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Tag: AI Overviews

Boost Your Google Ads Visibility in AI Overviews with These Strategies

I’ve discovered that AI Overviews are changing the way Google Search displays paid ads. Nowadays, it seems like there’s more pressure to get my ads to appear in AI-generated responses, as direct search results provide fewer opportunities for clicks.

Google suggests that Shopping, Performance Max, and AI Max for Search campaigns are best suited for this evolution. However, just choosing the right campaign isn’t enough. I need to ensure the quality of my feeds, optimize my landing pages, and use effective audience signals and creative content strategies to boost my ads’ chances.

Enable Google-Recommended Campaigns for AI Overviews

I’ve found that Google is quite clear about which campaign types are most likely to appear in AI Overviews. Interestingly, these opportunities are often overlooked by experienced marketers due lack of full control.

Despite this, I’ve come to understand that combining control with data and an understanding of search intent will benefit both me, as an advertiser, and the searcher. This involves strategizing beyond picking the right campaign types, focusing instead on fully optimized feed data and content alignment.

To boost my visibility in AI Overviews, I’ve enabled Google’s recommended campaigns to sync with the feature, particularly Shopping, Performance Max, and AI Max for Search, utilizing broad match keywords and smart bidding with final URL expansion.

Shopping Campaigns

Learning that the original keywordless campaign relies heavily on my data feed quality, I’ve focused on creating a well-built and optimized product data feed, using high-quality images, and ensuring my titles and descriptions are thorough.

I’ve realized how crucial the product data feed is in determining ad visibility for specific queries. When high-intent questions are asked, the AI Overview can feature a product carousel, enhancing the prominence of shopping results.

Performance Max Campaigns

In Performance Max, I’ve seen how keywordless campaigns utilize page content, data feeds, and audience insights to decide ad display. These inputs are key in determining ad visibility for queries.

Enabling Final URL expansion has allowed my ads to appear in more searches by leveraging page content for user query relevance.

AI Max for Search Campaigns

By using existing keywords as a starting point, AI Max for Search expands beyond to determine ad delivery strategies. This means keywords signal intent rather than dictate ad display.

I’ve noticed that AI Max uses search term matching and asset optimization to target queries unaddressed by traditional keyword targeting.

6 Best Practices for Ad Campaigns

To improve my chances of being featured in an AI Overview, I’ve optimized my campaigns by focusing on creative, copy, schema, and link-building techniques to reinforce brand authority.

1. Diversify Your Assets

With campaigns like AI Max and Performance Max, I’ve realized the importance of using varied creative assets. Incorporating informative headlines, descriptions, and visuals in multiple formats allows for diverse ad placements.

2. Use a Conversational Tone

Understanding Google’s approach, I’ve shifted from generic sales pitches to a conversational tone in my Responsive Search Ads, using language that assists the user rather than typical sales jargon.

3. Be Clear and Informative

By answering key questions succinctly, my ads now have a better chance of being highlighted in AI Overviews. A focus on information-rich landing pages has proven essential.

4. Check Schema Markup and Links

I ensure my schema markup is thorough and aligned with my content. Linking to reputable sources builds authority, and collaborating with my SEO team has enhanced these practices.

5. Guide Automation with Audience Signals

I recognize the lack of control in these campaigns, so I’ve guided automation using strong audience signals, exclusions, and negative keywords to refine my targeting strategies.

6. Regularly Monitor Campaigns

Regular monitoring is crucial for brand safety and profitability. Reviewing search terms, landing pages, and ad assets ensures my message remains consistent and aligned.

Adapt Your Approach for AI Overviews

Adapting to conversational AI Overviews requires me to focus on maximizing visibility on the SERP. Emphasizing data feed quality, content alignment, and creative diversity turns this shift into an opportunity for growth.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

May 27, 2026
Discover Google’s AI Updates: Preferred Sources and More

I recently came across some exciting updates from Google that are designed to enhance the way we search for and interact with content. Google is introducing new features to its AI experiences, including AI Mode and AI Overviews, by incorporating preferred sources along with a perspectives carousel and highly cited labels.

