AI Overviews Are Eating the SERP: 7 Ways to Still Get Clicks in 2025

Clicks Are Vanishing. Now What?

Picture this: you rank on page one, but traffic keeps falling. You open Search Console and see a new label—AI Overview—sitting above your link. Your click‑through rate just dropped from 15 % to 8 %. Ouch.

Why? Users get their answer rather than just links. They never visit you. So… how do we win in 2025?

Below are seven ways to still earn clicks in an age where Google’s AI writes the first answer. Each way is clear, fast, and doable. Let’s jump in.

1. What an AI Overview Is

When you search on Google, you sometimes see a little box at the top that already answers your question. That box is called an AI Overview.

• Google’s computer program (its “AI”) reads lots of web pages very fast.
• It picks out the key facts and writes a short, clear answer in its own words.
• Under the answer, it shows two or three links to the pages it used.
• Because the answer is right there, many people don’t click the other results.

Think of it as Google saying, “Here’s what you asked for—in one quick paragraph—so you don’t have to open a site if you’re in a hurry.”

Before we fight it, we must know it.

• Google’s AI reads billions of pages.
• It writes a short paragraph that answers the search.
• It shows two or three “source links” under the text.
• It may show images, product cards, or maps.

The key point: the AI pulls exact sentences from sites it trusts. If your words fit the answer, you appear. If not, you vanish.

Quick Scan of an AI Overview

1. Prompt summary – the bold headline.
2. Answer block – 30–60 words.
3. Sources – blue links (these can be yours).
4. Follow‑up chips – extra questions users click.

Seeing each part helps you plan where to sneak in.

2. Why Clicks Drop When AI Shows Up

People love fast answers. AI gives them one no-click needed.

• Zero‑click searches grow. Users feel “done” on Google.
• SERP real estate shrinks. Ads, maps, videos, and AI all stack above you.
• Trust shifts. The big, bold AI text looks official. Some users never scroll.

Um… it sounds bleak. But wait… You can still win if you change the game.

For the search query, the website links are not prioritized, but what the user really needs is occupying the real estate of the page

3. Way #1 – Become the Quoted Source

AI loves tight, clear text. So feed it.

How

1. Write direct answers. Aim for 40–60 words that solve one question.
2. Use question headers. Start with “H3: What is…?” or “How do I…?”
3. Add FAQPage or QAPage schema. Use simple markup. Google can now lift your words.
4. Keep the sentence structure clean. Short. Active voice. No fluff.

Why It Works

Google needs a source. If your chunk is perfect, it copies you. You appear as a blue link under the AI block. Yes, users still click—many want to “read more.”

Example

> H3: What does an AI Overview do?

> “An AI Overview is a summary that Google’s model writes. It pulls facts from trusted pages, then shows links for deeper reading. The goal is to satisfy users faster.”

That’s 30 words. Neat. Copy‑worthy.

4. Way #2 – Own the Follow‑Up Question

Ever notice tiny chips under the AI block? They’re new “People Also Ask.” Users tap them for more detail. You must be ready.

How

1. Map question clusters. Use tools or SERP scraping to list the next five questions after your main keyword.
2. Write separate, clear answers for each. Put them on the same page or in linked sub‑pages.
3. Link with anchor text like “Read the full checklist.”
4. Add internal navigation so Google sees the cluster as a bundle.

Why It Works

The AI may answer the first query, but chips open gaps. If your page owns those gaps, your link shows up again—and clicks rise.

Mini Checklist

• One keyword → five follow‑ups.
• Each follow‑up → heading + 50‑word answer.
• End with a deeper resource.

Think of it like being the next voice in the conversation.

5. Way #3 – Supply Rich Media the AI Can’t Render

Text is easy for AI to plagiarize. Interactive stuff? Not so much.

Ideas

• Short video demos (60‑90 sec).
• Interactive calculators (ROI, dosage, savings).
• 3D models or AR views.
• Downloadable templates.

How

1. Embed the tool at the top of the article.
2. Mark it up with schema.org/VideoObject or SoftwareApplication.
3. Add a tease line in the text: “Try our free calculator below.”

Why It Works

Google may still quote your text, but it can’t run your tool inside the AI block. Users click to use it. Engagement spikes. Time on page climbs. Win‑win.

