How To Rank In AI Overviews: Best & Worst Strategies (2026)
- Adam Crookes
- 5 days ago
- 8 min read
Updated: 6 hours ago
What if I told you that everything you thought you knew about ranking in Google's AI Overviews just became obsolete?
In the past week, Google flipped the script...
Websites that once appeared prominently in AI Overviews are now invisible.
Google's latest algorithm update changed how AI Overviews evaluate credibility.
The dream outcome is appearing in AI Overviews when your ideal customers search for solutions you provide.
This is more achievable than you think.
The strategies that work in 2026 are simpler than the outdated tactics most SEO agencies are still pushing.
You can start seeing results in weeks, not months!
While traditional SEO takes 6-12 months to move the needle, the approach I'm sharing works faster because you're tapping into existing authority rather than building it from scratch.
I guarantee you’ll actually spend less effort than you currently do on content that Google simply ignores. You'll write less, but what you write will actually matter.
Let me explain what changed and why I think it creates an opening for businesses willing to adapt.
Oh, and why should you listen to me?
Since 2019, I've helped B2B and SaaS businesses improve their visibility on Google by writing thought leadership articles.
Google Just Changed The Rules Overnight (And Nobody Noticed)
In the last few days, Google rolled out significant changes to how AI Overviews, AI Mode, and Gemini evaluate content.
AI Overviews now ignore self-claims. When your website says "we're the best project management software" or "our platform is the most secure," Google's AI treats it as promotional noise.
It doesn't matter how well-written your homepage is or how many times you repeat your value proposition.
Google's AI won't trust your claims unless independent sources back them up.
The AI looks for verification.
If no one else is saying what you're saying about yourself, the AI assumes it's marketing speak.
This changes how to rank in AI Overviews completely.
So What Is Google's AI Actually Looking For?
After analyzing hundreds of AI Overview results and tracking which sites appear consistently, I've identified what triggers inclusion.
Independent signals from high-authority sites matter most. Google prioritizes mentions from high-authority domains (think DR70+) and recognized publications.
When TechCrunch, Forbes, or industry-specific authoritative sites mention your product or service, AI Overviews pay attention.
"Best of" articles on external blogs create powerful signals.
If your solution appears in a "Best Project Management Tools for 2026" article on a reputable blog, the AI takes notice.
This includes guest articles you write or have written about you.
Repeated claims across multiple sources build credibility.
When three, four, or five independent websites make similar statements about your business, Google's AI begins to consider it factual rather than promotional.
The self-claim penalty is a real thing...
Any time you say something about yourself on your own domain, it gets discounted.
AI Overviews treat it as advertising rather than actual evidence.
And yes, I do genuinely believe that Google's AI is smart enough to tell the difference.
This is why traditional on-page SEO no longer determines how to improve visibility in Google AI Overviews.
Guest Articles Are The Fastest Way In (If You Do Them Right)
Since Google's AI now requires external validation, guest articles have become the most direct path to AI Overview visibility.
But not just any guest articles...
The guest posts that rank in AI Overviews follow a specific pattern.
They're published on DR70+ sites in your industry.
Okay, DR50+ is probably passible, but I'd rather play it safe.
You need recognized authority.
I'm talking... established industry publications, respected B2B blogs, and platforms Google already trusts.
They include your business in a "best of" or comparison framework.
Articles titled "7 Best Solutions for [Problem]" or "How [Your Category] Companies Are Solving [Challenge]" work because they provide the independent endorsement AI Overviews require.
They're genuinely useful and not thinly veiled ads. Google's AI can detect promotional fluff.
The articles that get cited in AI Overviews provide real value to readers, with your business mentioned as one solution among others.
They create repeatable signals. One guest article helps. Five guest articles across different authoritative sites saying similar things about your solution? That's when you start appearing consistently.
This is how to get into Google AI Overviews for SEO in 2026.
External authority beats on-page optimization.
Stop Wasting Time On Things That Don't Work
Publishing more content on your own blog (without a guest posting strategy) doesn't work anymore.
I've seen companies publish 50+ articles on their own domain without gaining AI Overview visibility.
Volume doesn't matter when Google's AI discounts self-published claims.
Optimizing meta descriptions and title tags has minimal impact.
Traditional on-page SEO elements don't influence how to show up in AI Overviews the way they used to.
The AI reads the content, yes, but it weighs external mentions far more heavily.
Building backlinks without editorial mentions is a waste of time.
A thousand backlinks from guest posts where you're only mentioned in the author bio won't help.
The AI needs to see your business discussed in the actual article content.
Press release distribution tends to get flagged as promotional.
Even when picked up by news sites, press releases rarely influence AI Overview rankings.
Google's AI treats them as self-promotional content.
Review site manipulation doesn't fool the algorithm.
Some SEO agencies recommend flooding review platforms.
Please don't try this.
Google's AI is sophisticated enough to detect coordinated review campaigns and discount them.
But the worst strategy is doing nothing and hoping your existing content eventually ranks. AI Overviews won't surface your site based on hope!
Here's How To Rank In AI Overviews Within Weeks
I have a challenge for you...
Find 15-20 authoritative sites in your space.
Look for DR70+ blogs, industry publications, and established platforms that accept guest contributions.
These are your target venues.
Write and pitch 3-5 guest articles.
Focus on "best of" lists, comparison guides, and tactical how-to content that naturally mentions your solution.
The pitch matters as much as the article.
