August has finally arrived, leaving only a few weeks left of summer. After that, the kids go back to school, people spend more time at work, and sales start to ramp up again. But those sales won’t go up if people can’t find your site, and with the rise of Google’s AI overview, that’s looking like a larger possibility. We’re going to go through what the AI overview means for you and why it can be a valuable tool to keep your business relevant.
What is Google’s AI Overview & What Does it Mean to You?
The AI overview is now the top result when searching for answers on Google. It scrapes thousands of results to provide you with the answer you need before you even have to scroll. This is amazing for users, but not so much for brands. Now websites are getting far less traffic from human users because they don’t see a need to navigate to them. This means fewer impressions, which means fewer sales. The challenge is to try and optimize your search engine optimization (SEO) so that the AI overview pulls from your site and incorporates it at the top of the list.
When the AI searches for answers, it doesn’t just randomly pick one of a thousand websites to display. Much like everything else in marketing, there is a methodical approach to it. The higher a website ranks during normal searches, the more likely the AI is to incorporate it into the overview. In 2025, you aren’t just optimizing your page to rank within the first page of results. You are also optimizing it to be featured across multiple AI ecosystems.
It’s Not Just Google
While Google’s AI Overview is a large part of the shift, it isn’t the only thing changing the way people search. We like to use our time efficiently, and if another platform comes along demonstrating faster results, people will definitely use it. And that’s exactly what’s happened, as over the last few years people have been utilizing AI platforms like ChatGPT and Copilot to get their information faster than ever before. The AI can spit out answers nearly instantly, which means that now websites have to be optimized for search, as well as AI answers.
All of this has culminated in one of the largest internet shifts in years. People have changed their behaviours, which means it’s time to change with them.
What Can I Do Right Now?
The most important area to focus on is your content. It needs to be structured in a way that the AI can easily pull the information and apply it to its search results. Focus on concise answers; frame them as bullet points or FAQs.
You also can’t rely exclusively on search results for people to find your brand. Build relationships with your consumers so that they keep coming back to you and can spread the word to other people. Try finding clever ways to insert yourself into the conversation by advertising in different spaces. You have to set yourself apart to build that human connection..
Final Thoughts
The digital marketing landscape is transforming at breakneck speed, and businesses that don’t adapt risk being left behind. As AI-powered search becomes the new norm, traditional SEO strategies need a complete overhaul. The key is understanding that this shift isn’t just a minor adjustment—it’s a fundamental change in how consumers discover and interact with brands online. Here are the essential points every business owner needs to understand about navigating this new reality:
AI Overview Changes Everything: Google’s AI Overview now appears at the top of search results, potentially reducing website traffic as users get answers without clicking through to sites.
SEO Strategy Must Evolve: In 2025, you’re not just optimizing for first-page rankings—you need to optimize for AI systems across multiple platforms (Google, ChatGPT, Copilot) to be featured in AI-generated responses.
Content Structure is Critical: Focus on creating concise, well-structured content using bullet points and FAQs that AI can easily extract and incorporate into search results.
Diversify Beyond Search Traffic: Don’t rely solely on search results—build direct relationships with consumers through various advertising channels and create human connections that keep customers coming back.
Adapt or Get Left Behind: The internet landscape shifts as quickly as the seasons, and businesses that don’t optimize for AI-driven search behaviors risk missing out on valuable traffic, impressions, and sales.
About the Author: Trevor Cherewka
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