What do Google’s AI Overviews mean for the future of SEO? Is this the end of search engine optimization as we know it? And what’s going to happen to website traffic?
Inquiring minds want to know the answers to these questions, and many website owners – especially those who rely on website traffic for bringing in new business – are a little concerned about what the Overviews may mean to their online traffic.
For the uninitiated who may not be familiar with the AI Overviews, you may have seen them but not have really noticed them at the top of many Google searches in recent months. Not to get too meta, but here’s a screenshot of the AI Overview when I asked Google what its AI Overviews mean for SEO:
As you can tell from the screenshot above, the Overview doesn’t shy away from suggesting that major consequences are likely, indicating that the Overviews “can have a significant impact on SEO.” That impact, according to the Overview, can include the following:
· Reduced need for website visits
· Decreased visibility for some websites
· Potential for diminished returns on some SEO investments
Wondering what the non-Google experts have to say? The keen minds behind the leading SEO tool Semrush provided a detailed report outlining their thoughts on the AI Overviews issue. Titled “AI Overviews: What Are They & How Do They Affect SEO?,” the report was published in late May and describes a dramatically changing environment in the online space, but one that’s probably not going to be quite Armageddon for all websites.
TL;DR: Life will go on for websites, even if there are fewer clicks to go around – which will be especially likely as the AI Overviews continue to become more common in the Google SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages).
Of course, “life will go on” shouldn't be a call for inaction on the part of website owners. "Fewer clicks to go around" means less food for everyone. Which is why Chris Raulf, founder of Boulder SEO Marketing, is providing a free, hour-long webinar on Wednesday, October 2 on this topic. Later in the month, on October 24, Raulf and his business partner Daniel Burns will offer a half-day, hands-on training on AI Overviews, how they will affect SEO, and what marketers and business owners can do about it.
Raulf, born and educated in Switzerland, founded Boulder SEO Marketing in 2009. The firm now has three additional locations, including Denver, Los Angeles, and Santa Monica. In his spare time, Raulf is an online lecturer in SEO, Digital & Content Marketing at the University of Strasbourg in France.
When asked about the effects of AI Overviews, Raulf said they’re “not simply a new feature; they're a seismic shift in how people interact with search results. We're moving away from the traditional list of links and into an era where Google offers instant, summarized answers. This isn't just about SEO anymore; it's about understanding how to position your brand in this new landscape. AI Overviews are a glimpse into the future of search, and those who adapt will thrive.”
Full details and registration for the two events can be found below.
The free webinar, Adapt or Fall Behind: Leveraging Google AI Overviews for Success, will be offered on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 from 9:30 – 10:30 am MT.
The presenters will be Chris Raulf and Daniel Burns of Boulder SEO Marketing.
Learn more and register at https://boulderseomarketing.com/ai-and-seo-guide-and-best-practices/
SEO Workshop: Google AI Overviews Decoded: Revolutionize Your SEO Strategy
This is a four-hour, hands-on online SEO training course. Details and registration can be found at https://boulderseomarketing.com/seo-training-course/
The course will be streamed live via Zoom, with recording provided after the event. Course outcome: Attendees will learn the ins and outs of one of today’s most up-to-date, effective, and powerful AI and SEO strategies. Workshop attendees will get access to templates and worksheets so that the newly acquired knowledge can be put to work immediately.
The instructors will be Chris Raulf and Daniel Burns of Boulder SEO Marketing. The course fee is $99.00, which includes access to templates and SEO course worksheets, as well as the workshop recording. This hands-on course will be live-streamed via Zoom on Thursday, October 24, from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm MT.
