AI-driven changes in Google search are reducing website traffic by providing direct answers rather than links, challenging businesses that depend on educational content. Local services have not yet faced this impact, but warnings from SEO consultants signal a looming threat. Notable cases include law firms that historically attracted traffic through specific queries, which modern AI overviews now summarize without directing users to their sites. This traffic reduction constrains engagement opportunities, making businesses vulnerable despite perceived stability in web rankings or impressions.
Google's AI Overviews are dramatically cutting clicks to websites by delivering answers, instead of links, at the top of the search page. Knowledge-driven businesses have felt it first.
Andrew Shotland notes that small businesses relying on educational content are already seeing declines in traffic, impacting their ability to connect with potential customers.
Without clicks, businesses lose direct connections with potential customers, missing opportunities to tell their story, build credibility, or make a pitch.
Many businesses track impressions or web ranking, which might look fine or even improve, making the decline in traffic from AI Overviews easy to overlook.
#ai-impact #search-engine-optimization #website-traffic #educational-content #small-business-challenges
Collection
[
|
...
]