How To Rank On Google’s AI Overviews

Google AI Overviews (AIO) are artificial intelligence generated answers that appear at the top of search engine results pages (SERPs).

Unlike traditional search results, AIOs summarize information from multiple sources to provide direct answers to user queries while offering relevant links.

These overviews are highlighted: An AI overview appears on the left, with relevant resource links on the right.

Google determines which sources to include based on their credibility and relevance to the user’s search intent. This is where SEO plays a key role.

Why are AI reviews important for SEO?

Being cited in AI Review increases visibility as it is the first result users see after their query. This positioning can significantly increase in click-through rate (CTR)even for pages that are not ranked in the top 10 on the SERP.

Studies indicate this 52% sources mentioned in AI reviews are ranked in the top 10 results, meaning that almost half are pulled from outside the first page.

This means that even if you are not ranked on the first page, you can still be featured in AI reviews.

In addition to my own research with our clients, I studied various reports to better understand how you can rank on AI reviews. Some of these reports include:

How to Rank in AI Reviews: 11 Tips for Organic Visibility

While you can’t directly control whether your pages will be cited in an AI review, you can improve your chances by following these tips.

1. Add more context to your articles

AI Reviews are designed to directly respond to user queries. This means that Google rewards content that is well-contextualized and written in a simple, easy-to-read format.

One thing to remember is that AIOs are driven by keywords with informational search intent 99.2% of the time, according to Ahrefs. If you’re writing an article about an informational keyword, focus on writing in a simple, easy-to-read format and add enough context to fully answer the query.

The Surfer SEO study shows that Google focuses on context instead of keywords. When AIOs show results for a user’s query, they mention the exact key phrases only 5.4% of the time. Which means keywords are less important in AIOs.

In the example below, the query is [best month to visit Canada]but AIO does not emphasize the best month in your answer. That’s it the best time.

Tips:

• Use tools like Ahrefs to find AIO-driving keywords with high traffic potential. (Use the Ahrefs AI Overview SERP feature and scroll down to the intent filter to select Informational as the search intent. It finds long-tail keywords for you and you can write specific answers to those search queries.)

• Structure your content to fully answer the questions, naturally incorporating related topics.
• Use tools like Google AutoComplete or People Also Ask to identify common user questions about your topic. (See example below.)

2. Use long tail keywords

AI reviews are more likely to be triggered by certain, long tail keywords rather than generic, short-tailed ones.

According to Ahrefs, they trigger more for three to four word queries than one to three word queries.

These keywords are often closely related to user intent.

How to find them:

• Use the “Questions” section of keyword tools like AnswerThePublic.
• Use Google AutoComplete to identify conversational search terms.

3. Use structured markup

Implementation of structured data, such as Schema.org markupit helps search engines understand the context and structure of your content. This makes your site more likely to be included in AI reviews.

Key types of labeling to use:

• FAQ schema for question-based content.
• Article schema for blog posts and informational pieces.
• Trajectory scheme to improve navigation signals.

4. Optimize SEO on the page

On-page SEO remains the foundation for ranking in traditional SERPs and AI reviews. 52% AI Preview’s source comes from the top 10 search results. This means that you have a better chance of being cited if your site is ranked for that keyword.

Best examples from practice:

• Use primary and secondary keywords in titles, headings, and subheadings.
• Write compelling meta descriptions to increase CTR.
• Secure yours content meets EEAT (expertise, experience, authoritativeness, reliability) guidelines.

5. Target low weight keywords

Focus on keywords with low competition (keyword weight < 20).

These are often high-intent, long-tail terms that are easier to rank for and align well with informative search queries.

According to Ahrefs, AIO keywords have an average weight of 12. An example is the keyword phrase “Can dogs have cinnamon?” which has a KD of 12.

If you use Ahrefs, use the AI ​​Overview SERP feature filter. Filter keywords above 50 and go through keywords relevant to your topic.

6. Build brand credibility

From our experience optimizing content for AI Reviews, we’ve noticed that sources that are frequently mentioned in authoritative publications or regularly cited by others are more likely to be included. While this is consistent with Google’s emphasis on EEAT, our first-hand results confirm this approach.

Have a consistent presence in credible and trusted outlets has, in our experience, increased the likelihood of being featured in AI reviews. Building this presence strengthens the perceived authority of your site.

Action steps:

• Engage in digital PR campaigns to secure mentions in reputable publications.
• Monitor mentions of your brand on platforms like Quora and Reddit to ensure positive associations.

7. Optimize for mobile SEO

WITH mobile first indexingGoogle evaluates your site’s mobile performance when ranking.

According to an Ahrefs study, mobile traffic accounts for 81% of AI Overview citations.

Tips:

• Use responsive design to ensure your site looks good on all devices.
• Improve page load speed for mobile users with tools like Google PageSpeed ​​Insights.

8. Format content for easy scanning

From our first analysis of sites that are frequently ranked in AI reviews, we found that well-structured content – ​​using bullet points, lists and clear sections – is often favored.

Formatting plays a key role in helping AI analyze information quickly.

Best examples from practice:

• Use bullet points, numbered lists, and short paragraphs.
• Structure your content with clear headings and subheadings.
• Break up long blocks of text with visual elements like charts or images.

9. Focus on simplicity

Content written in simple, accessible language tends to perform better in AI reviews. This is something we see all the time when optimizing content for different audiences and industries.

Tools:

• Use Hemingway Editor or Grammarly to make sure your content is readable and concise.

10. Get high quality backlinks

While strong backlinks are widely recognized as important for SEO, our experience suggests they are just as critical for increasing the likelihood of being cited in AI reviews.

Prioritizing quality over quantity in link building is key. Use strategically link building campaigns to improve your domain authority and visibility in AI reviews.

11. Publish timely, relevant content

AI Reviews often favor fresh, up-to-date information. Update your articles and blog posts regularly to ensure they are current.

Do AI reviews affect SEO?

Yes, AI Reviews are impacting SEO strategies by shifting the focus from traditional rankings to citation opportunities.

While they can increase visibility and CTR for cited sources, they can also decrease traffic for pages that are not directly cited, even if they rank well organically.

Key data for ranking in Google AI reviews

Ranking in Google’s AI reviews requires a multi-pronged approach: creating well-structured, mobile-friendly content, targeting specific long-tail keywords, and building brand credibility.

Using tools like structured markup and updating your content can further increase your chances.

More resources:

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