Understanding Google’s new AI overviews

From Helpful Content updates to algorithm changes and the introduction of Search Generative Experience (SGE), the last 12 months have been an SEO (search engine optimisation) roller coaster. One thing is clear: as SEOs (the industry’s moniker, not mine!), we must adapt to the evolving digital world or be shelved along with analogue technology.

As part of Google’s SGE launch, AI Overviews enters the frame. Taking up a significant portion of the search engine results page (SERP), understanding AI Overviews and how to leverage this feature will be crucial going forward.

Team Bamboo stays at the forefront of what’s happening in the SEO world – and that includes generative AI search – so we feel it our duty to share what we have learned so far.

What are Google AI Overviews?

Google’s AI Overviews are a significant advancement in the way Google Search operates. It leverages generative AI to enhance users’ experiences. Launched widely as part of the SGE, these overviews integrate AI to provide concise, synthesised responses to search queries – aiming to streamline how people retrieve information.

Key features of Google AI Overviews:

1. AI-generated summaries: When you perform a search, AI Overviews generate summaries of information directly on the search results page. For SEOs and businesses, this means users are getting the information they’re looking for without clicking through search result after search result.
2. Integration with traditional search results: Traditional search results are still included. Users will need to expand the overview to see traditional search results. This blend ensures users get quick answers but can delve into the sources Google’s AI has used to produce the overview.
3. Multi-step reasoning: Google has also introduced multi-step reasoning. It allows the AI to break down complex queries into manageable parts and answer them logically, in sequence. This allows users to ask complex, multifaceted questions and get efficient answers without multiple queries.
4. Contextual relevance: AI Overviews appear when the AI determines they are particularly helpful. It builds on providing contextually relevant information tailored to the user’s request.

How will AI Overviews impact businesses?

Google’s AI overviews represent a transformative step in search technology, enhancing efficiency and depth of search results using advanced AI. As this technology evolves, its likely to further refine how users interact with search engines – but how will this impact businesses and their websites?

Changes to traffic patterns

As we’ve discussed in previous blogs on SGE and Google Project Magi, AI Overviews may result in websites seeing a shift in traffic patterns. This is driven by the results being provided directly on the SERPs. While this might reduce click-through-rates (CTRs), Google indicates that links within the overviews (when users expand them) tend to see higher engagement.

Local business visibility

If you’ve created your Google Business Profile and haven’t touched it since, now is the time. For local businesses, maintaining an up-to-date Google Business Profile and optimising for Local SEO is vital. AI Overviews draws from these queries to provide users with relevant answers within their local area, where applicable.

How can businesses optimise their website for AI Overviews?

Optimising your website for Google’s AI Overviews and SGE is going to be a marathon, not a sprint. It involves several strategies to ensure your content is visible, relevant, and useful to users. Here are a few steps you can take now to start making an impact:

1. Create high-quality, relevant content
   a. Focus on user intent – Make sure your content answers the questions your target audience is asking. That means understanding common queries in your industry or niche and creating detailed, clear, and concise answers to those queries.
   b. Comprehensive coverage – Thoroughly cover topics that you’re an expert on. Detailed, well-structured content is more likely to be selected by AI for summaries.
2. Optimise for structured data
   a. Schema Markup – Implemented structured data using schema.org markup. Structured data helps Google (and other search engines) understand the context and structure of your content. It makes it easier for AI to extract relevant information for its overviews. We’ll go over the importance of structured data in a future blog.
   b. FAQ Schema – This is a big one – especially if your content includes frequently asked questions. Use FAQ schema to mark them up, increasing the likelihood of your content being used in AI Overviews.
3. Enhance content readability
   We understand how difficult this can be – specifically in very technical niches. Your audiences understand technical subjects and terminology, making it difficult to understand why we’d need to do this for Google. Instead of an oversimplified version of your content, implement:
   a. Clear headings and subheadings – Organise your content with descriptive headings and subheadings. This makes it easier for AI to identify the key sections of your content.
   b. Bullet points and lists – Use bullet points or lists to break down information into more digestible parts. This format is often preferred by AI for summarisation.
4. Keep your content updated
   Instead of writing a new blog about the same topic when new information comes out, consider updating your existing blog.
   a. Regular updates – Frequently update your content to ensure it remains current and relevant. Fresh content is more likely to be prioritised by AI.
   b. Monitor trends – Stay informed about the latest news and trends in your industry and incorporate timely information into your content.
5. Optimise for mobile
   a. Mobile-friendly design – Ensure your website is responsive and provides a great user experience across all devices, including mobiles. Mobile usability is a key factor in search ranking and visibility, and with Google’s mobile-first indexing, this is one to focus on.
   b. Fast load times – Improve page load speeds. Faster sites provide a better user experience and are favoured by Google.
6. Leverage your media
   a. Images and video – People love media. Enhance your content with relevant images, infographics, and videos. Multimedia elements can make your content more engaging and informative
   b. Properly tag your media elements – Use descriptive alt text for images and provide transcripts for videos. This is essential for accessibility and makes content easier for AI to understand.
7. Build your backlinks
   a. High-quality backlinks – Aim to get backlinks from authoritative and relevant websites. This boosts your site’s credibility and lets Google know it can trust your content.
   b. Guest blogging – Write guest posts on authoritative sites in your industry to earn valuable backlinks to your website
8. Monitor and adapt
   It’s important to remember that Google’s new UI and SGE are still evolving. Monitoring and adapting to change is what will keep your website relevant to the search engine’s AI.
   a. Analytics tools – Use Google Analytics 4 and Google Search Console to monitor your website’s performance. Pay attention to which pages are being included in AI overviews and adjust your strategy where necessary.
   b. Feedback and testing – We’re SEOs, testing is a way of life and AI overviews are no different. Gather user feedback and conduct A/B testing to continually improve your content and site structure.

Tackling AI Overviews and SGE with Team Bamboo

Since the announcement of Google Project Magi in 2023, we’ve been working tirelessly with our clients to prepare their websites for the coming changes. From completely restructuring content to website changes, we understand what needs to be done to make websites more relevant in the AI-influenced digital world.

Get in touch with me to learn more about Team Bamboo’s content and digital marketing services.