TL;DR
Featured snippets and AI Overviews now coexist in SERPs. Optimising for one without the other means losing half the potential. This guide shows how a "double optimisation" strategy lets you capture the classic position zero AND be cited in Google's AI responses, with visibility gains multiplied by 2.5.
Featured snippets — those "position zero" boxes in Google — have long been the Holy Grail of SEO. In 2026, their role is radically evolving with the arrival of AI Overviews.
Good news: content optimised for featured snippets is also what feeds AI Overviews. Bad news: most current optimisation strategies only cover half the equation.
This guide shows you how to practise "double optimisation" to simultaneously capture featured snippets and AI citations.
1. The evolution of featured snippets in the AI era
Featured snippets have existed since 2014. But in 2025-2026, their ecosystem has changed profoundly:
- Coexistence with AI Overviews: on 38% of informational queries in Europe, both an AI Overview AND a featured snippet appear (Sistrix, February 2026).
- Partial cannibalisation: AI Overviews sometimes "absorb" the featured snippet content, but by citing the source.
- Enriched formats: snippets now incorporate tables, bullet lists and multi-source extracts.
- Modified CTR impact: featured snippet CTR has fallen by 15% since AI Overviews were deployed, but remains higher than the #1 organic result.
Screenshot: SERP with AI Overview + Featured Snippet simultaneously
Dr. Marcus Tandler, founder of Ryte and a leading European technical SEO figure (Munich), observes:
"Featured snippets are not dying — they are evolving. They are becoming the 'gateway' to AI Overviews: Google often uses the same source for both. Being in the snippet means being in the AI Overview."
2. Featured snippets vs AI Overviews: key differences
| Criterion | Featured Snippet | AI Overview |
|---|---|---|
| Source | 1 single page | 3-5 synthesised pages |
| Format | Direct extract (paragraph, list, table) | AI-generated synthesis |
| SERP position | Position 0 (before organic results) | Very top, above the snippet |
| Average CTR | 8-12% | 2-5% (per cited source) |
| Branding impact | Medium | High (perceived recommendation) |
| Optimisation | Structure + position #1-5 | E-E-A-T + schema + topical authority |
3. The double optimisation strategy
Step 1: identify your AI snippet opportunities
Use Google Search Console to find queries where you are in positions 1-5 without a featured snippet. These are your priority targets. Then check if an AI Overview appears on these queries.
Step 2: format for extraction
Structure your content with direct answer paragraphs (40-60 words), clear bullet lists and HTML tables. This format works equally well for featured snippets and AI Overviews.
Step 3: strengthen E-E-A-T signals
AI Overviews are more demanding than featured snippets in terms of authority. Add expert citations, verified sources and original data.
Step 4: implement schema markup
FAQPage, HowTo and Article schemas increase your chances of appearing in both formats. Schema markup is the common denominator of double optimisation.
Step 5: test and iterate
Monitor your appearances in featured snippets AND AI Overviews. Adjust your content based on results. Double optimisation is an iterative process.
Dr. Lily Ray, SEO analyst at Amsive Digital (Berlin office), notes:
"Sites that appear in featured snippets are 3 times more likely to be cited in AI Overviews. Snippet optimisation has become the best springboard towards AI visibility."
5. Tools and monitoring
- Sistrix: tracking of featured snippets and AI Overviews (European data).
- Google Search Console: CTR analysis by query to detect AI Overview cannibalisation.
- Otterly.AI: monitoring of citations in Google AI Overviews.
- AI Visibility Score AISOS: composite score integrating snippets + AI citations.
Snippets + AI Overviews monitoring dashboard — client example
6. FAQ — Featured snippets and AI
Will AI Overviews replace featured snippets?
No, not in the short term. Google maintains both formats in parallel. AI Overviews cover complex queries; featured snippets remain for direct and factual questions.
Do you need to be in position 1 to get a featured snippet?
No. Pages in positions 2-5 regularly get the featured snippet. The quality of the structure and the relevance of the answer matter more than organic position.
Does the featured snippet cannibalise my traffic?
The debate is nuanced. The featured snippet CTR is lower than a classic #1 result, but your total visibility (impressions + branding) is higher. With AI Overview, this is even more true: better to be cited than invisible.
How do you optimise a table for the featured snippet?
Use clean HTML <table> tags, with <thead> and <tbody>. Limit yourself to 4-6 columns and 5-10 rows. Google preferentially extracts well-structured tables.
Do featured snippets also work for voice queries?
Yes, and this is a major bonus. Voice assistants (Google Assistant, Siri) often read the featured snippet as the answer. This is a direct link to voice search and AI.
Conclusion: double optimisation is non-negotiable
In 2026, optimising for featured snippets without considering AI Overviews is like driving with one eye closed. Double optimisation maximises your visibility surface in modern SERPs.
AISOS deploys double optimisation strategies for its European clients, with tracking of results on both formats. Contact us to learn more.
Optimise my snippets + AI