Semrush's New AI Overview Tracking: A Game-Changer for SEO

When it comes to SEO, staying ahead isn't just beneficial—it's essential. The search landscape is in constant flux, especially with the rise of AI-generated content and innovative search features that redefine the rules (seemingly constantly). Semrush's latest update unlocks the ability for large scale AI Overviews, providing SEOs and businesses alike the necessary tools to analyze and understand their performance in relation to generative AI in SERPs.

Understanding AI Overviews and Their Impact

AI Overviews, also referred to as AI-generated content blocks, are a newer feature appearing on search engine results pages (SERPs). These snippets are created by AI to offer rapid answers or concise summaries in response to a user's search query. Their prominence has surged, especially on platforms like Google, as the search engine fine-tunes its capability to present information directly to users without requiring them to navigate to individual websites (more on zero-click searches here).

For SEO professionals, AI Overviews are a double-edged sword. They have the potential to divert traffic away from traditional organic search results, yet simultaneously offer a golden opportunity to boost a site's prominence and authority when featured. The advent of Semrush's new feature, which allows for extensive tracking of AI Overviews, represents a leap forward in our ability to more clearly maneuver through this shifting terrain. It's also a welcome relief, as Google Search Console has been oddly quiet when it comes to tracking performance in this area.

Why This Feature Matters

Ahead of this update, tracking AI Overviews was a burdensome task. SEO professionals were restricted to monitoring snippets within narrowly-defined queries using tools like Position Tracking. This often resulted in a limited and reactive analysis, confined to the queries we predicted might generate an AI Overview. Semrush’s new feature removes these constraints, enabling us to access the landscape of AI Overviews across comprehensive keyword sets and domains.

This is a big shift. For the first time, we can analyze AI Overviews at scale, gaining insights into how they affect organic search visibility across different industries and locations. This level of granularity provides us with improved data needed to make informed, strategic decisions about optimizing content and adjusting SEO strategies in response to the growing influence of AI in search.

Key Insights and Applications

Being able to track AI Overviews on a large scale unlocks new and improved opportunities for boosting SEO performance. Let's explore some effective ways to utilize this new feature:

Tracking AI Overview Presence Across Keywords

Semrush now allows us to filter for AI Overviews within the Organic Research > Positions report. This means we can see how many of our target keywords are impacted by AI Overviews. For example, if your content is competing with AI-generated snippets, you might notice a decline in clicks or impressions, despite strong rankings. Understanding which keywords are affected can help you prioritize content optimization efforts or explore new strategies to claim a spot within these overviews.

Link Reporting and Visibility

Another important feature is the ability to report on the links that are visible on the initial page load of AI Overviews. This is crucial for understanding which links are being surfaced by AI and how they contribute to traffic and authority. By analyzing this data, SEOs can better understand the relationship between AI Overviews and link equity, helping to inform link-building strategies and content placement.

Country-Specific Analysis

The tool also provides country-specific reporting, with initial datasets available for the US, UK, and India (we assume more to come). This is particularly useful for international campaigns, allowing marketers to tailor strategies based on regional differences in AI Overview prevalence and impact. For instance, if AI Overviews are more common in one country or area, you may need to adopt a more aggressive optimization strategy there compared to other markets.

Competitor Analysis

One of the most exciting aspects of this new feature is the ability to compare your site's performance in AI Overviews against that of competitors. By analyzing metrics like the percentage of queries owned within AI Overviews, SEOs can identify competitive gaps and opportunities. For example, Brodie Clark highlighted how Wikipedia, a content behemoth, has an 11% inclusion rate in AI Overviews, while Reddit has nearly 0%. Understanding these dynamics allows SEOs to adjust their content strategies to either capitalize on weak competition or learn from stronger competitors.

Optimizing for AI Overviews

Finally, one of the most powerful uses of this feature is the ability to identify opportunities where you rank on the first page but are not included in the AI Overview. By filtering for top 10 positions and using the SERP Features > Domain doesn’t rank filter, we can pinpoint specific queries where they have a strong chance of breaking into the AI Overview. This is a clear optimization opportunity that can lead to significant increases in visibility and traffic.

The Future of SEO in the Age of AI

Semrush’s new AI Overview tracking feature is an important tool that marks the validity of AI in SERPs in many ways. Providing SEOs with the ability to finally measure AI appearance and use this data to understand impacts on campaign goals is monumental. . As AI continues to play a larger and larger role in how search engines process and present information, SEO will need to adapt by developing strategies that account for these changes.

At the moment, our priority is to grasp and optimize for AI Overviews. But let's look at the bigger picture. As AI technology progresses, we're going to see even more advanced search features that will push the boundaries of traditional SEO. The real successes will be from those who not only accept these changes but also leverage the right tools to stay ahead of the game.

For BFO, this new feature from Semrush is a powerful addition to our toolkit. It allows us to provide even more value to clients by offering insights that were previously unattainable. By tracking AI Overviews, we can help our clients understand how these features are impacting their search visibility and develop strategies to maximize their presence as the landscape shifts and evolves.

Leveraging Semrush's New Feature for SEO Success

The release of Semrush’s AI Overview tracking feature is yet another transitional moment for the SEO industry (one of many this year). It provides us with the data and tools needed to navigate the complexities of AI-driven search features and offers numerous opportunities for optimization and competitive analysis.

As an SEO-focused agency, we can’t overstate the importance of embracing this new capability. It’s a game-changer that will help brands stay ahead in an increasingly competitive and AI-driven search environment. By leveraging the insights provided by this feature, we can refine strategies, enhance content, and ensure clients remain visible and competitive in the ever-evolving world of search.

The SEO landscape is changing, but with tools like this, we’re well-equipped to adapt... and thrive! Whether you're working on a small-scale site or managing a vast digital presence, the ability to track AI Overviews at scale is a significant advantage, and Be Found Online would be happy to help you figure out what that looks like for your brand!