Ranking in Google’s AI Overviews: What You Need to Know

If you’ve searched for anything on Google recently, you might have the little blurb at the top that provides answers above the search results. Instead of a list of blue links, you’re greeted by an AI-generated summary. This is called Google’s AI Overview, and it’s one of the biggest shifts in how search works since featured snippets.

So what does this mean for your business? And more importantly, how do you make sure your content appears in these AI summaries?

Let’s break it down.

AI Overviews are Google’s way of answering complex or multi-layered questions directly at the top of the search results page. Instead of simply listing websites, Google uses generative AI to create a custom response, pulling together content from various sources.

For example, if someone searches, “What should I do if my AC is leaking water?”, Google may generate a paragraph with actionable steps. Beneath that paragraph, it links to the websites where it sourced the information.

Getting featured in that source list is the new front page of Google.

In traditional search, ranking in the top three spots was the gold standard. Now, with AI Overviews appearing first, users may never scroll down to see the organic results. If your site isn’t contributing to the overview, your visibility could take a hit.

But here’s the opportunity. Google’s AI is still learning how to prioritize sources. That means high-quality, well-structured, trusted content has a chance to be pulled into these answers more easily than with traditional ranking algorithms.

In short, if you act early and smart, you can leapfrog competitors who are slow to adapt.

Optimizing for AI Overviews isn’t the same as chasing a normal keyword ranking. Google’s AI is designed to understand context, clarity, and credibility. Here’s how to align your content strategy with what AI looks for.

AI pulls content that directly answers a question. That means:

This mirrors how Google structures AI Overviews, increasing your odds of being included.

AI thrives on structure. Adding schema markup like FAQ, How-To, and Article tags helps Google understand your content better. It also boosts your chance of being considered a reliable source.

Google’s AI doesn’t just pull from one blog post. It pulls from websites that consistently publish high-quality content in a given niche. That’s why having clusters of related content is more important than ever.

Example: If you’re an HVAC company, don’t just publish a single blog about AC repair. Create a content ecosystem with related topics like:

This shows Google that you’re an authority on the subject.

 

Google has confirmed that its AI overviews are trained to prioritize content that aligns with Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (E-E-A-T). That means:

This isn’t just good practice. It’s the foundation for being featured in AI-generated results.

Not entirely, but they’re going to reshape user behavior. Many people will stop after reading the AI summary. Others will scroll down to learn more. Some will only click on the sources featured beneath the AI box.

What that means is simple. If you’re not part of the AI Overview, you’re not part of the initial conversation.

At Notch Solutions, we stay one step ahead of the search curve. Our team builds SEO strategies that are tailored for Google’s AI Overviews, not just traditional search results.

We help businesses:

AI isn’t a threat to your business. It’s an opportunity to gain visibility in new, more dynamic ways. If you’re ready to adapt and win, we’re ready to lead the way.