Are you at the top of Google? That doesn't guarantee AI Overviews

Ranking well in Google is important. But do you also want to be visible in Google's AI Overviews? Then you need to do more than just classic SEO.

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Research reveals striking insights

Ahrefs analyzed as many as 1 million searches where AI Overviews were shown in the search results. The results show something striking:

If you rank high in Google's organic search results, you are slightly more likely to be included in the AI Overview, but even if you rank at place 1 in the search results, you are only mentioned in 50% of the cases in the AI summary.

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Ranking is no guarantee of visibility

There is only a moderate correlation (0.347) between your position in the SERP (Search Engine Results Page) and listing in AI Overviews. In other words, Google does not literally use search results as a source for AI summaries.

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• Are you in the top 10? Then you are more likely to be mentioned.
• Are you mentioned and ranked high in Google? Then you often also rank higher in the AI Overview itself.

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Google looks beyond SEO

So Google does not simply pick the top 3 or top 10 results to populate AI Overviews. The technology behind AI Overviews analyzes content in a different way than the traditional algorithm.

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So what does count? Consider:

• Clarity of your text (clear language)
• Answer-oriented writing (your content really answers the question)
• Structured data and semantics (AI understands context and relationships)
• Expertise and authority (reliable sources are cited more often)

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What does this mean for your content strategy?

Now, if you only optimize for classic SEO (keywords, meta descriptions, backlinks), you run the risk of being left out of AI Overviews.

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The solution? Combine SEO with AI optimization:

• ‍Writecontent that is understandable to AI - use clear sentences, explain terms, provide concise answers to frequently asked questions.
• ‍Thinkin intentions, not just keywords - AI looks at meaning, not just keyword density.
• ‍Buildyour authority - AI models prefer reliable, well-researched content.
• ‍Usestructured data - this gives AI guidance to better interpret your content.

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Conclusion: optimize doubly

SEO remains important, but is no longer a guarantee of visibility in AI Overviews. Do you want maximum online visibility? Then make sure your texts are optimized for both search engines and AI.

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Need help with AI-optimized content?
At TMC Media, we combine smart SEO techniques with AI insights. Contact us for a content strategy that really works.