82% of AI Overviews citations from deep content pages

A recent report from BrightEdge reveals interesting findings about how Google cites content in its AI Overviews. The study shows that a significant 82.5% of citations come from deep pages on websites. These are pages that are not directly accessible from the homepage but require two or more clicks to reach. In contrast, only 0.5% of citations are linked to homepages. This suggests that detailed and specialized content is becoming more important for gaining visibility in Google's AI Overviews. The report analyzed millions of URLs and noted that 86% of citations were for unique keywords. Traditionally, homepages have been viewed as the most vital part of a website. They typically host key information about categories, products, and services. However, the current landscape shows that every page can play a crucial role in how people interact with a brand, especially when using AI tools. BrightEdge pointed out that keywords triggering these citations can have significant search volumes. The median search volume exceeds 15,000 monthly searches, indicating strong potential for visibility from well-optimized deep pages. Some keywords even surpass 100,000 monthly searches, meaning deeper content might attract more attention than previously thought. Jim Yu, BrightEdge's founder, emphasized the importance of keeping content updated and ensuring it is easily crawled by search engines. This approach is essential for brands looking to enhance their visibility through AI Overviews.