Mastering SEO for Google’s AI Overviews
(Originally published Oct 2024, Updated May 2025)
Search has changed again with AI Overview, becoming more and more prevalent. As businesses adjust to this change, it’s more important than ever to know how to optimise your content so it gets noticed and featured in these AI-powered results.
At Koozai, our experts have been looking at these changes and have both a comprehensive whitepaper on Mastering SEO for Google’s AI Overview which goes deeper into the actionable steps, and our video which explains the inner workings of Search Generative Experience (SGE) and how to leverage it.
We are also pleased to announce the introduction of our new, tried and tested, AI Overview Optimisation Audit. A new audit that allows us to show you, with a prioritised list of recommendations, how you can be cited yourself.
Introducing Our AI Overview Optimisation Audit
Our comprehensive audit service evaluates your website’s readiness for AI Overview inclusion and provides actionable recommendations to improve your chances of appearing in these valuable search positions.
What’s included in our audit:
- Opportunity analysis: Identifying which of your target keywords trigger AI Overviews and which could do with some changes
- Competitor assessment: Analysing which competitors currently appear in AI Overviews
- Content evaluation: Assessing your existing content against AI Overview requirements and highlighting opportunities
- Technical review: Examining the technical factors that influence AI Overview selection
- Structured data assessment: Ensuring your markup supports AI understanding
- Prioritised action plan: Focusing on quick wins and high-impact changes
The Benefits of Our AI Overview Audit
- Stay ahead of competitors by optimising for this emerging search feature
- Identify untapped opportunities for visibility in your industry
- Receive expert guidance tailored to your specific content and business goals
- Get clear, actionable recommendations prioritised by potential impact
- Future-proof your SEO strategy for the continued changes in AI search
The Complete Guide to Understanding and Optimising for AI Overviews
Google AI Overviews are AI-generated summaries that appear at the top of search results for certain queries. Unlike traditional featured snippets that pull content from a single source, AI Overviews combine information from multiple trusted websites to create comprehensive answers to users’ questions.
When Google determines that an AI-generated response would be particularly helpful, these overviews appear above standard organic results, displaying a summary of information with attribution links to the various sources referenced in the content.
How Do AI Overviews Work?
Google’s AI systems scan the web for relevant, authoritative content that addresses specific user queries. When a search is performed, the system:
- Determines whether the query would benefit from an AI-generated overview
- Identifies multiple trustworthy sources with relevant information
- Collates content from these sources into a clear summary
- Provides attribution links to the original sources This process creates a new layer in search results, positioned prominently above traditional organic listings, offering users quick access to comprehensive information while still directing them to the original sources for further reading.
When Do AI Overviews Appear in Search Results?
AI Overviews don’t appear for every search query. They’re most commonly triggered by:
- Informational queries seeking factual answers, explanations, or guidance
- Question-based searches where users explicitly ask “how,” “what,” “why,” etc.
- Complex topics that benefit from combining information from multiple sources
- Searches where user intent is clearly informational rather than transactional or navigational
Google’s systems continuously evaluate which queries would benefit from AI Overviews, so their frequency may expand over time as the feature develops.
How Are AI Overviews Different from Featured Snippets?
The key difference is that AI Overviews create new content by gathering information from various sources, while featured snippets directly quote content from a single webpage.
| Feature | AI Overviews | Featured Snippets |
|---|---|---|
| Content source | Multiple websites | Single website |
| Content presentation | AI-collated summary | Direct excerpt from webpage |
| Attribution | Multiple clickable links | Single source citation |
| Position in SERP | Top of results | Top of organic results (below AI Overview when both appear) |
| Content selection | AI-driven combination | Algorithm-selected excerpt |
Why Are AI Overviews Important for Businesses?
Being referenced in AI Overviews presents several significant opportunities:
- Enhanced visibility at the very top of search results
- Increased credibility as a trusted source selected by Google
- Traffic potential through attribution links
- Competitive advantage over businesses not optimised for inclusion
- Future-proofing your SEO strategy as AI continues to reshape search
As search behaviour changes, users may increasingly rely on these AI-generated summaries for quick answers, making visibility within them very valuable.
How Can I Track If My Website Appears in AI Overviews?
Currently, appearances in AI Overviews are tracked in Google Search Console under standard search results. When users see your link in an AI Overview and click through to your site, this is recorded as an impression and click in your performance reports. However, Search Console doesn’t specifically distinguish between AI Overview appearances and standard organic results. This makes it challenging to isolate the impact of them on your overall search performance without manual tracking.
What Factors Influence Inclusion in AI Overviews?
While Google hasn’t provided explicit ranking factors, our analysis suggests several key elements that influence inclusion.
Ranking Factors for AI Overview Success
At Koozai, we’ve seen evidence of sites gaining success by implementing these ranking strategies to optimise content for AI Overviews:
Step 1: Already Rank Well in Organic Search
While AI Overview rankings differ from regular search results, our research shows that strong organic rankings still serve as a prerequisite. The AI relies on existing organic signals, such as authoritative backlinks, site speed, and content relevance, when generating responses.
Step 2: Write Concisely with High Readability
AI Overviews prioritise clear, concise language. Short sentences, simple vocabulary, and straightforward points increase the likelihood that your content will be selected. Google’s AI often highlights specific paragraphs, focusing on short, easy-to-interpret segments of content.
Use tools like Grammarly to ensure your content is highly readable. Break complex information into bullet points or short paragraphs, making it easier for Google’s AI to pull precise answers.
Step 3: Front-Load Information
Google’s AI Overviews often extract answers from the first few paragraphs of a page. Summarise key points or the answer to the search query early on to increase the chances of being featured.
