AI Overviews Are Stealing Your Traffic: 8 SEO Strategies to Take it Back

The search landscape is constantly evolving, and one of the most significant shifts happening today is the rise of AI-generated overviews in search engines. These snippets, powered by artificial intelligence, are transforming the way information is delivered and consumed. For businesses, this shift represents both a challenge and an opportunity.

 

Gone are the days of optimizing solely for traditional search engine results pages (SERPs). If your SEO strategy doesn’t include ways to get featured in AI overviews, you’re missing out on a large portion of organic traffic. 

 

In this article, we’re breaking down exactly what AI overviews are, how they work to improve the overall search experience, and most importantly, the specific steps you can take to optimize your content to get featured at the top of the search results. 

 

Key Takeaways

 

▪️AI-generated overviews are changing search behavior. These concise summaries now dominate the top of AI-powered search results and prioritize clarity, relevance, and trustworthiness. Businesses that adapt to this SEO trend will gain an edge in visibility and authority.

 

▪️Traditional SEO strategies still matter, but AI optimization requires adjustments. Focusing on conversational, question-based keywords and creating scannable, well-structured content can significantly increase your chances of being featured in AI overviews.

 

▪️Direct answers and FAQ sections are essential. Content that answers specific user questions clearly and concisely is more likely to be pulled into AI-generated snippets. 

 

▪️User engagement impacts performance. Keeping readers scrolling with engaging content, natural flow, and multimedia elements boosts scroll depth, which AI prioritizes when determining content relevance.

 

▪️How-to guides and TL;DR summaries are snippet gold. Including step-by-step instructions and concise early summaries ensures both users and search engines immediately understand your content’s value.

 

What Are AI Overviews?

 

 

AI overviews are concise, AI-generated summaries that appear at the top of AI-powered search engines in response to user’s search queries. They are designed to synthesize answers from multiple sources into a direct, easy-to-digest response, helping users find answers more quickly than ever. 

 

You’ve likely seen AI overviews in action if you’ve been using Google search with its Search Generative AI Experience (SGE), or Bing’s integration with ChatGPT. Instead of just displaying a list of links, these tools provide detailed, conversational responses, accompanied by links to the original websites.

 

Why Businesses Need To Focus On Gaining Visibility In AI Overviews

 

 

Getting your business featured in AI overviews matters for several key reasons:

 

• Increased Visibility: These results appear above traditional organic search listings, putting your website at the very top of search results. 

 

• Authority And Trust: AI overviews pull content from the most reliable sources, so being featured builds trust and positions your brand as an industry leader.

 

• New Traffic Opportunities: While AI overviews provide instant answers, they also link back to source content—giving users a path to your website.

 

• Competitive Advantage: Staying ahead of competitors who are still optimizing only for traditional organic results gives you an edge.

 

Optimizing for these overviews requires you to shift your approach. While traditional SEO tactics remain important, adapting your content for AI-friendly indexing and summarization is now essential.

 

8 SEO Strategies That Will Help You Get Featured In AI Overviews 

 

 

Adapting your existing SEO tactics for AI overviews means understanding how AI evaluates and presents information. Here are 8 key strategies that will help you capture top spots in AI-generated results: 

 

1. Target Longer Keywords And Question-Based Queries

 

 

AI search tools prioritize natural language queries—phrases users type as if they were speaking aloud. This means optimizing for long-tail keywords (often framed as questions) can dramatically improve your chances of being featured in overviews.

 

For example, instead of a cleaning business targeting the keyword “cleaning services”, they could take it a step further and find the specific questions their audience is searching for: 

 

• “What are the best cleaning services for small offices?”

 

• “How do I hire a professional cleaning company for my home?”

 

• “What’s included in a deep cleaning service for businesses?”

 

• “How much does office cleaning cost per month?”

 

• “Are there eco-friendly cleaning services near me?”

 

These specific, conversational questions align with how AI understands search intent, making them much more likely to be featured in AI-generated overviews than broad, non-specific terms. 

 

You can use tools like AnswerThePublic, or even AI tools like ChatGPT, to identify common questions your audience is asking. Then write blog posts, guides, and FAQ sections that directly address these conversational queries.

 

2. Add FAQ Sections To Your Content

 

 

FAQs are the bread and butter of AI overviews. By providing quick, direct answers to common questions, you’re feeding AI exactly the kind of content it needs to generate concise, trustworthy snippets.

 

FAQs break down information into bite-sized, reader-friendly chunks, making them easy for AI to process and repurpose in search snippets.

 

How To Use FAQs Effectively:

 

• Create a “Frequently Asked Questions” section for every primary topic on your site or within your content. 

 

• Focus on questions that match user intent, using a natural, conversational tone. 

 

• Use schema markup for FAQs to help search engines understand your content better.

 

3. Provide Exact Answers To User Questions

 

 

AI thrives on clarity. Users want direct, no-nonsense answers, and search engines designed around AI prioritize content that delivers just that. 

 

When addressing a specific question, do two things:

 

1. Start with a concise answer: Get to the point immediately.

 

2. Follow up with additional details: After answering the question directly, expand on the topic with related insights or examples.

