Featured snippet keeps appearing then disapearing anyone seen that?

davids355

davids355

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One of my sites is listed in the featured snippet box one minute, then next time I check it has moved down to #6. But when it moves to #6 there is no featured snippet remaining in its place.
It seems like the inclusion of a featured snippet is being turned on and off periodically. Anyone seen that before?
 
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Observing this since last 3-4 days. It appears for sometime and then goes away.
 
davids355 said:
One of my sites is listed in the featured snippet box one minute, then next time I check it has moved down to #6. But when it moves to #6 there is no featured snippet remaining in its place.
It seems like the inclusion of a featured snippet is being turned on and off periodically. Anyone seen that before?
Click to expand...
I've been having this for one of my sites on a tough KW when it started ranking. After a few days of jumping here and there it stayed as featured snippet for a month now.
 
I''ve noticed some keywords in my niche that normally have featured snippets no longer do, at least temporarily.
 
I am assuming it is still in top 10 results? If so, there's no need to worry about it too much.
Edit: As you know, snippets are shown at Google's discretion.

Google re-arranges search results for a lot of reasons. Here are some:

1. You searched once, and then searched for the same term again. Google decided the first time around, you didn't get what you wanted (because otherwise, you won't search for the same query, would you?), and so, re-arranged the results for you.

2. A part of the search results is always under "test" for validating updates to existing algorithms. Your search query and its SERPs happened to be part of that.

3. Google personalized it based on the first "you" and the "second" you. (Some possible factors it takes into account: Sites previously visited, location, browser, connection speed)

4. Multiple data centers are serving the results for your query and so, the SERPs are different.

5. Random shuffling of results is done for certain queries, when Google decides it needs more data. This could be the result of that.

So, as long as you didn't build any bad links to the page, or change the page's internal structure too much, you should be good.

I am sure you are watching the number one result in SERPs to make sure you are not missing out on anything.
 
I had read about featured snippets disappearing in a post online csnt remember where, but this has been witnessed by others too
 
Does the snippet appear then disappear quickly? I found this on Google support.

Also, anyone know why I had this:?

The owner of this website has banned you temporarily from accessing this website. (Cloudflare)

Edit: it was to get on here (BHW)
 
Last edited:
Seeing this from last couple of months.
 
yep.

my biggest keyword used to do this often. i would get shoved down to #4-6. then the next day i would get the #0 spot.

annoying as fuck
 
davids355 said:
One of my sites is listed in the featured snippet box one minute, then next time I check it has moved down to #6. But when it moves to #6 there is no featured snippet remaining in its place.
It seems like the inclusion of a featured snippet is being turned on and off periodically. Anyone seen that before?
Click to expand...
wow. funny i just commented but did a refresh of my keywords and literally shit is happening to me right now. hasnt happened in while but is now. i just went from #4 to #0
 
Yeah, seen this across a few websites and have just put it down to "snippet dance".

CTR being tested to see if position 0 is the correct place for it. However, that throws up another question... Does google want snippets to have the right answer, but low CTR? Keeping people on Google is the main aim I presume.
 
I think Google is testing the retention, to find out which one is better
 
I've seen this on my own sites over the last couple of years, it rarely happens with a keyword, I've noticed it mainly on keywords without a very clear search intent. I assume google is trying to find that search intent using featured snippets. The first time I noticed it, I was on page 2 with a featured snippet.

I've also noticed it's location based. E.G I can permanently see one, and my friend sees another websites featured snippet, we are in the same country etc. So I think they may be testing some sort of search intent based on an individual basis using an individual search history to predict what the search intent might be. Will be mighty powerful if that's what they are doing, it would provide a tailored experience for each user.
 
Facing the same issues. The top 3 of one of my keywords keep switching the spot in the featured snippet in the day
 
reuse said:
I am assuming it is still in top 10 results? If so, there's no need to worry about it too much.
Edit: As you know, snippets are shown at Google's discretion.

Google re-arranges search results for a lot of reasons. Here are some:

1. You searched once, and then searched for the same term again. Google decided the first time around, you didn't get what you wanted (because otherwise, you won't search for the same query, would you?), and so, re-arranged the results for you.

2. A part of the search results is always under "test" for validating updates to existing algorithms. Your search query and its SERPs happened to be part of that.

3. Google personalized it based on the first "you" and the "second" you. (Some possible factors it takes into account: Sites previously visited, location, browser, connection speed)

4. Multiple data centers are serving the results for your query and so, the SERPs are different.

5. Random shuffling of results is done for certain queries, when Google decides it needs more data. This could be the result of that.

So, as long as you didn't build any bad links to the page, or change the page's internal structure too much, you should be good.

I am sure you are watching the number one result in SERPs to make sure you are not missing out on anything.
Click to expand...
Great answer
 
Its google still testing out placements for specific terms. There seems to be 4-5 different templates I've noticed that they are running at the moment to test different things like for me at the moment I'm not seeing FS anywhere and the links at the bottom of the page (fore related search) are Black!

I don't think they can work out the best format depending on the niche, search query and results.

So from my own experience I think it's normal to see it bounce around or the FS being turned on and off!

I'm sure Dr Pete from Moz covered something similar on twitter a few months back also
 
Google changes the look of SERPs, so they might offer a featured snippet today, but decide to remove the featured snippet for the same keyword tomorrow. The same goes for other SERP features, such as Google maps, people also ask etc.
 
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