What Are AI Snippets? 7 Reasons Health Practitioners Need to Care in 2025
You've probably noticed that Google search results look different lately. Instead of just showing a list of websites, Google now often provides direct answers at the top of the page, sometimes even before you click on anything. These are called AI snippets and featured snippets, and they're quietly revolutionising how potential clients discover health practitioners like you.
If you've ever wondered why some practitioners seem to appear everywhere in search results whilst your equally valuable expertise remains hidden, AI snippets might be the missing piece. The good news? You don't need to become a tech expert to benefit from them.
In this article, I'll explain exactly what AI snippets are in simple terms, and share seven compelling reasons why they should be on your radar as a health practitioner. By the end, you'll understand not just what they are, but why they represent one of the biggest opportunities to grow your practice online.
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In this blog, we’ll cover:
What Are AI Snippets? (The Simple Explanation)
Why This Matters for Your Practice
7 Reasons Health Practitioners Need AI Snippets
Quick Wins You Can Implement Today
Now you know - What's Next?
Some Frequently Asked Questions on AI Snippets
What Are AI Snippets? (My Simple Explanation)
Think of AI snippets as Google's way of providing instant answers to people's questions, pulled directly from websites like yours. When someone searches for ‘signs of thyroid problems’ or ‘best foods for hormone balance’, Google might feature your expert answer prominently at the top of the results.
There are two main types you need to know about:
Featured Snippets: These take content directly from one website (hopefully yours) and display it prominently above other search results. It's like Google saying ‘this source has the best answer."
AI Overviews: These are newer and use artificial intelligence to combine information from multiple sources to create comprehensive answers. Your content might be included alongside other experts.
The key thing to understand? Both types can showcase your expertise before people even visit your website, positioning you as a trusted authority in your field.
Why This Matters for Your Practice
Here's the reality: your ideal clients are searching for health information online every single day. They're asking questions like "why am I so tired all the time?" or "what helps with perimenopause symptoms?"
When your expertise appears in these prominent snippet positions, you're not just getting website traffic. You're building trust and credibility before potential clients even know your name. You're demonstrating your knowledge at the exact moment someone needs it most.
For health practitioners who feel invisible online despite their expertise, snippets offer a clear path to greater visibility without having to master complex marketing strategies.
7 Reasons Health Practitioners Need AI Snippets
1. Instant Authority Building
Overview: When your content appears in snippet positions, Google essentially endorses your expertise to thousands of potential clients. This instant credibility is invaluable for health practitioners building their reputation.
Why It Matters: Research shows that content appearing in featured snippets receives significantly higher click-through rates than traditional search results. When someone sees your answer to "early signs of insulin resistance" featured prominently, you're immediately positioned as a trusted expert.
Quick Win: Start answering specific questions your clients ask during consultations. Use the exact language they use when asking these questions as headings in your blog posts.
2. Reach Clients at the Perfect Moment
Overview: Snippets capture people when they're actively seeking solutions to health concerns. Unlike social media, where you're interrupting their day, search snippets meet people exactly when they need help.
Why It Matters: Someone searching "natural ways to improve sleep" is already interested in solutions you provide. When your expertise appears in snippets for these searches, you're connecting with highly motivated potential clients.
Quick Win: Keep a list of the most common questions clients ask you. These represent real search queries that could trigger snippets featuring your expertise.
3. Less Competition Than Traditional Rankings
Overview: While ranking on page one of Google can be incredibly competitive, winning snippet positions often faces less direct competition, especially for specific health questions.
Why It Matters: You might struggle to rank first for "nutritional therapy," but you could easily win snippets for "signs you need a nutritional therapist" or "what to expect from your first nutrition appointment."
Quick Win: Focus on question-based content rather than trying to rank for broad industry terms. Think "How do I know if I have PCOS?" rather than just "PCOS."
4. Showcase Your Unique Approach
Overview: Snippets allow you to demonstrate your specific methodology and approach to health challenges, helping you stand out from generic health information online.
Why It Matters: Instead of competing with massive health websites, you can win snippets by providing more specific, personalised guidance that reflects your unique expertise and experience.
