How Google’s AI Overviews Are Changing SEO (and What to Do About It)

Nov 7

If you’ve searched on Google lately, you’ve probably noticed something new: a big AI-generated summary at the top of the page that answers your question before you even click a link.

That’s Google’s AI Overviews (formerly called SGE/Search Generative Experience), and it’s a big deal.

This new feature is reshaping how people interact with search results, how traffic flows to websites, and ultimately, how businesses show up online.

What Are Google’s AI Overviews?

AI Overviews use generative AI to create summaries directly within search results. Instead of just showing a list of links, Google now offers a quick answer pulled from multiple sources, often with clickable references underneath.

For searchers, this feels efficient.
For business owners and marketers, it raises new questions:

Will people still click through to websites?
How do we get our content included in those summaries?
Does traditional SEO still matter?

The short answer: yes… but it’s evolving.

What’s Changing with AI + SEO

1. Fewer Clicks, More Summaries

Google’s AI gives users quick answers right in the search results. That means fewer people may click through to read your full content, unless it offers something unique or more in-depth.

Now, the goal isn’t just ranking high. It’s earning visibility inside AI summaries and other enhanced search features.

2. Quality Matters More Than Keywords

Gone are the days when keyword stuffing could get you noticed.
Google’s AI is designed to reward trusted, experience-based content written by real people who actually know their stuff. The more specific, helpful, and authentic your content, the more likely it is to be recognized as a reliable source.

3. Structured Content Wins

AI needs clarity to understand and summarize information accurately. Formatting your content with clear headings, FAQs, lists, and schema markup helps Google know exactly what your page offers and increases your chances of being featured.

Think of it as writing with both humans and algorithms in mind.

How to Stay Visible in the Age of AI Search

1. Share Your Real Experience

AI can’t replicate lived experience. That’s your competitive edge. Write about what you’ve done, what you’ve learned, and what you’d do differently next time. Share examples, case studies, and lessons — the things that show real-world expertise.

2. Write for People, Format for Search

Keep your content easy to read and easy to scan.
Use short paragraphs, clear headings, and natural language. The easier it is for readers to follow your thoughts, the easier it is for Google’s AI to understand them, too.

3. Optimize for Visibility

Include question-style headings (“How does this work?”, “What should I do next?”) and provide concise, direct answers underneath. These are the sections most likely to get pulled into “AI Overviews” or “People also ask” features.

4. Keep Your Website Healthy

Behind every great SEO strategy is a strong technical foundation. A fast, mobile-friendly, secure website with clean navigation still makes all the difference. If your site loads slowly or feels cluttered, you’re leaving easy wins on the table.

An Important Note

It's easy to feel overwhelmed by all the changes in search, but the heart of great content hasn't changed. Clarity, honesty, and value still win every time.

Start small. Choose one page or blog post, give it a refresh using the steps above, and see how it performs. Often, a few small tweaks can help your message reach the people who need it most.

If you're wondering how these AI changes might affect your website, we can take a closer look during one of our VIP Design Days . . .

VIP Design Days Are Back!

By popular request, we're bringing back our VIP Design Day: a focused, one-day sprint where our team is all yours. We'll set priorities beforehand, then spend the day checking them off.

Examples of what we can do in a day: