If you’ve Googled anything in the past year, you’ve seen them: the AI-generated summary boxes that now appear at the very top of many search results pages, above every traditional blue link. These are Google AI Overviews — and they’re changing the economics of local search in ways that Grand Rapids business owners need to understand.
What Are Google AI Overviews?
Google AI Overviews (formerly called Search Generative Experience or SGE) are AI-generated text summaries that appear at the top of Google search results. Google’s announcement describes them as helping users “get the gist” of a topic before diving deeper. Instead of showing a list of links, Google synthesizes information from multiple sources and writes a direct answer — citing those sources in small linked cards below the text.
Why This Matters for Grand Rapids Businesses
Traffic Patterns Are Shifting
When a user gets a satisfying AI-generated answer at the top of the page, the likelihood of clicking any of the traditional organic results beneath it decreases. Businesses that previously relied on ranking position three or four for key terms are seeing traffic decline — not because their rankings dropped, but because AI Overviews are intercepting the click before it happens.
The New Top Position Is AI Inclusion
The highest-value position in many Google searches is no longer organic rank #1. It’s being cited in the AI Overview. Businesses whose content is featured get the recommendation and the brand impression, even if the user doesn’t click through.
Local Queries Are Increasingly Affected
Searches like “best [service] in Grand Rapids,” “[service] near me,” and “how to choose a [service provider] in West Michigan” are increasingly triggering AI Overviews. The local businesses that appear in these generated summaries have a significant advantage over those that don’t.
What Google Uses to Build AI Overviews
- Content that directly answers the query — Pages structured around clear answers to specific questions
- E-E-A-T signals — Authoritative, expert-attributed content from trusted sources
- Schema markup — Particularly FAQPage and HowTo schema
- Breadth of coverage — Content that comprehensively addresses a topic
- Third-party validation — Sites cited and linked to from other authoritative sources
What Grand Rapids Businesses Should Do
- Add FAQ sections to your service pages with FAQPage schema.
- Write comprehensive content around the questions your customers ask.
- Add schema markup sitewide — at minimum LocalBusiness, Service, and FAQPage.
- Attribute content to named experts with author pages and bylines.
- Audit your current AI Overview presence to know which sources Google is currently citing in your niche.
Related reading: Get the step-by-step guide in how to rank in Google’s AI Overviews, run our AI visibility audit checklist before publishing any content, and explore our Google AI Overview Optimization services.
One With Digital helps Grand Rapids businesses understand their current AI Overview presence and build the content and technical signals needed to earn inclusion. Start with an AI Visibility Audit to see exactly where you stand.
