{"id":125442,"date":"2025-04-17T14:24:26","date_gmt":"2025-04-17T19:24:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dacgroup.com\/insights\/blog\/none\/engineered-them-so-you-dont-have-to-what-you-need-to-do-next\/"},"modified":"2025-04-22T16:39:52","modified_gmt":"2025-04-22T21:39:52","slug":"engineered-them-so-you-dont-have-to-what-you-need-to-do-next","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dacgroup.com\/en-gb\/insights\/blog\/search-optimization\/engineered-them-so-you-dont-have-to-what-you-need-to-do-next\/","title":{"rendered":"AI Overviews: We Reverse-Engineered Them So You Don\u2019t Have To [+ What You Need To Do Next]"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This article was originally published in partnership with Search Engine Journal<\/a>.
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Is the classic funnel model (TOFU-MOFU-BOFU<\/a>) still relevant in an AI-driven SERP?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What kinds of queries trigger Google\u2019s AI Overviews<\/a>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can you structure content so that AI pulls your site into the response?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you really need to change your SEO strategy?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For years, SEO teams followed a familiar SEO playbook<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Optimize upper-funnel content to capture awareness,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. mid-funnel content to drive consideration,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. lower-funnel content to convert.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    One page, one keyword, one intent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    But with the rise of ChatGPT, Perplexity, Copilot, Gemini, and now Google\u2019s AI Mode, that linear model is increasingly outdated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    So, how do you move forward and keep your visibility high in modern search engine results pages (SERPs)?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    We\u2019ve<\/a> reverse-engineered AI Overviews, so you don\u2019t have to. Let\u2019s dive in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What We\u2019ve Discovered Through Reverse Engineering Google\u2019s AI Overviews (AIO)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    From what we\u2019re seeing across client industries and in how AI-driven results behave, the traditional funnel model \u2013 the idea of users moving cleanly from awareness to consideration to conversion \u2013 feels increasingly out of step with how people actually search.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How Today\u2019s Search Users Actually Search<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Today\u2019s users jump between channels, devices, and questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    They skim, abandon, revisit, and decide faster than ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    AI Overviews don\u2019t follow a tidy funnel because most people don\u2019t either.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    They surface multiple types of information at once, not because it\u2019s smarter SEO, but because it\u2019s closer to how real decisions get made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    AIOs & AI Mode Aren\u2019t Just Answering Queries \u2013 They\u2019re Expanding Them<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Traditionally, SEO strategy followed a structured framework. Take a travel-related topic, for example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    • Informational (Upper-Funnel)<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 \u201cHow to plan a cruise?\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Commercial (Mid-Funnel)<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 \u201cBest cruise lines for families\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Transactional (lower-Funnel)<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 \u201cFind Best Alaska Cruise Deals\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      However, AI Overviews don\u2019t stick to that structure.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Instead, they blend multiple layers of intent into a single, comprehensive response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      How AI Overviews Answer & Expand Search Queries<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Let\u2019s stay with the travel theme. A search for \u201cMediterranean cruise\u201d might return an AI Overview that includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      • Best Time to go (Informational).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Booking Your Cruise (Commercial).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Cruise Lines (Navigational).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        AI Mode Example for \u2018Mediterranean Cruise\u2019<\/h3>\n\n\n
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        \n Stay Forward <\/h2>\n

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