Think of this yourself, you are spending months optimizing your website, creating original content and good also scrambling up the Google rankings. But suddenly, the shock comes – not getting traffic like before. Does that sound familiar at all?
You’re in good company. Just last year, over 65% of global Google search results provided no click, and if using a smartphone even more than 75%. It is at times such as these that right – nearly everyone gets what they want without visiting a web site.
Don’t panic. To make you feel a little better, let me say something that might even surprise you a shade: This is not necessarily bad news. It is different news, that is all. And smart Australian businesses have already begun to find opportunities in this.
What Are Zero-Click Searches Really About?
Zero click searches are searches that do not get any clicks on the search results. Searchers can access such information without needing to click through to a website. They can do it right there on the search engine results page (SERP).
These searches vary:
- Position zero (when top of the search results is an answer box) – Information boxes at right (so-called knowledge panels
- Business searches–local map packs
- People Also Ask boxes
- Direct answer boxes – AI Overviews (a recent asset in the pool of Google)
You’re wondering now, “I like it, so now Google will steal all my traffic? But that’s not quite right. The fact is that the rules of the game have changed, and those enterprises which can quickly adapt are those that are going to do well.
Featured Snippets: Your New Best Friend
Let’s talk about featured snippets specifically, because these little beauties are where the real opportunity lies. Featured snippets (aka position zero) are concise, content-rich boxes that answer a query right on the SERP. They appear above all the regular search results, which means they get prime real estate.
Here’s what makes them so powerful:
when your content appears in a featured snippet, you’re not just ranking #1 – you’re ranking #0. You’ve jumped the queue entirely. Voice assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant often pull answers from featured snippets, which means you’re also capturing voice search traffic.
But here’s the thing – winning featured snippets isn’t just about luck. It’s about understanding how Google thinks and giving it exactly what it wants to see.
Want to win featured snippets and own zero-click searches? Check out our SEO Services at SEO Perth Experts and start leading Australia’s digital landscape.
Why Australian Businesses Can’t Afford to Ignore This
I mean the Aussie market is tough right, you need all the advantages that you can get, so you don’t want your SEO game falling behind. Not considering zero-click searches would be like showing up to a cricket match with a tennis racket.
Here’s what’s at stake:
- Competitive advantage: When competitors win featured snippets and position zero, they become the default answer provider and your brand becomes less visible
- Mobile domination: Aussie buyers are mobile-first this year, searching on their phones as they walk down Collins Street or sit in M1 traffic.
- User preference: Mobile users love zero-click content because it is faster and easier than clicking through to websites.
The good news? Most companies still don’t get this, which means there is a huge opening for those who move fast.
The Strategy: How to Win at Featured Snippets
Right, so how do you actually get your content into those coveted featured snippet positions? It’s not rocket science, but it does require a strategic approach that many businesses are still getting wrong.
Start with the Right Questions
The first step is to determine what questions your potential customers are really asking. Don’t speculate – research it, and do the work you’re supposed to do. Search platforms like Answer The Public, Google’s autocomplete suggestions, and even the “People Also Ask” sections are tools which can tell you precisely what information people are looking to find.
But here’s what many businesses overlook: you should be asking questions that have a chance to pop up in a featured snippet. The optimal approach is to target the low hanging fruit.
Keywords that trigger the local pack, featured snippets, and PAA boxes (not direct answer boxes or knowledge panels). As these SERP features tends to get clicks and also improves your brand visibility.
Some question types that work particularly well include:
- How-to questions (“How to optimise my website for local search”)
- Definition questions (“What is conversion rate optimisation”)
- Comparison questions (“WordPress vs Shopify for Australian businesses”)
- Step-by-step processes (“How to set up Google Analytics”)
Start by picking 5-10 questions from your industry and build content around them – you’ll be surprised how quickly you can start appearing in these prime positions.
Structure Your Content Like Google Wants It
Once you have got your questions right, you should think of how to answer them in a format that Google can easily identify and display. Be sure to keep your replies under 40-60 words long if they are feature snippets for easy fit into the box.
The following steps should do the trick:
Have your question as a heading (H2 or H3). Offer a clear, simple response in the first paragraph. Next give more detailed information Incorporate lists, tables, or detailed instructions as warranted
Take the term “What is local SEO?” in targeted for an example: What Is Local SEO? Local SEO is the process of optimising your website to attract customers from local search. It includes optimizing your Google Business Profile, building and cleaning up local citations, as well as producing location-specific content that will catch the eye in local search results.
The remainder would then be a mixture of such things as practical tips on doing local SEO, the advantages of local search marketing and what it looks like in action.
Don’t Forget About Schema Markup
This is where a lot of companies miss the mark. Schema markup is the language search engines can use to share information about your content. This code lets search engines have a map of your page so they know what matters.
Types of schema markup are also available that can help you appear in different kinds of featured snippets:
Below is the list of all FAQ schema for q/a type content.
- How-to schema for educational articles
- Blog post and guide article schema
- Local business schema for location searches based pages.
