How to Get Traffic When AI Overviews Answers Everything

There was a time when I made a solid living writing articles like:

• “Is Canva better than Photoshop?”
• “Do you need a visa to visit Thailand?”
• “How long does sourdough bread last?”

It worked.
Until it didn’t.

The articles are still ranked on Google.

But the clicks? Gone.

Why?

Because the search changed.

Search Engines Are Becoming Answer Engines

We’re no longer in the days of relying solely on a list of 10 search results and hoping for the best.

Today’s search engines are answer engines.

They don’t just list results — they summarize them.

AI now pulls the most relevant bits from articles, delivers a summary at the top of the page, and often gives users what they need without ever clicking.

Those quick “yes/no” and basic “how long” posts?
They’re getting cut out of the traffic flow.

And honestly?

Fine by me.

Writing 600 words about bread mold was never my dream.

Read More: 3 Mindset Shifts Every SEO Freelancer Needs to Win More Clients In 2025

What’s Replacing the Old Model?

AI Overviews.

If you’ve searched for anything recently, like “best planner for ADHD” or “how to delete your TikTok account,” you’ve likely seen them: rich, AI-generated summaries pulled from multiple sources.

Think Featured Snippets… but beefed up.
(And sometimes wildly wrong, btw.)

So, if Google is showing answers right on the search page?

How do you still get traffic to your site?

Write What AI Can’t Do in One Sentence

Last week, while recovering from a week-long flu and binge-watching Bob’s Burgers, I decided to finally dig into this.

I analyzed over 100 sites using SEMRush’s AI Overview tracking tool.

Here’s what’s still getting meaningful traffic:

These Keyword Types Are Resilient:

• “Notion vs Trello” review
• “How to launch a product with zero audience” tutorial
• “My 7-day Bali itinerary for solo travelers”
• “I quit social media for 30 days — here’s what happened”
• “Best email marketing tool for creators (with side-by-side comparison)”
• “How to build an MVP in 7 days”

Why These Work

Because they’re:

• Personal
• Nuanced
• Based on experience
• Too complex to summarize with a single “yes” or “no”

They also hit the Desire stage of the AIDA framework, meaning the reader is closer to taking action — buying, signing up, or engaging.

Read More: What is Copywriting: Crafting Words that Captivate and Convert.

But Wait — Don’t Only Write That Stuff

Writing only this type of content is like opening a restaurant with no drinks, no starters, and no desserts.

Just entrees.

You need more than just high-converting, high-intent content.

Enter: Topical Authority

To build trust (and rankings), you need to:

• Cover every stage of the user journey
• Create a well-rounded content ecosystem
• Link posts internally so readers naturally move through your site

Otherwise? You’re just chasing clicks.

My Current Strategy (That You Can Steal)

• I write content across all stages of the funnel
• Each topic cluster includes at least 2 AI-resistant keyword posts
• I interlink them to other supporting content
• I guide traffic toward action (affiliate or offer)

Want to Do Your Research?

Here’s how:

1. Use SEMRush (or similar) to check which queries trigger AI Overviews
2. Look at your CTR changes over time. Did it drop even if rankings stayed the same?
3. Compare keyword types across your best and worst performers

This will help you spot patterns and uncover traffic gems in your niche.

Summary:

AI Overviews are shaking up SEO.
But there’s a path forward.

Focus on:

• Content that requires depth and nuance
• Full-funnel topic clusters
• Strong internal linking
• User-first strategy

The robots might be learning eyeliner, but you’re building a business.