The Definitive Guide to Ranking in Google’s AI Overviews
- Beau Elliott
- Sep 29
- 3 min read
Google’s AI Overviews now appear in nearly 40% of local search results (source: LocalFalcon). For many businesses, that means your visibility in search is no longer just about organic rankings or Google Ads—it’s about whether Google’s AI chooses to feature you at the very top of the page.
The challenge? Most companies don’t have a strategy for AI Overviews yet.
The opportunity? Early movers can capture qualified traffic before competitors catch up.
This guide will walk you through exactly how to optimize your business to appear in Google’s AI Overviews—step by step.
Step 1: Optimize Your Google Business Profile (GBP) for AI
Your GBP is one of the first places Google’s AI looks for reliable business data. An incomplete profile makes it less likely you’ll show up in AI answers.
Checklist for AI-readiness:
Write a business description with key search terms in the first 250 characters.
Ensure consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) across all online platforms.
Upload high-quality, descriptive photos of your business.
Proactively manage reviews (ask for new ones, respond to existing ones).
➡️ Why this matters: Google often pulls GBP data directly into AI answers, so a strong profile increases your chances of being cited.
Step 2: Build Authority Beyond Your Website
Google’s AI systems (powered by MUM) look for consensus across multiple trusted sources. That means your business must appear credible outside of your own site.
Where to build presence:
Review sites: Yelp, TripAdvisor, Trustpilot
Directories: Bing Places, BBB, Chamber of Commerce
Social platforms: Facebook Business, LinkedIn Pages
Industry-specific listings: niche sites relevant to your sector
➡️ Why this matters: The more places your business is cited, the stronger the trust signals you send to Google’s AI.
Step 3: Target Informational Queries (Not Just Service Keywords)
AI Overviews appear most often for informational searches. Ranking for “[service] near me” is still important, but the real AI traffic comes from questions.
The right types of questions:
“Best [product/service] for [specific need]”
“[Option A] vs [Option B] for [problem]”
“How often should [audience] [activity] to see results?”
How to find them:
Use Ahrefs Keywords Explorer or SEMrush.
Filter for Questions.
Focus on low-volume, high-intent queries competitors overlook.
➡️ Why this matters: AI Overviews answer basic questions fully, but decision-based queries leave curiosity gaps—which drive users to click through.
Step 4: Structure Content for AI Extraction
The way you format content directly affects whether AI can use it.
Content best practices:
Lead with the answer – Put the concise response in the first 1–2 sentences.
Go deeper – Add supporting details, comparisons, and explanations.
Use clean formatting – Subheadings, bullet points, and numbered lists.
Add unique value – Include data, examples, or tips others don’t.
➡️ Why this matters: Structured content is easier for AI to parse, and unique insights increase your odds of being cited over competitors.
Step 5: Track & Measure Performance
You won’t improve what you don’t measure. Tracking AI Overview visibility is still new, but tools are emerging.
How to measure:
Use tracking tools like SEMrush's AI Toolkit to monitor AI Overview presence.
Track AI referral traffic in Google Analytics (look for new referral paths).
Monitor keyword rankings—but pay special attention to informational subpages, since that’s where AI sends most traffic.
➡️ Why this matters: In case studies, 85% of AI search sessions landed on subpages, not the homepage. Companies that ignore this miss huge traffic gains.
The Bottom Line
AI Overviews are not killing local search—they’re reshaping it. Businesses that optimize now will lock in visibility before competition heats up.
To recap, here’s your AI Overview checklist:
✅ Complete and optimize your Google Business Profile
✅ Build authority across trusted third-party platforms
✅ Target decision-driven informational queries
✅ Structure content for AI readability and value
✅ Track performance and double down on what works
By following these steps, your business can rank within Google’s AI Overviews and capture highly qualified search traffic before competitors even realize what happened.
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