Hey, it’s John here—yes, that John who still hasn’t finished the coffee that started this ramble.
If you sat through Google I/O 2025 (or if you just skimmed the highlight reel on YouTube while eating leftover pizza—no judgment), you’ll know that AI was the headline act. And tucked inside all that copyright sparkle is something that has every SEO nerd in Bristol (myself included) buzzing: Google AI Overviews.
I’ve spent the last few weeks grilling my team, my dog, and anyone within latte-shot distance about how these Overviews work and, more importantly, how your business can elbow its way into them. Grab a mug and settle in; I’m about to spill everything I’ve learned.
So, what on earth are AI Overviews?
Picture this: you type, “How old is Sir Anthony Hopkins?” into Google while you’re half-watching Silence of the Lambs (popcorn mandatory). Instead of ten blue links, you get a tidy mini-essay right at the top—no scrolling required. That’s an AI Overview: Google hoovers up answers from a handful of credible pages, blends them like a smoothie, and serves the result in a neat paragraph or two.
Translation? Google’s gone from matching keywords to genuinely understanding your question—or at least giving a darn good impression of it.
Will every search trigger an Overview?
Short answer: nope. Google’s playing it safe with anything that falls under the dreaded YMYL (“Your Money or Your Life”). Ask, “How do I start divorce proceedings?” and Google’s algorithm suddenly remembers it has a risk-aversion setting. You’ll probably still see the usual links because a dodgy AI suggestion in those areas could ruin someone’s actual life.
But if you’re asking about well-defined “entities” (in Google-speak, things not strings), like an actor’s age, a landmark’s history, or the best way to season a cast-iron pan, AI Overviews pop up all day long.
Why should you care?
Because the sites Google cites as sources get ridiculous traffic bumps. Imagine a first-time driver Googling, “How can I lower my insurance premiums?” If your blog is credited in the Overview, you’ve just earned yourself a front-row seat to thousands of eyeballs—and, with luck, customers.
My game plan for getting businesses into AI Overviews
I’ve boiled it down to six big moves (and yes, they’re suspiciously close to good old-fashioned SEO):
Write like a human (hi!)
I shoot for short, punchy sentences and a Q-and-A rhythm. Nobody wants War and Peace when they’re troubleshooting at 2 a.m. Answer questions clearly, skip the waffle, sprinkle in personality—Google’s LLMs eat that up.
Flex your E-E-A-T muscles
Show Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. Include stats, cite sources, and slap your name (and credentials) on the byline. If you once fixed a problem for a client, tell the story—anecdotes build trust.
Stay fresh
AI loves up-to-date info the way I love tacos. Revisit your posts, tack on new data, and update the “last edited” timestamp. Google notices.
Nail your on-page SEO
Titles, headings, schema markup, internal links, fast load times, mobile friendliness—the usual suspects still matter. Think of them as table stakes.
Become an “entity”
Use consistent naming across your site, socials, and directories (no “Acme Ltd” on Monday and “Acme Widgets” on Wednesday). Add structured data so Google can pin your brand to its knowledge graph.
Polish your Google Business Profile
Got a bricks-and-mortar spot? Keep hours, phone number, and categories current. Encourage real reviews (no, your cousin’s five-star “best burger ever” doesn’t count). Local queries lean heavily on these signals.
Story time: the day my waffle-heavy blog flopped
A confession. Last year I wrote a 3,000-word magnum opus on “How AI Is Revolutionising SEO.” It was so packed with jargon it could’ve doubled as a sleep aid. Guess what? Zero traffic, zero Overview love. I rewrote it conversationally—short paragraphs, FAQs, a quick anecdote about tearing my hair out over schema markup—and bam, impressions doubled in a month. Lesson learned: talk like a human, not a robot.
The bottom line
AI Overviews haven’t killed traditional SEO; they’ve made it non-negotiable. Keep your content lively, authoritative, and current, and you stand a fighting chance of being that coveted cited source.
Need a hand? My team and I are helping businesses all over the South-West—Bristol, Bath, the lot—shake some AI magic onto their content. Drop me a line, and let’s see if we can’t land your brand in Google’s new VIP box.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, my neglected coffee has gone cold—again.