Google AI Overviews are reshaping search results, taking over prime real estate on the SERPs. So how can you secure a spot? Here’s what we’ve learned – and how you can adapt.
Capturing the top spot in Google Search with AI Overviews
Google AI Overviews are changing how search results appear, synthesizing answers from top content to provide users with quick, clear responses.
To secure a spot in this prime SERP real estate, success now depends on structuring content to align with how people interact with AI – using natural language, direct questions, and a conversational style.
This approach increases your chances of appearing in AI Overviews, delivers a better user experience, and drives stronger search engine rankings.
Example in the SERP
My agency has spent 6–12 months running experiments to capture positions in Google AI Overviews.
We’ve found that generative AI favors step-by-step, high-level, process-oriented content for top results.
In the competitive B2B sector where we work, top-performing websites have abandoned the “inside baseball” approach.
They now focus on conversational language, delivering clear, direct answers that explain both the implementation steps and the strategic rationale behind each solution.
4 steps to rank in the AI Overviews
Based on our findings, securing a spot in Google AI Overviews requires a strategic, intent-driven approach. Here are four actionable steps to optimize your content and capture top positions.
1. Segment by intent
Start your editorial planning for AI-focused questions and keywords by segmenting them into four types of user intent:
Informational.
Transactional.
Navigational.
Commercial.
Optimize for intent first, then focus on crafting the highest-quality answer for AI Overviews.
Our findings show that AI Overviews tend to favor content with informational intent more often than not.
2. Figure out what your competitors are working on
Analyze the jargon your industry competitors use and seize these clear opportunities to optimize your content.
Develop a targeted content strategy to position brands as a leading competitor in this space and showcase their capabilities and solutions.