Does Rating Greater on Google Imply You will Get Cited in AI Overviews?

If you happen to rank properly in conventional search outcomes, does that imply you’ll get cited in AI Overviews?

We determined to search out out.

We pulled a million key phrases that triggered AI Overviews and extracted the highest three hyperlinks cited inside these AIOs: a complete of 1.9 million quotation hyperlinks in our database.

We then analyzed the connection between:

• The place web sites ranked in Google’s conventional high 10 outcomes
• Whether or not and the place those self same web sites obtained cited in AI Overviews

We calculated the Spearman correlation between rating within the high 10 and being cited within the high 3 AI Overview outcomes. The correlation was 0.347.

It is a constructive reasonable correlation, which means that increased SERP rankings are related to a larger chance of being cited in AI Overviews.

Nonetheless, it’s not a assure.

Even pages rating #1 solely seem within the high three cited hyperlinks in AI Overviews about 50% of the time. So sure, whereas it’s true that for those who rank #1 within the SERPs, you’re extra prone to be cited in an AI Overview than for those who have been ranked decrease.

However that probability is a coin flip at finest.

Right here’s the place it will get attention-grabbing. We additionally regarded on the correlation between the place of the cited URL versus their natural rating positions.

The correlation was 0.445.

In different phrases, pages that rank increased within the SERPs don’t simply have a greater probability of being cited; additionally they are usually cited extra prominently within the AI Overview after they’re included.

Wrapping up

From our analysis, plainly Google does use some overlapping indicators for each conventional rankings and AI Overviews choice. However the correlations inform us that AI Overviews aren’t merely repackaging the highest search outcomes.

search engine marketing nonetheless issues. Greater rankings enhance your probabilities of AI Overview citations. And for those who can rank excessive and get cited, you’re extra prone to be featured prominently within the AI Overview.

Nonetheless, our examine additionally means that there is one thing past conventional search engine marketing. Whereas we don’t but know all of the components Google makes use of for AIO choice, it’s clear they’re not merely lifting the highest search outcomes.

Possibly, as our analysis suggests, it’s all about your model and internet mentions.

If you happen to’d like to trace your branded mentions in AI Overviews, ensure that to take a look at Model Radar:

1. Go to Ahrefs Model Radar
2. Hit the “Google AI Overviews” tab
3. Seek for your model identify
4. Choose “key phrase OR AI Overview” from the dropdown

It will present your complete AI Overview possession, and any progress or decline over time.

Any questions or feedback? Let me know on LinkedIn.