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Google AI Overviews (AI summaries) are showing up in search results — should we expect a traffic drop?

TTolga M***Member
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#1

Google is showing AI summaries for some queries (blue box answer provided directly)... Is this tech dropping our traffic? Why would they click through to the site if they get the answer directly without reading the article?

Will AI summaries appear for all queries? How do we protect against this?

CCanerMember
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Most Helpful#2

Google AI Overviews (SGE) are risky for traffic. Some studies show a 6-18% traffic drop. However, high-quality pages can still get referral traffic (if the source is shown in SGE).

Protection: 1) Target featured snippets (AI might pull content from there). 2) Comprehensive content — detailed enough to catch AI. 3) Unique insight — original research AI can't do.

SSevimNew member
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#3

My traffic dropped a bit on SGE topics too. btw but the new traffic type = branded referral (from AI sources). Overall its been neutral.

edit: I wrote something wrong above, sorry about that.

KKübra Ö***Member
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#4

ai summary risk exists but if i get featured snippets it wont be a big issue then btw write deep research topics, unique content.

ÖÖmer I***VeteranCommunity member
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#5

AI Overviews Traffic Impact: 1. Risk: 6-18% traffic drop 2. Defense: Featured snippet 3. Unique research: original data 4. Comprehensive: 2000+ word article 5. E-E-A-T: emphasize expertise 6. Source attribution: AI sources site 7. Monitor: GSC 'Discovery' tab

YYavuz T***Expert
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Doki · E-commerce infrastructure · 2023

#6

Strategy: 1) Target featured snippets (should be AI's primary source). 2) Add original research / case study. 3) Deep expertise article (2000+ words). 4) Monitor: GSC traffic trend. 5) A/B: title variations (click-worthy).

ÜÜmit A***Member
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#7

just a heads-up. discussing numbers without verifying the measurement setup is a waste of time.

mistakes made on the AI summaries dropped traffic side are usually reversible but expensive.

RRıdvan K***MemberCommunity member
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#8

The cheap-looking path usually ends up costing more later. Any comment made without a control group is just a guess.

If rankings stay the same but clicks drop, the issue isn't your page but the search result appearance. If I were you I'd go this route.

ÖÖmer C***Member
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#9

The discussion got scattered, let me summarize. Ranking is the result, search intent is the input. Look at intent first.

RRabia B***Expert
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#10

I can't fully agree with this. Mistakes made on the AI summaries dropped traffic side are usually reversible but expensive.

Hope this helps.

SSerkan B***MemberCommunity member
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#11

Let me summarize what's been said so far. Mistakes made on the AI summaries dropped traffic side are usually reversible but expensive.

I'm also curious if anyone does it differently.

ZZerrin T***Member
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Doki · Interface design · 2024

#12

We need to make a distinction here. Any unwritten clause becomes a point of disagreement later, as both sides remember it differently.

SSinemExpert
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#13

The opposite happened to me, that's why I'm writing. When we decide without measuring, we always end up in the same place.

If I were you, I'd go this route.

RRamazan Y***MemberCommunity member
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#14

Theres one point Im curious about. like everyone rushing into AI summaries dropped traffic gets stuck at the same point.

EElaMember
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#15

There's one point I'm curious about. Don't trust anyone who gives guarantees; there are no guarantees in this business.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

ZZehra G***Member
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#16

this thhread is archived.

SSevilMember
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#17

Let me write how it's done in practice. Processes without records never improve, because you don't know what to fix.

Proven by experience.

BBurcu E***Member
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#18

Let me clarify the technical side. The answer varies greatly by industry; there is no one-size-fits-all rule.

If you post the result here, it will help others too.

EEmine T***Expert
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#19

Let me speak from the other side; I'm on the supplier side. Merge instead of deleting; deleted content doesn't come back.

That's all, sorry if I went on too long.

YYavuzExpert
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#20

Do you think this works at any scale? Don't hesitate to ask; those who don't ask always pay more.

Good luck with that.

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