{"id":1230,"slug":"rule-monitor-priority-keywords-for-ai-overview-and-pack-presence","title":"Rule: Monitor priority keywords for AI Overview presence + local-pack position so the strategy is data-driven, not folkloric","kind":"rule","scope":"business","status":"current","audiences":["kevin","smb-owner","candid-team"],"topics":["aeo","local-seo","agency-methodology","ai-search-citations"],"reference_body":"**Rule:** For every active client, track the priority keyword set on three dimensions: (a) does an AI Overview appear, (b) is the client cited inside it, (c) what is the local-pack position. Snapshot regularly, not just once.\n\n**Why:** AI Overview prevalence is moving fast and is uneven across query types ([[whitespark-q2-2025-ai-overview-15pct-local-92pct-info]], [[local-falcon-ai-overview-17-2pct-commercial-58-3pct-info-2025]]). Semrush tracked a swing across 2025. Recommendations grounded in last-quarter's data will go stale quickly. Without measurement we can't tell when a client crosses from \"local-pack-driven\" to \"AI-Overview-impacted.\"\n\n**How to apply:** If AI Overviews begin appearing on the client's core \"near me\" / commercial queries at scale (today ~15% per Whitespark), shift effort toward being cited in AI answers and toward paid placement ([[ai-overview-ads-canada-dec-19-2025-12-english-countries]]). If informational blog traffic drops sharply (the Pew/Seer pattern), pivot that content toward conversion-oriented, experience-rich pages.\n\n**Related:** [[rule-gbp-still-primary-local-lead-surface-for-near-me-2026]].","rationale_body":null,"metadata":null,"links":{"outgoing":[{"slug":"whitespark-2026-ai-visibility-formal-category","title":"Whitespark 2026: AI Search Visibility added as a formal local ranking category for the first time","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"relates-to"},{"slug":"ai-overview-ads-canada-dec-19-2025-12-english-countries","title":"Ads inside AI Overviews reached Canada on December 19, 2025 (one of 12 total English-language countries); sensitive verticals excluded","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"depends-on"},{"slug":"whitespark-q2-2025-ai-overview-15pct-local-92pct-info","title":"Whitespark Q2 2025 local-search study — AI Overviews appeared on 15% of simple local-intent queries vs 92% informational vs 97% hybrid; local pack appeared on 93% of local-intent vs 6% of informational","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"depends-on"},{"slug":"local-falcon-ai-overview-17-2pct-commercial-58-3pct-info-2025","title":"Local Falcon (2025) — AI Overviews on 17.2% of commercial queries vs 58.3% of informational; including a location name reduced AI Overview appearance (35% vs 46%)","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"depends-on"}],"incoming":[{"slug":"research-brief-businesses-found-on-web-google-smb-june-2026","title":"Research brief: How businesses got found on the web — a then→now timeline (Google-focused, SMB lens, June 2026)","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"relates-to"}]},"created_at":"2026-06-18T00:10:55.900Z","updated_at":"2026-06-18T00:10:55.900Z"}