For many searches, the first thing people see on Google is no longer a list of websites. It's an AI Overview: a short generated answer, often with a few linked sources underneath.
For businesses, that raises an obvious question. If Google answers the question itself, does anyone still click through to your website?
Some clicks are going away
Simple informational searches, like definitions or quick how-to questions, can now be answered without a click. If your traffic strategy relies on that kind of content alone, you may notice fewer visits over time.
Buying searches still lead to businesses
When someone is ready to hire or buy, they still need a business. Searches like 'emergency plumber near me' or 'best family lawyer in Austin' lead people to Google Maps, business profiles and websites, and AI Overviews often name or link to the businesses they draw from.
How to get cited in AI Overviews
AI Overviews pull from pages Google already trusts and can understand. The same fundamentals apply: strong technical SEO, clear and specific answers on your pages, structured data, and a solid reputation reflected in reviews and mentions elsewhere.
It also helps to write the way people ask. If customers search 'how much does a kitchen remodel cost,' a page with a direct, honest answer near the top has a much better chance of being used than one that buries it under marketing copy.
Measure what matters
Traffic alone is becoming a less reliable scorecard. Track calls, form submissions, booked appointments and where those leads came from. A business can get fewer total visits and still win more customers if the right people are finding it.
AI Overviews aren't the end of SEO. They're a reason to do it properly.
