1. Lead with a ready answer

The first 100 words of your content now decide whether you’ll be cited in an AI Overview or ignored. Google’s Gemini model and other large language models look for clear, extractable answers that summarize a topic before expanding on it. They don’t want to dig through paragraphs of setup or marketing jargon.

When you start your article, open with a single, declarative sentence that defines or resolves the search intent. Follow that with a few supporting facts or examples that give quick context. Then close your intro with one actionable takeaway.

Here’s an example:

Bad intro:
The digital marketing world has changed rapidly over the last few years. With new tools, technologies, and evolving algorithms, it’s important to keep up with what’s new. One of these updates is Google’s AI Overview feature.

Good intro:
AI Overviews are Google’s generative summaries that appear at the top of search results to answer user questions directly. They pull insights from high-quality pages and cite the original sources. To earn inclusion, your content must provide clear, structured answers that large language models can easily extract.

See the difference?

The second version leads with clarity and authority. It gives Google a direct statement it can reuse. It also satisfies the reader instantly by defining what the article is about, why it matters, and what’s coming next.

This structure works for nearly any topic.

For example:

Query: “What is programmatic advertising?”
Opening: “Programmatic advertising is the automated buying and selling of digital ad inventory using AI-powered real-time auctions.”

Query: “How to optimize for AI Overviews?”
Opening: “Optimizing for AI Overviews means structuring your content so Google’s large language models can easily extract, verify, and cite it.”

In each case, you’re writing the answer first, not the buildup.

This format signals to Google’s Gemini model that your page contains high-signal, factual content worth featuring in AI Overviews.

2. Write like a reference, not a story

The internet is full of long, winding blog posts that try to sound clever but end up being invisible to search engines and unreadable for AI models.

That style might have worked in 2010. Not anymore.

AI Overviews reward structure. Your content should look and read like a well-organized reference guide that answers questions cleanly.

Large Language Models (LLMs) like Google’s Gemini, Anthropic’s Claude, and OpenAI’s GPT-4 read content differently than humans.

They scan for patterns, clear hierarchies, and factual blocks of text that match query intent. That means headings, subheadings, and lists matter more than ever.

When your content follows predictable question-based structures such as “What is it?”, “How it works”, “Why it matters”, and “Steps to implement”, it becomes easier for AI systems to extract and summarize accurately.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

Poor structure (story format):
AI has changed the way we think about search. Over the years, Google has rolled out hundreds of updates, each one redefining how users find what they need. But 2025 brought something entirely new—AI Overviews.

Strong structure (reference format):
What are AI Overviews? AI Overviews are generative summaries created by Google’s Gemini model that appear at the top of search results.

How do they work? They combine Google Search ranking signals with large language model reasoning to summarize key facts from multiple sources.

Why do they matter for SEO? They determine which brands get visibility before a user even clicks a link.

The second example wins because it’s scannable, factual, and structured around user intent.

You can take this a step further by using comparison tables, numbered lists, or bullet summaries.

3. Apply schema markup correctly

Schema markup is the connective tissue between your content and Google’s AI systems. It helps LLMs interpret what your page is about, who wrote it, and why it can be trusted. Without it, your content might still rank, but it won’t earn consistent citations inside AI Overviews.

A schema defines relationships, context, and credibility. When Google’s retrieval systems scan the web for inclusion in AI Overviews, they prioritize structured data that can be verified quickly.

Pages with clear schema give the model everything it needs to ground information, attribute authorship, and cross-check facts.

Start by marking up every major content type on your site with the correct schema. Use Article or BlogPosting for long-form content and make sure each entry lists the author, publisher, publication date, and date modified. Include a short description that matches your on-page summary and add internal references that connect your article to other relevant topics or entities.

For Q&A or guide-style content, add FAQPage or HowTo schema. These types help Google’s AI break down your article into smaller, extractable units. Each question-answer pair becomes a candidate for citation inside generative search results.

Your brand’s Organization schema also matters. It helps the model understand who stands behind the content and links all your articles to a trusted entity.

This link between author, organization, and page builds what Google calls a “knowledge graph”—a structured representation of your expertise across the web.

