Ranking in Google AI Overviews: Why Smart SEO Still Works

Do You Need a New SEO Strategy for Ranking in Google AI Overviews? Not Exactly.

There’s been a lot of chatter lately about Google’s AI Overviews (AIOs), and with it, some understandable questions — Do we need to rethink how we’re doing SEO?

As AIOs rolled out, new buzzwords started popping up like GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) and LLMO (Large Language Model Optimization). It felt like the industry was bracing for a big shift, and many were wondering if we needed a completely new strategy to keep showing up in search.

But according to Google’s own Gary Illyes, that’s not really the case. In a recent comment at Google’s Search Central Deep Dive, he said:

To get your content to appear in AI Overview, simply use normal SEO practices. You don’t need GEO, LLMO or anything else.

That’s a pretty reassuring message – and one that backs up the strategies we’ve already been putting into practice.

Here’s Why This Matters

Despite how different AIOs might look, the core mechanics of how Google evaluates and selects content haven’t dramatically changed. The engine still runs on relevance, clarity, trustworthiness, and authority — the exact principles behind modern, user-focused SEO.

What We’re Seeing So Far

From our perspective, the clients we support are already well-positioned for AIO visibility because:

We focus on structured, comprehensive content that aligns with search intent.

We emphasize E-E-A-T principles (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness).

We build technical health and performance into every site we touch.

We don’t chase trends — we build for long-term search equity.

That said, we’re not getting complacent. We’re actively monitoring how AIOs surface content, how citations are handled and how layout and attribution impact click-through behavior. These insights will help us adapt when needed, not react blindly.

Bottom Line

AI Overviews might look new on the surface, but the core rules still apply. If your SEO strategy is sound, AIOs are just one more place your brand can shine.

Ready to future-proof your SEO strategy?

We’ll help you show up in AI Overviews by focusing on what’s always worked: smart, user-first content.

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