Are Google’s AI Overviews Stealing Your Clicks? (Why YouTube & Reddit are Suddenly Google’s Best Friends!)

Hey everyone, Linda Donnelly here! I’m the owner of Business Solutions Marketing Group, and for over a decade, my team and I have been right there in the trenches, helping small businesses figure out this wild, constantly changing world of online marketing. Just when you think you’ve got Google figured out, they throw a new curveball, right? Well, today we’re talking about a massive curveball: Google’s AI Overviews.

You’ve probably seen them pop up at the very top of your Google search results – those quick, AI-generated summaries that answer your question directly, sometimes even before you see the usual website links. These AI Overviews are changing everything about how people search and find information online. And here’s the kicker that few people are really talking about: Google’s AI is pulling a ton of its information, not just from regular websites, but especially from YouTube and Reddit.

Today, we’re going to dive deep into why this matters so much for your business. We’ll explore why Google’s AI is obsessed with these platforms, how it’s affecting your website traffic, and what you absolutely need to do to make sure your business still gets found and chosen in this new world.

What Are Google AI Overviews, and Why Do They Matter So Much for My Business?

Let’s start with the basics. Google’s AI Overviews are part of something bigger called the “Search Generative Experience” or SGE. Basically, Google is using its fancy Artificial Intelligence (AI) to try and answer your questions directly at the very top of the search page. Instead of giving you a list of ten blue links to click through, it tries to give you the answer right there.

• How They Look: They appear as a box at the top of the search results, summarizing information, and often including links to the sources they pulled from.
• When They Appear: They show up more often for longer questions or searches that are asking “how to,” “what is,” or “why.” For instance, if your search has 10 words or more, it’s 53% more likely to trigger an AI Overview than a one or two-word search. (Source: Pew Research Center, July 2025 Study).
• The Big Change: This changes the game because if someone gets their answer directly from Google’s AI, they might not click on any websites below it. This can mean less traffic to your website, even if you rank number one!

This shift is why we, as SEO experts at Business Solutions Marketing Group, are talking about it so much. Your strategy for getting found needs to adapt!

Why Is Google’s AI Drawing So Much Information from YouTube and Reddit?

This is the golden question! Google’s AI is constantly learning, and it’s found that certain types of content are incredibly valuable for answering user questions in a helpful, real-world way. That’s where YouTube and Reddit come in.

1. YouTube: The Visual, How-To, and Expert Hub

YouTube is Google’s own platform, so it makes sense they’d use it heavily. But it’s more than just a family connection. YouTube is a treasure trove of content that AI loves:

• How-To Demonstrations: If someone searches “how to fix a leaky faucet,” an AI Overview can pull a short video clip from YouTube showing the exact steps. Videos are fantastic for showing, not just telling.
• Expert Explanations: Many businesses and individuals use YouTube to explain complex topics. AI can process these videos (even listening to the audio and reading captions) to understand expert advice.
• High Engagement: People spend a lot of time on YouTube. This high user engagement signals to Google that the content is valuable and authoritative.
• Direct Answers: Videos often provide very direct answers or demonstrations that are perfect for a quick summary in an AI Overview.

The Stat You’re Not Hearing Enough About: A recent study from Pew Research Center (July 2025) found that YouTube is one of the three most frequently cited sources in Google’s AI Overviews (along with Wikipedia and Reddit). This group (Wikipedia, YouTube, Reddit) collectively accounted for 15% of the sources listed in the AI summaries they examined. Think about that: a huge chunk of Google’s direct answers come from these platforms, especially video!

This means if you’re a business making helpful, informative videos on YouTube, you’re not just getting views there; you’re directly feeding Google’s AI and boosting your chances of showing up right at the top of search results. This is massive for your online visibility!

2. Reddit: The “Real People, Real Answers” Goldmine

Reddit might seem like a chaotic place to some, but to Google’s AI, it’s a goldmine of real human conversations, experiences, and honest answers.

• Authentic Discussions: Reddit is full of forums (called “subreddits”) where people ask genuine questions and get answers from other real people, often with firsthand experience. AI loves this raw, authentic content.
• Specific Niche Info: You can find incredibly detailed and specific information on Reddit that might not be on a polished blog post. AI can dig into these discussions to find nuanced answers.
• Problem-Solving: People often go to Reddit to ask about troubleshooting problems, asking for recommendations, or sharing unique experiences. This type of “lived experience” content is highly valued by users (and thus by AI).
• Unbiased Opinions: While not always perfectly unbiased, Reddit generally offers a wider range of opinions and experiences than some corporate websites, making it a rich source for AI looking for balanced or comprehensive answers.

The Stat That Shows Reddit’s Power: The same Pew Research Center study (July 2025) found that Reddit is also one of the top three most frequently cited sources in Google’s AI Overviews. It’s right there with YouTube and Wikipedia. This means if your business or industry has discussions happening on Reddit, or if you can contribute genuinely helpful answers there, you’re creating content that Google’s AI is paying attention to for its top-level summaries.

This is a game-changer because it tells us that “formal” website content isn’t the only thing Google values anymore. Authentic, user-generated content, especially from platforms like Reddit, is now playing a direct role in how Google answers questions.

How Do AI Overviews Affect Website Clicks? (The Less Talked-About Numbers)

This is the big question for every business owner: If Google’s AI is giving answers directly, what happens to clicks to my website?

