When was the last time you searched for a local service and clicked through ten different websites before making a choice?
Yeah… probably not lately.
Because these days, Google does the heavy lifting for us. Right at the top of your search, you’ll often see an AI Overview—a neat little summary pulling together the best answers, recommendations, and local options, all in one place.
It’s not coming soon. It’s already here. In fact, AI Overviews have taken over a huge part of search results, changing how people find everything from accountants to massage therapists to lawyers.
And while they’re super convenient when you’re looking for a quick answer or the right person to hire, they’re also impacting what it takes for businesses to stay visible online. If your business isn’t showing up in those AI Overviews, you’re missing out on where people are making decisions today.
So what exactly are AI Overviews, why are they everywhere now, and how can you make sure your business stays top of mind (and top of recommendations) when people are ready to choose?
Let’s dive in.
For The Skimmers 👀
✔️ AI Overviews now appear in 68% of local business searches. They’re changing how people find and choose service providers in every industry.
✔️ They show up most in “hybrid” searches. People want both guidance and a business recommendation in one place.
✔️ If you’re not showing up in AI Overviews, you’re missing out. Most clients choose from the first options they see in these summaries.
✔️ Five ways to rank in AI Overviews: Simple steps to help your business get seen where people are making decisions today.
✔️ Staying visible in AI search isn’t optional anymore. These small, strategic updates help your business stay top of mind where people are already making decisions.
Three Research-Based Findings About AI Overviews
Let’s talk about what the research is showing us about AI Overviews and how they’re shaping local search.
They’re everywhere.
About 68% of local business searches now include AI Overviews. That’s a huge slice of searches where AI is summarizing options for people before they even see the regular list of websites.
They pop up most in “hybrid” searches.
These are searches where someone wants both information and a service. For example, “best family lawyer for custody cases near me” or “how to choose a wedding venue in Tampa.” People aren’t just looking for any business—they’re looking for guidance on the decision too, and AI Overviews are filling that gap.
Some industries are seeing them more than others.
Legal services, for instance, see AI Overviews in around 70% of searches. So it’s not just restaurants and cafes showing up here—it’s accountants, consultants, lawyers, and service-based businesses of all kinds.
This research shows that AI Overviews aren’t just an added bonus on search results. They’ve become a key part of how people find and choose local businesses today.
Why AI Overviews Could Be Hiding Your Business From Clients
If you’re not showing up in AI Overviews, it’s like being left out of the recommendations altogether.
Think about it. When someone searches for “best tax accountant for coaches near me” and Google’s AI shows a neat summary of three firms with glowing reviews and clear services… but yours isn’t listed? Most people won’t keep scrolling to find you. They’ll choose from what’s right in front of them.
That’s the risk.
But there’s also a huge opportunity here. Because most businesses aren’t paying attention to AI Overviews yet. They’re still focused only on traditional SEO rankings and ignoring that these AI summaries have already taken over a big chunk of search real estate.
Optimizing for AI Overviews puts you ahead while others are still catching up. It’s a chance to be one of the first names people see—and trust—when they’re ready to make a decision.
5 Ways to Make Sure Your Business Shows Up in AI Overviews
Now that you know AI Overviews aren’t going away anytime soon, how can you make sure your business is included when someone searches for services like yours?
Here 5 ways to make sure your business shows up in AI Overviews:
1. Answer real questions directly.
Think about the top 5–10 questions your clients would ask about your services. Create a page or section for each one. Use the exact question as your headline and give a clear, simple answer in the first couple of sentences.
For example, if you’re a business coach:
Q: How can a business coach help me grow my revenue?
A: A business coach helps you identify your biggest opportunities for growth, creates a plan to reach your goals faster, and keeps you accountable to take consistent action each week.
If AI only reads two lines, it should know exactly what you do and who you help.
2. Structure your content so AI understands it.
Use FAQ or How-To schema markup on your website. This helps AI tools pull your answers directly into Overviews. Wrap questions and answers in proper structured data and test them with Google’s Rich Results Test to make sure they’re reading correctly.
3. Get more reviews—and keep them fresh.
This is one of the most important tactics when it comes to optimizing for AI overview and AI platforms. AI looks for trust signals, and recent positive reviews are powerful. Set up a simple system to ask for reviews right after you complete a service. This is easy to set up and automate with a CRM and Marketing platform like Booked & Built. This builds trust with both AI tools and potential clients deciding between you and your competitors.
4. Format your pages for quick readability.
Break your content into headings, short paragraphs, and bullet points—just like the For the Skimmers section in this post. Bold your main answer or key takeaway at the top so it’s easy to spot. If your page reads well in plain text, it’s ready for AI to understand and pull into summaries.
5. Make sure your site is easy to crawl.
Check your sitemap, robots.txt file, and page speed. Submit your updated sitemap to Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools regularly. If AI tools can’t easily access your site, they won’t recommend it—no matter how great your content is.
These small, intentional steps can make a big difference in whether your business gets seen in AI Overviews—or left out while competitors take the spotlight.
Ready to Stay Visible as Search Keeps Changing?
AI Overviews aren’t a “someday” thing—they’re shaping how people find and choose businesses right now. And showing up there isn’t just about algorithms. It’s about making sure the people who need your services can find you when they’re ready to take action.
If you want support putting these strategies into place (without feeling overwhelmed or scattered), that’s exactly what I help with inside my coaching programs. Together, we integrate AI and marketing strategies that fit how you work—so your business stays visible, relevant, and top of mind.
➡️ Learn more about working together here.
