In this episode of SEO 101, hosts Ross Dunn and Scott Van Achte explore the significant decline in click-through rates due to Google’s AI Overviews. They discuss new guidelines for recipe blogs to enhance user experience, and address a recent bug affecting local reviews. Tune in for insights on these critical SEO developments and their implications.
Show Notes:
NON SEO NEWS
- Google updates AI Ethics policy, removing commitment not to use AI for weapons or surveillance.
- Original promise from 2018 regarding AI use for harm and surveillance has been erased.
SEO NEWS
- Impact of AI Overviews on CTR:
- Study by Seer Interactive shows significant decrease in click-through rates (CTR):
- Organic CTR without AI Overview: 2.68% → 3.97%
- Organic CTR with AI Overview: 1.41% → 0.64%
- Paid CTR without AI Overview: 23.07% → 17.24%
- Paid CTR with AI Overview: 8.76% → 6.56%
- Study analyzed 10,000 keywords with informational intent.
- Study by Seer Interactive shows significant decrease in click-through rates (CTR):
- Tracking CTR in GSC for AI Overviews:
- Glenn Gabe shares a method to track AI Overview performance in Google Search Console (GSC) for sites with manual actions.
- Data can be viewed by filtering for impacted pages and selecting the active date range.
- OpenAI’s ChatGPT Search:
- No sign-in required to access ChatGPT search, potentially increasing competition with Google.
- Google’s Recipe Blog Guidelines:
- New guidelines emphasize avoiding significant scrolling on recipe pages.
- Poor user experience noted due to excessive filler content and ads.
- Recommendations include easy-to-find “jump to recipe” links and relevant content.
LOCAL SEO NEWS
- Google reviews drop issue:
- On February 7, fewer reviews displayed in local listings due to a bug.
- Google confirmed the issue on February 10 and began rolling out fixes on February 11.
AI NEWS
- Google Search Testing ‘AI Mode’
- New feature for long-form queries, utilizing Gemini 2.0.
- Example includes detailed responses for complex questions.
- AI Overviews with Shopping Comparisons
- AI Overviews now provide detailed comparisons for product searches, impacting organic traffic for comparison sites.
- Increase in YouTube Citations
- YouTube citations within AI Overviews surged by 25.21% since January 1, with notable increases in instructional and visual content categories.
- Google Search’s Ask for Me
- New experiment allowing Google AI to call businesses for service inquiries.
- Currently testing with specific service industries; businesses can opt out.
Sources:
Google erases promise not to use AI technology for weapons or surveillance – Discusses Google’s update to its AI Ethics policy, removing its commitment against using AI for harmful purposes.
Report: Google AI Overviews Are Killing Click Through Rates – A study by Seer Interactive reveals the negative impact of AI Overviews on click-through rates for organic and paid searches.
How to Track CTR in GSC for AI Overviews – Glenn Gabe shares a method for tracking AI Overview performance in Google Search Console, specifically for sites with manual actions.
OpenAI drops sign-in requirement for ChatGPT search – Announcement of ChatGPT search now available to everyone without requiring a login.
Google Guidelines Warns Of Significant Scrolling On Recipe Blogs – Google updates quality rater guidelines, advising against significant scrolling on recipe sites to improve user experience.
Google bug causes reviews to drop out of local listings – Coverage of a bug affecting the display of reviews in local listings, with Google working on a fix.
Google Search testing ‘AI Mode – Information about Google testing a new ‘AI Mode’ for complex search queries using Gemini 2.0.
Google AI Overviews now with detailed shopping comparisons – Update on AI Overviews providing detailed shopping comparisons, impacting organic search traffic for comparison sites.
YouTube citations in Google AI Overviews surge 25% – Report on the increase in YouTube citations within Google AI Overviews, highlighting various content categories.
Google Search launches Ask for me – Introduction of the ‘Ask for Me’ feature, allowing Google AI to call businesses for service inquiries on behalf of users.
