Google AI SEO – create content that AI Overviews will cite

How AI is changing SEO

Artificial intelligence is changing the rules of the game for millions of people around the globe. Among other things, when it comes to digital publishing, content creators can utilize AI tools to generate ideas, conduct research, or optimize articles. However, this technology isn’t just making life easier for creators, as, among other things, it changes how search engines work. When it comes to the world’s most popular search engine, Google, it has introduced AI Overviews, which are generating an increasingly large number of summaries at the top of the search results page.

How AI Overview works

Users only see AI Overviews when Google believes they’ll really help, typically for more complex searches that would normally require several attempts to get the right answers. High-quality, up-to-date content plays a key role in generating AI Overviews. That’s why proper indexing and understanding user intent should be essential for publishers, a topic we’ve already covered in a separate article. But what exactly happens after a user hits “search”? Google’s AI scans its index to identify trustworthy, relevant sources and extract key information, compiling it into a single, conversational summary. What’s more, after the user clicks “show more” the AI engine generates a more in-depth answer.

How to rank in AI Overviews

• One of the first pieces of advice from Google regarding AI Overviews is to check whether your pages are accessible to crawlers. In other words, you should verify that your CDN (Content Delivery Network) or hosting provider settings don’t unintentionally restrict access, and that your robots.txt file doesn’t block important pages. Additionally, you have to make sure that your website has a well-planned and logical structure. It’s the very first step that lets Google discover your content;
• Create fresh content that stands out from your competition. You can think of Google’s AI Overview like a curious librarian – it doesn’t want to hand the reader five copies of the same book. Interestingly, Google likes user-generated content because it often contains the most current facts and real-life observations. Additionally, it’s always a good idea to create niche content. The benefits of those approaches may surprise you, because even if your website is not in the first five results, Google might still think it’s valuable to mention it! However, on the other hand, some specialists claim that Google AI Overviews only feature content from the top 10 results. If your page isn’t there yet, it won’t likely be included;
• That’s the reason why you should try to rank in the top 10 results. The best way to do it? Incorporate E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authority, Trustworthiness, formerly known as E-A-T) into your content strategy. Essentially, you need to demonstrate to the world that you are an expert and possess knowledge in the field about which you create content, as this will increase trust. Additionally, Google checks whether your site is reputable by assessing whether others acknowledge your work through quality backlinks, expert mentions, or partnerships with well-known institutions. In fact, AI now prioritizes well-known, trusted brands, mentioned in respected media, and positive buzz created through backlinks. Lastly, you can stay ahead by being considered trustworthy. Google wants to make sure that your content is transparent, fair, accurate, updated, and that you source citations;
• Although we live in a time when artificial intelligence can generate entire articles, the truth is that it’s not worth relying on it entirely. AI-generated texts can contain numerous errors or inaccuracies, making human oversight still essential. However, it’s definitely worth taking advantage of what this new technology has to offer. You can start exploring the topic by reading our article on useful AI tools for digital content creators.

Back to basics… that still works

As you’ve probably noticed, most of our tips overlap with well-known SEO best practices that have been around for years. It’s clear that AI Overviews value high-quality content, and being featured in them is the result of a long-term strategy, which is why it’s worth taking action now! What’s more, adopting the tips from this article will not only improve your chances of being included in AI Overviews, but will also support your overall ad monetization efforts, an area where optAd360 specializes and can help you boost your ad revenue!