
• Think “would this make a good AI citation?” - same as “would this make a good snippet?”

Mindset shift:

Instead of “optimizing for snippets,” think “optimizing for answer extraction.”

AI Overviews, featured snippets, voice assistants, smart speakers - they all want extractable answers.

Optimize for extractability. The specific format follows.