Preferred Sources in AI Mode and AI Overviews. One of the updates brings preferred sources to AI search results. According to Duncan Osborn, Product Manager at Google Search, users will now be able to easily identify links in AI responses from sources they have selected. I find this particularly beneficial as it helps me quickly access content from sources I trust.

I saw Google testing this feature recently, and now we have the final version that’s rolling out. There will be a label highlighting preferred sources within AI results, making it noticeable to us. It’s fascinating how this is now available globally and in all languages. Google mentions that users have selected over 345,000 unique sources, and these sources receive double the click-through rate. For those interested in trying it out, you can find more details in Google’s documentation.

Perspectives Carousel. Another interesting addition is the perspectives carousel. Google will present a new carousel for certain searches, tailored to help us dive deeper into specific topics, especially when they’re rapidly evolving. The carousel will prominently feature our preferred sources, making recent articles more accessible across various search queries.

In addition to this, there’s also a carousel that shows helpful perspectives from online discussions, forums, and social media. This is a wonderful way for us to tap into diverse viewpoints, broadening our understanding of topics that interest us. These features are being rolled out in AI Mode and AI Overviews.

Highly Cited Label. Finally, Google is expanding the highly cited label to more web article links within search results. This feature makes it easier to find articles that many other stories refer to. It’s a fantastic tool for me to trace a story back to its primary reporting, ensuring that I am viewing the original source of information. This feature will be available across Google Search, beyond just AI-specific functions.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

May 27, 2026
Discover How AI Transforms User Behavior in Search Results
I find it fascinating that users interact differently when faced with AI Overviews compared to AI Mode. New clickstream data reveals that AI Overviews significantly alter user behavior—from reverse scrolling to extended evaluation of search results across various intents.

Take Netflix, for example. The average user spends about 18 minutes just browsing. They skim through tiles, watch trailers, and often circle back. It turns out, searching isn’t much different these days, thanks to new insights.

This week, I’m diving into:
- Four notable behavioral shifts observed with AI Overviews, gathered from over 846,000 Google sessions.
- The evolving role of brand-name searches and why they no longer offer the same shortcuts.
- An insight that might change how you craft title tags and meta descriptions this quarter.
Eric Van Buskirk from Clickstream Solutions mined anonymized clickstream data supplied by Surfer SEO. The study analyzed around 846,000 U.S.-based Google searches from February and March of 2026.

This marks the fifth study on user behavior with Google’s AI features over the past year. Earlier, a UX study on 70 users in May 2025 utilized think-aloud and screen recording methods, while a study from October 2025 examined AI Mode specifically. This research trades depth for scale, uncovering patterns too subtle for smaller studies.

For a bit of context, previous SERP mouse-tracking studies involved only a handful of people—this one, however, evaluates queries from tens of thousands of users.

A fascinating contrast surfaces: User behavior in AI Overviews starkly opposes that in AI Mode, where AI Mode is akin to autoplay, while AI Overviews replicate the browsing experience.

This article outlines four major findings from this recent study and how they might influence your title tags and meta descriptions in 2026. Full methodology available here.

With groundbreaking insights, like how nearly half of AI Overview interactions involve reverse scrolling and how search types no longer reliably predict behavior, this data is invaluable. It challenges traditional assumptions and has meaningful implications for e-commerce and decision-heavy categories.

Surprising findings include brand searches losing their shortcut advantage, implying even users searching specifically for brands might pause to consider adjacent content on the SERP.

Read more intriguing insights on how the AI landscape shifts user engagement and strategy in SEO.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.
May 27, 2026
Google Targets AI Spam in Latest Search Policy Update

Recently, I discovered that Google has updated its search spam policies, explicitly stating that these rules also apply to generative AI responses within Google Search. This update clarifies that using spammy tactics to get your site or brand featured in AI Overviews, AI Mode, or other AI-based responses now classifies as spam. Google warns that it will take action against such practices.

What changed. Google revamped a key line in their policy:

“In the context of Google Search, spam refers to techniques used to deceive users or manipulate our Search systems into featuring content prominently, such as attempting to manipulate Search systems into ranking content highly or attempting to manipulate generative Al responses in Google Search.”

Originally, it said:

“In the context of Google Search, spam refers to techniques used to deceive users or manipulate our Search systems into ranking content highly.”

