How to Optimise Your Website for Google AI Overviews

Google’s AI Overviews (formerly called Search Generative Experience or SGE) are all the rage now and have the SEO community in flux. And the thousand-pound gorilla in the room is, how do we rank our website in AI Overviews?

To get your website listed for AI Overviews, you must first rank your website organically, which is no mean feat. Your page must have the exact page intent using clear, unique copy that effectively summarises your page and quickly answers users’ search queries.

In this post, I’ll debunk AI overviews, how they work, the fuss, and finally, how to get your website right up there at the top of the AI overview section. So before you start freaking out and thinking that these overviews will steal all your web traffic, relax as there’s always a solution.

What Are AI Overviews?

SEMrush tells us that The Search Generative Experience (AI Overview) is an experimental search experience that uses generative artificial intelligence (AI) to provide users with quick and clear overviews of search topics, without having to click on individual webpages. An AI overview means that the search results you are looking for on Google will be at the top of the page in a clear, concise format, on top of the organic search results. For SEO enthusiasts and businesses, this has upended the search world, where the goal was to rank a website on page one organically. Now, there’s an added layer where you must also rank in these AI overview results.

AI Overview is Google’s answer and counterpunch to the super-popular ChatGPT and OpenAI and is their attempt to be part of the artificial intelligence race. Google can generate these AI Overview results by trawling all the information online from various websites and Knowledge Graph and displaying the most appropriate results at the very top of the page for search queries.

AI Overview is particularly helpful for users who want quick answers to questions without having to scroll through all the websites below and do their research. Business owners benefit as their published content is front and centre on the AI overview to users with links to their websites. So now you can display your results in the overview and organic results. It’s a win-win if you manage to pull it off.

AI Overviews’ Impact on Search Results

Yes, AI Overviews will significantly impact how search results are displayed. The organic results people clicked on over the lifetime of Google are now further down this page to make room for AI overviews. If you’ve been in the top three results or finally made it to page 1 of Google, this kinda sucks as your rankings are now down the page. Unfortunately, Google keeps changing the appearance of its search results page, so all we have to do is accept and look for ways to be part of its evolution. SEO aficionados tell us businesses will lose up to 30% of traffic when an AI Overview is displayed. Now more than ever, you need to accept that there are new ways to search online via AI websites like Chat GPT. Known as generative engine optimisation, this new search world order is here to stay, and you’ll need to start optimising your website so it appears on these platforms and Google’s AI overview.

SEO v’s GEO

SEO focuses on improving website visibility in traditional search engine organic results on Google, while GEO targets AI-generated responses and generative search platforms like ChatGPT. SEO uses keywords, content and backlinks, whereas GEO emphasises structured data and AI-friendly content formats.

How to Optimise Your Website for AI Overviews

Here’s your 8-step quick checklist to get your content ready for AI Overview.

1. Target High-Intent Questions

People mainly use Google to ask questions, and if you have a service or professional-based business, you want your answers to their questions displayed on the AI Overview. Some of the tools I recommend to see what people are asking on a topic are:

• Google’s People Also Ask and Answer The Public
• Keyword research platforms (SE Ranking, Ahrefs)
• ChatGPT for query ideas

2. Answer First, Expand Later

Don’t fluff around with your answers. Be concise upfront at the beginning of your web page and then expand later within the rest of the text.

3. Use Correct Formats for Humans and AI

• Use H2s and H3s peppered throughout your text.
• Limit paragraphs to 3–4 lines.
• Use clear and concise bullet points and lists to help with Google’s ability to scan the page.

4. Add Visuals

Visuals are a great way to communicate with your audience quickly and are now a super-popular way to captivate your clients. Also, add your videos to your social media accounts like Instagram and TikTok.

• Add images, infographics and graphs.
• Include videos or shorts for complex topics (make sure you also upload the video to YouTube for more engagement.
• Always use alt text and schema markup.

5. Implement Schema Markup

Use structured data:

• FAQ Page
• HowTo
• Ensure you always blog and continuously add content to grow your brand and authority online.

