Google AI Overview Ruining Google Search? Three Steps for Businesses

A pest control company recently told me they had noticed a drop in Google Search traffic. They believed AI was the reason fewer people were visiting their website.

When your business depends on people finding you online, a drop in traffic raises questions about where your next customers will come from. However, a traffic decline alone does not confirm that AI caused it.

Google Search has changed over the years, and brands must continue finding ways to stay relevant. Here are three steps your company can take.

 

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1. Stay Up to Date on Google Search Changes

You do not need to become a search expert, but someone on your team should understand changes that could affect how customers discover your business.

Google AI Overviews provide AI-generated summaries within search results. Google says established SEO best practices remain relevant for these features, which means clear, helpful website content still matters. developers.google.com

Review your search traffic and the questions bringing people to your website. Also, track whether those visits lead to calls, inquiries, and sales. This helps you connect online visibility with business results.

2. Learn How Your Customers Use AI and Google

Think about the questions someone might ask before choosing your company.

For a pest control business, those questions could include:

• How do I choose a reliable pest control company?
• What should I ask before signing a pest control contract?
• What is the difference between a one-time treatment and an ongoing service?

Customers can use AI to explore their options, understand services, and prepare questions before contacting your team.

Your website should help answer those questions. Explain your services clearly, address common concerns, and show customers what to expect when working with your company.

3. Search for Your Brand the Way a Customer Would

Go beyond searching for your company name. Search for your services, your location, and the problems your customers need help solving.

Which businesses appear? What information do customers see? Are your services and business details accurate?

Try relevant questions in AI tools as well. Review how your company is described and whether the answers leave out important information.

This exercise can reveal missing content, unclear service descriptions, and opportunities to better explain your value.

Help Customers Find and Understand Your Business

Businesses need to understand what customers see before they call, email, or request a quote.

Start with the questions they ask and the information they find. Then use what you learn to make your business easier to discover and understand.

Want more customers to discover your business? Work with our team to improve your visibility in Google AI Overviews and AI search. We help businesses evaluate their online presence and create content that answers customer questions.