AI Overviews are rewriting the rules of SEO — and your site may already be paying the price

I asked Google the following question:

Is AI affecting your website’s organic search traffic?

and this is what Google’s AI Overviews (the first result on the page) answered:

“Yes, Google’s AI Overviews significantly decrease organic website traffic by providing direct answers that satisfy user queries, leading to fewer clicks on traditional links. Studies by Ahrefs and Pew Research Center show that users click on links far less often when an AI Overview is present, with one reporting a 34% drop in clicks for top-ranking pages and another finding that users end their browsing session more frequently after encountering an AI summary”.

Since AI Overviews usually summarizes information from other websites (including, potentially, yours, without your permission), users feel that the AI answer is sufficient (really, how do they know that for a fact?) and therefore they don’t need to scroll down and click any of the links to other external websites.  This decline in website organic traffic is real, right now, and affecting almost all websites dramatically

Find out how Google’s AI is reshaping user behavior, search rankings, and your bottom line.

Data from SEO tools and agencies indicates a significant drop in CTR for organic listings once AI Overviews are displayed, with some studies showing a decrease of over 30% for top-ranked pages. And it’s not only the AI Overviews on the Google page results that is pushing your website link downwards, it’s also Discussions and Forums, Videos and other added value elements that Google wants you to consume on the Google page. Bottom line, you are less important to Google than Google’s own assets.  This decline in website organic traffic is hurting your bottom line, and unless you take action, it could only get worse.

It’s time to look beyond impressions and dig into what’s really happening to your website traffic.

So, Mr Company President, Business Owner, CEO, Partner: When last did you ask your marketing team for a comprehensive summary of website analytics covering the last year to 18-months to see these trends? Are they happening quietly behind your back and you didn’t even realize it? Have you asked for Google search console data as well – that will help you understand the expanding difference between Impressions and Clicks?

This lost traffic is surely doing the following things to your organization:
1. Reducing awareness of your offering.
2. Reducing click throughs means less content being consumed on your site and less opportunity for you to explain your unique value proposition.
3. Less traffic means fewer business leads since prospects are not visiting your site anymore.

Is this an issue for you in your business?

Perhaps now is the time for you to ask these questions, and find out more. Power is in the knowledge you have and so much of what is going on in the digital realm is hidden, not necessarily by design, but through the sheer volume of data and information not being readily available.

Take a peek at this video which will offer some additional insight, then reach out and let’s discuss how you can deal with these changes. No longer can you sit by idly and assume that everything digital is smooth sailing. That perception is far from the truth and should be tested with a view to changing your marketing strategy every few months if need be.

For a FREE consultation on how this can be applied in your organization, complete the form on this page or CALL 416-904-8647.