6. Build trust

Trust is a massive factor in getting your website recognised and ranked by Google. Without this trust, you can forget about any AI Overview representation. And link building is the cornerstone of this trust building.

• Link to credible sources in your text
• Add author bios with a link to their LinkedIn or Facebook pages.
• Gain backlinks and genuine reviews (we love TrustPilot as a trusted source of third-party reviews on top of Google reviews)
• Get featured in comparison websites or product reviews.

7. Use AI-Powered SEO Tools

• Surfer SEO, Jasper, Clearscope, SE Ranking

8. Continually Monitor & Adjust

As a busy business, this constant monitoring can be difficult, but you have to do it to ensure that what you are doing works. Try using:

• Google Search Console or Analytics – these are free, and you can easily get in there and see the site data.
• Custom AI Overview tools
• Google the keywords you want to be present for and see if you’re there. If not, get in and adjust the copy. Repeat, repeat and repeat!

Four Types of AI Overview Rankings

Here’s how your website may appear in Google’s AI Overviews. Some are very cool and would drive many customers, resulting in a boom in web traffic.

1. Carousel Links

Carousel links are images with text that you scroll through, and the aim is to be in the first three images.

2. Article Links

Get your website listed under the dropdown menu for each statement in the AI Overview answer. Being at the top is obviously preferable.

3. Product/Business Recommendations

The goal here is for your products or services to be recommended directly by AI Overviews.

4. Branded Searches and Alternatives

This is where AI Overview suggests your business as a follow-up question or alternative option to what’s already presented in the results. You see this where it says; Here are some products to consider.

Focus on your SEO and Socials.

You must have a strong SEO presence for any AI Overview mentions. In other words, you should have your site on page 1 of Google..

If your website about buyers agents in Sydney ranks well on Google for “best buyers agents in Sydney.” These high-ranking keywords will set a strong base for mentioning in the AI Overviews. Your brand must be strong and be known by Google, and to do this, you should also have a strong local brand presence, Google My Business, a decent backlink profile and be active on social media platforms. First, you should get all your social media platforms up and consistently post on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. A good point to note is that AI Overview uses LinkedIn articles for citations. And, the more you post on these socials and the more organic backlinks you can acquire, the more trustworthy your site becomes. Google’s algorithms will notice this authority, which is the best pathway to get into AI overviews.

If you’re in a super competitive niche with existing big brands that have a huge awareness and trust, getting AI Overviews may prove hard, and it can be a lengthy process. But these AI Overviews will be much easier to achieve if you’re looking for local customers in a less competitive niche. For small start-ups on a limited budget, focus on creating the best copy that might earn you an AI Overview mention purely because of the content. The trick is not to be discouraged and keep plugging away by adding content and improving each web page’s topical content.

Best On-Page Optimisation Techniques for AI Overviews

Here’s a comprehensive list of techniques you can try to rank in AI Overviews. Try it once, see if it works, and then try again till you see results.

On-Topic Content for AI Overview

Create on-topic content that precisely addresses the user’s search inquiry.

I keep on going on about this, but content is the key and is super crucial for AI Overview mentions. Each web page must be specific to a topic and never deviate from this path.

For example, when targeting a query like “how to lose 10 kilos in a month,” make an article that discusses this topic and looks at it from all angles. Step-by-step guides are handy and will likely get indexed and appear in the overviews if the content is unique and concise and answers the question with credible information. Try to avoid rambling on and straying from the main topic.

How do I target specific keywords in AI Overviews?

You need to understand what people are asking using these keywords and whether they want to buy or need some information.

The best way to know this is to type the search term into Google and see what comes up in the Overviews and the organic results.

Here’s the best way to optimise for AI Overviews:

All you have to do is research the AI Overviews result for a specific topic and look at the information it displays, section by section.

These AI snapshots will show us what Google thinks users want to read and the web pages that are most relevant to this topic. It’s all there in front of you; you have to look at relevant pages within your website and create similar content. It’s not rocket science, but the trick is the content, and this is where it gets more involved, as your content has to be more informative than what’s displayed.

