Google answers more and more questions directly itself. With AI Overviews above the search results and the standalone AI Mode, Google Search in Germany has changed noticeably. Many website owners are seeing fewer clicks even though their rankings are stable. In this article you’ll learn what’s behind the new AI features, why clicks are being lost and which concrete measures will keep your WordPress website visible.
AI Overviews and AI Mode: What’s the difference?
AI Overviews
AI Overviews have been available in Germany since March 2025. For many search queries, an AI-generated summary appears at the very top, followed by the classic search results as usual. Within the summary, Google links to a few sources – anyone mentioned there gains visibility, while everyone else is pushed further down the page.
AI Mode
AI Mode has also been available in German since October 2025. It works more like a chat: users ask longer questions, follow up and receive detailed answers. Behind the scenes, Google breaks the question down into many sub-questions and searches for matching content in parallel (“query fan-out”). The classic list of ten blue links takes a back seat.
What this means for your traffic
When Google already provides the answer, fewer people click through to a website. A widely cited Ahrefs analysis found that the click-through rate for position 1 drops by around a third when an AI Overview is shown. Simple knowledge questions such as “What is …?” or “How much does … cost?” are hit hardest.
The good news: not every search triggers an AI answer, and for searches with purchase or booking intent as well as local searches, users still want to visit a website. And anyone cited as a source in an AI answer gains trust and brand awareness – even if not everyone clicks right away.
9 measures to keep your WordPress website visible
1. Answer questions directly and precisely
AI systems look for clear, quotable answers. Put the most important answer at the beginning of a section and explain the details afterwards. Feel free to phrase headings as real questions your customers ask – for example “How long does a boiler service take?” instead of just “Duration”.
2. Go deep where AI reaches its limits
Google summarises general knowledge itself. What the AI doesn’t have is your own experience: real project examples, prices from your practice, photos, mistakes you’ve seen at customers, comparisons you’ve tested yourself. Content like this turns your page into a source that gets cited and clicked.
3. Show who is behind the content
Google pays attention to experience, expertise, authoritativeness and trustworthiness (E-E-A-T). An author box with a photo and a short bio, a meaningful About page, a complete legal notice and an “last updated” date on guides all help.
4. Use structured data
Structured data (Schema.org) helps search engines classify your content correctly: who you are, what you offer and where your business is located. SEO plugins such as SEOPress, Yoast or Rank Math automatically generate the most important markup for posts, organisations and local businesses. Check the result with Google’s Rich Results Test.
5. Strengthen your local visibility
For local searches such as “hairdresser near me” or “tax advisor Munich”, Google relies heavily on the Google Business Profile. Keep it complete and up to date: opening hours, services, photos and, above all, reviews. Your name, address and phone number on your website should be written exactly as in the profile.
6. Let Google use your content
Sounds obvious, but it’s a common source of errors: make sure important pages aren’t excluded via noindex and that no snippet restrictions such as nosnippet are set. Pages that Google isn’t allowed to use as a snippet can’t appear as a source in AI Overviews either.
7. Fast loading times and clean technology
A slow website loses visitors, no matter where they come from. Good Core Web Vitals, a fast server and a lean setup are the foundation. Read more in our articles on NVMe storage for WordPress and the plugin audit.
8. Get mentioned outside your website
AI answers rely on sources that are considered trustworthy across the web. Mentions in industry directories, local media, specialist portals or partner websites strengthen your brand – even without a link.
9. Don’t rely on Google alone
Build additional channels you control yourself: a newsletter, social media profiles or partnerships. That way you’re less dependent on how Google designs its search results.
How to measure your visibility
In Google Search Console, clicks and impressions from AI Overviews and AI Mode are counted in the regular performance report under “Web”. There is no separate filter for them yet. So look for patterns: if impressions rise while clicks fall, that’s often a sign that AI answers are capturing the clicks. Also regularly compare which pages still get good click-through rates – usually those with a clear purchase, booking or contact intent.
Frequently asked questions
Can I switch off AI Mode for my website?
Only indirectly. With snippet restrictions such as nosnippet, you prevent Google from using your content in AI answers – but you also lose the normal text snippets in the search results. For most small businesses, that’s not a good idea.
Is classic SEO dead now?
No. The AI features draw on the same content that Google crawls and evaluates for regular search. Good content, clean technology and a strong brand remain the foundation – they’ve just become even more important.
Does an llms.txt file help?
llms.txt is a proposal for a file that summarises a website’s content for AI systems. Google has not confirmed that it uses it for Search. It doesn’t hurt, but it shouldn’t be a priority.
Conclusion: Be the source, not just a search result
AI search is changing how people find information – but it still needs good websites as sources. If you give clear answers, share your own experience, have a clean technical setup and maintain a strong local presence, you’ll stay visible. Pages with a concrete offer – services, prices and booking options – in particular continue to benefit from clicks.
Your hosting provides the technical foundation. At Servflix, your WordPress website runs on fast servers in Germany, including server-side caching and daily backups. Take a look at our WordPress Hosting or all plans.