Arc 3 Communications

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Our Founder
    • Our Approach
    • Our Values
  • Services
    • Content
    • Digital
    • Advocacy
  • Our Work
    • Content
    • Digital
    • Advocacy
  • Blog
    • Archive Page
  • Contact Us

How to Get Your Trade Association’s Content in Google’s Search Position Zero

February 22, 2021 By Patrick L. Burns Leave a Comment

In recent years, Google has been trying to find ways to get people the answers they are looking for without having to leave the Google search engine results page (SERP). One way they use to achieve this is the featured snippet. These can appear with traditional Google searches or voice searches which are growing in popularity. Featured snippets are boxes of text that answer a query and appear above the coveted top three results on the SERP. This has come to be known as “position zero”. These featured snippets pull the answer to the query from a content piece on a website and post the “snippet” along with a link to the full piece in a box at the top of the page. This allows people to get the answers they are looking for quickly without having to go to any website, but if they wish to know more, they can follow the link to the full piece.

While there is no exact science to getting your association’s content into featured snippets, there are things you can do to greatly improve your chances.

Understanding What a Featured Snippet Is

Before you can begin to think about trying to earn a featured snippet, you should know a few things about them. Featured snippets are usually answers to who, what, when, where, why, and how questions. Google ranks websites and content based on the reputation and factualness of the content and from there pulls answers to feature in the snippet. For example:

If you search “Why join a trade association?”

You will see this featured snippet appeared at the top of the page. This particular snippet was pulled from www.americanbusinessmag.com and features a basic answer to the question “Why Join a Trade Association?”. It also gives the user the chance to follow the link to learn more, thus increasing chances of someone visiting your website.

Snippets can appear in different forms including paragraph snippets like the one above, numbered or bulleted lists, and tables. Which snippet type that your content is featured in will depend on the type of content you create.

How to “Own” the Featured Snippet

As previously stated, there is not an exact science to winning the featured snippet, but there are steps you can take with your association’s content to increase your chances.

  1. Find out what people want to know

For this first step, you really have to think like your audience; this could be existing members or potential members. Think of the questions you receive and try to focus strong content around answering those questions. Again, featured snippets are answers to who, what, when, where, why, and how questions. Keep this in mind when brainstorming potential audience questions. A good resource for finding what people are asking is www.answerthepublic.comwhere you can search specific terms and see what people are searching for regarding that term.

We searched “trade associations” and you can see a part of the wheel we got as a result. This image includes the who and how results. One popular question is “what do trade associations do?” so that may be a good topic for content for you to focus on.

  1. Research Snippets in Your Industry

A good way to find opportunities for snippets for your association is to go to Google and begin typing the questions that you came up with. This will allow you to see if there are existing snippets or if there is an open opportunity for you to own the snippet. Even if there are existing snippets, if you tailor you content right, you can still take control of that snippet. Also be sure to pay attention to the “People also ask” section that appears further down the SERP. Below is the “People also ask” box that appears when we entered the question “What is a trade association?”

This section also pulls from existing content online so there is also potential to have your content featured as an answer here as well.

  1. Strong Website, Strong Content, Strong SEO

One of the most important factors in having your association’s content chosen for the featured snippet is making sure your website is optimized, easy to navigate, and functioning well. This is one of the first things Google looks at when determining whether your page should appear on the first page of the SERP or in the featured snippet. If your website is slow and not user friendly by Google’s terms, even if your content is outstanding, you may be overlooked when it comes to the featured snippet. Not only that, but your website will get pushed further back on the SERP making it hard to find and less likely to be visited.

Also, devoting time to keyword research and using popular keywords in your content will help not only win the featured snippet, but also rank you higher on the Google SERP. Using backlinks, cross-linking, and releasing content consistently and regularly can also go far to increase your ranking and raising you up on the search engine results page (SERP).

You Can Do It

It takes work, but you can earn the featured snippets and even improve your position on Google’s search engine results page at the same time. There are many other factors that improve your chances for securing snippets and improving your SEO. If you would like further information or help with your association’s website or content marketing, contact us here.