Quick Win: Write content that reflects your specific approach to common health issues. If you specialise in functional medicine approaches to digestive health, create content that showcases this perspective.
5. Build Trust Before the First Click
Overview: When potential clients see your expertise featured in search results, they begin building trust with you before they even visit your website. This pre-established credibility significantly improves conversion rates.
Why It Matters: Health and wellness decisions require high levels of trust. Snippet features help establish your credibility and expertise at the crucial first point of contact.
Quick Win: Ensure your content provides complete, helpful answers rather than teasing information to force website visits. Google rewards genuinely helpful content with snippet features.
6. Perfect for Voice Search Optimisation
Overview: As more people use voice assistants to ask health questions, snippet-optimised content is more likely to be featured in voice search results. This positions you for future search trends.
Why It Matters: Voice searches are typically question-based ("What causes frequent headaches?") which aligns perfectly with snippet-friendly content structure.
Quick Win: Structure your content to answer questions in the same conversational way people ask them aloud. Use natural, spoken language rather than formal medical terminology.
7. Sustainable Long-Term Growth
Overview: Unlike social media trends or paid advertising that require constant investment, snippet positions can provide ongoing visibility with minimal maintenance once achieved.
Why It Matters: Well-optimised content can continue attracting new clients for months or years, providing excellent return on your content creation investment.
Quick Win: Focus on evergreen health topics that remain relevant over time rather than trending topics that quickly lose relevance.
Ready to implement more advanced strategies? My article on SEO basics for nutritionists provides the next level of guidance for building sustainable online growth.
Quick Wins You Can Implement Today
Here are simple actions you can take immediately to start positioning your content for snippet features:
Use Questions as Headings: Take common client questions and use them exactly as subheadings in your blog posts. If clients ask, ‘Why can't I lose weight during perimenopause?’ use that as an H2 heading.
Answer Questions Immediately: Provide a clear, concise answer right after each question heading. Don't make readers scroll through background information to find the actual answer.
Create Simple Lists. When explaining symptoms, treatment steps, or recommendations, use numbered lists or bullet points. Google loves featuring well-structured list content.
Write for Your Clients, Not Search Engines. Use the same language your clients use. If they say ‘brain fog’, don't just use the medical term ‘cognitive dysfunction’.
Be Comprehensive but Concise. Provide complete answers, but keep initial responses focused and digestible. You can expand with additional detail afterwards.
What's Next?
Understanding AI snippets is just the beginning. In part two of this series, we'll dive into the specific optimisation strategies that consistently win snippet positions for health practitioners. You'll learn step-by-step processes, content templates, and measurement techniques to systematically grow your snippet presence.
For now, focus on implementing these quick wins with your existing content. Pay attention to the questions clients ask during consultations, and consider how you could transform those conversations into snippet-worthy content.
Want to discover more insider SEO strategies that most agencies won't share? Download my free ‘5 Google Search Secrets No SEO Agency Will Tell You’ for practical tips you can implement immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need technical skills to optimise for AI snippets? A: No technical skills are required for basic snippet optimisation. Most of the work happens at the content level - how you structure information and answer questions. Focus on clear, helpful content and the technical aspects will largely take care of themselves.
Q: How quickly can I expect to see results? A: Many health practitioners see their first snippet features within 6-12 weeks of implementing these strategies, though some see results much sooner. The key is consistency in creating question-focused, well-structured content.
Q: Will AI snippets help my overall SEO? A: Yes, content that performs well in snippets typically ranks higher for related searches as well. Snippet optimisation and general SEO work together - improving one usually benefits the other.
Q: Should I focus on featured snippets or AI overviews? A: Focus on creating excellent, question-focused content and you'll be positioned for both. The same content strategies that win featured snippets also get included in AI overviews. Don't worry about targeting one over the other.
Sam Ferguson is a website designer and SEO specialist for nutritionists, functional medicine practitioners, and women in wellness. With a unique blend of industry insight and technical expertise, Sam helps clients create impactful websites that attract, engage, and convert. When she’s not designing, you’ll find her sharing practical digital marketing tips to help wellness professionals grow their online presence with confidence.