Executive summary
Google Gemini and AI Overviews represent a unique position in the AI landscape, combining conversational AI with deep integration into Google's search infrastructure. As of November 2025, AI Overviews appear in 60.32% of U.S. queries—up from just 25% in August 2024.
Our research reveals that E-E-A-T signals are the most critical factor for Gemini visibility, accounting for 35% of ranking weight. The platform shows the strongest correlation with traditional Google rankings (~0.65), with 76% of AI Overview citations pulling from top 10 positions.
Key findings
1. E-E-A-T signals are the strongest factor
E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) signals are the most critical factor for Gemini citations. Content with clear E-E-A-T signals has a 37% higher likelihood of being cited in AI Overviews.
Impact of E-E-A-T signals on AI Overview citations
Experience indicators
- • First-hand experience demonstrations
- • Case studies and real-world examples
- • Product/service usage evidence
Expertise signals
- • Author credentials and bios
- • Professional certifications
- • Industry-specific knowledge
Authoritativeness markers
- • Citations from authoritative sources
- • Industry recognition
- • Domain expertise evidence
Trustworthiness factors
- • Transparent author information
- • Consistent NAP data
- • Security and privacy compliance
2. Traditional Google rankings correlate strongly
Gemini shows the strongest correlation with traditional Google rankings of any AI platform. Pages in the top 10 show a ~0.65 correlation with LLM mentions, and 76% of AI Overview citations pull from these positions.
AI Overview citations by Google SERP position
Source: Analysis of AI Overview citations vs Google ranking positions
3. Google ecosystem integration creates unique opportunities
Unlike other AI platforms, Gemini references Google Shopping results, Google Business Profile data, and real-time search results. Brands with strong Google ecosystem presence see 2.6x higher visibility in Gemini responses.
| Google property | Impact on visibility | Query type influence |
|---|---|---|
| Google Business Profile | High for local queries | Local: 52%, Non-local: 8% |
| Google Shopping | High for product queries | Product: 41%, Other: 5% |
| Organic search ranking | Medium-high | Top 3: 38%, Below: 12% |
| YouTube presence | Medium for how-to | How-to: 29%, Other: 11% |
4. Google properties dominate citations
23% of citations in AI Overviews come from Google properties. Google needs to trust the source before generating an answer, giving Google ecosystem presence significant weight.
AI Overview citation sources
Gemini ranking factor weights
Based on our analysis, Gemini weighs ranking factors with strong emphasis on E-E-A-T and Google SERP position:
Gemini/AI Overview ranking factor distribution
Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness signals are paramount
Strong correlation with traditional Google rankings (~0.65)
JSON-LD structured data (Google's preferred format) with semantic HTML5 markup
85% of AI Overview citations were published in the last two years; 44% from 2025
Knowledge Graph presence and consistent NAP data are essential
Multimodal content advantage
Gemini 2.0 demonstrates enhanced capability in processing multimedia content, creating new ranking opportunities. Content combining text, images, and video receives 2.4x more citations than text-only content.
Text + images + video vs text only
AI Overview citations from current year
Citations from last 2 years
Impact on click-through rates
AI Overviews significantly impact traditional search traffic. Multiple studies show substantial CTR declines:
CTR decline from AI Overviews (by study)
| Source | CTR decline | Methodology |
|---|---|---|
| Industry Study A | 34.5% | Top-ranking pages after US AIO rollout |
| Amsive | 15.49% | Keywords triggering AI Overviews |
| BrightEdge | ~30% | Analysis as of May 2025 |
Gemini citation behavior
Gemini's citation behavior differs significantly from other AI platforms:
Gemini provides no clickable citation in 92% of answers, focusing on synthesis over attribution
Nearly a quarter of citations come from Google-owned properties
Reddit is the leading non-Google source for AI Overview citations
Technical content preferences
Gemini shows clear preferences for certain content types:
High-performing content types
- • Coding tutorials and documentation
- • API documentation
- • Software implementation guides
- • Mathematical concepts
- • Data visualizations
Schema markup priorities
- • Article/BlogPosting (all pages)
- • FAQPage (Q&A content)
- • HowTo (instructional)
- • Product/Review (e-commerce)
- • BreadcrumbList (navigation)
Methodology and sources
This study is based on ConvertMate's comprehensive research methodology:
- BrightEdge - AI Overview appearance tracking (60.32% as of November 2025)
- Industry CTR impact research showing 30-35% decline after AI Overviews
- Amsive - Keyword-level CTR analysis
- ConvertMate proprietary AI Overview tracking across 10,000+ domains
Recommendations for improving Gemini visibility
- Master traditional Google SEO first: Strong Google organic rankings (~0.65 correlation) directly influence Gemini visibility. Focus on ranking for key terms.
- Build comprehensive E-E-A-T signals: Content with clear E-E-A-T signals has 37% higher citation likelihood. Include author credentials and demonstrate expertise.
- Implement extensive schema markup: Use JSON-LD for Article, FAQPage, HowTo schemas. Semantic HTML5 markup (header, nav, main, article, footer) is essential.
- Create multimodal content: Combine text, images, and video for 2.4x citation improvement.
- Optimize Google Business Profile: For local queries, GBP optimization is critical (52% citation rate for local queries).
- Maintain content freshness: 85% of citations come from content published in the last 2 years. Keep content updated with visible timestamps.
- Build Knowledge Graph presence: Entity recognition in Google Knowledge Graph significantly improves visibility.
Conclusion
Gemini's unique position within the Google ecosystem creates both challenges and opportunities. The platform's strong correlation with traditional Google rankings means that brands already invested in SEO have a significant advantage.
However, the 92% no-citation rate means that brand mentions in AI Overviews matter more than referral traffic. Focus on building brand recognition and E-E-A-T signals rather than chasing clicks from AI-generated responses.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get mentioned in Google AI Overviews?
E-E-A-T signals are the most critical factor (35% weight). Content with clear Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness signals has 37% higher likelihood of being cited. Focus on demonstrating expertise through author credentials, case studies, and transparent sourcing. Additionally, ranking in Google's top 10 shows ~0.65 correlation with AI Overview citations.
What percentage of Google searches show AI Overviews?
As of November 2025, AI Overviews appear in 60.32% of U.S. queries—up from just 25% in August 2024. This rapid expansion makes optimizing for AI Overviews increasingly important for organic visibility, as queries with AI Overviews see 15-35% CTR decline for traditional results.
How does traditional Google SEO affect Gemini visibility?
Gemini shows the strongest correlation with traditional Google rankings of any AI platform. Pages in Google's top 10 show a ~0.65 correlation with LLM mentions, and 76% of AI Overview citations pull from top 10 positions. Mastering traditional Google SEO is the foundation for Gemini visibility.
Does structured data help with Google AI Overview citations?
Yes, structured data accounts for 15% of Gemini's ranking factors. Use JSON-LD (Google's preferred format) for Article, FAQPage, HowTo, Product, and BreadcrumbList schemas. Semantic HTML5 markup (header, nav, main, article, footer) also improves citation likelihood.
Do AI Overviews provide clickable links to sources?
Surprisingly, Gemini provides no clickable citation in 92% of answers, focusing on synthesis over attribution. This means brand mentions in AI Overviews matter more for awareness than direct traffic. 23% of citations that do appear come from Google properties, making Google ecosystem presence valuable.
Does multimodal content improve Gemini citations?
Yes, significantly. Gemini 2.0 demonstrates enhanced capability in processing multimedia content. Content combining text, images, and video receives 2.4x more citations than text-only content. For maximum visibility, create comprehensive multimodal content with relevant visuals and video elements.
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