Google AI Overviews Are Changing SEO Clicks in 2025
Google’s search results are evolving rapidly — and if you're still optimizing for the old rules, you could be missing a growing share of traffic. The rollout of AI Overviews (formerly known as Search Generative Experience or SGE) is not only changing how users interact with the SERPs — it’s changing where they click. We’ll break down real 2025 CTR data, explain what’s happening, and show you how to adjust your SEO strategy now.
What the Data Shows (2025)
Recent SEO studies tracking over 200,000 keywords reveal the following:
- Position 1 CTR has dropped from ~28% to ~19% — a 32% relative decline
- Position 2 CTR fell from 20.8% to 12.6% — a 39% relative drop
- Interestingly, positions 6–10 saw a 30.6% increase in click-through rates
This shift started after Google expanded AI Overviews in early 2025, which now appears at the top of many informational queries — pushing traditional organic links further down the page.
Why Is This Happening?
With AI Overviews, Google often summarizes the answer to a query using content from multiple sources. While it may cite your page, the user might not need to click through — or they may choose to explore alternative links further down, skipping the first few results that look like they're summarized already.
What This Means for SEO
If you're aiming for position #1 on Google, that’s still valuable, but it no longer guarantees the same traffic. Here's what to do:
1. Optimize for AI Overviews & Featured Snippets
Pages that are structured well — using clear headings, bullet points, and FAQs — are more likely to be cited in AI answers. Structure your content with concise, fact-based information.
2. Focus on Mid-Rank Visibility (Positions 6–10)
These positions are gaining more attention as users scroll past AI Overviews and ads. If you’re in this range, don't panic — optimize meta descriptions and use rich snippets to stand out.
3. Use Structured Data & Schema Markup
Help Google understand your content. Adding schema like FAQPage, HowTo, and Article can improve chances of being included in AI Overviews or featured results.
4. Refresh Existing High-Position Pages
Pages ranking in positions 1–5 should be updated to include:
- Summarized answers in the intro
- Bullet points and clear subheadings
- Internal links for contextual depth
What You Can Do Today
Here’s your daily action plan:
- Open Google Search Console
- Check your top pages ranking in positions 1–5
- Identify pages with declining CTR
- Add structured content and update for snippet optimization
- Re-index the page via GSC for quicker impact
SEO isn’t dying — it’s evolving. By adapting your content to the new search behaviors driven by AI, you’ll gain an edge while others scramble to catch up. Stay ahead of the curve. Bookmark SEODaily.org for daily SEO insights backed by real data — no fluff, just action.