AI answers just got stingier with links to sites
Google has quietly stripped the visible source cards out of AI Overviews on desktop, and one SEO says those cards were most of the clicks those answers ever sent. If your impressions fell this week, this may be why.
Why your traffic moved
Rankings are moving even harder today
Google search results are "more heated today", Barry Schwartz reports, after an unconfirmed ranking update over the previous 24 hours and a heated Saturday before that. Google still has not announced anything, so nobody knows yet what is behind it. If your rankings wobbled, wait for things to settle before changing your site.
Who this affects: Everyone with a website that gets traffic from Google.
- Do nothing this week, unstable results often settle on their own.
Getting into AI answers
Google quietly cut the visible links from its AI answers
Google has largely removed the prominent cards that showed 2 to 3 source websites next to an AI Overview (the AI written answer at the top of results) on desktop. Brodie Clark says sites are still cited, just "far less visible now", and that this may explain sudden drops in impressions over recent days.
Those cards were most of the clicks the AIO ever sent
Who this affects: Anyone who gets search traffic from pages that answer questions.
- Compare clicks and impressions week over week in Search Console.
- Our take: do not rebuild pages yet, wait for more data.
Maps and your listing
Google may ask for your tax ID to edit your listing
Some owners are being asked for an Employer Identification Number (a business tax ID in the US) when they update their Google Business Profile, the free listing on Google and Maps. Barry Schwartz reported it, crediting @SyedMAmirHassa1. It is not clear how widely this is being asked, so expect it only if you are editing your listing.
Who this affects: US businesses with a Google Business Profile they still edit.
- Have your EIN handy before editing your Business Profile.