This article is designed to help you decide which ranking configurations to choose and what the implications are for your SEO data.
The Authoritas platform is unique amongst keyword tracking software in that we allow you to select multiple configurations in the same project that either have AIO clicking enabled or disabled by default.
This means that if our bot detects that there's an AI overview in the SERP, it can click the "Show more" button and expand it to reveal all the hidden AIO ranking pages. It can also then click on all the citations to capture all the pages being cited and even scroll the carousel to capture the ranking pages in the carousel on mobile.
We also capture the entire AI Overview snippet and HTML screenshot.
The difference between a ranking config with AIO Clicking Enabled and Disabled is signficant.
Most SEO platforms can only report a SERP like the one on the left leaving you in the dark. We capture both, giving you the complete picture.
HTML SERP Screenshots: Compare what the SERP looks like if a user clicks or doesn't click to expand the AI Overview.
Tabular SERP Data: Capture and compare the ranking pages if a user clicks or doesn't click to expand the AI Overview.
This is a big advantage for SEOs optimising their pages for AI Overviews, because it helps you really understand in granular detail whether you are ranking in AI Overviews or not. Some SEO tools may be reporting you as not ranking, but actually you are ranking but you're just hidden. So, with a little bit of optimisation you may be able to get to a much more prominent position.
The table below sets out all the different ranking configurations. Google is changing the AI Overviews regularly and we are making changes to our platform to keep up to speed and this help article will be updated accordingly.
AIO Clicking Off - Desktop |
AIO Clicking On - Desktop |
AIO Clicking Off - Mobile |
AIO Clicking On - Mobile |
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Description |
We use a desktop device and we capture the SERP by navigating from page to page without clicking any buttons. |
We use a desktop device and we capture the SERP by navigating from page to page. If we detect an AI Overview then we click it and scroll to expand all ranking pages. |
We use a mobile device and we capture the SERP by navigating from page to page without clicking any buttons. |
We use a mobile device and we capture the SERP by navigating from page to page. If we detect an AI Overview then we click it and scroll to expand all ranking pages. |
Google's SERP with AIOs |
Only 2 or 3 ranking pages are visible on the right-hand side of the page. |
We click the 'Show More' link and scroll to capture all visible and hidden (on initial page load) pages ranking in AI Overviews on the right-hand side of the page and we click all citation icons in the AIO snippet to capture the cited pages. |
No ranking pages are visible. (Google has been testing adding links in the AIO Snippet - if these roll-out then they will be visible on page load and will be counted). |
We click the 'Show More' link and scroll to capture all visible and hidden (on initial page load) pages ranking in AI Overviews and we click all citation icons in the AIO snippet to capture the cited pages. We then scroll the carousel to capture all pages in the carousel too. |
Universal Rankings |
Include 'Visible' AIO ranking pages when counting Universal Ranks. |
Include 'Visible & Hidden' AIO ranking pages when counting Universal Ranks. |
Include 'Visible' AIO ranking pages when counting Universal Ranks. |
Include 'Visible & Hidden' AIO ranking pages when counting Universal Ranks. |
Impact on Organic Ranks |
Minimal - only 1-3 ranking pages will be counted ahead of the first universal SERPs result. e.g. If you have organic rank 1, then your universal rank on a SERP with an AIO is typically likely to be 3 or 4. |
Significant - we capture many generative ranking pages from the listing on the right-hand side and the citations - this can easily be 10 to 20. e.g. If you have organic rank 1, then your universal rank on a SERP with an AIO is typically likely to be 10 or more. |
Currently no impact as no AIO pages are visible on initial page load. E.g. If you have organic rank 1, then your universal rank on a SERP with an AIO on mobile (where you do not click) will also be 1. (Until Google changes the design). |
Very significant - we capture many generative ranking pages from the listing on the right-hand side and the citations, but on mobile there also follows a carousel. This can easily be 20 to 30 generative URLs. e.g. If you have organic rank 1, then your universal rank on a SERP with an AIO on mobile (when clicking) is typically likely to be 20 or more. |
SERP Features |
All SERP Features are highlighted and if you have a ranking page for that SERP feature then it is coloured green. |
All SERP Features are highlighted and if you have a ranking page for that SERP feature then it is coloured green. |
All SERP Features are highlighted and if you have a ranking page for that SERP feature then it is coloured green. With the exception of AI Overviews as there are no visible ranking pages to rank for. We are changing this to show the AIO SERP Feature in grey, but it will only turn green to indicate you rank when Google includes visible generative URLs that are visible on initial page load without user interaction. |
All SERP Features are highlighted and if you have a ranking page for that SERP feature then it is coloured green |
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