How To Rank In AI Overviews: A Real Talk Guide To Getting Noticed

Introduction.

If you’re trying to get traffic from Google right now, you’ve probably noticed something big: AI Overviews are showing up at the top of search results. And they’re not just a tiny box anymore — they dominate the page.

These AI-generated summaries are pulling in content from different websites to give users quick answers. Sounds helpful, right? Well, sure — unless your content isn’t getting picked.

This is where things get tricky (but also exciting). If you’re not showing up in those AI Overviews, your traffic might start to drop.

But if you are showing up? You’re golden. You can get a ton of exposure without having to fight your way to the traditional #1 spot.

So let’s break this down in a super clear, real way:
What are AI Overviews?
Why should you care about them?
How do you actually get your content featured in them?

I’ll walk you through what I’ve learned, what’s working, and what you should do today if you want to stay visible in the search results — especially as Google keeps leaning more into AI summaries.

What Are AI Overviews?

Google’s AI Overviews (previously called SGE – Search Generative Experience) are those boxes that show up at the very top of a Google search.

They give you a fast, AI-generated summary that answers your question right away — kind of like a mini article Google wrote for you, pulling info from multiple sites.

Instead of the usual blue links, users are seeing a summary, bullet points, sometimes images, and even call-to-action buttons — all before any organic result shows up.

These AI Overviews are part of Google’s push to use large language models to answer questions faster.

They’ve been testing them for a while and are now rolling them out more broadly in the U.S. and other countries.

And the kicker? If your content gets cited in one of these, you could see a spike in traffic. But if you’re not there — your page might not even get clicked.

Why AI Overviews Matter (a Lot)

Here’s the short version: Google is changing how people find information, and AI Overviews are the new front page.

Some stats to give you an idea:

According to StatCounter, Google still owns over 90% of the global search market. So what they do matters.
As of mid-2025, AI Overviews are showing up in about 60% of U.S. search results, especially for complex or multi-step queries (Source: Search Engine Journal).
Early data shows click-through rates for traditional links under AI Overviews can drop by as much as 20–30%.

So if you’re still only optimizing for the classic 10 blue links, you’re missing the point.

How Do I Get Featured in AI Overviews?

Alright, here’s where it gets good. I’ve been testing a bunch of different methods — across blogs, product pages, how-to guides, and even niche sites — and here’s what’s working right now to get into AI Overviews.

1. Answer the Question, Fast and Clearly

Google’s AI is pulling snippets from pages that directly answer the query, ideally in the first few lines. That means:

Use clear, simple language.
Answer the query in the first 1–2 sentences of your post or section.
Break things into short paragraphs, bullets, or numbered steps when you can.

Think: “Explain it like you’re texting a friend.”

2. Use Structured Content

AI loves structure. Pages with subheadings (H2s and H3s), tables, lists, and FAQs are way more likely to get picked. Why? Because it makes it easier for the AI to understand what your page is about.

Example:

Each of those headings helps Google’s AI know exactly what your content covers. If it’s clear to a human, it’s even clearer to a machine.

3. Match the Intent, Not Just the Keywords

You know that old-school SEO advice to “target long-tail keywords”? Still useful, but now it’s more about matching intent — what the person actually wants.

Let’s say someone types:
“Best protein powder for beginners”
The AI isn’t just looking for a product roundup. It wants to answer:

What makes a powder good for beginners?
Are there any easy-to-digest options?
What’s the cost?

If your post touches on those points in a helpful, easy-to-read way, you’re much more likely to get cited.

4. Show E-E-A-T — Especially Experience

Google wants content from real people with real experience. They even added an extra “E” to their E-A-T guidelines: Experience.

So if you’re writing about something you’ve used, tested, or gone through yourself, say so. Use first-person voice. Add photos. Show you actually did the thing.

AI Overviews are now citing content that reads like real advice from real people.

Google’s Helpful Content Guidelines stress this a lot — and it’s not just for show.

5. Optimize Your Content for Featured Snippets Too

Here’s the trick: A lot of content in AI Overviews is pulled from pages that rank in Featured Snippets (position zero). So if you’re already in a Featured Snippet, your chances of being used in AI Overviews go way up.

To boost your chances:

Use question-based headers (like “What is X?” or “How do I…”)
Add quick, direct answers right after the heading
Format with tables, bullets, or short paragraphs

6. Add FAQs — Seriously, They Work

Adding a short FAQ section at the bottom of your post helps cover related queries, expand your topical authority, and gives the AI more angles to pull from.

I usually go with 2–4 FAQs at the end that hit different but related questions. They don’t have to be long — just clear and helpful.

Quick Wins You Can Try Today

Add a TL;DR or summary at the top of your post
Use H2s for every main point — keep them super clear
Write a clean, simple intro that answers the main question fast
Use original images or screenshots if possible
Check what the AI Overview currently shows for your target keyword — then fill in any gaps in your content

FAQs

Do I need to rank #1 to be in an AI Overview?

Nope. Google pulls from all kinds of sources — sometimes even pages that rank lower. What matters most is clarity, helpfulness, and structure.

Will AI Overviews replace all organic traffic?

Not exactly. But they’re changing the game fast. If you adjust your content strategy, you can still win — maybe even more than before.

Is this just for blogs?

No. Product pages, service pages, how-to guides, and even ecommerce content can all get featured in AI Overviews.

Should I rewrite all my content?

Not everything. Start with your top-performing posts or high-opportunity pages. Then apply what’s working to the rest over time.

Final Thoughts

AI Overviews aren’t going away — they’re only getting smarter and more visible.

But instead of stressing over it, I think there’s a real opportunity here: if you focus on being genuinely helpful, clear, and structured, your content can rise to the top — even if you’re not a massive site.

So here’s my question to you:

Is your content really ready to be part of the conversation in AI Overviews — or are you still playing by the old rules?