For example, for a keyword search like “ideas for first-time cat owners”, a short list of tips and hints for cat owners will be displayed on the AI Overview, broken into topic sections like establishing a safe zone, proper care, understanding cats’ needs, and additional tips. There’s even a video on YouTube. It’s super simple, as you match your copy with what’s already there.

If AI Overviews features a paragraph from your website on “the benefits of yoga on your health” and another paragraph from a competitor website with the heading “Tips for Getting Health with Daily Yoga”, take a sneaky peek at what they have written and add this heading with better text to your web page. Yes, it’s cheating, but I assure you it’s the best way to get more listings on AI Overviews. Bolstering your page with added content can only benefit your website, aka ‘information gain‘.

Be Specific and Concise

From what we can see, you don’t want long-winded content with elaborate explanations. Keeping it simple is the key to concise answers to users’ likely questions. Known as ‘semantic similarity‘, it allows Google to comprehend your content easily.

Focus on these points.

• Provide straightforward answers to all questions people may ask.
• Using clear and distinct headings – also know what H1, H2 and H3 headings are
• Offering detailed FAQs at the bottom of the page.

Concise Summaries for Each Page

Use a concise, short introductory paragraph to highlight the page’s topic. Take a quick look at this page at the top, and you’ll see an intro paragraph briefly outlining what the page is all about.

AI Overview results are short and snappy, and if Google can scan this intro paragraph easily and the content is straightforward, the chances of you appearing in the AI Overview will increase if you have addressed the user’s intent. Many blog posts have this; you’ll notice it when they say “Key Takeaways” or “Brief Outline.”

In an article about “Choosing curtains for your home,” the first paragraph could summarise the key points about why these curtains are perfect for your home, their UV and sunblock benefits, and a brief overview of the styles, colours and some examples.

Having a poignant introduction aligns with AI Overviews’ preferences. Try it out and see if it works.

Prioritise Important Paragraphs

See if any of your content is displayed in the AI Overviews, then move these paragraphs in your text higher up the page (if needed).

By prominently placing this content at the beginning of your article or web page, you are telling users and Google that it’s a significant page and should be read first, which AI Overviews deems valuable. Most readers skim content, so if it’s placed at the top of the page with some bold, highlighted text, the reader’s eyes will more than likely focus on it.

AI Overview results take content/paragraphs from all over your website for specific targeted keywords and display them in their results. If they see something as valuable, take their lead and push this content hard.

Imagine you run a travel blog, and one of your pages is about “Best Restaurants in Bali for a Family Dinner.” When checking the AI Overview results for this search query, you may notice that AI Overview has pulled a paragraph halfway through your blog that lists two family-friendly restaurants; then, take these two and pop them higher up in your post.

Quick tips to rank for AI Overviews

1. See which paragraphs render in the AI Overviews. If none exist, look at editing core keyword pages with more informative copy that addresses the user’s search.
2. Edit all pages that appear on AI Overview, ensuring the paragraphs are more front and centre.
3. Add more information to these paragraphs to make them more appealing and informative, cementing its AI Overview position.
4. Reindex these pages with the added new text on your Google Search Console.

Improving eCommerce SEO for AI Overview

AI Overviews have changed the eCommerce landscape, and you have to look at revising your e-commerce website to adapt to this new online environment by:

• Ensure there’s descriptive copy for all products, and definitely DO NOT copy and paste from other websites, however tempting it is.
• All product and review pages must have the correct schema markup.
• Use unique images and try to add a video you took, making your product pages more enticing and sticky.

This attention to detail might be challenging for large eCommerce websites with hundreds, even thousands, of products, so as a starting point, look at your main selling products and start from there. There is no point in giving up thinking that the task is too monumental. Start small and add content gradually.

Google’s SERPs are evolving into category pages lookalikes.

Google is now slowly changing its search results (SERPs) to look more like web pages you see on shopping sites, including new features and highlighting your main products directly in the organic search results if your pages are correct and Google-compliant to compete against massive online shopping sites like Amazon and Etsy. Even eCommerce sites like Bunnings and Temple and Webster are Google’s competition, as Google wants you to click on their AI Overview search results.