Pro Tip

Keep the tool lightweight. Fast loading beats fancy UI. Mobile first.

6. Way #4 – Fortify Entity‑Level Authority

Google thinks in “entities.” People. Brands. Concepts. If you own the entity, you get cited.

Steps

1. Build a topical map. List every subtopic in your niche.
2. Create pillar pages for each subtopic.
3. Interlink them with descriptive anchor text.
4. Earn mentions on news sites and podcasts. Digital PR matters.
5. Claim your knowledge panel. Fill in social links, founders, date launched.

Why It Works

AI picks trusted voices. Trust equals strong entity signals plus backlinks. Over time the model “knows” you. Then it quotes you first.

Quick Wins

• Add About, Contact, and Editorial pages for transparency.
• Include author bios with credentials.
• Use exact brand name plus niche word: “1Digit Rankings SEO platform.”

7. Way #5 – Optimize for Multi‑Surface Visibility

The same asset can show on Search, Discover, and YouTube Shorts. Aim wide.

How

1. Turn your article into a 60‑sec vertical video. Post on YouTube and Shorts.
2. Extract quote images for Google Discover.
3. Add Web Stories (AMP) for swipeable slides.
4. Embed the video in your blog for on‑page boost.

Why It Works

If AI steals the first click, you can still appear in other surfaces that funnel back. Users meet you on Shorts, then Google you. Brand recall wins.

Simple Workflow

One effort, four channels.

8. Way #6 – Use First‑Party Data and Case Studies

AI cannot lift data it can’t see elsewhere.

Recipe

1. Run a survey or scrape your log files.
2. Publish numbers no one else has.
3. Visualize with charts or heat maps.
4. Gate deep dives (PDF, gated page) with email.
5. Reference the data in your main article.

Why It Works

When Google sees unique stats, it may still quote them, but readers click to verify or download the full report. Your brand becomes a data source.

Example Hook

“Across 720 sites, AI Overview dropped CTR by 47 % in three months. Full table inside.”

Who wouldn’t click that?

9. Way #7 – Track and Iterate with the AI Overview Filter

You can’t improve what you don’t measure.

How

1. Open Google Search Console.
2. In the left menu, click Search Results.
3. Pick the filter Search appearance → AI Overview.
4. Compare the last 28 days vs the previous period.
5. Export impressions, clicks, CTR.
6. Spot pages with big drops.
7. Revise meta titles and answer blocks.
8. Wait two weeks. Rinse and repeat.

Bonus Tactics

• A/B test titles: question vs statement.
• Add a “Read more” call‑out in meta description.
• Trim answer block if it rambles. Shorter often wins.

Result

Small tweaks can lift CTR by 1‑2 points. In a tight space, that’s gold.

FAQs

Q1. Will AI Overviews kill all organic traffic?

No. They reduce clicks on basic queries. Yet long, complex, or local searches still need depth. Use the seven ways to stay visible.

Q2. Do ads help recover lost clicks?

Yes and no. Ads sit on top, but cost rises. Blend paid with the organic tactics above for balance.

Q3. How often does Google update the AI model?

Google rolls new versions every few weeks, sometimes quietly. Monitor Search Console weekly.

Q4. Should I rewrite old posts?

Start with pages hit hardest by CTR loss. Add direct answers, media, and schema first. Then expand.

Q5. What tools speed up this workflow?

• Answer‑engine optimizers (AEO) for question clusters.
• Schema generators.
• Video caption tools for Shorts.

Keep it light; focus on content, not gadgets.

Conclusion: Make Every Click Indispensable

AI Overviews shrink our share of page one. Yet they also flag what Google thinks is valuable: clear answers, trusted sources, unique data, and engaging media. Your job is not to beat the AI; it’s to feed it while creating reasons to click anyway.

Here’s the kicker… every tactic above doubles as a brand moat. Direct answers build authority. Rich tools delight users. First‑party data earns links. Measure, tweak, repeat.

So, next time you see your link hiding under an AI Overview, smile. You now have seven ways to pull the reader back in. Start with Way #1 tonight. Watch the chart move. And when you’re ready for the next leap, um, give us a shout—we love turning zero‑click into hero‑click.