I came across a visual representation of this policy addition:

Why I care. I’ve noticed there’s a lot of advice circulating about optimizing for AI search engines. Some strategies might conflict with Google’s updated spam policies. It’s important for me, and anyone else trying to optimize their presence in AI responses, to carefully review these policies and ensure compliance, avoiding any spam techniques that could harm visibility on Google.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

May 15, 2026
Condé Nast Shifts Focus as Google Search Traffic Fades

Over the years, as Google continually tweaked its algorithms and transformed its search results pages, I’ve seen Condé Nast adjust its strategies considerably. Now, we’re designing our business around the notion that search traffic barely impacts us anymore.

In a recent conversation featured on TBPN—the tech media network that’s been likened to “technology’s daily show”—CEO Roger Lynch shared that we’ve stopped regarding Google search as a dependable traffic source.

Here’s what Lynch explained. While Google traffic isn’t expected to vanish completely, we’re intentionally planning as if it’s on the decline:

“Last year, I instructed our teams: plan as if there is no search—consider search as non-existent.”

“We’re not saying it will be gone entirely… but we anticipate it will comprise only single digits of our overall traffic—very minimal.”

The background. Throughout the past few years, Lynch has observed a recurring trend: Google’s adjustments consistently exceeded our expectations in reducing our visibility.

“For each of the last three years, we predicted some search traffic declines in our budgets, but it fell even more than anticipated,” he noted.

Why has our search traffic dwindled? Lynch attributes this decline not only to algorithm changes but also to AI Overviews and Google’s increasingly commercial-centric results.

“Seven or eight years ago, search results had a few ads, followed by ’10 blue links.’”

Currently, users first encounter AI Overviews, then a slew of commerce links, pushing organic results further down the page.

“It’s worked out well for Google,” Lynch commented.

A shifting landscape. The alterations made by Google have disrupted the model that other digital entities, like BuzzFeed, used to convert social media and search traffic into revenue.

“That era has ended,” he declared.

Lynch mentioned that brands in the intermediary stages are having the most trouble adapting to changes in AI and search frameworks.

“In today’s world, having a specified niche with a dedicated audience is crucial. Relying solely on advertising to support significant journalism investments is a challenging position,” he stated.

Shifting priorities at Condé Nast. We are now emphasizing brands that excel in these areas:

Dedicated direct audiences.

Potential for subscriptions.

Undeniable expertise in a given niche or category.

Lynch also hinted at a potential advantage for premium publishers against AI-generated content:

“Our audience expects and desires human-generated content. Creating AI-generated content doesn’t play to our strengths. Identifying and building on your competitive advantages is vital.”

Why this matters. Lynch emphasized that the practice of turning search and social media traffic into lucrative businesses is outdated. Publishers lacking a strong brand or dedicated readership might face challenges, as platforms can revise their methods at any moment.

The full interview. You can watch Lynch’s discussion, where he elaborates why human journalism remains crucial in the AI era, starting at 30:28 here.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

May 13, 2026
TurboQuant: Revolutionizing AI with Entity-Driven SEO

I believe the launch of TurboQuant will revolutionize AI and SEO as we know it. This cutting-edge algorithm from Google drastically reduces the computing power and energy needs by allowing the massive compression of LLMs and vector search engines.

Imagine using six times less memory and achieving eight times the speed without compromising accuracy. That’s how TurboQuant dramatically lowers the cost of running AI tasks.

As search engines evolve from simply listing links on a SERP to providing immediate AI-generated overviews, it’s crucial for us in the SEO industry to adapt. We need to focus on creating meaningful, trustworthy content and understand its impact on searches.

Before AI became prevalent, SEO was grounded in basic keywords and topics, which inefficiently represented user intent. High costs and energy consumption hindered mapping true meaning across the web, but now TurboQuant uses an advanced compression method, PolarQuant, to transform data into manageable coordinates. This breakthrough allows Google to process complex ideas far more efficiently.

TurboQuant can match exact search meanings in real time, thanks to its ability to understand user intent using past searches and real-world contexts.

The near-zero indexing lead time of TurboQuant eradicates delays between publication and ranking. Trusted publishers will gain instant recognition for their expertise, while the system also blocks manipulation and spam from appearing.