Editors at authoritative sites reject generic pitches instantly.
Get your guest articles live, then track AI Overview results for your target keywords.
You should start seeing mentions within 3-4 weeks of publication on high-authority sites.
20 Sites That Will Actually Publish Your Guest Articles
Over the last few weeks, I've built a spreadsheet containing a list of high-authority domains that are actively accepting guest articles.
For convenience, here's a copy of the list for you:
Niche | Publication |
HR Tech | |
SaaS Analytics | |
PR & Media | |
B2B Strategy | |
Logistics | |
SaaS Marketing | |
Legal Tech | |
Marketing Tech | |
HR & Payroll | |
B2B Strategy | |
Lead Gen | |
Business | |
Marketing Tech | |
SMB Growth | |
MarTech | |
SEO | |
Collaboration | |
Marketing Ed. | |
Content Strategy | |
Tech Innovation |
Not All Guest Articles Get You Into AI Overviews
After writing hundreds of guest articles, I've identified the elements that get results.
Original insights or data make your article citation-worthy.
When you share proprietary research, survey results, or unique perspectives, your content becomes something Google's AI wants to reference.
The algorithm looks for content that adds new information to the conversation.
Specific examples and case studies outperform generic advice. Concrete examples of how businesses solved specific problems get remembered and referenced by the AI.
For the most part, theoretical think pieces get ignored.
Clear problem-solution framing matters. Articles that identify a real challenge and walk through solutions perform better than abstract discussions.
Natural product mentions feel editorial. The best guest articles mention your business in context: "Tools like [Your Product], [Competitor A], and [Competitor B] help teams solve this by..." This reads as editorial content rather than promotion.
When these elements combine in a guest article on a DR70+ site, you've created the exact signal Google's AI Overviews prioritize.
Why Most Companies Fail At This, Even When They Understand It
I've consulted with dozens of B2B and SaaS companies trying to crack AI Overviews. The same problems come up repeatedly.
They don't know which sites to target.
I don't blame them for not knowing where to begin.
Not every blog is equal. A guest post on a DR40 site in an unrelated niche does nothing.
You need targeted, high-authority placements.
They can't get articles accepted. Authoritative sites reject 80%+ of pitches. Without relationships or a proven track record, breaking in is difficult.
They write promotional content that gets rejected immediately. Most first-time guest authors write thinly disguised ads. Editors spot this in the first paragraph!
They lack the time to do this properly. Researching sites, crafting pitches, writing articles, and managing editor relationships is a full-time effort.
This is why ranking in AI Overviews and traditional search results remains elusive for most companies, despite understanding the theory.
There's A Slower Path That Compounds Over Time
Guest articles aren't the only path to AI Overview visibility, though they're the fastest.
The second strategy involves publishing thought leadership content on your own blog that others want to cite, link to, and reference.
When you create genuinely original content with new data, fresh insights, or unique frameworks, other writers reference your work in their articles.
These external citations create the independent signals Google's AI needs.
I've seen this work particularly well for improving visibility in Google AI Overviews over the long term.
One strong thought leadership article that gets cited by 10-15 other sites can outperform five mediocre guest posts.
You need to say something worth citing.
Most blog content is recycled advice with a fresh coat of paint. That doesn't get referenced.
Do Both And You'll Dominate Your Category
The businesses dominating AI Overviews in 2026 use a two-pronged approach...
1 - Guest articles create immediate signals
Publishing on authoritative external sites creates quick wins.
Within weeks, you start appearing in AI Overview results.
2 - Thought leadership compound growth
Original content on your own blog that others cite builds long-term authority.
This creates a self-reinforcing cycle where more citations lead to more AI Overview visibility, which leads to more citations.
This combination is how to show up in AI Overviews consistently rather than sporadically.
Start This Week, Not Next Month
If you want to rank in AI Overviews within the next 90 days, start with an audit.
Search your target keywords with AI Overview enabled and see if you show up.
Document which competitors appear and why.
Then identify 10-15 DR70+ sites that accept guest articles.
Use the table I've provided as a starting point, then research which sites are most relevant to your audience.
Create 3-5 guest article topics. Focus on "best of" lists, comparison guides, and tactical content where your business fits naturally.
Start pitching. Don't wait for perfect. Get your first pitch out this week!
The businesses that move quickly on this will own AI Overview visibility in their category for the next 12-24 months while competitors scramble to catch up.
I'll Write The Guest Articles That Actually Get Published
Most businesses understand the guest article strategy, but can't execute it.
They pitch 20 sites and get 20 rejections.
Or worse, they get published on low-authority blogs that don't move the needle for AI Overviews.
I've spent years building relationships with editors at DR70+ publications.
I know what they accept, what they reject, and how to frame your business in a way that feels editorial rather than promotional.
When you work with me, you get guest articles that actually get accepted.
I write for the reader first, the editor second, and the algorithm third.
My acceptance rate sits above 80% on authoritative sites.
You get strategic placement in "best of" and comparison content.
These are the article formats that generate independent signals Google's AI Overviews prioritize.
Your business gets mentioned alongside competitors in a credible, editorial context.
You get thought leadership pieces with original data and insights.
This is the type of content that gets cited by other writers, creating the compound effect that builds long-term AI Overview visibility.
I handle the research, the pitching, the writing, and the editor relationships.
You get published articles on high-authority sites, creating the external validation your AI Overview rankings require.
How much is double your lead flow worth to you?
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