Google’s AI Overviews are reshaping search by delivering instant, AI-powered summaries at the very top of results. For brands, this is both an opportunity and a challenge: how do you make sure your content is cited by Google’s AI?

One of the most powerful but often overlooked strategies is schema markup. At Today Digitals, we’ve seen how structured data can dramatically increase a website’s chances of being featured in AI Overviews, featured snippets, and other rich search results.

Let’s break down how schema markup works, why it matters, and how to implement it to win visibility in AI Overviews.

What is Schema Markup?

Schema markup (also called structured data) is a type of code you add to your webpages to help search engines understand your content more clearly. It uses a vocabulary called Schema.org to tag elements of your content, such as:

  • Articles, blogs, and news

  • FAQs and How-To steps

  • Products, reviews, and ratings

  • Events and organizations

Think of schema as giving Google’s AI a “cheat sheet” about your content — it tells the AI exactly what the page is about, so it’s more likely to be trusted and cited in an AI Overview.

Why Schema Markup Matters for AI Overviews

  1. Improves Content Understanding
    Google’s AI doesn’t just read text — it interprets meaning. Schema markup provides machine-readable context, boosting your eligibility.

  2. Boosts Authority and Trust Signals
    Marking up authors, organizations, and reviews adds E-E-A-T signals, which Google emphasizes for AI Overviews.

  3. Supports Featured Snippets and Rich Results
    Since AI Overviews often pull data from content already appearing in snippets or FAQs, schema gives you a direct advantage.

  4. Future-Proofs SEO
    As Google expands AI Mode, structured data will become even more important in how content is cited and displayed.

Best Schema Types for AI Overviews

Here are the most effective schema types for ranking in Google’s AI Overviews:

  • Article / BlogPosting – For educational or informational blogs. Include headline, author, datePublished, and mainEntity.

  • FAQPage – Perfect for answering direct user questions. Each FAQ increases your chance of being cited.

  • HowTo – Step-by-step guides are frequently summarized in AI Overviews.

  • Product – If you sell items, markup product details, pricing, availability, and reviews.

  • Organization / LocalBusiness – Builds brand authority and trust signals.

  • Review / AggregateRating – Strong for products and services; reinforces credibility.

Example: Adding FAQ Schema

If you run a blog post on Today Digitals answering SEO questions, you can add FAQ schema like this:

 
{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [{ "@type": "Question", "name": "How can schema markup help rank in AI Overviews?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Schema markup helps Google understand your content context, increasing trust and chances of being cited in AI Overviews." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Which schema types are best for AI Overviews?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The most effective schema types include Article, FAQPage, HowTo, Product, and Review markup." } }] }

Step-by-Step: Using Schema to Rank in AI Overviews

  1. Audit Existing Content

    • Identify high-value informational content that matches queries likely to trigger AI Overviews.

  2. Implement Schema Markup

    • Add FAQ, HowTo, or Article schema depending on the content type.

    • Use JSON-LD format (Google’s preferred method).

  3. Validate with Google Tools

    • Test your markup with Google’s Rich Results Test or Schema Validator.

  4. Optimize for E-E-A-T

    • Include author schema with credentials.

    • Add organization schema with contact and social links.

  5. Monitor Performance

    • Track impressions and clicks in Google Search Console.

    • Check if your content is cited in AI Overviews for target queries.

Pro Tips from Today Digitals

  • Keep schema updated — outdated markup can reduce trust.

  • Don’t spam schema — only mark up content that’s visible to users.

  • Use schema strategically for AI Overview-friendly content: definitions, FAQs, step-by-step guides, comparisons.

  • Combine schema with strong on-page SEO: headings, bullet lists, summaries.

Final Thoughts

Schema markup won’t guarantee you a spot in Google’s AI Overviews — but it gives you a significant edge. By clearly signaling your content’s purpose, authority, and structure, you make it easier for Google’s AI to trust and cite your pages.

At Today Digitals, we recommend every brand embrace schema as a core part of their SEO strategy for 2025. With AI Overviews becoming a dominant feature in search, structured data could be the key that gets your content to the very top.