We must prepare for the fast-approaching era where AI summaries become the norm in responding to most queries. Thin content, which adds no original value, will vanish because AI can now summarize the web almost instantly, making unique viewpoints and genuine data irreplaceable.

Developing trust and authority with original thoughts, data, and experiences will prove essential, as AI-generated summaries merely consolidate existing information.

The focus of our SEO strategies should be to become a source AI recommends reliably, not just rankings based on keywords. TurboQuant maintains a more reliable index of facts by validating them against its real-time knowledge base.

This new system tracks a brand’s strength across various platforms, reinforcing the necessity of improving our knowledge graph as a trusted source.

With TurboQuant handling vast information without delays, hyper-personalization is set to explode in ways we’ve previously not imagined. AI agents could remember extensive user interactions to provide extensive personalization.

TurboQuant’s capability to integrate various signals into a cohesive perception of a brand’s value demands a strategic shift toward consistent, omnichannel representation.

We’ve prioritized quantity over quality for far too long in this industry. TurboQuant signals the end of this era, as it necessitates creating high-quality, meaningful content that establishes us as trusted entities.

Delivering a reliable message with a clear voice will guide how our messages are distributed and our brand credibility.

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

May 13, 2026
Is SEO Really Dead? Discover the Future of SEO in 2026

SEO isn’t dead—far from it. But let’s face it, AI is definitely changing the game in ways we never imagined. This got me thinking about how things are looking different for us, especially with the rise of zero-click searches and AI Overviews. In 2026, these are becoming more like the hand guiding our SEO strategies.

With AI advancements, I’m seeing how crucial it is for all of us to adapt and build our SEO approaches around these innovations. Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) is making waves, and it’s fascinating to watch how it reshapes our tactics.

If we want to stay ahead, integrating AI into our SEO strategies isn’t just optional—it’s essential. The landscape is evolving, and so should we.

Inspired by this post on HiGoodie Blog.

May 13, 2026
Why Quality Content Often Fails to Rank on Google

I find it intriguing how, despite creating stellar content, it often doesn’t make it to the top of Google’s search results. What holds it back isn’t necessarily quality—there are usually other roadblocks in play. Let me break down how to identify what’s hindering your content’s rankings.

The common advice has always been to create helpful, high-quality content to rank well. However, this piece of advice doesn’t cover the full story of Google’s search algorithm mechanics.

Even if your content is well-researched and aligned with search intent, technical barriers and competition may still impede its visibility. Identifying these barriers is crucial before deciding to rewrite any piece of content.

Before blaming your content’s positioning, it’s essential to assess its quality. I often observe pages that don’t stand out, sometimes being autogenerated with minimal editorial input. Google’s guidelines on helpful content underscore the significance of experience and trust.

Ask yourself: Does your content deliver unique insights, adhere to Google’s preferred format, and offer value beyond the current top results? A ‘yes’ suggests positioning issues; otherwise, focus on enhancing your content’s quality first.

In the competitive 2026 search landscape, various factors such as AI summaries and an increased ad presence are reshaping search results pages, making it harder for organic content to achieve visibility.

Understanding what your content is truly competing against is key. If these external factors push your content down the page, adjustments are necessary to remain competitive.

When questioning why good content isn’t ranking, I employ a diagnostic framework that prioritizes technical issues. Ensuring that your page is indexed and free from technological hurdles is the first and simplest step to address.

Matching search intent with your content’s format is also critical. If your content is misaligned, improving it won’t suffice unless you address the fundamental disconnect.

If a large trust signal gap exists between your domain and your competitors’, repositioning is often necessary to focus on less competitive keywords where you can compete effectively.

The type of website you manage affects which barriers are most significant. For example, SaaS platforms typically face challenges concerning authority more than technical issues, while ecommerce sites contend with technical constraints.

Understanding and applying this diagnostic sequence helps identify and address potential bottlenecks, ultimately allowing your content to rank better by focusing on what truly matters.

In 2026, as the ease of generating good content continues to grow due to AI, positioning becomes crucial. Differentiated, experience-driven content is what stands out and captures attention.

Your strategic question isn’t just about creating good content. It’s about understanding the landscape: What else is required for your content to achieve outstanding results in the search arena?

