How to increase your chances of appearing in Google AI Overviews

Lia Bartley

Google AI Overviews are changing the way people find information online.

Instead of simply showing a list of websites, Google can now use information from different sources to create an AI (artificial intelligence)-generated answer at the top of the search results.

For businesses, this creates another opportunity to get noticed. So, how can you increase the chances of your website appearing in these AI-generated results?

The good news is that you don’t need to completely rethink your website. Google says the same SEO (search engine optimisation) principles that help websites perform well in traditional search results are also important for AI-powered search.

Share what you know best

One of the most important things you can do is create content that offers something valuable.

Rather than simply repeating information that can already be found on hundreds of other websites, share your own knowledge, experience and expertise. This could include first-hand advice, original research, customer examples or insights you’ve gained from working in your industry.

Google describes this as creating “non-commodity content” – in other words, content that offers something more useful than generic information anyone could produce.

Make your website easy to understand

Your content should also be straightforward for people to read and navigate. Use clear headings, sensible sections and well-written paragraphs so visitors can quickly find the information they need.

Behind the scenes, your website should be easy for Google to access too. Pages need to be crawlable and indexable – meaning Google must be able to discover, understand and include them in its search index. A fast, mobile-friendly website with a good user experience also helps.

Focus on people, not algorithms

With AI changing search, it can be tempting to look for a clever trick that will suddenly make your website more visible. In reality, Google’s advice is much simpler: focus on creating a website that works well for real people.

You don’t need special AI files, unusual formatting or content written in a particular way just for Google’s AI systems. Google says there’s no requirement to use things such as llms.txt, split your content into tiny sections or create pages for every possible variation of a search.

Instead, concentrate on making your content clear, useful and genuinely worth reading. If visitors can easily find what they need and come away feeling that your website answered their question, you’re heading in the right direction.

If you’d like to improve your chances of appearing in Google AI Overviews and other AI-powered search results, get in touch with Engage Web. We’re a digital marketing agency that helps businesses optimise their websites for GEO, combining strong SEO foundations with content and strategies designed for the changing world of search.

About
Latest Posts

Lia Bartley

Content Editor at Engage Web

With years of experience in the financial sector, Lia has swapped the world of mis-sold PPI in exchange for life as an eagle-eyed editor at Engage Web, ensuring our wonderful clients have equally wonderful content on their websites.