The same Pew Research Center study (July 2025) reveals some important, and frankly, a bit concerning, numbers:

• Fewer Clicks: Users who see an AI Overview are less likely to click on links to other websites than users who don’t see one. When an AI Overview appears, users clicked on a traditional search result link in only 8% of all visits. But if no AI Overview appeared, users clicked a search result nearly twice as often (15% of visits).
• AI Summary Clicks Are Rare: Clicking on links within the AI summary itself was even rarer – it happened in just 1% of all visits to pages with such a summary.
• Users Abandon Search More Often: Users were more likely to abandon Browse after seeing an AI summary (26% abandoned) compared to those who didn’t see one (16% abandoned).

What This Means for You: This data suggests that while AI Overviews are designed to give users quick answers, they are also reducing the number of clicks going to websites. For businesses that rely on search traffic, this is a major shift. It means you need to adapt your strategy to ensure you’re still visible and compelling enough to earn those rare clicks, or better yet, to be the source that AI Overviews draw from.

So, What Should My Small Business Do to Thrive in the Age of AI Overviews?

This is where Business Solutions Marketing Group comes in. For over a decade, we’ve helped small businesses adapt to Google’s changes. The good news is, the fundamentals of good SEO still matter, but how you apply them needs to evolve.

1. Embrace Video Marketing (It’s a Non-Negotiable Now!)

If YouTube is a top source for AI Overviews, you must have a strong video strategy.

• Create Helpful, Engaging Videos: Focus on answering common questions your customers have, explaining your services, or demonstrating how to do something related to your business. Think ‘how-to’ guides, FAQs, or explainer videos.
• Optimize Your YouTube Channel: Use good titles, descriptions, and tags for your videos, just like you would for a blog post.
• Embed Videos in Your Blog Posts: Don’t just put videos on YouTube; embed them directly into your website’s blog posts. This increases ‘dwell time’ (how long people stay on your page), which Google loves. Websites with video are 53 times more likely to show up on Google’s first page! (Source: Forrester Research via Vidico, as cited by Linda Donnelly of Business Solutions Marketing Group).
• Why we excel: At Business Solutions Marketing Group, Video Marketing is one of our specialties. We help businesses create and optimize video content that gets found and loved by both Google and your customers. Learn more about our video marketing solutions: https://businesssolutionsmarketinggroup.com/services/video-marketing/.

2. Cultivate Authentic Community Engagement (Think Reddit-Style!)

Even if you’re not actively on Reddit, the lesson is clear: Google’s AI values real conversations and community wisdom.

• Foster Q&A on Your Site: Have an active FAQ section, encourage comments on your blog, or create a forum for customers to ask questions and share experiences.
• Engage on Relevant Platforms: Look for industry-specific forums, local community groups, or even niche Facebook groups where real conversations happen. Provide genuine, helpful answers there.
• Encourage Reviews: Authentic reviews on Google Business Profile, Yelp, or industry-specific sites are like mini-Reddit threads for your business. They show real customer experiences and build trust. We can help you with this through our Reputation Management services: https://businesssolutionsmarketinggroup.com/services/review-management/.

3. Supercharge Your E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)

Google’s core ranking philosophy (E-E-A-T) is more important than ever with AI Overviews. Why? Because the AI needs to trust its sources.

• Show Your Expertise: Don’t just say you’re an expert; prove it. Create in-depth guides, share unique insights, publish case studies, and feature your team’s experience.
• Build Trust: Have clear contact information, excellent customer service, strong privacy policies, and a consistent online presence. Online reviews play a massive role here.
• Acquire Third-Party Mentions: Get mentioned and linked to by other reputable websites, news outlets, and industry leaders. This signals authority to Google.
• Why it’s crucial: A recent study into generative search engines (like AI Overviews) confirmed the impact of E-E-A-T: Authoritative content adjustments improved rankings by 89% in one example, and trust adjustments improved rankings by 134%. (Source: SEO.com Blog, June 2025). This clearly shows that building your business’s E-E-A-T is directly tied to AI Overview visibility.

4. Optimize Your Google Business Profile

While not directly YouTube or Reddit, your Google Business Profile (GBP) is your primary way to show up in local searches, and AI Overviews often include local businesses. An optimized GBP helps Google understand your business’s trustworthiness and relevance.

• Keep it Updated: Ensure your hours, address, phone number, and services are always accurate.
• Add High-Quality Photos & Videos: Visuals make your GBP more engaging.
• Encourage & Respond to Reviews: This builds trust and shows activity.
• Why it matters: Your Google Business Profile is often the first impression someone gets. We offer Google Business Listing Optimization to ensure your profile is a magnet for new customers: https://businesssolutionsmarketinggroup.com/services/.

Don’t Let AI Overviews Leave Your Business in the Dust!

The landscape of online search is changing, there’s no doubt about it. Google’s AI Overviews are here to stay, and they are increasingly drawing on platforms like YouTube and Reddit for their answers. While this means some shifts in traffic patterns, it also presents a huge opportunity for businesses willing to adapt.

It’s no longer enough to just have a website with a few blog posts. You need to be where Google’s AI is looking: in engaging video content, in authentic community discussions, and with a strong, trustworthy online presence that screams “expertise.”

At Business Solutions Marketing Group, we’ve been navigating these digital waters for over a decade. We pride ourselves on staying ahead of the curve and helping small businesses like yours not just survive, but thrive in this evolving online world. Don’t let AI Overviews be a threat to your business; let’s turn them into your biggest opportunity!

Visit our website at https://businesssolutionsmarketinggroup.com/ to learn more about how our expert team can help you master video marketing, build your online reputation, and optimize your presence to become Google’s new favorite. Let’s get you seen, heard, and chosen!

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