As AI chatbots take a share of search queries, new strategies must be implemented to stay relevant.
By: Luis Macfie
As of mid‑2025, AI Overviews now appear in approximately 30–47% of Google searches, especially tallied across informational and problem‑solving queries. Meanwhile, ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and others are rapidly becoming go‑to tools for direct answers in conversational format, handling an increasing share of search queries
Welcome to the era of what has been referred to as GEO-Generative Engine Optimization.
Impact on Traditional SEO
- Organic clicks are declining sharply. Research shows over 58% of searches now result in zero clicks, as users get what they need from AI responses without clicking links.
- In specific industries, organic traffic can drop 18–64%, depending on content type.
- Though organic exposure matters, cited sources still must rank in Google’s top 10 to get cited in AI Overviews—so traditional SEO hasn’t disappeared, it’s being reshaped.
Why You Should Optimize for AI Assistants
- Secure inclusion in AI Overviews helps maintain brand visibility even when clicks fall. Top‑ranked domains are most cited (nearly 75% of AI Overviews pull from page‑1 sources).
- Show up in AI recommendations: In startup experiments, brands like Zendesk appeared in 94% of ChatGPT responses for support‑software queries—even well below the top brands in traditional SEO rankings.
- Build trust and authority: AI systems favor structured, credible, and multi‑perspective content. Brands seen as authoritative are more likely to be cited
How to Optimize for AI Platforms
- Write conversational Q&A sections: Integrate FAQ blocks, “How‑to” steps, precise definitions, and query language likely used in chatbots.
- Use schema markup and structured layouts: FAQs, HowTo, QAPage, product, etc.—ensures AI reads your content correctly.
- Focus on long‑tail and niche semantic clusters: Cover connected sub‑queries rather than targeting a single keyword.
- Establish topical authority: Link internally, reference credible sources, build reputation. Better domain authority increases AI citation chances.
- Provide multimedia assets: Visuals, videos, and infographics reinforce context AI can use—AI Overviews are beginning to surface multimodal content.
- Use tools to track AI visibility: Platforms (e.g., Wix’s AI Visibility overview, AEO tools) can monitor how often your site is cited in AI answers, track sentiment, and benchmark competitors
Recommendations for Amplifica Clients
- Audit existing blog and property pages: Identify high-potential content that can be optimized into FAQ/Q&A formats for AI feeds.
- Apply structured data and schema to key pages.
- Expand content clusters around creative industry questions (e.g. “How can cultural brands measure livestream ROI?”).
- Start testing visibility tracking tools: Monitor how often your content gets cited, prioritized, or referenced in chat‑based search results.
- Refine PPC campaigns toward AI ad placements, and test messaging optimized for conversational queries.
- Boost branded and direct awareness—events, social media, and type‑in traffic build domain health that AI systems later reward.
Final Thoughts
AI-powered search is not a threat—it’s a paradigm shift. Traditional SEO still forms the foundation for visibility, but it must now be augmented by GEO, and AI-centric content frameworks. Brands that adapt early—creating structured, conversational, authoritative digital assets—stand to win in both current and emerging search economies.
At Amplifica, we help creative and cultural brands navigate these evolving media landscapes through data-driven strategies. Ready to explore how streaming culture can amplify your brand’s reach? Let’s start a conversation.
Contact us today for a free consultation!
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