4. Make your content easily traceable

Google’s AI systems use a process called grounding to verify facts before showing them in AI Overviews. This process checks whether a statement in your content can be traced back to a reliable, published source. If your claims lack attribution, your page becomes harder to verify and less likely to be cited.

That’s why every data point, claim, or insight should connect to a credible reference. Link to primary research, official documentation, or recognized authorities in your field. Avoid vague statements or unverified statistics.

Grounding works like RAG. Google’s model retrieves supporting evidence from indexed sources and validates your content against them.

When your page already includes those references, the model can confirm accuracy faster.

5. Improve your E-E-A-T signals

AI Overviews reward credibility. To earn inclusion, your pages must show real expertise, experience, authority, and trust.

Start by making expertise visible. Every article should have a named author with a short bio that highlights qualifications or real-world experience.

Add links to that author’s verified profiles—LinkedIn, research publications, or other bylined work. That creates a digital footprint that the model can cross-reference when mapping authority across the web.

Add revision dates to every post. They show that your information is maintained and up to date. Outdated timestamps weaken perceived reliability, especially when Google’s retrieval layer compares your content to fresher, more complete pages.

The stronger your entity graph becomes, the easier it is for Google’s AI to ground your expertise in a verifiable source.

6. Build consistent topical authority

Google’s AI systems trust patterns. When they see multiple pages from the same site covering a topic in depth, they treat that domain as an authority on the subject. That is how you build topical authority.

Start with one in-depth pillar page like “What Is a CRM for Marketing and Why It Matters.” Use that as your central hub. Then create supporting pages such as “Best CRM Tools for Marketing Teams” and “How to Choose the Right CRM for Your Business.” Link all of them together with clear internal anchors and a logical structure.

This cluster tells Google’s retrieval and summarization models that your site owns the topic. AI can then pull verified information from across your cluster, improving your chances of being cited in AI Overviews or referenced in generative results.

7. Use visuals that teach

Add labeled diagrams, screenshots, or simple flowcharts that walk through a concept or step-by-step process.
Name every image descriptively.

For example, ai-overview-ranking-flowchart.png or how-ai-overviews-work-diagram.png. Avoid generic filenames like image1.png or screenshot.png.

Use clear alt text that describes what’s in the image, not just keywords. Write captions that add context instead of repeating what’s already on the page.

Visuals are now part of information extraction. When Google’s Gemini or other LLMs read your page, they interpret these visuals as teaching aids that confirm your authority on the topic. A labeled flowchart or annotated screenshot can help your page qualify for visual snippets or AI Overview citations.

8. Ensure your site loads quickly and cleanly

Speed now determines eligibility as much as quality does. The AI Overview system retrieves pages that are fast, stable, and mobile-ready.

Pages with slow load times or layout shifts can be skipped during retrieval.

Keep your Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) under 2.5 seconds and your Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) below 0.1. These are Core Web Vitals that directly influence how Google’s models assess your site’s performance.

Make sure your design adapts smoothly to mobile. Compress large images, reduce unused JavaScript, and use lazy loading where possible.

A fast, stable page signals to Google that it can be safely displayed in AI-driven summaries without user frustration. It’s a ranking factor and a trust factor rolled into one.

9. Update your content with intent

Outdated content loses credibility fast in AI search. Gemini and Google’s retrieval models give more weight to fresh, consistent information when deciding what to cite.

Revisit your core content every few months. Replace old screenshots, update industry stats, and fix broken or outdated links.

10. Update your content with intent

Your page format should reflect the intent behind the query.

For instructional topics, use a step-by-step format that walks the reader through the process. Add clear subheadings, numbered lists, and examples that make it easy for Google’s models to extract key information.

For analytical or strategy-driven topics, structure your page around insights, performance data, and measurable outcomes. Include sections like “Key Metrics,” “Results,” and “What to Improve.” That mirrors how Gemini organizes decision-based content.

The more your structure reflects the search intent, the better your chances of inclusion in AI Overviews.

Google’s systems look for pages that not only match the query but also present information in a way that supports quick summarization.

