What Are Google AI Overviews? Everything SEOs Need to Know

Meet Google’s AI Overviews, the AI-generated snapshots that reach more than 2.5 billion users each month while challenging businesses to optimize their site (and brand) for a spot on some of the highest-value real estate in search.

Discover the ins and outs of AI Overviews now:

What are AI Overviews?

AI Overviews, formerly called Search Generative Experience, are AI-powered snapshots that use generative AI to answer user queries with links to referenced sources.

Where do AI Overviews appear?

AI Overviews often appear at the top of search results on Google and are sought-after spots by brands as 60% of U.S. adults read these AI summaries.

How do AI Overviews affect traffic?

AI Overviews affect site traffic by encouraging zero-click searches. A range of studies have found AI Overviews to reduce click-through rates (CTRs) anywhere from 30% to 60%.

As using AI in search becomes more popular, it’s expected for businesses to continue seeing a decline in traffic. That’s why companies need to shift their success metrics and adopt AI search and SEO optimization.

What ranking factors do AI Overviews use?

AI Overviews use several ranking factors to generate responses, including:

• AI models, like Gemini and PaLM 2
• Google Search ranking systems, like Helpful content and PageRank
• Databases, like Google Knowledge Graph
• Topic, like if it’s a Your Money, Your Life (YMYL) query
• Search intent, like informational, transactional, or navigational
• Multimedia, like videos, images, and even GIFs
• Schema markup, like LocalBusiness

Note: Official Google documentation confirms some of these factors.

🎥 Watch: 5 Factors That Impact Google AI Overviews

Should I opt-out of Google’s AI Overviews?

While Google is exploring controls for opting out of its generative search features, our team recommends optimizing for AI Overviews to encourage brand discovery.

As this ecommerce case study for AI search optimization shows, appearing in AI-generated answers can help businesses stay visible earlier in the research process, even before users are ready to click or buy.

How do I appear in AI Overviews?

Here’s a list of best practices to improve your visibility in AI Overviews.

1. Answer search intent

AI Overviews are about giving users exactly what they want in search results in as few clicks as possible. Replicate that in your web content by immediately addressing user search intent.

Do your due diligence and conduct in-depth keyword research to understand what users are looking for when they search those terms, then translate your findings into your work. Your content is for people first and search engines second. So, give the people what they want!

A great structure to remember when creating content is to pose the main question in your headings and immediately answer them in subsequent paragraphs. For example:

Heading: What is social media marketing?

Following text: Social media marketing is [your definition].

Once you’ve answered the user’s initial question, you can dive into other related questions they may have. You can check the subsections in the AI Overviews section to identify other topics you need to cover to create comprehensive content for your audience.

For example, I decided to write a blog article on the history of pumpkin carving during Halloween. While Google’s snapshot gave me a brief overview, the elaboration at the bottom offers great stepping stones for additional information to include in my content.

Need help with your keyword research? Check out WebFX’s keyword suggestion tool, KeywordsFX!

2. Incorporate first-hand experience

Often, when you’re preoccupied with the minutiae of writing for your website, it can be easy to forget about adding personal touches, like first-hand perspectives. Not only does this add personality to your page, but it can add immense value for your readers.

Your content should include first-hand experiences and perspectives. Sure, Google’s generative AI search tools may be able to compile a list of products and use existing pages to tell you why they’re good, but they can’t replicate genuine human emotion, opinion, and experience.

Add value to your content and make it more enticing than Google’s AI Overviews adding your unique perspective to your content.

Adding your unique perspective to your content can add value for your readers, make it more enticing than Google’s AI-powered snapshots, and connect with your audience in a way that generative AI can’t.

3. Use natural, conversational language

Google’s generative AI search functions mark another major shift toward user-focused search experiences. With a literal chat function available to help users browse the web more interactively, making sure to speak their language is crucial.

Optimize your content for humans first and search engines second by using natural language to address user needs, questions, and search intent. Doing so helps create a one-on-one dialogue that resonates with searchers and invites further interaction with your content.

While improving user experience (UX), using natural language will also help Google better understand the content to index your page correctly.

4. Include long-tail keywords

Along with using conversational language, you should target relevant long-tail keywords in your content to better match in-depth queries.

The power of long-tail keywords can’t be understated — these keywords lead to more specific, detailed search queries because they imitate how users pose questions to Google. This construction typically means lower search volumes and higher conversion rates for ranking sites.

Long-tail keywords like “how to create a good social media post” demonstrate a more specific user search intent than broader terms like “social media post.” As more people interact with AI Overviews, matching user verbiage and cadence will become all the more important for websites targeting those keywords.

5. Employ SEO best practices

One of the common AI ranking factors across different AI platforms is SEO.

Based on our research, websites that ranked well in search results appeared more often in AI experiences, such as AI Overviews. Other reports support this claim: 75% of AI Overview links come from the top 12 organic rankings.

The possible reason is that well-optimized websites publish helpful and insightful content for their target audience. Their pages showcase expertise and experience.

In addition, these sites have solid on-page, off-page, and technical SEO.

6. Improve readability

Great! You’ve drafted optimized content. Now, improve its readability.

A free tool like Readability Test Tool will score your content’s readability and provide a starting point for improving its readability. Improved readability helps the large language models powering AI Overviews understand your content.

7.  Join Google Knowledge Graph

Since its start as Google Search Generative Experience, AI Overviews have used Google Knowledge Graph as a reference point. Entering Google Knowledge Graph (which requires being recognized as an entity) can improve your visibility in Google’s generative AI results.

Common tactics for getting recognized as an entity include:

• Creating social media profiles
• Adding Organization schema to your site
• Building an “About Us” page on your site
• Growing a reputable backlink profile

Once recognized, you can claim the generated Google Knowledge Panel.

8. Embrace change

Finally, if there’s one key point you should take away from this page, you shouldn’t be opposed to change. Google’s generative AI integrations are changing how users search and view information, and even how they shop and try on clothing online.

Stay ahead of the curve and experiment with your SEO strategy to see how new and existing content appears on search engines and how your site ranks. By doing so, you can:

• Lessen the impact AI Overviews have on your overall SEO
• Identify new opportunities to increase your site’s visibility
• Stay a step ahead of competitors

Independent research from Clutch has named WebFX the top SEO company in the United States.

Clutch has personally interviewed more than 250 WebFX clients to discuss their experience partnering with us.

Read More Clutch Reviews

How can I track AI Overview appearances?

Your impressions, clicks, and average position data from AI Overviews and AI Mode (Google’s new AI search experience), are available on Google Search Console.

However, Google Search Console does not support filtering, which means businesses can’t extract their AI Overview appearances from the rest of their search data (though Google is rolling out a Generative AI report).

The alternative to tracking AI Overview appearances is to use a third-party AI visibility tool, like Ahrefs, Semrush, and OmniSEO®. While there are some free platforms, most users use a paid version for additional tracking.

Get discovered in AI Overviews

Appear in AI Overviews and other AI-powered search experiences with WebFX’s award-winning team. With a catalog of case studies on generative engine optimization and a 93% client satisfaction rate, we’re a trusted partner for businesses across industries.

Discover what’s waiting with our AI search optimization services by contacting us online today!