How Google’s AI Overviews Are Reshaping SEO: What Mini Media Is Doing Differently

Google’s new AI Overviews and the wider rise of generative search models are radically transforming how content is discovered and surfaced online. Traditional SEO techniques alone aren’t enough anymore. Ranking on page one isn’t the endgame—it’s being chosen as part of Google’s AI-generated answers that counts.

In this blog, we’ll break down:

• What Google’s AI Overviews are and how they work
• How generative search is impacting click-through rates and visibility
• What’s changing for SEO and digital PR
• How Mini Media has adapted to this shift
• Why new tactics like llms.txt matter going forward

What Are Google’s AI Overviews?

AI Overviews (previously called Search Generative Experience or SGE) are AI-generated summaries that appear at the top of Google Search results for certain queries. Instead of displaying a traditional list of ten blue links, Google now uses its generative AI models to provide a direct, summarised response—often pulling in multiple sources and citing them with links.

For example, instead of showing 10 links for “best dog food for sensitive stomachs,” Google’s AI might write:

“For dogs with sensitive stomachs, brands like Hill’s Science Diet, Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach, and Royal Canin Gastrointestinal are often recommended. These foods typically include easily digestible ingredients like rice, oatmeal, and limited additives.”

Underneath this summary, Google will cite and link to several pages used to generate the overview.

This is a big deal because it changes the nature of how users interact with search results. People are starting to get their answers before clicking a single link.

Why This Matters for SEO and Content Visibility

With AI Overviews taking up prime spot at the top of the SERP, traditional SEO rankings are losing some of their visibility and click-through rates. Even if your website is ranking on page one, it might be below the AI Overview box—which could be satisfying users before they even scroll down.

Here’s what’s changing:

Decreased visibility for top 10 results: Even if you're #1 organically, the AI Overview can now dominate the user's attention.

Citation-based SEO: Getting featured in the AI Overview is more about being referenced by Google’s AI as a trusted source.

Structured, expert content wins: AI models favour authoritative, well-structured, clearly written content.

Being one of the sources cited in an AI-generated answer is the new holy grail of SEO. And that means brands and agencies need to think differently about how they structure and promote content.

Generative Search Models and Large Language Models (LLMs)

At the heart of this shift are large language models (LLMs) like Google’s Gemini, OpenAI’s ChatGPT, and others.

These models are trained on massive datasets and capable of understanding context, summarising content, and generating natural-sounding language.

Google’s integration of LLMs into search—via AI Overviews—is a game-changer. These models synthesise information from multiple sources and choose what to highlight based on quality, authority, clarity, and relevance.

To manage what content can be used for AI training and summaries, Google recently introduced the llms.txt file—similar in spirit to robots.txt. This new file allows websites to signal to AI crawlers which content they are happy (or not happy) to be used for language model training or generation purposes.

It’s a developing standard, but forward-thinking content creators and webmasters are already paying attention.

How Mini Media Is Adapting SEO and Digital PR for the AI Era

At Mini Media, we’ve spent years helping brands get visible online—but the game has changed. We’ve reimagined our SEO and digital PR strategies to help clients appear in AI Overviews, not just on page one.

Here’s what we’re doing differently:

Writing for AI and Humans Alike

Our content is structured to answer questions clearly and succinctly—mirroring how AI Overviews tend to present information. We front-load answers, use schema markup, and ensure headlines, subheadings, and bullet points are scannable and summary-friendly.

Prioritising E-E-A-T Content

Google's AI favours content that demonstrates Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. We're doubling down on expert authorship, citing credible sources, and using first-party data or insights wherever possible.

Securing High-Authority Mentions

Digital PR has become even more valuable in the AI era. We’re helping clients land coverage in respected publications that are more likely to be referenced by AI Overviews. These mentions not only boost traditional SEO but also improve the chance of being cited in AI-generated answers.

Optimising for 'Citation-Worthy' Content

AI Overviews pull from content that directly answers the user’s query. That means including clear definitions, product comparisons, FAQ sections, pros and cons lists, and expert recommendations. Our copywriters craft every piece with the intention of being quotable.

Using llms.txt Strategically

As part of our technical SEO service, we're helping clients implement the new llms.txt file. This gives them control over how their content is used by generative AI tools—and ensures the right pieces are made available to train or feed models where it makes sense.

What This Means for the Future of Search

Generative AI isn’t going away. In fact, it’s becoming the new default interface between users and information. As people grow more comfortable with getting answers summarised by AI, the traditional SEO playbook will keep evolving.

The winners in this new landscape will be those who:

• Create content that adds real value and expertise
• Ensure their pages are AI-readable and citation-friendly
• Actively promote their brand and expertise across trusted platforms
• Adapt quickly to changes in how search engines process and present information

And crucially, they’ll partner with agencies like Mini Media who are already ahead of the curve.

Want to Stay Visible in the AI-Powered Search World?

At Mini Media, we’re not just reacting to these changes—we’re leading the charge. Our SEO and digital PR strategies are built for the AI-first era, combining editorial excellence with technical know-how to get your brand cited, seen, and trusted.

Whether you need help with:

• Creating AI-optimised content
• Getting featured in trusted publications
• Implementing llms.txt on your website
• Measuring your visibility within AI-generated summaries

We’re ready to help you adapt and thrive.

Ready to get started?
Get in touch today and let Mini Media help you stay one step ahead of Google’s AI—and everyone else.