AI might be the darling of tech advancements for 2025, but few business owners understand how it shapes search visibility. Entrepreneurs often ask: how do Google AI Overviews impact organic performance? And more importantly, how can brands measure their presence in these AI-generated summaries?
Let’s dive straight into what you need to know and do. As someone who's navigated deeptech startups, I know the frustration of monitoring SEO alongside fluctuating AI results. With Google Search Generative Experience (SGE) rolling out AI-based summary answers, Google AI Overviews, on search pages, business owners and marketers are battling blind spots in their analytics tools.
The Issue: Data Blackout on AI Visibility
Here’s the struggle. Google's own Search Console merges AI Overview impressions with regular organic data. That means even if your business is cited in AI-generated answers, you’re unable to track impression counts or gauge the impact on click-through rates (CTR). For founders, this data gap isn’t just annoying, it’s a problem if you need to explain why SEO rankings look strong while web traffic stays flat.
A recent study noted that when AI Overviews appear, organic CTR for position one drops to as low as 15%, compared to 30, 35% for queries without an AI snippet. Lower positions see sharper declines. The shift signals the growing influence of no-click searches, but without visibility metrics, brands are flying blind.
So, how do you measure presence in Google AI Overviews when Google itself doesn’t give you the tools?
Tools That Solve the Problem: What You Need
Surprisingly, third-party platforms do a better job. Experts recommend using Semrush and Local Falcon, both of which offer specific tracking of AI-related visibility. Instead of just monitoring rankings, these tools provide insights into how often your domain is cited across AI Overviews and what keywords trigger those summaries.
Where Semrush Helps:
Semrush’s AI Visibility Toolkit reveals visibility across platforms like Google AI Overviews, identifying which pages are cited and where your competitors outrank you. For businesses, this means you can target weak spots in your content strategy with precision.
Check out Semrush’s organic research section for data on keywords tied to AI inclusions. You’ll find metrics like citation rates, keyword rankings, and potential traffic for pages appearing in AI Overviews. For priority tracking, filter keywords where “domain doesn’t rank > AI Overview,” which shows opportunities you're missing out on.
Local Falcon’s Strength:
For businesses operating locally, think restaurants or service providers, Local Falcon’s visibility metrics go beyond ranking alone. It maps out geo-grids comparing how visible your business is in AI Overviews locally and across competitor locations.
Step-by-Step Guide to Improving AI Visibility via Tools
1. Choose the Right Tool
Make no mistake: you need a platform that tracks AI metrics specifically. With AI influencing CTR and SEO relevance differently than traditional search links, ignoring tools like Semrush puts you at an instant disadvantage.
2. Set Up Keywords & Content Analysis
Pull keyword lists from Search Console, import them to your tool, and distinguish which queries trigger AI Overviews. Use trend data to compare periods before and after visible AI presence.
3. Monitor Citation Rates
Citation isn’t about being “ranked first”; many fifth-ranked pages get cited thanks to unique insights. Optimize content for depth and credibility rather than aiming solely for top-of-SERP spots.
4. Refine Geo-Targeted Keywords
Local service providers can improve regional visibility in AI Overviews using geo-grids. Local Falcon shows where your competitors outshine you on specific searches, for instance, those tied to “best hair salon in Brooklyn.”
Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
Focusing Only on Rankings
It’s tempting to equate traditional SERP position 1 with success, but AI Overviews don’t always cite those pages. A brand sitting at position four with insightful content might outperform those above it in citation metrics.
Ignoring No-Click Traffic Metrics
Even if users don’t click your link, being cited in an AI Overview adds brand credibility. Treat zero-click Visibility like a measurable touchpoint that connects to longer-term metrics like conversions.
Not Updating Content Strategy
AI models reward citations that solve specific queries with precision. If your content hasn’t evolved since 2020, expect declining inclusion rates in the AI section.
Why This Matters for Founders & Marketers
Entrepreneurs often overlook SEO, occasionally delegating it entirely to agencies. But with no-click engagements dominating newer queries, your KPI metrics need an upgrade. By tracking AI Overview citations, founders can shift gears from “ranking well” to “appearing in the answers users value most.”
Future Implications of AI SEO
If Google Search Console integrates AI Overview metrics in the future, measuring visibility will grow seamless. Until then, tools like Semrush’s AI Toolkit and Local Falcon’s AI Explorer drive smarter strategies.
Entrepreneurs must rethink content formats, ensuring that every page not only informs but uniquely contributes. Schema markup, strong research, and diversifying keywords all improve odds of appearing in Google AI Overviews, building credibility even in low-CTR scenarios for future lead generation.
Business owners: now’s the time to adapt. Stay ahead and transform potential traffic losses into tangible opportunities by playing the AI metric game smarter than your competitors. Bonus: the insights gained from tracking these metrics lay the groundwork for stronger storytelling in future campaigns.
AI SEO visibility is tricky at first, but with the tools mentioned, it becomes a powerful way to create smarter content strategies. Play the numbers, and don’t let the future of search leave you behind.
Remember, metrics are only as valuable as the strategy you pair them with. Time to think ahead!
FAQ on Google AI Overviews Visibility Tracking
1. What are Google AI Overviews and why are they important?
Google AI Overviews are AI-generated summaries that appear at the top of the search results page for complex queries. They consolidate information from trusted sources to provide quick answers, impacting SEO visibility and CTR for businesses. Learn more about Google AI Overview
2. How can I measure visibility in AI Overviews?
You can track visibility using tools like Semrush and Local Falcon, which monitor mentions and keywords triggering AI Overviews. Check out Semrush’s AI Toolkit
3. Is Google Search Console helpful for tracking AI Overview impressions?
Currently, Google Search Console does not provide metrics specifically for AI Overviews but merges them with overall organic traffic, causing a reporting gap. Find out more about limitations in Search Console
4. Are third-party platforms more effective for tracking AI Overview visibility?
Yes, platforms like Local Falcon allow detailed tracking of AI-related visibility, including geo-targeted metrics for local businesses. Learn about Local Falcon’s AI Explorer
5. Do Google AI Overviews affect traditional click-through rates (CTR)?
Yes, AI Overviews significantly reduce CTR for organic results, with position one often dropping from 30, 35% to around 15%. Explore CTR analytics via Single Grain
6. Why should businesses prioritize AI Overview citation rates over keyword rankings?
AI Overviews sometimes cite deeper insights from lower-ranked pages, meaning citation can indicate authority even if rankings are suboptimal. Read more about citation priority
7. Which tools help monitor citation rates in AI results?
Semrush’s Organic Research section allows keyword tracking for cited pages, providing citation metrics alongside competitor analysis. Check out Semrush’s AI ranking tools
8. What steps can local businesses take to optimize visibility in AI Overviews?
Using geo-targeting keywords and tools like Local Falcon, businesses can identify specific searches where competitors outperform them locally. Learn from Local Falcon’s geo-grid tutorials
9. How can brands prepare for future AI Overview integrations into Google Search Console?
Brands should focus on creating unique, high-quality content and leveraging third-party tools to temporarily fill gaps until Google officially integrates AI Overview-specific metrics. Explore AI tracking strategies
10. Do schema markups impact visibility in AI Overviews?
Yes, updated schema markups for author credibility, organizations, and FAQs improve chances of being cited by AI Overviews. Look into SEO implications at SEOSherpa
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.