Screenshot from Ahrefs, November 2024
6. Build Brand Credibility
From our experience optimizing content for AI Overviews, we’ve observed that sources frequently mentioned in authoritative publications or regularly cited by others are more likely to be included. While this aligns with Google’s emphasis on E-E-A-T, our firsthand results reinforce this approach.
Having a consistent presence in credible and trusted outlets has, in our experience, improved the likelihood of being featured in AI Overviews. Building this presence strengthens your site’s perceived authority.
Action Steps:
Engage in digital PR campaigns to secure mention in reputable publications.
Monitor mentions of your brand on platforms like Quora and Reddit to ensure positive associations.
7. Optimize For Mobile SEO
With mobile-first indexing, Google evaluates your site’s mobile performance when determining rankings.
According to Ahrefs study, mobile traffic accounts for 81% of AI Overview citations.
Tips:
Use responsive design to ensure your site displays well on all devices.
Improve page load speed for mobile users using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights.
8. Format Content For Easy Scanning
From firsthand analysis of sites that frequently rank in AI Overviews, we’ve found that well-structured content – using bullet points, lists, and clear sections – is often favored.
Formatting plays a critical role in helping AI parse information quickly.
Best Practices:
Use bullet points, numbered lists, and short paragraphs.
Structure content with clear headings and subheadings.
Break up long blocks of text with visual elements like charts or images.
9. Focus On Simplicity
Content written in plain, accessible language tends to perform better in AI Overviews. This is something we’ve consistently seen when optimizing content for diverse audiences and industries.
Tools:
Use Hemingway Editor or Grammarly to ensure your content is readable and concise.
Screenshot from Hemingway, November 2024
10. Acquire High-Quality Backlinks
While strong backlinks are widely recognized as important for SEO, our experience suggests they are equally critical for increasing the likelihood of being cited in AI Overviews.
Prioritizing quality over quantity in link building is key. Use strategic link building campaigns to improve your domain authority and visibility in AI Overviews.
11. Publish Timely, Relevant Content
AI Overviews often favor fresh, up-to-date information. Regularly update your articles and blog posts to ensure they remain current.
Do AI Overviews Affect SEO?
Yes, AI Overviews impact SEO strategies by shifting the focus from traditional rankings to citation opportunities.
While they can increase visibility and CTR for cited sources, they may also reduce traffic for pages that are not directly cited, even if they rank well organically.
FAQs About AI Overviews:
Are AI Overviews Accurate?
AI Overviews are generally reliable but not 100% accurate. These AI-generated summaries pull information from multiple web sources, which means their accuracy depends on the quality and timeliness of the source content.
Google has conducted extensive tests, though. It discovered that the accuracy rates of AI Overviews “is on par” with those of Featured Snippets, which is a trustworthy feature for quick information.
Where Do AI Overviews Get Their Information?
AI Overviews gather information from multiple credible sources across Google’s search results pages. It uses:
Top-ranking websites.
Authority websites.
Content relevance through sources that directly answer the user’s query, even if they don’t rank on the first page.
Recent content.
Key Takeaway For Ranking In Google’s AI Overviews
Ranking in Google’s AI Overviews requires a multi-faceted approach: creating well-structured, mobile-friendly content, targeting specific long-tail keywords, and building brand credibility.
Leveraging tools like structured markup and keeping your content updated can further boost your chances.
More Resources:
Featured Image: Roman Samborskyi/Shutterstock