11. Monitor citation share, not just keyword rankings

Ranking still matters, but inclusion now defines visibility. You need to know how often your content is cited or referenced inside AI-generated summaries, not just where it appears in the blue links.

Use tools such as Ahrefs Brand Radar, Profound, Otterly, or Trakkr to track mentions of your brand or pages across Google’s AI Overviews, Gemini Mode, and other AI-driven surfaces.

Combine that data with Google Search Console metrics to see where your pages appear, how often they are cited, and which topics earn the most inclusion.

This helps you understand authority distribution across the AI ecosystem.

12. Earn links that reinforce your topic

Not all backlinks hold equal weight in Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). Quality, context, and topical alignment carry more value than raw numbers.

Focus on earning links from credible websites that already rank or publish content around your subject area.

For example, if you write about email automation for B2B, a backlink from a trusted marketing analytics blog or CRM software site will strengthen your topical authority far more than random directory links.

Google’s retrieval models interpret backlinks as signals of reliability and contextual fit. The closer the linking site’s subject matter is to yours, the higher your chance of being included in AI-driven summaries.

13. Verify your page is crawlable and indexed

Before your content can appear in AI-powered search results, it must be retrievable by Google’s crawler. Pages that aren’t indexed or accessible can’t be evaluated by the generative layer.

Run Google’s URL Inspection Tool to confirm that your priority pages are crawlable, indexed, and not blocked by robots.txt or noindex tags. Check for broken redirects, canonical conflicts, or 4xx/5xx errors.

A page that loads cleanly, follows canonical best practices, and appears in your sitemap stands a much higher chance of being surfaced in both organic and AI summaries. Retrieval is the first step toward inclusion.

14. Add a short FAQ section early

Place a brief FAQ section near the top of your article. Include three to five concise questions that reflect what people commonly search for about your topic.

For example, if you’re writing about marketing automation tools, your questions could include “What does marketing automation do?”, “Who should use it?”, and “How does it improve campaign ROI?” Keep each answer short, factual, and clear.

Mark this section with the FAQPage schema. It improves extractability and increases your odds of appearing inside AI summaries.

15. Use a clear title and meta description

Your title and description are the first signals Google’s AI uses to understand your page. They tell both the user and the model what your content delivers.

Include your primary keyword directly in the title. For example: How to Build a CRM Strategy That Drives Conversions. This helps Google’s retrieval systems match your page to specific user queries.

Your meta description should then expand on that focus. For instance: Learn how to create a CRM strategy that improves lead quality, increases retention, and scales with your marketing goals.

Keep the tone natural and clear. Avoid keyword stuffing or filler language. A precise title and description improve click-through rates, give context to AI models like Gemini, and signal exactly what your content aims to deliver.

16. Write for humans, format for machines

Gemini or MUM read your page differently than people do. They look for structure, context, and clarity. But what gets surfaced in an AI Overview still depends on how human readers engage with it.

Write like you’re explaining something to a colleague who knows the basics but needs your experience. Use simple, conversational language. Add short examples or analogies that make the concept clear.

Then format your content so machines can follow the logic. Use descriptive headings, ordered lists, tables, and internal links that show hierarchy. Add schema markup and alt text for every visual element.

Human-readable clarity with machine-readable structure is what keeps your content visible across AI-driven search layers.

17. Avoid churning out thin content

Publishing many shallow articles weakens your domain’s authority and trust graph. Google’s AI systems now evaluate topic depth and consistency (not just volume).

Create fewer but richer pieces that explain, compare, and teach.

A single well-structured guide supported by internal links and updated sources will outperform ten surface-level blogs.

Each article should offer a unique perspective or data point that contributes to the broader conversation in your niche.

18. Close with actionable next steps and sources

End every article with a section titled “What to Do Next” or “Next Steps.” Give readers two to four practical actions they can apply immediately. This not only improves engagement but also signals to Google that your content provides a complete, helpful experience.

Follow that with a short References list that cites the credible sources you used. Link to trusted websites, studies, or documentation.

These closing elements help in two ways. They strengthen user trust by showing transparency and giving LLMs a clear map of validated external sources.

Right now, most brands are losing visibility because their content wasn’t built for how Google works today.