Google results pages are no longer ten blue links. SERP features — snippets, PAA, local packs, video carousels, and AI Overviews — dominate visibility. This playbook maps each feature to content format, schema, and measurement.

→ SERP Features (dictionary) · Featured Snippet Guide · Search Intent Guide · SEO Nepal

SERP feature map

Feature Best for Content format Schema
Featured Snippet Definition, how-to, lists 40–60 word answer + H2 question FAQ, HowTo
People Also Ask Related sub-questions FAQ section with concise answers FAQPage
Local Pack “Near me”, city queries GBP + location pages LocalBusiness
Knowledge Panel Branded entities Wikipedia, Wikidata, consistent NAP Organization
Video Carousel Tutorials, reviews YouTube with chapters + transcript VideoObject
Image Pack Visual products, infographics Optimized images + alt text ImageObject
AI Overview Broad informational Clear structure, citations, E-E-A-T Article, FAQ

Step 1: Audit which features appear for your keywords

Before optimizing, know what Google shows:

  1. Export your top 50–100 target keywords
  2. Search each in incognito (or use a SERP API / rank tracker)
  3. Tag each keyword with dominant feature: Snippet / PAA / Local / Standard / AI Overview
  4. Prioritize keywords where you rank positions 1–10 and a feature is present

Tool stack: Ahrefs SERP features report, Semrush Position Tracking, manual checks for Nepal-local queries.

SERP Features Optimization Playbook (2026): Snippets, PAA, Local Pack & More

Win condition: Rank page one; Google extracts your block.

Query pattern Format to use
“What is X” Paragraph (40–60 words) directly under H2
“How to X” Numbered list (5–8 steps)
“X vs Y” Comparison table
“Best X” Bulleted list with brief descriptors

→ Full playbook: Featured Snippet Optimization Guide

People Also Ask (PAA)

PAA boxes expand into nested questions — each is a content opportunity.

Tactics:

  1. Use AlsoAsked or Ahrefs to export PAA trees for seed keywords
  2. Add an FAQ section with each PAA question as H3
  3. Answer in 2–3 sentences — match snippet length
  4. Implement FAQPage schema (validate in Rich Results Test)

Example structure:

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How much does SEO cost in Nepal?

SEO in Nepal typically costs NPR 15,000–80,000/month depending on scope...

→ Search Intent Guide

Local Pack (Map Pack)

Dominates local intent in Nepal: “digital marketing agency Kathmandu”, “dentist Lalitpur”.

Checklist:

# Action
1 Google Business Profile complete (categories, hours, photos, services)
2 Consistent NAP across site, GBP, directories
3 Location/service area pages with unique content
4 Reviews — respond to all; target 50+ with 4.5+ average
5 Local citations (Nepal business directories)
6 Embed Google Map on contact page

→ Local SEO commercial construction · Google Business Profile (dictionary)

Video & Image Packs

Video: Upload to YouTube with keyword in title, chapters matching steps, full transcript in description, embed on your page.

Images: Unique images, descriptive filenames, alt text, ImageObject schema on key landing pages.

Rich Results (schema-driven)

Schema type Use case
Article / BlogPosting Blog posts
FAQPage FAQ sections
HowTo Step-by-step guides
Product E-commerce
LocalBusiness Service businesses
BreadcrumbList Site hierarchy

Validate every template change in Google Rich Results Test.

→ Schema Markup (dictionary) · Technical SEO Audit

AI Overviews (2026 reality)

AI Overviews appear for broad informational queries. You cannot “apply” for them — Google cites sources it trusts.

What helps:

  • Clear, citable definitions and statistics with sources
  • Strong E-E-A-T (author bios, credentials, update dates)
  • Structured content (H2/H3 hierarchy, tables, lists)
  • Brand authority and backlinks from trusted domains

What to measure: Brand search lift, direct traffic, mentions in AI tools — not just blue-link CTR.

→ Answer Engine Optimization (dictionary)

Prioritization matrix

Your situation Prioritize
Local service business in Nepal Local Pack → PAA → Snippets
B2B SaaS blog PAA → Snippets → AI citation
E-commerce Shopping ads + Product schema + Image pack
Publisher / media Snippets → PAA → Video carousel

Measurement

Track monthly:

  1. SERP feature presence — % of tracked keywords with your URL in a feature
  2. Share of voice — vs. competitors for snippet/PAA ownership
  3. CTR from Search Console — segment by query type (informational vs commercial)
  4. Zero-click estimate — impressions without clicks on snippet-heavy queries

Do not abandon informational content because CTR dropped — measure assisted conversions and branded search.