How to Rank Your Website in: Google AI Overviews Australia
Ewan Watt
Founder & CEO – ROI Growth Agency | 1300 650 274 | Bachelor of Business in Marketing
25+ years digital marketing experience
The Opportunity Is Enormous
Google AI Overviews now appear at the very top of search results — above all paid ads and organic listings. Websites cited in AI Overviews receive prominent “source card” placement that is often more visible than the number one organic result. This guide explains exactly how Australian businesses can earn that placement in 2026.
What Is a Google AI Overview?
A Google AI Overview is an AI-generated answer box that Google places at the very top of search results for many queries. It synthesises information from across multiple websites and presents a direct, structured answer. Beneath the AI-generated text, Google displays source cards clickable links to the websites it used.
In Australia, AI Overviews appear for a broad range of informational, how-to, and local queries. Getting your website into those source cards is the goal of this guide.
Of AI Overview citations come from existing top 10 google results
More visibility
2-6
Weeks to appear once pages are already ranking on page one
3-5
Source cards shown per AI Overview, those spots are available to you
To get your Australian website ranked in Google AI Overviews, you need strong E-E-A-T signals, clearly structured question-and-answer content, and proper schema markup. Pages that already rank in the top 10 Google results have the highest chance of being cited. Earning links from trusted Australian sources and publishing original local data significantly accelerates results…
Why E-E-A-T Is the Gateway To AI Overview Citations
Google’s AI Overview system is built on top of its quality evaluation framework, E-E-A-T. Before your content can be cited, Google needs to be confident that your website is a credible, first-hand, expert source. For Australian businesses, building these four signals is the most important long-term strategy.
In Australia, AI Overviews appear for a broad range of informational, how-to, and local queries. Getting your website into those source cards is the goal of this guide.
Experience
Show real, first-hand experience. Include case studies, customer photos, behind-the-scenes content, and specific Australian examples from your own work. Google rewards content written by people who have actually done the thing they are describing.
Expertise
Demonstrate subject matter expertise. Add author bios with qualifications, years of experience, and industry credentials. Link to professional registrations, certifications, or relevant Australian industry bodies.
Authoritativeness
Be recognised as an authority by other authoritative sources. This means earning backlinks and mentions from Australian news outlets, industry associations, government websites, and respected publications in your sector.
Trustworthiness
Make your business transparent and verifiable. Display your ABN, physical address, phone number, and a clear "About" page. Collect and display verified reviews. Use HTTPS. Have a clear privacy policy and terms of service.
7 Steps To Rank In Google AI Overviews in Australia
Rank on Page One Of Google First
Google AI Overviews draw almost exclusively from pages already in the top 10 results. If your key pages are not ranking on page one, that is your first priority. Traditional SEO keyword research, quality content, technical health, backlinks — remains the essential foundation for AI Overview visibility. There is no shortcut around this step.
Build Genuine E-E-A-T Signals
Implement Schema Markup on Every Key PAge
Rewrite Content with Direct 40–60 Word Answer Paragraphs
Earn High-Authority Australian Backlinks
Publish Original Australian Data and Research
Monitor, Test, and Iterate Weekly
Which Content Formats Get Featured in AI Overviews?
Not all content is treated equally by Google’s AI. The table below shows which formats consistently appear in AI Overviews for Australian queries.
| Content Format | AI Overview Likelihood | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| FAQ pages with schema markup | Very High | Service pages, product pages, industry guides |
| How-to guides with numbered steps | Very High | Tutorial content, process explainers, technical guides |
| Definition & explainer articles | High | Industry terminology, product category pages |
| Comparison articles with data | High | Best-of lists, vs articles, buyer guides |
| Expert opinion & thought leadership | Medium | Blog posts by credentialed authors, commentary |
| Local business information pages | Medium | Location pages, suburb service areas, local guides |
| Generic marketing / promotional copy | Very Low | Not suitable for AI Overview targeting |
| Thin content under 400 words | Very Low | Rarely cited — expand and deepen these pages |
Writing for Both Voice Search and AI Overviews at Once
Voice search queries and AI Overview queries are nearly identical in structure both are conversational, question-based, and seeking a direct, trustworthy answer. Optimising for one optimises for both.
Step 1: Lead With the Answer
Open every key section with a direct answer section with a direct answer sentence. Lead with the conclusion, then explain. AI extracts the first clear statement it finds.
Step 2: Write in Plain Australian English
Avoid technical jargon in your opening answers — save it for the detailed explanation that follows.
Step 3: Use Questions as Headings
Use H2 and H3 headings that are phrased as complete questions. Example: “How much does a hot water system cost in Australia?” not “Hot Water System Pricing”.
Step 4: Ground It in Local Australian Context
Include state names, suburbs, Australian regulations, local costs. Google prioritises geo-relevant content for Australian searches.
Step 5: Answer the Follow-Up Questions Too
If someone asks “what is X”, they often also want “how much does X cost” and “how do I find a good X in Australia”. Cover all of it on the same page.