Diversify Your On-page Content.

Yes, you can add unique copy and have it perfectly crafted, but to future-proof your product pages, you need to add more than the copy. Infographics, YouTube or TikTok videos, webinars and more relevant photos may help with your AI Overview presence. But remember, you still have to ensure that your web page is structured correctly with the proper headings and structured paragraphs and that all the copy is on topic and geared towards delivering the correct answer for users. You never know what tricks Google will have up its sneaky sleeve, but as an insurance policy, you must throw everything into your content to get AI Overview recognition.

Schema is important

Web pages rendered in AI Overviews will more than likely have the proper schema markup. Like most people, you have no clue what schema is, so I’ve put a link here so you can read all about it on SEMrush.

It states: ‘Schema markup (also called structured data) is a type of code you add to your website to help search engines understand your content better. It makes your content eligible for search engines like Google to show extra details in search results, like star ratings, prices, and whether a product is in stock.

Having these on your site is critical, especially if you plan on selling products and want them showing on the Overviews.

Does your web Page Offer Information Gain?

Information gain makes sense as Google wants you to publish content that offers readers something new. If all the content in the search results is the same and readers cannot find something new, the experience is dull and uninformative. Offering readers informative new content like current industry news, current trends, and the latest offers readers more than the standard blah, blah, blah that is so often repetitive among websites. Fresh, new copy that offers information gain will likely appear on AI Overviews. Copycat websites will not only appear lower on the SERPs but won’t get a listing on the overviews. Offer readers new golden nuggets of information, and you’ll soon see the benefits online.

Let’s look at another example where there’s a blog post about 10 techniques to lose stomach fat, and the results are all the same across all the plastic surgeon’s websites when someone types in ‘ways to lose tummy fat’. If you write at least one new point that is current or a new stomach loss technique, Google loves this, and so will the Overviews. Be the first to write new copy, and Google will reward you if it’s legitimate.

Add personal insights or opinions.

You have to remember that you are writing content for your business, and you should always inject your unique perspectives or opinions on a topic or product to make it sound more personable. Readers will resonate with your insights and identify with you, which is great for improving customer relations and which AI Overviews can use in their snapshots. People don’t always want actual boring facts; they want something from the human perspective, which is a great way to build trust, and Google can see this. I always like to add a video of me speaking, which I do for this website, by including some YouTube videos to connect with my customer base.

Key Takeaways and Recommendations for AI Overview

Here are a few key takeaways I’ve noticed from AI Overview, and I’ll be super keen to see what happens in the future and how Google evolves the Overviews to keep up with other AI search engines.

• So far, as of May ’25, AI Overviews are still in their infancy and testing phase, but they will ramp up throughout the year. No one knows what to expect as Google keeps updating and changing the render and results of AI Overviews.
• Most business owners are still unaware of AI, but this will change as it becomes a more prominent feature, and businesses start to lose clicks as users gravitate towards these AI results at the top of the page.
• Businesses should be worried about AI Overviews as Google has recently added citations for the content paragraphs, meaning users can click away to a competitor’s website. You’ve spent all this time and money on SEO getting prime positions, and suddenly, there’s a new entry stealing traffic and clicks. It’s a concern for everyone as these AI overviews can push websites that were never on page 1, and all of a sudden, they are above you, getting clicks. These Overviews can potentially turn the SEO world on its head and realign how we look at Google.
• The best way to tackle AI Ovwerviews is to look at your web copy and see any gaps in the content and ways to improve your web page readability, information and user experience – just create high-quality copy!

May 2025 Update for Google AI:

In May at Google I/O, Google announced a whole raft of amendments and changes to its AI, which you can see here.

Final Word: AI Overviews are here to stay

AI Overviews aren’t going anywhere. In fact, they’ll only become a more prominent feature on the Google search landscape. So, all I can say as parting words is to create fantastic content. Staying ahead of the game and continually refining, revising and retweaking your content, even old blog posts, will put you in the front seat for those juicy AI Overviews.