An AI Overview is the AI-generated summary that now appears above the results for a growing share of Google searches. It answers the question in place, which means the searcher often never scrolls to the links underneath.
That is a problem if you are one of those links, and an opportunity if you are the source being quoted. Here is what decides which.
Which searches are affected
Not all of them, and the pattern is fairly predictable.
| Search type | AI Overview likelihood | Effect on you |
|---|---|---|
| Definitions and explainers | High | Significant click loss |
| Cost and comparison questions | High | Click loss, but high citation value |
| Commercial "agency near me" searches | Low | Largely unaffected |
| Local and map-pack searches | Low | Largely unaffected |
| Branded searches | Low | Unaffected |
If your traffic came mostly from the first two rows, you have already felt this. If it comes from the bottom three, the effect on you is modest.
What gets a source cited
- The answer comes first. Machines lift the answer, not the four paragraphs of context before it.
- The claim is specific. Named figures, concrete statements, real sources. Nothing generic is worth quoting.
- The structured data validates. Clean schema tells a machine what the page is and who published it.
- The site has recognised authority. On the topic, not in general.
There is nothing quotable in a sentence that could appear on any competitor's website. Specificity is the whole game.
What to change, practically
- Rewrite your key pages so each section leads with its answer
- Replace adjectives with figures wherever you can substantiate them
- Add and validate FAQPage, Service and LocalBusiness schema
- Track impressions against clicks, so you can see the effect rather than guess at it
- Keep investing in commercial pages, which are largely unaffected and still convert
For the full mechanics see GEO optimisation in Melbourne, or AI SEO for how it sits inside an ordinary SEO retainer.
Where to start
Book a free digital audit at dizian.com.au/contact and we will give you a straight read on where you stand, including the parts you will not enjoy hearing. Over 14 years in business and an accredited Google Partner.
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