I’ve been writing a lot about how AI is changing SEO. It’s becoming harder to rank on search engines but not impossible. AI overviews mean fewer people are seeing your pages but you can show up in AI overviews in just three steps.
First, what are AI overviews? Google says its AI Gemini works with existing search systems that have powered Google for years. The AI overview is designed to reveal information that’s backed by top web results and include links so people can read more. AI overview shows up for longer queries, meaning 10 or more words. It also shows up for question-based searches like, “When should I hire a Charlotte web designer?” Lastly, the AI overview is triggered by complex, multi-part topics where someone is trying to understand something, like “How do I improve my SEO as a Charlotte-based business?”
For you as a business owner, that means you’ll find success if you answer specific questions in your niche. Most importantly, though, is how you present the information. Clear, coherent answers are what’s needed here.
Answer the Question In Your Content
To appear in an AI overview, answer the question first. Write a two-to three-sentence “answer block” immediately below a header that gives the core answer right away. A suggestion from the hosting company we work with, Dreamhost, says to do this:
- Find your top-performing blog post
- Identify the main question it answers
- Write a direct two- to three-sentence answer immediately below the first H2 (header two).
- Bold the most important fact
- Use the rest of the section to expand on the answer with details, examples, and context
Use Headers that Answer Questions
Speaking of headers, use ones that match questions. When search engines are using AI for their overviews, they’re looking for pages that answer questions. Headers that match those questions are useful.
How do you find those questions? Use Google. Search for your target keyword and look at the “People also ask” box that appears beneath it. Those questions indicate which related queries people are searching for. If your headers match those questions, you’ll appear in the AI overview. More tips from Dreamhost:
- Google your primary keyword phrase like “Charlotte web designer”
- Write all the questions that appear in the “people also ask” section
- Compare those questions to the headers on your existing pages
- Restructure your headers to match the questions
- Add new subsections for questions you haven’t answered yet
Use Lists and Tables When That Makes Sense
As a Charlotte web design company, we love a good list. You know who else does? Search engines. When you use a list, a table, or something that’s clearly a step-by-step guide, you make it easy for AI to identify information it can include in a summary.
Summaries are great! Bullet points, numbered lists, tables – humans and AI alike love formatting that makes information more comprehensible. That doesn’t mean you should go overboard but use a list, table, or something similar when it makes sense.
Keep in mind that search engines like Google are trying to do what they’ve always done – make information accessible and easy to find. When you think of it like that, you can use AI overviews to your advantage by clearly and directly answering questions. If this sounds complicated or you want someone to partner with you, that’s doable. Reach out to your favorite Charlotte web designer (us, I mean us) today.
Get in touch with us via email or call (704) 336-9113.
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