Try optimising the opening paragraphs of a blog post to directly answer user queries and focus on clear, concise responses.
Step 4: Optimise for Specific Queries
Target specific, focused search terms that are likely to trigger an AI Overview. Make sure your content directly addresses the user’s intent and answers the question clearly.
Step 5: Use Multimedia to Stand Out
Incorporating images and videos into your content can improve your chances of being included in AI Overview results that feature visual elements. Ensure that visuals are well-optimised with appropriate alt text and file names to maximise their impact.
Step 6: Submit Changes for Quick Indexing
Changes to your content can start reflecting in Google’s AI Overviews relatively quickly, but to speed up the process, it’s essential to submit updates to Google Search Console. This will prompt Google to re-index your page, which could result in your content being picked up by the AI more quickly.
Don’t leave your SEO success to chance. Every time you make a significant update to your content, use Search Console’s “Request Indexing” feature to ensure that Google reprocesses your page quickly.
Step 7: Address Google’s Changing Algorithms
Google’s AI Overviews are powered by advanced AI models like Gemini, which are continuously improving. It’s important to stay on top of these changes and adapt your strategy as new updates roll out. Our team at Koozai monitors these shifts and helps businesses stay ahead with agile SEO strategies.
What should I do to be featured in AI Overviews?
Here’s our quick list of things to look at in the first instance:
Content Quality and Relevance
- Direct answers to specific questions
- Comprehensive coverage of topics
- Factual accuracy and up-to-date information
- Clear expertise, experience, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness (E-E-A-T)
- Unique insights not found elsewhere
Content Structure and Formatting
- Clear headings that directly address user questions
- Concise paragraphs with focused information
- Effective use of lists for steps, comparisons, or key points
- Tables for organised data presentation, where appropriate
- Visual elements that enhance understanding</li>
Technical Foundations
- Mobile-friendly pages
- Fast loading speeds
- Proper indexing and crawlability
- Logical site architecture
- Effective internal linking
Structured Data and Schema
- Implemented schema markup relevant to your content
- FAQPage schema for question-and-answer content
- HowTo schema for instructional content
- Article schema for news and informational content</li>
- Effective internal linking
Can I Optimise My Content Specifically for AI Overviews?
Yes, you can enhance your content’s chances of appearing in AI Overviews through strategic optimisation:
Content Development Strategies
- Answer questions directly and comprehensively Create content that directly addresses common questions in your industry, providing thorough answers backed by evidence, examples, or data.
- Structure content logically with clear headings Use question-based H2 and H3 headings that match common search queries, followed by direct answers in the subsequent paragraphs.
- Demonstrate expertise and authority Showcase your credentials, experience, and expertise throughout your website. Include author bios, case studies, and testimonials that reinforce your authority.
- Provide unique insights Go beyond basic information to offer unique perspectives, original research, or expert analysis that adds value beyond what’s commonly available.
- Improve content regularly Keep information current and accurate, particularly for topics that evolve over time.
Technical Optimisation Tips
- Implement relevant schema markup Add structured data that helps Google understand your content type and purpose.
- Ensure mobile optimisation Make sure your content displays properly and loads quickly on mobile devices.
- Improve site speed Optimise images, leverage browser caching, and minimise code to enhance page loading times.
- Create logical internal linking structures Connect related content pieces with descriptive anchor text to help search engines understand content relationships.
Common Questions About AI Overviews
Are AI Overviews available worldwide?
AI Overviews are gradually rolling out across various regions and languages. While initially more prevalent in English-language searches, Google is expanding their availability to additional languages and markets.
Do AI Overviews replace traditional SEO?
No, AI Overviews complement rather than replace traditional SEO practices. The fundamental principles of creating high-quality, user-focused content remain essential. AI Overviews simply add another layer of opportunity for visibility.
Can small businesses compete for inclusion in AI Overviews?
Yes, AI Overviews focus on content quality and relevance rather than just domain authority. Small businesses with exceptional, authoritative content in specific niches can absolutely appear in AI Overviews alongside larger competitors.
Will AI Overviews reduce organic traffic?
While some users may find their answers directly in AI Overviews without clicking through to websites, the attribution links provide new visibility opportunities that can actually increase traffic, particularly for websites that might not have ranked in the top organic positions previously.
How quickly will optimisation changes impact AI Overview inclusion?
The timeline varies based on numerous factors, including crawl frequency, content quality, and competition. Generally, you should expect a lag between implementing changes and potentially seeing results in AI Overview appearances.
Is Your Website Ready for AI Overviews?
As Google continues to develop and expand AI Overviews, having a strategy to optimise for inclusion becomes increasingly important for maintaining and growing your search visibility.
Adapting to the Future of Search
While AI Overviews introduce a new challenge to traditional SEO, they also offer an incredible opportunity for businesses to dominate Google search results. By crafting clear, concise, and structured content, your business can increase its chances of being featured in these highly visible AI Overviews. Please see our handy checklist below. 
Want to learn more? Fill in the form below to download this handy checklist that answers the question of “How Can I Rank in Google’s AI Overview?” or take a look at our in-depth whitepaper, “Mastering SEO for Google’s AI Overview”, or watch our video guide to discover how Koozai can help your brand succeed.
Ready to Optimise for AI Overviews?
Don’t miss out on the visibility opportunities presented by Google’s AI Overviews. Contact our team today to schedule your AI Overview Optimisation Audit and take the first step toward enhanced visibility in this important new search feature.
This article was last updated in May 2025. As Google continues to develop AI Overviews, some aspects of how they function may evolve. We’ll keep this guide updated with the latest information.
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