In May, Google launched AI Overviews. This new feature displays an AI generated summary that provides users with a compact but informative answer to their query along with links to several websites that offer more in-depth information on the topic.
With AI Overviews taking up such a large portion of prime real estate in the SERPs, achieving a spot in this feature is becoming increasingly important.
How Does Google Determine Which URLs to Feature in AI Overviews?
In typical Google fashion, the company has not divulged what you need to do in order to feature in AI Overviews, other than that you should continue to follow their search essentials guide. However, several studies have been conducted to determine the connections between content and being featured.
One study managed by Advanced Web Ranking investigated 8,000 keywords and revealed that 33.4% of AI Overview links came from sources that ranked in the top 10 organic results for that query. Meanwhile, 46.5% were from URLs outside of the top 50 organic results.
Similarly, a study conducted by Rich Sanger and Laurence O’Toole that analysed 11,163 keywords reported that 46.3% of AI Overview links came from the top organic search results for the exact same query. This study also found that links which organically rank in position one have a 53% chance of being used in the AI Overview and sources that rank tenth have a 36.9% chance.
Both studies show that there does appear to be a correlation between organic ranking position and being featured in AI Overviews. However it is incredibly interesting to see that nearly half of the AI Overview links are from web pages that aren’t ranking high on the page. Is Google actually starting to pick up on genuinely helpful content from smaller websites?
Informational Intent and AI Overview Inclusion
In a very recent study that reviewed over one million keywords, it was found that 96.53% of AI Overviews link to content with informational intent. Mark Traphagen, who led the study, took to X to share the results.
https://twitter.com/marktraphagen/status/1836112796620329292/photo/1
The outcome of Traphagen’s research does align with Google’s ongoing motive to ensure users are shown valuable information from reliable sources. It’s still early days for AI Overviews but we’re intrigued to see how it adapts to users and what changes we will see over the coming months.
Concerned your content isn’t featuring in AI Overviews? Or would you like help improving your content and organic search strategy? Speak to our experts today.