The good news is you don’t need to be a coder to apply schema markup. There is a lot of tooling and plugins to help you or if you’re not comfortable doing it yourself, it might be something you would want to hire a professional to do.
Create Comprehensive, Connected Content
Google loves content that completely covers the subject matter. Instead of adding more siloed content, consider creating content hubs that address similar questions holistically.
If, for example, you are a digital marketing agency based in Melbourne, your guide could be titled “Digital Marketing for Melbourne Businesses” and address things like:
- Tips on SEO for local business owners
- Australian based social media marketing
- Google Ads best practices
This tactic raises your likelihood of showing in multiple featured snippets & People Also Ask boxes and gives you more opportunities to garner visibility.
Measuring Success in the Zero-Click Era
Traditional SEO metrics aren’t telling the whole story anymore. If you’re only looking at click-through rates and organic traffic, you’re missing the bigger picture. With fewer clicks to track, traditional SEO metrics no longer tell the full story.
Here’s what you should be measuring instead:
Brand Visibility Metrics
Focus on how often you appear in high-visibility search features:
- Share of voice in featured snippets for your target keywords
- Appearances in People Also Ask boxes
- Knowledge panel ownership for your brand terms
- Local pack appearances for relevant searches
These metrics tell you if you’re building authority and staying visible, even when people aren’t clicking.
Engagement Quality
When people do click through from featured snippets, they’re often more qualified leads. While AIOs may result in fewer clicks to your website, if you show up in AIO and someone does click on your website, they are probably more qualified and more likely to convert. Track conversion rates from featured snippet traffic separately – you might be surprised at how well these visitors perform.
Brand Search Volume
One indirect benefit of appearing in featured snippets is increased brand awareness. Monitor branded search volume to see if your featured snippet appearances are driving more people to search for your business specifically.
The Local Advantage for Australian Businesses
Zero-click searches and featured snippets: It’s not all bad news for Australian businesses In fact, when it comes to zero-click searches and featured snippets, Australian businesses have somewhat of an advantage. Local searches are so incredibly important in the Australian market, and so many of these end in zero-click – but driving real business results.
If someone in Sydney searches for “best coffee shop near me,” you might not get that website click, but you might get that in-store visit, because they saw the local pack. That is still a conversion — it’s just more difficult to trace in standard analytics.
Zero-click local search experiences may drive in-store traffic (for example, searching for “coffee shop,” and clicking on a Profile of a coffee shop in the knowledge box).
What This Means for Your SEO Strategy Moving Forward
The rise of zero-click searches doesn’t mean SEO is dead – it means it’s evolving. The businesses that recognise this shift and adapt accordingly are the ones that’ll maintain their competitive edge.
Your SEO strategy needs to focus on:
- Visibility over just traffic: Being seen is sometimes more valuable than being clicked
- Authority building: Establishing your business as the go-to source for information in your industry
- Comprehensive coverage: Creating content that answers all the related questions your customers might have
- Technical optimization: Making sure your content is structured in a way that search engines can easily understand and extract
Getting Professional Help with Featured Snippet Optimisation
Let me be real with you – you can’t just ‘work out featured snippets’ over a weekend. It calls for a clear understanding of how search engines operate, which content types prove most effective, and how to present information in a format Google adores.
If you’re serious about grabbing increased search visibility and maintaining competitiveness in the Australian landscape, you need a strategy designed for this new reality. This is when working with experienced SEO consultants can be particularly helpful.
SEO Perth Experts knows the Australian search market and how it is evolving, as well as how to place businesses in the best possible position. They have been helping Australian businesses adjust to changes made to algorithms and in search behaviour for years, and they know exactly what it requires to win a featured snippet for highly competitive markets.
The Bottom Line
Zero-click searches are here to stay. But in 2025? That’s what we’ll have to wait and see. Plus with over 65% of searches now estimated to become zero click then (a trend especially beloved among millennials as they start getting rid not just the voice but also text itself) – isn’t this question almost solved for us already?
The real problem now lies with you: whether you are willing and bold enough to adapt along with. Or like plaster falling off the interior walls once forming no more than mere stay rods against landings of earth are treading on dangerous ground together with it?
Featured snippets is an SEO goldmine at present today: suddenly it works (usually after somebody tries to shoot one down and then defensively replays.Go on the offensive.) ‘Some things really are too Wangcong, professional’: That’s what can possibly give you an overnight profit. Not only consulting fees for allocations but OK that too and in the bargain you pick up so many qualitative eyeballs from hundreds if not thousands of further people that stopping to write something else good ruts the season prospects as much as sales now at most firms.
Everyone agrees that only those businesses who have grasped such a change through their products, marketing and publications, and swiftly moved their companies-today these are all in the hands of IT-will be even more successful when future changes come along. This is a zero-click revolution; why not make it work for you, or your company?
Ready to grab the spotlight with featured snippets and win zero-click searches? Contact us now and own Australia’s digital stage!
