Google Shifts AI Overviews for Many Brand Queries to the Right-Hand Column
TLDR
Google has moved AI Overviews for many brand-related keywords from the top or middle of the main results to the right-hand column.
What this Google Search launch means for your site
- Status
- Available
- Platform
- Google Search
- Affects
- AI Overviews, brand-related keyword search results
- Who
- Brands with visibility on brand-related queries
- Effective
- Not specified in the source
- Action needed
- Not specified in the source
Optimixed Overview
Optimixed's original report on this story.
Google has moved AI Overviews for many brand-related keywords to the right-hand column of the search results page, according to SERoundtable. Previously, these overviews appeared at the top or middle of the main search results section.
How we got here: earlier Google Search coverage
On September 24, Google tested moving AI Overviews from the top of hotel search results to a bottom-right panel. On September 30, SERoundtable observed AI Overviews appearing more often for major brand-name searches, and by October 2, Ahrefs found they displayed on 83% of branded search queries. By October 9, tracking data showed AI Overviews appearing in most major brand-name searches. Now, Google has moved AI Overviews for many brand-related keywords from the top or middle of the main results to the right-hand column.
Summary of earlier coverage
- Oct 9AI Overviews Now Appear in Most Big-Brand Searches, Tracking Data Shows
AI Overviews have expanded to appear in most searches for major brand names, according to recent tracking data.
- Oct 6Google AI Overviews now appear for most major brands
Google AI Overviews now appear for most major brands
- Oct 2AI Overviews Now Appear in 83% of Branded Search Queries
Ahrefs' research shows AI Overviews now display on 83% of branded search queries, potentially diverting clicks away from brand websites to third-party sources.
- Sep 30Google AI Overviews Return for Major Brand Name Searches
SERoundtable observes that Google is showing AI Overviews more frequently for searches on major brand names, with exceptions for Google's own brand and news publication queries.