Photo by Jem Sahagun
AI is shaking up the online business landscape yet again – this time with something called AI Overviews.
If you’re a business owner or entrepreneur, you’ve probably heard about this Google tool. But what exactly does it do? More importantly, how does it affect your business, and what can you do to stay ahead of the game? Let’s break it down.
What are AI Overviews?
AI Overviews is a new feature from Google that provides AI-generated answers to user queries, offers concise business summaries, and recaps customer reviews.
Imagine this scenario: You search online for a nearby bakery. But, instead of getting a list of websites, you’re presented with a short AI-crafted synopsis about the “best” bakery right at the top of the search results.
Sounds handy, right? For customers, maybe. But for businesses, it’s a double-edged sword – particularly because, as of right now, you can’t directly influence these AI Overviews, edit them, or even request changes. And yes, they often appear even before your Google Business Profile in search rankings.
What Do AI Overviews Mean for Your Business?
AI Overviews pull information from multiple sources, like your website, customer reviews, and other public content about your brand. Based on this data, the AI creates a synopsis of your business.
While this might sound like a great way to automate your brand’s visibility, there are several challenges that business owners need to be aware of. Here are some key ways AI Overviews could impact your business:
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- Your Business Description is Out of Your Control. AI scrapes content from your website and online profiles to summarize your business. The tricky part? You don’t get to decide what the synopsis includes. This means the way your brand is described may not line up with your messaging – and right now you have little to no control over correcting it.
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- Review Summaries at a Glance. AI pulls insights from customer reviews to create an overview of how people perceive your business. While this can showcase your glowing testimonials, it can also highlight any negative feedback, giving an inaccurate impression of your brand’s reputation.
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- Lower Organic Traffic. One of the more worrisome impacts is that AI Overviews often preempt clicks. Customers who get their questions answered directly in the overview might not feel the need to click through to your website – even if they were originally planning to do so. For businesses relying on organic traffic, this could lead to missed opportunities.
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- The Risk of Possible Inaccuracies. AI-generated data isn’t foolproof – it can (and does) get things wrong. Any inaccuracies in the overview could misrepresent your business, possibly leading to misunderstandings or negative perceptions.
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How Your Business Can Adapt
While the arrival of AI Overviews poses new challenges, it also presents some new opportunities. Here’s how you can stay ahead of the curve:
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- Rethink SEO with GEO (Generative Engine Optimization). Traditional SEO is evolving, and businesses will now want to optimize for AI-generated content as well. Focus on creating concise, structured content that aligns with AI Overviews. Think of this as a way to teach the AI how to best summarize your business.
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- Create High-Quality, Answer-Driven Content. AI Overviews love websites that address specific user questions. By creating detailed content that helps answer customer queries, you can position your business as an authoritative source of information within the industry. This may increase your chances of shaping the AI Overview.
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- Stay Accurate and Up-to-Date. Make it a habit to regularly update your website, and make sure all your business details are accurate. This is crucial, because AI relies on the most current and relevant information when generating summaries. The more accurate your content, the less likely the AI is to misrepresent your business.
Take Control of Your Visibility
Love them or hate them, AI Overviews are here. But instead of viewing them as an obstacle, think of them as a new way to turbocharge your online presence. This means creating high-quality content, investing in top-of-the-line reputation management, and staying updated on the best SEO practices.
Not sure where to start? Smart Link Solutions can help you adapt to the shifting digital landscape. From optimizing your website to fine-tuning your reputation, we’re here to help you get the AI Overview your business deserves.
With over 30 years of excellence, our team delivers exceptional results for businesses of all sizes. Still not sure? Check out our 5 star reviews!
For more information, call (866) 757 – 5100 or visit Smart Link Solutions today!
Photo by Mohamed Nohassi