Filed Under: Public Affairs Tagged With: Assnchat, Associations, Content, Content Marketing, Content Marketing and Associations, Google, public affairs, SERP, Trade Associations

How to Show Your Members More Value During the COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis Now

April 6, 2020 By Patrick L. Burns Leave a Comment

COVID-19 has caused associations across the country to cancel annual conferences and other important member activities to protect the well-being of their members and themselves. With uncertainty as to when large gatherings will be allowed to take place again,There are many ways an association can show their worth and maintain relationships with members and sponsors alike. Below we have listed some ideas that will help you show your value in these challenging times to your members and potential future members.

1. Virtual Meetings and Webinars

Many people have taken to the popular video meeting app, ZOOM, as a way to conduct business meetings and keep things running as smoothly as possible. ZOOM allows multiple people to join in a video conference together where they can choose to share video and audio as they meet with others. There are share screen options so sponsors and members can give presentations they have prepared to up to 100 participants at a given time. This tool can be utilized in a number of ways for your association such as hosting member webinars, association meetings, courses, and other events. This is not the only digital conference tool available, and there are many available if you have specific needs to be met. ZOOM is free to use for 40-minute group meetings or an unlimited one to one meeting. There are premium paid options that allow for longer meet times and more participants. Virtual meetings, webinars, and courses are a great option to keep members engaged and feeling valued.

2. Keep Communications Open

Whether or not you have had to cancel events or not, it is very wise to keep communication with your members and sponsors open during this time. Providing them with updates, news, and plans show them that you are considering them and their well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. A weekly email update is a great way to keep in touch and let your association members and sponsors know if and when things change and what the association’s plan is if they do have to cancel or reschedule an event. If an event is canceled, many members and sponsors may want their money back, or they may be looking for other ways you can get them what they’d hoped to get out of the canceled event. This is where hosting a virtual meet and greet could come into play or scheduling a presentation by your sponsors to the group they had hoped to target at your event. There are many options you can offer before giving an automatic refund that could be more beneficial to your sponsors and members and really show them that you are working your way through the challenge to bring them value. They will respect your dedication and it will strengthen the relationships you have.

3. Be Empathetic and Provide Resources 

Many of your members and sponsors are part of companies that are dealing with their own challenges that have arisen due to COVID-19. Some businesses and companies are having a harder time than others in navigating their way through this crisis, so empathy and useful resources are always welcome. Reach out and let your members and sponsors know you are there for them and send along any resources that might be helpful. There is no shortage of useful information for businesses and companies who are working their way through these uncharted waters; sending them this helpful information can go a long way in showing that you appreciate them and are supporting them. Make sure to word your messages in an empathetic and hopeful way to help alleviate stress and let your members and sponsors know we are all in this together.

Help and Hope

As an association, your members and sponsors are what make your association run. They trust you and look to you in times like this for support and guidance. Doing all you can to show your value will not only keep your members happy but will help strengthen those relationships and cause these members to want to stay with you through thick and thin. It is important in these trying times that we all step up and show our value and help one another through. COVID-19 is unlike anything we have faced in recent times and it is taking a lot of hard work and effort to get through. The more we help each other, the easier overcoming this major challenge will be.

For more help with your association’s needs sign up for our newsletter, follow us on social media or contact us here.

Filed Under: News, Public Affairs Tagged With: Assnchat, Associations, COVID-19, Digital and Public Affairs, Digital and Trade Associations, Digital Media and Trade Associations, public affairs

Newsletter

Want to receive the latest news in digital and public affairs? Sign up to receive our updates.

Recent Posts

  • Arc 3 Communications Celebrates 13-year Business Anniversary
  • Join Our Team! Public Affairs Internship Opportunity in Georgia
  • Announcing New Account Executive for Public Affairs, Christian Frankl
  • What is Public Affairs? (Infographic)
  • What is Public Affairs and Why It is Really Important

About Our Founder

Husband, Father of 5, Founder of Arc 3 Communications - a public affairs agency. Over 30 years in politics and public affairs. Follow me on twitter and instagram at @patricklburns. I live, work and play in the community I grew up in. Read More…

Our Location

We’re located in historic downtown Marietta just off of the Square.

145 Church Street, Suite 290 Marietta Georgia 30060

Let’s Work Together

How can we help? We’d love to hear about your next  project. Contact us here.

 

Connect with Us

Want to keep up with the latest public affairs trends? Follow us across our social networks.

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2025 Arc 3 Communications, LLC