Simple short introduction (for skimmers or if you are short of time):
Google is rolling out AI-generated summaries in Ireland called AI Overviews (AIOs). These appear at the very top of search results and often answer a user’s query without them ever clicking through to a website.
That means less organic traffic for your website, even if your site still “ranks.” well in Google or any search engine.
Here’s what you need to know and how we’re helping clients in construction, legal and financial sectors stay visible in this new search landscape, which is here to stay.
🚀 What are Google AIOs (AI Overviews)?
AI Overviews are machine generated answers that Google displays directly at the top in the search results pages. They summarise content from multiple websites using Large Language Models (LLMs), similar to ChatGPT. This is the new face or look of Google search. You will often see them appear as:
📋 Key takeaways
📘 Mini guides
🤖 Direct answers (above the traditional 10 “blue links”)
“AI Overviews aggregate data to give fast answers. SERP results like FAQs and organic listings are pushed further down the page.” – [Zak Averre, Anicca Digital]
📉 What does this mean for your organic website traffic?
According to a well published 2024 study by Rand Fishkin at Sparktoro & Datos, only 37.4% of Google searches in the US now result in a click to the open web. Here in the Ireland and Europe, it’s even lower at 36% for us.
That means:
Many users never leave the search page at all because they get the answer on the Google results page
Your organic click through rate (CTR) to your website will drop, even if impressions or views go up
Snippets, video carousels and AIOs and Ads are all competing for attention above your website
“Impressions are up, but clicks are down. Users are getting their answers from AIOs.” – [Seer Interactive]
🔧 How does this affect professional services firms in Ireland?
For construction, legal and financial firms: Your content may be summarised by Google without a visitor going to your website You may miss out on leads and engagement that would have come from a click. Local SEO, branded searches, and human expertise now matter more than ever, so do add some opinion and original content
✅ What should you do now?
We’re helping clients adapt in a few smart ways:
1. Focus on E-E-A-T
Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (E-E-A-T) content performs better than AI generated fluff.
Human written content keeps people on the page 93% longer than AI content. Visitors are 3.6x more likely to engage with expert content. You know this from your own browsing.
🕵️ 2. Target long tail terms & branded search
Instead of basic terms like “accountant Dublin”, aim for:
“Best tax-saving tips for construction firms Ireland”
“[Your Firm] reviews” or “[Your Name] financial planner Donnybrook”
📽️ 3. Diversify your content types
AIOs don’t summarise videos or interactive tools as easily, so maybe do some videos for your Youtube channel
Add explainer videos, calculators, and FAQs to your site – something with added value for visitors that they will not get elsewhere
✍️ 4. Update and merge old content
Combine thin or light posts with very little content in to in depth resources
Focus on uniqueness, not volume. Don’t give answers that you got somewhere else if you can avoid it. Or at least add some of your own ideas or opinion to make it different or ideally better.
🧰 5. Use AI as a tool, not a crutch
Use AI to speed up research, summaries and content ideas or do initial basic content creation
But make sure your final output is human, helpful and insightful – add value for any readers. Anything you get from AI is not original.
📊 Real world impact
Here’s a chart from Tracy McDonald at Seer Interactive showing drop in Click Through Rate when AIOs appear in Search Engine Results Pages: https://www.seerinteractive.com/insights/ctr-aio
Above is a graphic from a study in 2024 by Datos and Rand Fishkin at Sparktoro about what happens to clicks when AI Overviews show up. https://sparktoro.com/blog/2024-zero-click-search-study-for-every-1000-us-google-searches-only-374-clicks-go-to-the-open-web-in-the-eu-its-360/
🤝 Final word, don’t panic – prepare
AI in search isn’t the end, it’s another evolution. Google has been using AI and trying to surface better results for over a decade through algorithm updates, from Panda to Helpful Content. AIOs are just the next step. And for the user they do make sense. This is good for us all.
What stays the same?
Helpful, human content still wins
Strategy matters more than ever – have you got one?
SEO is not dead – but the rules have changed. It is smarter now, so it is very different
Make sure your website is ready. Run a few tests. Check your current ranking in an Incognito window.
Google AI Overviews FAQS
How can I tell if Google AI Overviews are reducing my website traffic?
Look for rising impressions and falling clicks in Google Search Console.
If you’re showing up in search results but not getting the same amount of clicks, chances are Google’s new AI Overviews are answering the question before people reach your site. You may still rank #1, but AI is now appearing above you.
➡️ We look for this kind of pattern in client reports every month – especially if you’re in financial, legal or construction sectors.
Can my business benefit from being featured in an AI Overview?
Yes – it can boost brand visibility, even without a click.
If your content is authoritative, helpful, and specific, Google may pull it into their AI-generated summary. This puts your business name or quote right at the top of search results.
➡️ It won’t always bring a visitor straight to your site, but it helps build trust and familiarity with your brand – which often leads to enquiries down the line.
Do I need to change my SEO strategy because of AIOs?
Yes – slightly. Focus more on expert, unique content that’s hard to summarise.
Keep doing the core SEO work, but shift your content to:
- Show experience and opinion (not just facts)
- Answer specific long-tail queries your ideal clients ask
- Include video, FAQs, and tools that AI can’t easily summarise
➡️ We help clients adapt every month – this is where the real SEO wins are happening now.
Is SEO still worth doing now that AI is in Google search?
Absolutely. SEO isn’t dead – it’s just getting smarter.
Even with AI Overviews, people still search, compare and click. What’s changed is how you win their attention. It’s no longer just about ranking high – it’s about offering something AI can’t replace.
➡️ Good SEO now means: real expertise, clear branding, and content that offers more than just an answer.
