AI Overviews are shaking up the search game. If you’ve been tracking SEO trends, you already know that Google’s AI-generated summaries are taking up major real estate on Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs). And while this could mean fewer clicks overall for traditional organic listings, it also presents a huge opportunity—if you know how to play the game.
Here’s how to optimize for AI Overviews and make sure your content stays visible.
What Are AI Overviews and Why Do They Matter?
AI Overviews (AIOs) are Google’s new AI-powered summaries that appear at the top of search results. Instead of just displaying a list of links, these overviews generate concise answers by pulling from multiple sources. This is great for users who want quick answers but can be a nightmare for brands that rely on organic clicks for website traffic.
The challenge:
AI Overviews take up space where organic search results used to shine.
Recent studies reveal a significant shift in search behavior: when AI-generated overviews provide direct answers, nearly one-third of users (about 30%) choose not to click through to external websites. This trend aligns with broader research showing that “zero-click searches” are becoming more common, reducing organic web traffic by as much as 25%. As AI-powered search continues to evolve, businesses and content creators must adapt their strategies to capture audience attention within search results themselves.
If your content isn’t included in an AI Overview, your organic traffic could take a serious hit.
The opportunity:
If your content is featured in the AI Overview, you might actually see more traffic than without an AI Overview.
Lower-ranking results (positions 3-10) tend to get more clicks when there’s an AIO at the top than when there’s no AIO.
In other words, if the AI Overview doesn’t sufficiently answer their query, users now seem willing to scroll down further to find what they’re looking for.
If you optimize your content for AI, your site could be referenced within AI Tools directly as well (Chat GPT, Claude, Perplexity, etc) – not just Google’s AI Overview.
So, how do you make sure your content is AI-friendly? Let’s get into it.
How to Optimize for AI Overviews
1. Create AI-Friendly Content
AI favors content that is:
Clear & scannable – Use bullet points, numbered lists, and short paragraphs. Avoid overly complex grammar and run-on sentences, which are harder for AI and users) to interpret.
Expert-driven – Google prioritizes content with clear expertise (E-E-A-T: Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trustworthiness).
Comprehensive but concise – Cover the topic thoroughly, but avoid unnecessary fluff.
Well structured – Use frequent hierarchical headings (H2s, H3s, H4s) to structure your content and indicate which parts are the most important.
Pro tip: AI Overviews tend to pull from sources that provide straightforward, structured answers. If your content is buried in a long, essay-style format, AI is less likely to pick it up.
2. Use Schema Markup
Schema helps search engines understand the structure of your content. The right markup can increase your chances of being featured in AI Overviews.
Best schema types for AI inclusion:
How-To (for step-by-step guides)
FAQ (for question-based content)
Q&A (for community-style discussions)
Reviews & Ratings (if relevant to your content)
SameAs (to connect your brand identity across the web)
Action step: Use schema markup to explicitly tell AI what your content is about, and who your brand is. AI is more likely to pull from well-structured data.
3. Optimize for Long-Tail & Conversational Queries
AI Overviews are context-driven, meaning they often surface content that directly answers specific, natural-language questions.
Target long-tail keywords – Think “How does X work?” or “Best way to do Y.”
Write like people talk – AI prefers content that sounds natural and answers common user questions.
Create unique content – Identify questions and topics that are highly specific and relatively unique, so there are fewer sources competing for AI inclusion.
Use AI for topical research – Try asking ChatGPT or Google about topics you’re considering, then create content around the questions AI struggles to answer.
Example: Instead of writing “SEO Tips,” go for “How to optimize blog content for AI Overviews”—it’s specific and matches how users search.
4. Track & Measure AI Traffic
AI-driven search traffic doesn’t always show up neatly in Google Analytics. To track it properly:
Set up a custom channel group in GA4 to isolate traffic driven by AI Tools.
Monitor SERP Features in a traffic reporting tool (such as SEMrush) to see how often your site is featured in AI Overviews.
Use Google Search Console to track impressions where AI Overviews are present.
Why this matters: Without tracking AI-driven traffic separately, it will be hard to know what’s working and the value of that traffic.
5. Share Your Content Everywhere
AI Overviews don’t just pull from websites—they source information from Reddit, Quora, LinkedIn, and even YouTube. The more places your content exists, the more credibility it has in the eyes of AI. To increase your chances of being featured:
Repurpose content – Turn blog posts into LinkedIn articles, Twitter threads, and YouTube videos.
Engage in online discussions – Answer industry questions on forums where AI pulls information.
Get media mentions – AI Overviews favor content referenced in multiple places, especially from credible, well-known sources.
Bottom line: Goodcontent can’t just live on your website anymore. To truly succeed it needs to be distributed and referenced across the web.
Looking Ahead: The Future of AI and Generative Search
Google is expanding AI Overviews and introducing AI Mode for Search in 2025. Beyond Google, users are also turning directly to AI Tools as search engine. AI-driven search isn’t just a passing trend—it’s the new normal.
What to expect:
Organic search traffic will continue shifting away from traditional blog-style content.
AI Tools (like Perplexity and ChatGPT) will become bigger traffic sources.
Brands that adapt quickly will gain visibility in places their competitors aren’t even thinking about yet.
Final Takeaway
AI Overviews aren’t going away, and SEO is evolving faster than ever. If you want your content to stay relevant:
Ensure your content scannable, structured, and easy to digest.
Use schema markup to help AI understand your content and brand.
Focus on long-tail, natural-language queries.
Track AI-driven traffic – for Google’s AI Overview and for AI Tools.
Distribute your content across multiple platforms.
Even if your overall organic traffic is down since the global expansion of AIOs around October 2024, the quality can compensate for quantity in this new search landscape. We have noticed a fairly widespread drop in organic sessions, however drops in traffic may be accompanied by increases in engagement and revenue – if your site is well-optimized for AI.
The brands that embrace these changes now will be the ones that win in the new AI-driven search landscape. Don’t wait until your organic traffic causes bigger problems — get ahead and start optimizing for AI today.
Not an expert in AI and generative search optimization? Connect with a search expert to personally review opportunities for your website.
