How Google’s AI Overviews Are Changing Search (And What It Means for Your Website)

Google has always aimed to “organise the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.” Now, with AI Overviews rolling out across search results, that mission just got a major upgrade — and a little scarier for businesses that depend on search traffic.

In this article, we’ll unpack:

• What Google’s AI Overviews are and how they work

• Why this shift could dramatically impact your website traffic

• What businesses, marketers, and agencies need to do to adapt

• How ID Digital Agency is already helping clients pivot their SEO strategy

• Practical steps you can take right now to stay ahead of the AI curve

Let’s dive into what could be the biggest shake-up to SEO since the Panda update.

What Are Google AI Overviews?

Previously called “Search Generative Experience (SGE),” Google AI Overviews now appear at the top of search results for certain queries, offering AI-generated summaries that consolidate answers from across the web.

Here’s what they look like:

• A coloured box at the top of search results

• A paragraph-length AI summary

• Links to “source” websites used for the answer

• Often includes product carousels, location results, or follow-up question prompts

⚡️ Quick Example:
Search: “Best time to plant tomatoes in Melbourne”
Old Search: A few featured snippets + blog articles
New Search: A full AI Overview with a complete answer, bullet points, and 3 cited sources (you may or may not be one of them)

Why This Matters: Less Clicks, More Zero-Click Searches

According to a SparkToro study, over 57% of Google searches already end without a single click. With AI Overviews, this number could skyrocket.

Here’s what that means:

• Your high-ranking content could be summarised by Google, without a user ever visiting your site

• Brand visibility is replaced by generic answers

• If your content isn’t selected for citation — you lose out completely

💬 “You can now rank #1 and still get no traffic.” — Rand Fishkin, SparkToro

Who Wins and Who Loses?

Winners:

• Sites with strong topical authority

• Well-structured content (clear headings, schema markup, FAQs)

• Pages optimised for E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)

Losers:

• Sites relying solely on long-tail keyword traffic

• Thin content or AI-generated fluff

• Pages not optimised for Google's structured data systems

What We’re Seeing Across Clients

At ID Digital Agency, we’re already monitoring how AI Overviews are impacting rankings and traffic. Some patterns emerging:

• SEO-only pages are losing traffic if not updated for structure and clarity

• Sites with clear, concise content and schema markup are gaining visibility

• eCommerce clients are seeing product carousels integrated into Overviews, boosting CTR

• FAQs and How-To sections are more likely to be featured in AI summaries

🔗 Need help improving your site’s structure? Explore our SEO Services or Website Strategy pages.

How to Optimise for AI Overviews

This isn’t about “gaming the system” — it’s about aligning with what Google wants: useful, structured, trustworthy information.

🧠 Focus on Topic Clusters & Internal Linking

• Build topic authority through connected content

• Link related articles using clear H3/H4 headings and contextual anchor text

• Keep users engaged and on-site

Explore how we approach this through Content Marketing

✅ Add Structured Data (Schema)

• Markup FAQs, How-To content, product info, reviews, articles

• Use tools like Google’s Rich Results Test to check implementation

💬 Strengthen E-E-A-T Signals

• Show author bios, credentials, and experience

• Use testimonials, third-party mentions, and citations

• Link to relevant industry authorities

🔗 Check out how we optimise these for clients via our Microsite Design and UX Strategy services.

🧰 Reformat Your Content for AI

• Use short, snappy answers (50–300 words) for common queries

• Include bullet points, tables, and lists

• Add follow-up questions to keep users exploring

What AI Overviews Mean for SEO Strategy

We need to stop thinking of SEO as “ranking first” and start thinking about earning visibility in a post-click world.

Here’s what that looks like:

🧭 Move Toward Experience-Based Content

Content must demonstrate lived experience or subject matter knowledge. Google is increasingly favouring:

• First-person case studies

• Original research and insights

• Author-led stories with supporting data

🔁 Embrace Multi-Format Content

Pair traditional blog posts with:

• Short videos

• AI-generated images

• Infographics and step-by-step carousels

Our team uses Figma, Canva, and Midjourney to support clients with integrated visuals and layouts. Explore Creative Services.

🌱 Build Authority — Don’t Chase Keywords

Instead of optimising every page for one keyword, we recommend:

• Building broad topical hubs

• Linking supporting content

• Becoming a resource Google trusts for your niche

🔗 See how we support long-term SEO through our Digital Ecosystem process.

Conclusion: Don’t Fear the AI — Work With It

AI Overviews aren’t going away. In fact, they’re just the beginning. But for savvy marketers and business owners, this shift presents a huge opportunity:

✅ Deliver better, more structured content
✅ Align with how users actually search
✅ Build real authority, not just vanity rankings

At ID Digital Agency, we’re already adapting — and helping our clients do the same. Whether it’s revisiting your SEO strategy, rebuilding underperforming pages, or crafting content designed for AI visibility, we’re ready to connect the dots and future-proof your online presence.