If you use Google search often, you have most likely seen the rise of Google’s AI Overviews in recent months. Launched in May 2024, these AI-powered summaries now appear in many search results. They typically show up above the regular search listings to provide a quick overview of the topic or query you are searching for. The AI Overviews are becoming more common and are often visible even when you're not logged into a Google account. This new feature is part of Google’s ongoing effort to enhance search results and provide users with more immediate and relevant information.
So, let’s get right into it and discuss whether these overviews are worth it!
What is a Google AI Overview?
Google’s AI Overviews are a new feature that provides a quick and AI-generated summary based on various online sources. This summary appears in response to user queries and is designed to give fast answers to complex questions. It helps users get top-level information without having to click through multiple search results or make additional searches. If users want more details, the Overview includes links to the original sources.
While this feature may reduce clicks on regular search results, it also presents opportunities for websites included in the Overviews. Being featured prominently could increase visibility and bring more traffic to the original content. In addition to this, the traffic generated may be more likely to engage and convert since users only click the source link if they find the summary useful. Though the total number of visitors may be smaller, they could be more interested in what the website offers.
Are AI Overviews Important for Your Business?
A recent study showed that AI Overviews are making a big impact on search results. As of now, 47% of organic searches include AI Overviews. These summaries take up 42% of the screen on desktops and 48% on mobile devices. In addition to this, 75% of AI Overviews also rank in the top 12 search results. The study also found that AI Overviews appeared in around 60% of informational queries and 20% of commercial ones.
What Does This Mean for Websites and SEO?
- AI Overviews are already affecting nearly half of all Google searches, just months after their rollout in May 2024. This shows how quickly they have become a part of the search experience.
- Another important point is that the factors that help your website rank in traditional Google results also play a big role in getting featured in AI Overviews. Most of the sites that show up in Overviews are also ranking high in regular search results.
However, not all search terms are equally affected. If you are thinking about focusing your efforts on AI Overviews, it is important to consider which types of searches are most impacted. Knowing this can help you decide how much attention to give to optimizing for these new features.
Should You Focus on Optimizing for Google AI Overview?
Deciding whether to focus on appearing in Google AI Overviews depends on your business and goals. It is important to balance this with your overall SEO and marketing strategy. If your business benefits from traffic looking for informational content, getting featured in AI Overviews could be valuable.
However, there is no guarantee that optimizing for AI Overviews will get you the results you want, especially if your competitors are already ahead. It is also important to remember that many of the strategies that help you rank in AI Overviews are just good SEO practices. These practices can improve your website’s organic search rankings as well.
So, even if you do not get featured in Overviews, these SEO efforts can still bring benefits to your site. Overall, it is about deciding if the effort is worth the potential reward for your business.
