Showing posts with label Google AI update traffic drop. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Google AI update traffic drop. Show all posts

Sunday, May 25, 2025

Google’s AI Search is Reducing Traffic — But Is It Actually Helping Website Owners?

Illustration showing Google's AI search reducing traffic with graphs, AI overview box, and a businessman analyzing website stats.


Have you noticed a drop in your website traffic recently?
If yes, you're not alone. Many bloggers, publishers, and SEO experts have seen a fall in traffic since Google added AI Overviews to its search results.

But here’s the twist: Google says, “It’s not about less traffic, it’s about better quality clicks.”

So, let’s break it all down — in simple language — and see what this means for your website or online business.

What is AI Overview in Google Search?

Google’s new feature, called AI Overview (also known as Search Generative Experience or SGE), shows answers at the top of search results. It pulls information from websites and gives a full summary.

Example:

Old way:
User searched: “Best phone under ₹20,000”
→ Saw 10 links, clicked one.

Now (AI Overview):
User sees an AI-written answer at the top
→ May not click any link at all.

Why Is Website Traffic Going Down?

Because AI is giving direct answers, users don’t always click on websites anymore. This means:

  • Less organic (free) traffic from Google

  • Fewer page views

  • Lower ad revenue

  • Drop in affiliate sales

High-Search Keywords You Should Know:

  • AI search traffic drop

  • Google AI overview impact

  • SEO for voice search

  • Best content strategy 2025

  • How to get traffic in AI search

Google Says “Clicks Are Better Quality” — What Does That Mean?

Google says that even if fewer people visit your site, the ones who do are more serious. They might:

  • Spend more time on your site

  • Read more pages

  • Be ready to buy or take action

But… Google also admitted they don’t have public data to prove this yet.

So, for now, it’s just a claim.

What Can You Do? How To Get Your Website Ready for AI Search

If you want to get clicks in this new AI-driven search world, you need to change how you write and present content.

Easy SEO Tips for AI Search (and Voice Search too!):

  1. Answer Real Questions Clearly

    • Example: “What is the best protein powder for beginners?” → Answer directly in the first paragraph.

  2. Use Natural, Conversational Language

    • People speak differently than they type.

    • Say things like: “Which phone is best for photography under ₹30,000?”

  3. Use Long-Tail Keywords

    • These are longer search phrases with less competition.

    • Example: “How to increase website traffic after Google AI update”

  4. Add FAQ Sections to Your Blog Posts

    • Google often shows FAQs in AI Overviews.

  5. Use Simple, Short Paragraphs

    • Easy to read and great for mobile and AI summaries.

  6. Use Schema Markup for SEO & AEO

    • Add FAQ schema, HowTo schema, Article schema to your pages.

    • Helps Google understand your content better.

You can use tools like Google's Structured Data Helper to check schema.

AEO (Answer Engine Optimization): Future of SEO

What is AEO?
It means writing content in a way that search engines like Google’s AI can easily understand and show as an answer.

How To Do AEO:

  • Use clear headings with questions (like this article)

  • Give direct, short answers below each heading

  • Use bullet points, steps, and examples

  • Optimize for voice searches like:

    • “How do I fix my website’s traffic drop?”

    • “Best way to grow my blog after AI update?”

What About Google Ads?

Google says their ads are performing the same — even with AI Overviews.

That’s good news for advertisers, but bad news for small publishers. Why?

Because:

  • Free clicks (organic traffic) are going down

  • Paid ads are stable

  • So now, many publishers may have to buy ads just to stay visible

It’s like saying: “You want to be seen? Pay up.

Want to Get More Visibility? Do This:

  1. Create expert-level, helpful content

  2. Get links from trusted websites

    • Try guest blogging or expert roundups

  3. Use internal links between your own blog posts

  4. Add videos to your posts — Google shows video answers too

  5. Update old blogs with AI-friendly formatting

Need help with backlinks? Read this guide:
Ahrefs Guide to Link Building

The Problem: No Way to Track AI Search Traffic

Google doesn’t show:

  • How many visitors came from AI Overviews

  • Which queries triggered AI results

  • How AI clicks differ from normal clicks

So, you can’t even know what’s working.

What can you do instead?

Use tools like:

  • Plausible Analytics (simple & privacy-focused)

  • Matomo (open-source Google Analytics alternative)

  • Search Console — still useful to track impressions and keywords

Final Tips: What Should You Do Next?

Do This Right Now:

  • Start writing content like you’re answering someone’s question directly

  • Use real, human language — like you're talking to a friend

  • Add voice-search-friendly titles (e.g., “How do I…” or “What’s the best…”)

  • Optimize every post with FAQs and schema

  • Track your own results — don’t rely only on Google’s words

People Also Ask (Voice Search Style FAQs):

Q: Why is my website traffic going down after the AI update?

Because Google now answers many questions directly using AI Overviews, so users don’t click on websites as much.

Q: How do I get traffic from AI search?

Create helpful, clear content that answers real questions. Use long-tail keywords and structured data.

Q: What is AEO in SEO?

AEO stands for Answer Engine Optimization. It means writing content that search engines can easily use in direct answers.

Q: Is Google AI search good or bad for bloggers?

It depends. You’ll get fewer clicks, but if you write smart content, you can get better-quality visitors.


Read More : Researchers Trained an OpenAI Rival in 30 Minutes for Under $50

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