What’s In It For You?

Let’s cut to the chase—if you’re a business owner relying on Google to drive leads or sales, 2025’s AI Overviews could either skyrocket your visibility or bury your best pages. This guide will break down what AI Overviews are, how they work, and how you can get your content cited in them. We’ll walk you through practical steps, tools, and tactics to future-proof your SEO—without getting lost in technical jargon.

First, What Are Google’s AI Overviews?

Imagine asking Google a complex question like “How to launch an online store in the UK?” Instead of scrolling through 10 blue links, you’re served a neat, AI-generated summary at the very top—with links to top sources like Shopify, GOV.UK, or popular ecommerce blogs. That’s an AI Overview.

They’re part of Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE) and they’re changing how people search. These summaries combine insights from trusted pages to answer multi-layered questions quickly and clearly. For business owners, that means it’s no longer enough to rank #1—you want your content to be included in that AI summary.

How It Actually Works (Without The Tech Headache)

Google’s AI Overviews are powered by large language models. Here’s the simplified version of what happens:

Intent ➔ Relevant Content ➔ AI Summary ➔ Results on Top of SERP

It’s like Google scans the internet, finds the best stuff on a topic, summarises it intelligently, and puts that at the top of search results. Your goal? Be one of the sources the AI pulls from.

AI Overviews in 2025

Quick SEO Readiness Checklist

Before you tweak a single word of your content, make sure you’re doing the basics right:

✅ Does your page solve complex or layered user questions?

✅ Are you using schema markup?

✅ Are your headings and sections easy to follow?

✅ Are you linking to authoritative sources?

✅ Is your site trusted (E-E-A-T: Experience, Expertise, Authority, Trust)?

6 Steps To Get Featured In AI Overviews

1. Write For Real Questions, Not Just Keywords

Think like your customer. They don’t search “ecommerce platform.” They ask: “What’s the best ecommerce platform for handmade products in the UK?”

Use tools like:

  • AnswerThePublic and AlsoAsked to find those real-world queries.

  • Your Google Search Console to see what queries are already bringing people to your site.

2. Format Content For Skimmers (And Google’s AI)

People skim. AI summarises. Your content needs to do both.

  • Use H2s and H3s for structure

  • Include bullet points and numbered lists

  • Add quick TL;DRs or summaries at the top of long guides

TL;DR: To win AI Overviews, answer layered questions clearly, structure your content well, and show off your authority.

3. Add Schema Markup (It’s Easier Than It Sounds)

This helps Google understand your content and categorise it correctly.

Common schema types:

Schema Best For Tool
FAQ Answering common questions Yoast, RankMath
HowTo Step-by-step guides Google Markup Helper
Article Blog/news content Schema.org

4. Demonstrate E-E-A-T

Google wants trustworthy sources. Show your credentials.

  • Display author bios with expertise

  • Link to government or academic sources

  • Make sure your site is fast, mobile-friendly, and secure

5. Craft “Snippable” Content

AI loves concise, easy-to-lift answers.

  • Lead each section with a direct answer

  • Highlight key terms in bold

  • Use original stats, expert quotes, or mini case studies

6. Strengthen Internal Links

Link to related posts or pages on your site. This helps Google understand your authority on a topic—and keeps users browsing.

Example:

Want a full site migration process? Check out our SEO Website Migration Guide.

How To Check If You’re In An AI Overview

Google Search Console won’t tell you (yet), so here’s what you can do:

✅ Manually Check The SERPs

Use Incognito Mode. Type your key queries and look at the AI Overview. Are you linked in it?

✅ Use SGE Tracking Tools

Tools like:

  • RankRanger

  • SEOClarity

  • SerpApi with SGE support

These tools can track whether your URLs show up in AI Overviews.

✅ Track Clicks With UTM Links

If your page appears in an AI Overview, UTM tracking lets you see traffic from those summaries in Google Analytics.

Your Tracking Toolkit (At A Glance)

Tracking Method Tool What It Shows
Manual Checks Incognito Search Visual AI summary presence
UTM Tracking Google Analytics Click-throughs from Overviews
Performance Data Search Console CTR trends by query
AI Visibility RankRanger, SEOClarity Paid insights on SGE appearance

Keep It Fresh—Update Strategically

Google’s AI Overviews favour fresh content. That doesn’t mean rewriting everything every month. Just make smart updates:

  • Refresh key posts every 3–6 months

  • Add new FAQs or expert opinions

  • Use tools like Frase or SurferSEO to find gaps in coverage

Pro tip: Add 2025-specific insights, like the latest trends, tools, or data, to show your content is current.

Final Take: Why This Matters

In 2025, AI Overviews are Google’s new front page. If your business depends on search visibility, optimising for these summaries is no longer optional.

To recap:

  • Focus on complex, real-world queries

  • Structure your content to be AI-friendly and user-friendly

  • Use schema, trust signals, and smart tracking

If you adapt now, you won’t just keep up—you’ll stand out.

Stay ahead of the curve, stay optimised.