Before any blue links appear, Google summarizes the answer to your search in a paragraph or two in its AI Overview, naming a few businesses along the way. None of those businesses applied to show up there. Instead, Google decided they were worth mentioning. Still, you can influence Google’s decision to mention YOUR company with an SEO and GEO audit. Here’s how:
“Before you read this, note that our opinion is based on two things: What we read directly from Google themselves + what we see working for our clients day in and day out” -Cole
What Google Is Actually Looking For
Google’s AI Overviews pull from the same signals that drive traditional search rankings, but they weigh a few things heavily.
Your website content has to match the question. Google reads your pages the same way it always has. If someone asks “who does junk removal in Athens GA” and your site has a dedicated page for that service with clear, specific copy that says “we offer junk removal in Athens, GA”, you’re more likely to be cited. Thin pages, vague service descriptions, and missing location content all hurt your chances. Your keyword presence also has to be consistent. If you want Google to describe you as an Athens junk removal company, that phrase needs to live on your pages naturally, in your GBP categories, and in the language your reviewers use. Consistency across all three reinforces what Google says about you.
Action Step: Create a list of the searches you want to show up for, then see how many times your site mentions those keywords, especially in headings.
Your Google Business Profile has to be complete and accurate. AI Overviews frequently pull business names, hours, phone numbers, and service categories directly from GBP. If your profile is incomplete, outdated, or inconsistent with what’s on your website, Google has less confidence in your information and is less likely to surface it.
Action Step: Cross-reference your basic GBP information with what’s on your site and fix anything that’s not exactly the same (Bonus: while you’re there, take some time to upload recent photos or add some posts. Google loves an active business!)
Reviews matter more than most business owners realize. Google uses review volume, recency, and content as trust signals. An AI Overview describing your business as “well-reviewed” or “highly rated by local customers” is pulling that from your actual review profile. A business with 8 reviews from 2021 can’t compete with one that has 60 reviews in the past 12 months.
Action Step: Ask clients for a review after a completed project, and put a task on your calendar every two weeks to check for and respond to reviews.
You need to rank well to begin with. AI Overviews don’t typically pull from page 4. Businesses that appear in AI Overviews usually already rank in the top few positions for related keywords. Showing up in the Overview is a byproduct of doing the underlying SEO work.
Action Step: Find an SEO agency with a proven track record to help optimize your SEO presence… like us!
What Happens When You Get It Right
TopDawg Junk Removal came to MORE needing a digital presence that could compete across a massive service area. They’re a junk removal company serving 30+ cities across Georgia, which means they needed to rank in a lot of places, not just one.
MORE built them a custom website optimized from the ground up, then layered in an SEO strategy built around location-specific service pages and in-depth keyword research. TopDawg Junk Removal now ranks in the top three for 11 keywords across 30+ Georgia cities, with 120% growth in organic traffic and a 158% increase in keyword rankings. Read the whole case study for more.
That visibility also feeds into AI Overviews. Google’s confidence in a business grows when the website, the GBP, and the keyword presence all tell the same story.
How to Get Google to Say More (and Better!) Things About Your Business
Google decides what to say about your business based on what it can verify. The more verification it has, the more likely it is to bring you up. If your website says what you do, your GBP confirms it, your reviews back it up, and your keyword rankings signal that other searchers find you credible, Google is willing to put your name in front of someone before they even click anything. Search is competitive, and any gap gives Google a reason to choose someone else.
If you want to work with an agency that builds the kind of digital foundation Google cites consistently, reach out here. We offer SEO and GEO services, digital marketing strategy, and website design for businesses across Athens and beyond.