Writing content that’s not getting featured in AI Overviews? The solution isn’t to bulk or slim down your blogs. In a new report from Ahrefs, the company surveyed over 174,000 pages cited in AI Overviews snippets. Their results concluded that there isn’t a correlation between word length and being cited in AI Overviews. Whether your content is 200 or 2000 words, AI-powered search engines couldn’t care less. Instead, the engines are looking for authority and clarity, not a word count. Here’s what to know.
- The average word count for content featured in AI Overviews is 1,282 words.
- 36.8% of featured content is between 350-1,000 words. Meanwhile, 30.6% of featured content is between 1,000-2,000 words.
- Your content length doesn’t influence how you rank. The average word count for featured content in top ranking position was 1,270 words; in 2nd position, average content length was 1,291 words.
- Most content types have average word counts under 1,000 words.
- Both short & long content are featured in AI Overviews. Pages with word counts under 350 words appeared at the top of an AI Overviews snippet nearly 34% of the time. For longer content, pages with word counts between 350-1,000 words appeared at the top of an AI Overviews snippet 30% of the time.
What Does This Mean For Your Website’s Content?
If you want your content featured in AI Overviews, you’ll need to prioritize SEO-friendly strategies, including direct writing, concise structure, and content type.
Direct writing: Exclude any “fluff” and get straight to the point. AI-powered search engines look for content that answers search intents clearly & concisely.
Easy to follow structure: Be sure to include engaging headers, short paragraphs, internal links, and curated keywords related to the topic you’re covering.
Content type: As we mentioned earlier, most content types have an average word count of about 1,000 words. “Let the topic and format dictate the length, not an arbitrary word count target,” the report writes.
How Else Can You Optimize Your Content for AI Overviews?
You can also apply Generative Engine & Answer Engine Optimization strategies to your content. For more information on GEO & AEO, read our blog here.
Need More Help Getting Your Content Featured In AI Overviews? Contact Boston Web Marketing, Boston’s #1 SEO, SEM, and Website Design Company, Today!
At Boston Web Marketing, we’re constantly looking to integrate the latest technology into our marketing strategies. From Artificial Intelligence Optimization to Search Engine Optimization, our team specializes in various marketing services that’ll help your website get found online easier. To learn more about our services, or to request a free website consultation, contact us on our website or call us at 857-349-5062. We’ll be in touch soon.