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

May 13, 2026
Explore Google’s New AI Search Link & Citation Updates

Have you noticed a change in how Google displays links and citations in its AI search features? I recently learned about five key updates that aim to enhance our experience with AI Mode and AI Overviews.

According to Hema Budaraju, VP, Product Management at Google, these upgrades are designed to help us connect with authentic voices and access valuable information across the web. She detailed these updates in a recent article.

Let’s dive into the updates rolling out:

(1) Suggested angles at the end of AI responses. Google now suggests further reading options at the end of AI responses. These link to unique articles or analyses that deepen our understanding of the topic. It’s like having a roadmap to satisfy our curiosity!

Here’s a preview of this feature:

(2) Easier access to your news subscriptions. With this update, Google displays links from our news subscriptions prominently. This means I can quickly access content I trust, maximizing the value of my subscriptions. During Google’s early tests, these subscription links significantly boosted click-through rates.

If you’re a publisher, check out the documentation to enable this feature.

Here’s what this looks like in action:

(3) Social media and online discussions now include creator details. When AI features cite social media, Google includes not only the website’s name but also the creator’s name, handle, and community name. This transparency helps me spot firsthand sources at a glance.

Here’s a glimpse of how this plays out:

(4) More links, next to relevant text. Google is increasing the number of links shown directly within AI responses, strategically placing them next to relevant text. This makes it tempting for me to explore these sources further.

Here’s what it looks like:

(5) Hover over inline links for a quick look. Now when I hover over an inline link in Google’s AI features, I get a sneak peek of the website. This could just be the nudge I need to click through and explore further. I remember seeing Google test this back in February and thought it was a brilliant idea.

Here’s an example of the feature:

Why this matters. Google is committed to ongoing testing and refinements, ensuring these features serve us better. I truly believe these changes will promote more engagement with the cited pages, presenting an exciting step forward for both users and the web ecosystem. The real question is, will they meet my expectations?

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.

May 6, 2026
Google AI CTR Rebound: Promising 85% Increase in Two Months
I’ve been following the shift in Google’s AI Overviews, and it’s exciting to see the organic click-through rate on these searches finally on the rise. After a year-long slump, the CTR is showing promising signs of recovery. But could this mean the end of click losses?

Back in December 2025, the CTR had hit a low of 1.3%, but by February 2026, it had climbed to 2.4%. That’s an impressive 85% jump in just two months, according to the latest data from Seer Interactive.

Understanding CTR Movement. When AI Overviews are part of a search, pages that are cited see a significant increase in clicks compared to pages that aren’t cited, yet they still garner fewer clicks than searches without any AI Overviews.

Here’s a breakdown of the CTR percentages:
- No AI Overview: ~3.3% CTR
- AI Overview with citation: ~2.1% CTR
- AI Overview without citation: ~0.9% CTR
Where are the clicks going?. Interestingly, searches that don’t include AI Overviews are seeing an increase in value. Their CTR rose from 2.8% at the start of 2025 to 3.8% by February 2026.
- One factor: AI Overviews are handling quick answers, leaving users with more complex questions to search deeper.
AI Overviews Depend on Query Intent. The presence of AI Overviews varies greatly depending on the type of query:
- Informational: ~36% feature AIOs
- Transactional: ~5%
- Comparison: ~95%
- Question: ~86%
A nuanced perspective. It’s important to note that a lower CTR doesn’t always equate to poor results. In instances where clicks remained stable but impressions grew, brands may have appeared more frequently in AI Overviews even as CTR percentages dropped.

The stability of paid search. I noticed that when Google presents an AI Overview, the paid CTR increases slightly from 14.6% to 16.2%. Without AI Overviews, the CTR drops from 26% to 21.8%.

Why this matters. Google’s AI Overviews are not just reducing overall clicks; they’re shifting them. This means you need to aim for your site being cited in AI Overviews and focus on queries where users are more likely to click.

About the Research. Seer analyzed data from 53 brands, 5.47 million queries, and 2.43 billion impressions between January 2025 and February 2026.

See the full report here: AIO Impact on Google CTR: 2026 Update

Inspired by this post on Search Engine Land.
April 24, 2026

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