Google’s search results look very different from even 12 months ago. At the top of millions of queries, before any blue link, there is now an AI-generated summary called an AI Overview. Google writes the answer for the user — pulling from sources it considers authoritative — and many users never scroll further.
This is a fundamental shift in how organic traffic works. And for small businesses, it is both a risk and a significant opportunity.
What Exactly Are AI Overviews?
AI Overviews (formerly called Search Generative Experience or SGE) are AI-written summaries that appear at the top of Google search results for informational and research queries. They are generated by Google’s Gemini model and synthesise information from multiple sources across the web.
The key point is this: Google decides which sources to cite, and those citations drive significant referral traffic. If your business is cited, you get a direct link in the overview. If a competitor is cited instead of you, they get the traffic.
Why Small Businesses Are at Risk
Traditional SEO was about ranking in positions 1–10. AI Overviews change the equation entirely. You can rank #1 for a query but still lose the traffic if a competitor is cited in the overview above your result.
Studies in late 2025 found that:
- Queries with AI Overviews have a 35–60% lower click-through rate on organic results below the overview
- The sources cited inside the overview receive significantly more traffic than those ranked below it
- Local service queries (gyms, clinics, coaching) are increasingly triggering AI Overviews
What AI Models Look For
To be cited in an AI Overview, Google’s model needs to trust your content. The signals it prioritises are built around EEAT:
- Experience: First-hand experience with the topic (client results, case studies, personal stories)
- Expertise: Demonstrated knowledge (qualifications, depth of content, structured data)
- Authoritativeness: Third-party recognition (press mentions, backlinks from credible sources)
- Trustworthiness: Accurate, verifiable information with clear author attribution
How to Start Appearing in AI Overviews
- Add author pages with real credentials to your blog posts
- Use FAQ schema to help Google understand your content structure
- Build Digital PR — getting cited by industry publications is one of the fastest ways to build AI trust signals
- Write for questions, not just keywords — AI Overviews trigger most often on “how”, “what”, and “why” queries
- Update old content — AI models favour fresh, accurate information
The Opportunity
The businesses that invest in AI-era SEO now will build a significant moat over the next 12–18 months. While most of your competitors are still optimising for a search results page that is rapidly becoming obsolete, you can position your business as the trusted source that AI recommends.
This is not about gaming an algorithm. It is about genuinely demonstrating expertise and authority in your niche — which is good marketing practice regardless of how search evolves.
Want to know how your business currently appears in AI search? Take our free AI Readiness Scorecard and find out in 3 minutes.