This feels like the end of SEO, as nobody can make money through SEO by bringing up the number of website rankings. Search Ads can be affected by this. Any user queries will get the result in the blue section (AI Overview) at the top. This is bad news for website owners because why would the user need to visit the website now? Is SEO still a viable way to make money if AI will gobble up our traffic? This blog will help you to find answers to all your queries related to AI overview and its effect on SEO.
What Is Search Generative Experience?
Search Generative Experience or SGE, is an experimental platform for better search results. In May 2024, Google decided to incorporate AI to answer queries. Now, the SGE, called AI Overview by Google, is employed as the top result of the SERP. Unlike traditional search results, SGE lists relevant product suggestions and blog suggestions. This AI-generated overview gives quick and clear answers, helping users not to practically click on any website for information.
The AI Overview feature can never be turned off, the alternate is to select the web filter after each search. This can filter out the SGE section. The AI experience is always improved and made better through the insights collected through user interaction and reviews. Google has made AI Overview available for all users in the US who meet the age requirements. The age limit in the UK is 18. With time, Google plans to make it available in all languages to all countries and ages.
AI Overviews and More
According to Google, “‘AI Overviews and more’ is an experiment in Search Labs” that lets users “see AI Overviews on more Google searches.” In this way, they will get access to additional generative AI features when searching. ‘AI Overviews and more’ replaced the Search Labs experiment, i.e., Search Generative Experience. Like SGE with an Android or tablet or system with Browers like Google, Chrome, Firefox, or Opera, you can easily access search labs.
Structure of AI Overview
At the top right of SGE, three to six websites will be listed with relevant content to support the AI-generated answer. It could be a good possibility if you can get listed on that. However, the dilemma is why anyone would click on that when the information they were looking for is already being listed by artificial intelligence. Below that, are some AI suggestions for you to look into while purchasing the product you Google for. Products with those parameters listed by the AI will also be listed by Google.
For example, when searching for “How to choose the right shoes for winter,” the AI Overview will appear on the vertical screen, and related blogs will substantiate that information on the right-hand side. In the vertical Overview, the AI has listed a few criteria you need to remember when purchasing winter shoes (such as breathability, moisture resistance, and ankle support). Under that, some products of e-commerce websites that are apt with the features mentioned earlier will be listed with product images, descriptions, and reviews.
Conversational Mode
People can tap to “ask a followup” in this way we have a conversational mode in which Google will answer with the help of AI. It will remember your queries and follow-up questions for future reference. Not just for users but for websites, a lot will change. This takes us back to the question with which we started this blog, “Is SEO still a viable way to make money if our traffic is going to be gobbled up by AI?”
How to Prepare SEO for AI Search with SGE?
Human Reviews
People prefer human content over AI content. For example, if you are to purchase a product online, what would you prefer as a dependable source: a human-written review or an AI-generated review? Users prefer to get answers written by human experts or experienced humans rather than an AI who doesn’t have first-hand experience with the topic. For example, we wouldn’t prefer to eat medicines prescribed by an AI. For a diagnosis or medicine prescription, we trust a human doctor over a computer. Google already knows the importance of authority in human text and first-hand experience. That’s why it has released seven product review algorithm updates in the past and a complete review guideline documentation to promote sites to get more genuine reviews to get ranked.
Revenue
Google makes 58% of its annual revenue through search result Ads. Websites are paid millions to list brands at the top. Above this, 11% of Google’s revenue comes from Google Display Network Ads. These are ads that people pay money for Google to place their Ads on high-traffic websites. If SEO does not rank websites, Google will lose 70% of its revenue.
Useless AI
Google knows that it should feed website traffic, if the websites stop creating content as they are not receiving any traffic. AI will have nothing to learn from. If it can’t train itself, it will remain useless. Secondly, as Google knows that ultimately humans are going to read these the contents written by humans will continue to be preferred.
Experimental Stage
According to Google, it “provides key information about your Google search, with links to dig deeper and learn more.” it is still in the experimental stage. It is currently available in English to users in the US. The name SGE was changed to’ AI Overview’ to note that it is still being tested in search labs.
Get Listed in the AI Featured Blogs
The AI overview lists blogs of top-ranking websites on the right of the AI overview. With traditional SEO tactics and efforts, you can aim to get your website ranked or featured in that list. This can increase your chance of getting more traffic. Rather than seeing the involvement of AI in SERP as a bane, consider it as a boon and take advantage of it.
Use AI to Make Quality Contents
Google, in its “Google search’s guidance about AI-Generated content” blog, quoted that high-quality content will be rewarded regardless of how it is produced. This could be used as a window of opportunity considering SEO. Now, Google promotes websites to generate rich, quality content. It doesn’t care whether it is AI-generated or human-written. Make use of this situation by using Artificial intelligence to create content.
Conclusion
So, it is time to take a deep breath and relax. The strategies to rank your website through the SGE are decoded. The new AI Overview snapshot in the SERP is a boon and not a bane. For everyone who was fearing the sudden fall of traffic, the good news is here: all your efforts are not a complete waste. Some studies have shown a decrease of 6% in traffic, while Google never discourages its users and website holders.
