We’ve all seen Google’s AI overview. If you haven’t, just type a question into Google, and the first result will most likely be an AI-generated answer pulled from content across the web. An inevitable result of Google’s shift towards automation, these AI snippets are taken from existing articles, blogs, and websites to provide users with instant answers without them needing to explore different sources or even click through to a website.
It’s now become a fundamental part of Google’s search engine and therefore a new key part of all SEO strategies. But what does this mean for businesses, content creators, and SEO professionals? And most importantly, how can you optimise your content to get featured as an AI snippet?
How Is AI Changing SEO?
The robots may well and truly be taking over with more and more people turning to AI for answers to their questions. This is true whether it’s something simple like ‘What is the capital Madagascar?’ or even more personal questions like ‘is my relationship going anywhere?’ (side note: Please don’t take relationship advice from AI and its Antananarivo if you are curious). The use of AI in search queries has skyrocketed and AI-driven search results are reshaping how content is ranked and displayed.
As AI continues to shape search results, SEO experts and content creators need to rethink their strategies. Google is increasingly favoring AI-curated answers, which means websites that fail to optimise for these types of AI snippets can wave goodbye to a lot of their visibility and traffic.
There is no time for beating around the bush, people want answers and they want them fast. Plus, the modern searcher doesn’t even want to click through to the website to get them. This brings up a problem for us SEO experts, as driving traffic to websites through search engine results is our bread and butter.
But the AI overview is not something to be feared but rather embraced. Getting featured as an AI snippet puts your content at the top of search results and shows that Google sees you as a viable source of information, which is an excellent sign of how your SEO efforts are tracking.
While it’s inevitable that some people will get their answer from Google and be gone forever, getting featured as an AI snippet can significantly boost your click-through rates, particularly if you are trying to rank for a high-competition keyword and not seeing results in the normal search.
Now you know more about AI snippets, how can you make them work for you?
How to Get Your Content Featured by AI
As with all things SEO, getting results starts with a solid strategy and following best practices. While there’s no guaranteed way to secure an AI snippet, these are the key steps you can take to maximise your chances.
Structure Your Content for AI
People don’t have time for fluff; they want answers. The best way to get featured is to identify the key questions your audience is asking and provide clear, concise responses.
Structure your content in a way that makes it easy for AI to extract answers.
- Use subheadings formatted as questions e.g.’How do I optimise my content for AI snippets?’
- Answer the question in the first sentence of your paragraph before elaborating.
- Write in a way that AI can easily extract and display in a snippet, by avoiding overly complex language.
- Include FAQ sections at the end of your content to target multiple queries in one place.
Matching Search Intent is More Important Than Ever
Google prioritises content that directly aligns with a user’s search intent. If your content doesn’t answer what users are actively searching for, it’s unlikely to be featured in an AI snippet.
Rather than focusing solely on keywords, take the time to understand what your audience truly wants to know and frame your content around the questions people are actually asking.
Be Conversational
AI favours content that mimics how people naturally ask questions, so focus on more conversational, natural language and avoid jargon-heavy explanations. For example, instead of optimising your content for a term like ‘best pub in London’, consider a more natural query such as ‘Where does the best pint of Guinness in London?’. This approach not only improves your chances of ranking but also makes your content more valuable and engaging which in turn means users are more likely to actually click through to your website.
Demonstrate Your Expertise
Just like with regular SEO, establishing your authority on a subject will help you reach the very top of the SERPS. You can build your authority in many different ways, but making sure your content also follows the Google E-E-A-T guidelines is the best way to garner authority in your field.
Make sure you have excellent reviews and testimonials. Clearly state your credentials and demonstrate that you have firsthand experience in your subject matter. All these factors will play a part in building your authority in the eyes of Google and getting your website to that coveted top spot.
Optimise Your Technical SEO
Having winning content isn’t the only factor in catching the attention of the AI gods – your technical SEO needs to be on point too.
Structured data and schema markup help search engines better understand your content, making it easier for AI-driven search features to extract relevant information. This boosts your chances of appearing in AI snippets, rich results, and Google’s AI Overviews that will all help drive more traffic to your website.
Don’t overlook mobile optimisation either. With more searches happening on mobile than ever before, Google prioritises mobile-friendly websites across all search features. A seamless mobile experience could be the difference between landing at the top or getting lost in the noise and should be a key part of any SEO strategy.
So now hopefully you have a better understanding of AI and how it fits into SEO. The key takeaway? SEO is evolving, and so should your strategy. Start implementing these tips today, and watch your content rise to the top of search results as an AI overview. Or if you are really serious about your digital marketing then get in touch now. Our team of SEO specialists, content creators and digital strategists are all here to turn your marketing strategy into a resounding success.