Step 6: Back It With Australian Sources
Cite Australian studies, government statistics, or industry data within the content. AI Overviews favour content that itself references credible material
Step 7: Keep Answer Paragraphs Between 40 and 60 Words
This is the sweet spot for both voice readout and AI Overview extraction.
Avoid these AI Overview Blockers
Google actively avoids citing pages with: thin or duplicate content, no clear author or business identity, excessive advertising above the fold, slow loading times on mobile, or content that makes medical, legal, or financial claims without proper credentials. Fix these issues before investing in content creation.
Your Next Step
Start Optimising for AI Overviews This Week
Google AI Overviews are the most prominent real estate on the entire search results page. Businesses that earn source card placement benefit from visibility that is simply not available through traditional SEO alone. The strategies in this guide are working for Australian businesses right now in February 2026.
The fastest path forward: audit your pages that are already on page one, add schema markup and direct answer paragraphs to those pages this week, then build your E-E-A-T signals over the coming months.
Your Week-One Action Plan
| Day | Action | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Identify Your Top 5 Pages | Find the 5 pages already ranking on page one. These are your highest-priority candidates for AI Overview optimisation. |
| Tuesday | Add Direct-Answer Paragraphs | Write a 50-word direct-answer paragraph at the opening of each page. Lead with the conclusion — AI extracts the first clear statement it finds. |
| Wednesday | Implement FAQPage Schema | Add FAQPage schema markup to all five pages. Structured data signals to Google's AI that your content is organised and authoritative. |
| Thursday | Audit & Update Author Bios | Update author bios with credentials on each page. E-E-A-T signals — including demonstrated author expertise — are a key AI Overview citation factor. |
| Friday | Record the AI Overview Landscape | Search your target queries in Google and document which sites currently appear in AI Overviews. This is your baseline to measure against. |
Review in two weeks. Re-run your Friday audit after 14 days and compare against your baseline. AI Overview appearances can shift within days of schema and content changes.
Google AI Overviews in Australia - Questions Answered
These answers are written in a voice-friendly, 40–60 word format and are structured with FAQPage schema in this page’s code for maximum AI citation potential.
How do I rank my website in Google AI Overviews in Australia
To rank in Google AI Overviews in Australia, your website first needs to rank in the top 10 Google search results for your target queries. From there, you need strong E-E-A-T signals, FAQ Page and How To schema markup, direct 40–60 word answer paragraphs, and citations from trusted Australian sources. Pages that clearly answer specific questions with authoritative, factual content are most frequently cited.
What is a Google AI Overview
A Google AI Overview is an AI-generated summary that appears at the very top of Google search results, above all organic listings. It pulls information from multiple websites and presents a direct answer. Websites used as sources are displayed as clickable source cards beneath the AI text, giving those businesses prime visibility on the entire search results page.
How long does it take to appear in Google AI Overviews?
If your page already ranks in Google’s top 10, implementing GEO optimisations can get you into AI Overviews within 2 to 6 weeks. If you are starting from scratch, building rankings and authority typically takes 3 to 6 months. The fastest results come from optimising pages that are already on page one — these are your quick wins.
Do I need different content for AI Overviews versus regular SEO?
Not entirely. AI Overview optimisation builds directly on strong traditional SEO. The additional layer involves structuring content with clear question-and-answer formats, adding schema markup, writing concise 40–60 word answer paragraphs, and strengthening E-E-A-T signals. Think of it as making your existing strong content even clearer and more credible for Google’s AI to extract and cite.
What is E-E-A-T and why does it matter for AI Overviews?
E-E-A-T stands for Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. It is Google’s quality framework and the primary filter for AI Overview selection. Australian websites demonstrate E-E-A-T by publishing content from credentialed authors, earning mentions in trusted Australian publications, displaying verifiable business details like ABN and address, and accumulating genuine customer reviews.
Can small Australian businesses rank in AI Overviews?
Yes, absolutely. Small Australian businesses are regularly cited in AI Overviews, especially for local and specialist queries. Google’s AI favours depth of expertise over brand size. A boutique accounting firm in Adelaide that publishes genuinely expert, locally-specific content can outperform a national brand for relevant local queries in AI Overviews.
Does schema markup directly help you get into AI Overviews?
Yes. Schema markup — particularly FAQPage and HowTo schema — significantly increases your chances of being cited in AI Overviews. It tells Google’s AI exactly what each piece of content means, making extraction faster and more accurate. Pages with properly implemented schema are consistently over-represented in AI Overview citations compared to pages without it.
How do I know if my website is appearing in Google AI Overviews?
You can monitor AI Overview appearances in Google Search Console under Performance reports, filtered by “AI Overviews” search type. You can also manually search your target queries in Google and see if your site appears as a source card. Setting up Google Alerts for your brand name and key topics can also surface when your content is being referenced.