Google AI Overviews Are Changing SEO – How to Remain at the Top

Understand SGE, Its Impact, and How to Optimize for AI-Generated Search Results

Google started revolutionizing the search experience in 2024 and 2025 with a feature dubbed SGE (Search Generative Experience), which is today known as AI Overviews. It' no longer merely a test; it's being implemented all around the world and is already changing the way consumers engage with online material.

But what does that mean for your website? More importantly, how can you get featured in these AI-generated summaries?

Let’s break it all down.

Google’s AI Overview, previously called Search Generative Experience (SGE), is an AI-powered feature that appears at the top of some search results. Instead of just showing links, it gives users instant, summarized answers to their queries, compiled from various websites and sources.

For example, instead of seeing a list of websites for “how to optimize blog content,” users might see:

“To optimize a blog post, include relevant keywords, structure content with H2 headings, and ensure it answers the reader’s intent. High-quality visuals and internal linking also help improve user engagement and SEO.”

This entire paragraph could come from your content—but only if you’ve optimized it right.

AI Overviews don’t replace traditional search rankings, but they influence visibility, traffic, and conversions by doing three key things:

• Answering queries directly – reducing the need to click links.
• Pulling content from trusted sources, even if they’re not in the top 3 positions.
• Highlighting brands with clear, structured, and helpful content.

So, even if you're not ranking #1, your site can still be featured—if it's optimized properly.

For more insights on recent SEO changes, check out our latest blog post: Google’s 2025 SEO Update Cracked: What’s Changing and Why It Matters

Use the following user-friendly, white-hat content methods to get featured in AI Overviews:

1. Write Direct, Clear Answers

• Break complex topics into concise paragraphs.
• Use bullet points, lists, and bolded headings.
• Answers should appear early in the content or above the fold.

2. Use Conversational, Natural Language

• AI systems prefer a user-friendly tone over robotic keyword stuffing.
• Include questions users ask in your H2/H3s (e.g., “How do I optimize my website for AI search?”)

3. Leverage FAQ Schema Markup

• Add structured data (schema) to FAQs, reviews, and how-tos.
• Helps Google identify your content as answer-worthy.

4. Showcase Expertise and Trust

• Include author bios, real data, case studies, and outbound links to credible sources.
• Build E-E-A-T: Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness.

5. Keep Content Updated

• AI values fresh, relevant content
• Add fresh statistics, screenshots, or insights to blogs regularly.

AI Overviews often pull contextual answers, not just a single response. So:

• Cover secondary questions in your article. In simpler terms, think of it like this:
• Your article has a main question it's trying to answer.
• Cover secondary questions" means you should also answer any other smaller, related questions that people might have while reading about the main topic.
• Use tools like AnswerThePublic to find related user questions.
• Write with clusters in mind (e.g., if your post is about “SEO for AI search,” also address “how AI affects Google rankings” or “SGE vs traditional SEO”).

If your business relies on organic traffic, visibility in AI Overviews is crucial. It’s like a fast pass to authority, without needing to outrank everyone traditionally.

At Contently Writers, we specialize in SEO content writing services designed to:

• Answer user intent clearly
• Target high-traffic, low-competition keywords
• Help you rank not just in search, but in AI-generated answers too

AI Overviews are not a passing trend. They're the new face of search, and businesses that adapt early will see increased visibility, engagement, and trust.

Don't wait to lose clicks. Start optimizing your content now for the way people (and AI) search today.

Let Contently Writers help you stay ahead. Our best content writing services are tailored to structure your content for both search engines and AI tools like Google SGE, ChatGPT, and Perplexity.

Contact us now to get started with strategic, AI-ready content that delivers results.