Have you noticed the AIO or AI overview in search results on Google? This is the latest feature on Google search engines and it’s definitely here to stay. So, what is this new AI-powered search engine, and how does it work?
AI overview in search results
Before AI-powered search engines came into existence, search engines would display websites that most relevantly answer the query typed in the search box. With the introduction of AI overview, Search engines now display an AI-generated response to the query. AIO extracts information from several sources to generate answers to specific queries.
Are AI powered search engines a boon or a bane?
Whether AIO is a boon or bane for businesses, remains to be seen. However, for users looking for quick answers to queries, AIO is a boon. On the other hand, for business websites looking to rank on the top pages of Google’s Search Engine Results Page, AIO might sometimes work detrimental to their interests. For instance, AI Overview appears on the top, even above traditional search results or snippets. So, getting your website featured on an AI overview can result in more visibility for your business or on the contrary can lead to zero clicks to your website.
In fact, a research article published by Gartner in 2024 predicts that search engine results will considerably drop 25% by the end of 2026 because of Artificial Intelligence agents. Therefore, we can rightly state that SEO practices for the future will change drastically, shifting focus from traditional keyword-based optimization to strategies that prioritize AI-driven content discovery.
The impact of AI Overview on Search Results and SEO practices
Zero-Click searches
With users getting answers to their queries from an AI overview, there are fewer chances of them clicking on a website link to get the information. So, this shakes up the foundation of SEO services. SEO aims to improve organic traffic to websites. It optimizes websites to appear on the top of Google Search Engine Results Page.
Enhanced brand visibility
Contrary to the above pointer, your website featuring in an AI overview in search results can also lead to greater visibility for your brand. As AI overview provides direct answers to queries and appears above traditional search results, it is also seen by a maximum number of users, giving you the added advantage of more visibility.
How can you optimize your website content to appear in AI overview search results?
SEO practices in the future are significantly shifting from traditional keyword optimizations to AI-driven strategies. So, what are these AI-driven strategies?
Create answer-oriented questions
Firstly, it is important to optimize website content that directly addresses or answers user questions or queries. Create content that answers a host of questions relevant to your business. Always remember to create concise and simple answers to the questions.
Build backlinks
Another important SEO practice for the future is to build credible backlinks. The more trusted websites that lead to your website, the higher the chances Google will feature your website in AI overview search results.
Use structured data for content.
Using structured data can help search engines read and understand the content on your web pages better.
Contact a reliable and future-ready SEO agency for better chances of featuring in an AIO.
Webtree Software Solutions is a leading software and digital marketing agency providing scalable SEO solutions for the future. We offer SEO practices for Google, Bing Search engines, and Gemini AI Overview in Search results.
