Google’s new AI Overview feature is shaking up search results, leaving many business leaders and marketers asking: What does this mean for SEO, and how can we adapt our content strategy to keep earning traffic?
In this episode of Endless Customers, IMPACT content and video expert Mandy York breaks down what the AI Overview is, how it changes search visibility, and what practical steps businesses should take to stay competitive.
For years, we’ve seen the traditional search results (ads, followed by organic links) change, with featured snippets, YouTube videos, and Google Shopping results sometimes getting top billing. This new feature marks another step in that direction. Above everything else, you’ll see an AI-generated answer to your question that’s about a paragraph long, including links to the source material Google may have pulled the information from.
The AI Overview appears at the very top of search results—above ads, YouTube videos, and shopping links. It displays:
A short, AI-generated summary (about a paragraph long).
Links to the source material Google pulls from.
Prominent placement that pushes traditional organic results further down the page.
As Mandy explains, “This update, which is called the AI Overview, is at the very top of the page. So now this is like the first thing that you see. It’s over the YouTube videos. It’s over everything.”
The new AI features present both challenges and opportunities for businesses looking to drive organic traffic to their sites. Mandy points out that Google's AI tends to favor concise, clear answers from a single source, similar to the old featured snippets, so producing helpful content is likely still the best strategy.
However, the AI has thus far proved unreliable, which makes it hard to predict for businesses and hard to trust for users. The challenge lies in the AI's occasional reliance on unreliable sources, such as Reddit. "What it doesn't get is that Reddit is not exactly a scholarly resource... It's a patently bad place to get information," Mandy says.
Whether this AI overview actually pulls good information or not, businesses are worried about what it means for their own traffic.
Mandy suggests businesses focus on clarity, trust, and helpfulness—the same principles behind the Endless Customers System.
She advises:
Write conversationally: “Explain things like you’re talking to an actual customer that is standing in front of you.”
Be concise and direct: Google’s AI favors clear, structured answers.
Build trust with transparency: Avoid jargon and answer buyer questions honestly.
By focusing on customer-first content, you’ll stay competitive even as algorithms evolve.
The search landscape is shifting, but the principle remains the same: businesses that publish clear, helpful, and customer-focused content will win. If you’re asking how to prepare your team for AI-powered search, connect with our experts today and get a strategy built for the future of SEO.
Mandy York combines her experience as an award-winning educator and thriving business owner to help others take creative and actionable steps toward their content and video marketing goals.
Connect with Mandy on LinkedIn
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What is Google’s AI Overview?
It’s a new search feature that generates a short AI-written summary at the top of search results, pulling in supporting links.
Will AI Overview reduce my website traffic?
Yes, it may lower click-through rates for some searches since users see AI answers first. But content that is clear, helpful, and structured still has a strong chance of being featured.
Does Google’s AI Overview replace featured snippets?
Not exactly, it expands on the idea. While snippets highlight a short piece of content, AI Overviews summarize multiple sources.
How should my business adjust its content strategy?
Prioritize straightforward, educational content. Think of how you’d explain a concept face-to-face with a customer, and structure it into clear, scannable answers.