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The best way to be featured in Google’s AI-powered search is to continue ranking well in traditional search, according to Google.
That said, let’s move onto three other things you can do to increase your chances of being featured.
2. Target informational keywords
Informational keywords win over transactional keywords when it comes to being featured by AI Overviews, according to studies by seoClarity and Flow.
For example, a blog you wrote targeting the keyword “how to grow white strawberries” has a bigger chance of being featured in AI-powered search than a blog targeting the keyword “white strawberries for sale.”
Top-of-funnel keywords are more likely to appear in AI-powered searches than other keywords.
3. Go for relevant queries and long-tail keywords
Google highlights that AI-organized results exist to remove the “legwork” from searching.
To be featured in them, target detailed queries and long-tailed keywords. AI results exist to break down these queries, so going after them gives you a better chance of getting featured.
For example, target keywords like “how to choose black shoes for men” instead of “black shoes” or even “shoes.”
Here’s an example for the keyword “how to rank well on Google.”
Open each of these blogs, and you’ll see that they target the detailed, long-tail keyword “how to rank well on Google.”
4. Match search intent
AI-generated results exist to give users an easier time. To get featured, one thing you can do is create content and target keywords that match their search intent.
For example, here are the results for “list of superfoods.”
As you can see, Google AI Overviews took information from blogs that matched the search intent for the keyword, rewrote it and included it in the AI-generated results.
But do you want to be featured in AI-powered search?
Since the release of Google AI Overviews and other AI-powered search tools, SEOs have been asking, “Do I really want to be featured in AI results?”
Here are their concerns:
AI-powered results already answer questions, making it unnecessary for users to click on their link.
AI borrows and even rewrites content to be featured in their results.
AI-powered search could cause a drop in traffic ranging from 20% to 50%. This is especially true for content written around informational queries that can be answered quickly.
However, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to get featured in AI results.
It’s clear that Google is moving toward these results with no likelihood of turning back, so getting your website in the top featured list of links can help instead of hurt you.
AI search engine visibility: It’s not really that different from regular search
AI Overviews, chatbots, LLMs. They’re taking over the world of search. They’re providing users with even more ease and convenience.
But there’s not much for you to worry about. For now, it seems the main thing you can do to appear in AI-powered search is to do what you’ve always been doing to rank well on the SERPs.
Plus, Google search is still number one, with 8.5 billion searches per day. Compare that with ChatGPT’s 14 million searches per day, and you can rest assured optimizing for traditional search is still the best way to go.
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