 

For instance, instead of writing a vague response to a query like “What is SEO?,” we would provide a direct answer: “SEO, or search engine optimization, is the process of improving a website’s visibility and ranking on search engines.”

 

Then we’d follow that up with the details: “It involves optimizing keywords, improving site speed, creating quality content, and earning backlinks to increase organic traffic.”

 

4. Pay Attention To Content Structure

 

 

AI algorithms depend heavily on content structure to interpret the meaning and relevance of content. A well-structured page tells AI exactly what your content is about and how it should be categorized.

 

Best Practices For Structuring Your Content To Get Featured In An AI Overview 

 

• Use clear, descriptive H1, H2, and H3 headers. 

 

• Write short paragraphs and break text into easily skimmable chunks.

 

• Add schema markup to your pages to provide extra metadata. This helps AI “read” your content more effectively.

 

5. Create Engaging Content That Maximizes Scroll Depth

 

 

Beyond optimizing for keywords and structure, search engines like Google are also paying attention to user behavior—specifically, how far down a page users are scrolling. If visitors aren’t scrolling to the bottom of your content, it signals to search engines that your content may not be engaging enough, which can hurt your rankings.

 

How To Keep Readers Scrolling:

 

• Start with an engaging introduction that hooks the reader.

 

• Structure your content with compelling subheadings that spark curiosity.

 

• Use multimedia elements like visuals, videos, and charts to improve engagement.

 

• Make every section flow naturally into the next, building momentum that compels readers to keep reading.

 

Each section should leave the reader wanting more by raising questions or introducing ideas that create intrigue, enticing them to continue to the next part. Think of your content like a story—each “chapter” should build anticipation for what’s coming next, keeping visitors invested until the very end.

 

6. Use Bulleted And Numbered Lists for Scannability

 

 

Lists, whether bulleted or numbered, are commonly pulled into AI overviews for one good reason: They simplify information. When AI scans for answers, it often selects list-based content because it’s easy to present in snippet form. You can use lists for: 

 

• Summarizing features or benefits

 

• Outlining step-by-step guides

 

• Highlighting quick tips

 

7. Include TL;DR Summaries

 

 

“TL;DR” is an acronym for “Too Long; Didn’t Read,” often used in online spaces to summarize lengthy content for readers who don’t have the time, or attention span, to dive into a full article.

 

Originally popularized as internet slang, it’s now a practical tool in the world of SEO and content marketing. In fact, TL;DR summaries aren’t just for readers, they’re also an essential component for getting your content picked up by AI overviews.

 

As we previously mentioned, AI algorithms prioritize content that is structured for clarity and quickly delivers value. By including a well-written TL;DR at the beginning of your content, you’re giving both readers and algorithms an immediate snapshot of your article’s key points. Here’s why this matters:

 

1. TL;DR Aligns With Reader Behavior: In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, many users skim content or only want the highlights. A concise summary appeals directly to these readers while ensuring they still walk away with your core message.

 

2. TL;DR Helps AI Understand Your Content Quickly: Search engines powered by AI are trained to provide relevant answers as efficiently as possible. A clear, structured TL;DR allows AI to extract the most important details upfront, increasing the likelihood of your content being selected for an overview.

 

3. TL;DR Provides An Easy Pull For Snippets: AI overviews often display snippets of content, and a strong TL;DR is already formatted to act as a natural candidate for these summaries.

 

Here’s how to craft a TL;DR that works for both humans and AI:

 

Place it at the start of your blog post. Your TL;DR should act as the reader’s gateway into the article, setting the stage for the detailed content that follows. Make sure it’s one of the first things both visitors and search engines see.

 

Be concise and direct. Focus on the most important points of your article. Use short sentences that summarize the main takeaways in just a few lines.

 

Add strong keywords. Integrate conversational, long-tail keywords that reflect the article’s topic, as this improves your AI overview optimization efforts.

 

Prioritize clarity. Avoid jargon or overly complex language. The TL;DR should be easy for a general audience and AI engines to understand instantly.

 

8. Focus On “How-To” Content

 

 

Instructional, “how-to” content often dominates AI overviews. Why? Because it provides actionable, easy-to-follow steps users can quickly implement. A few ways you can optimize your “how-to” content includes: 

 

• Using numbered headings to introduce each step

 

• Providing clear, specific instructions for every step

 

• Including visuals like diagrams to explain complex topics

 

Your Competitors Are in AI Overviews—Are You?  

 

 

Here’s the hard truth: if your SEO strategy isn’t optimized for AI Overviews, your competitors are claiming the traffic, leads, and trust that should be yours. Every day without AI-driven SEO means missed exposure, fewer clicks, and less credibility in your market.

 

At Alchemy, we help businesses like yours stay ahead of these shifts. Our team combines traditional SEO fundamentals with cutting-edge AI optimization to ensure your content ranks where it matters most—inside the answers people actually see.

 

Don’t wait until your organic traffic flatlines or your competitors dominate every search result. Call 877-978-2110 or book a call at a time that is convenient for you, to speak with one of our SEO experts and learn how to secure your spot in AI Overviews before it’s too late: bit.ly/discconv.