SEO For Authors in 2025
How AI Overviews Are Changing Everything About Book Discovery
…And what you need to do about it
When I tell authors they need to think about SEO, I often get blank stares or confused responses. "Isn't that just for websites?" they ask. "My publisher handles all the marketing," others say confidently.
But here's what's changed everything: Google has fundamentally altered how search results work, and most authors have no idea it's happened.
The truth? If you're not actively managing your SEO as an author - especially in this new AI-driven search landscape - you're almost certainly leaving money on the table and missing out on connecting with your ideal readers.
Let me explain why this matters more than most authors realise, and why the old rules no longer apply.
Google's AI Revolution: What Authors Need to Know
In May 2024, Google began rolling out "AI Overviews" - AI-generated summaries that appear at the top of search results, attempting to answer users' questions directly without them needing to click through to websites.
These AI Overviews represent the most significant change to search results in decades. Instead of seeing a list of blue links, users now often see a comprehensive AI-generated answer that synthesises information from multiple sources.
Here's the brutal reality: According to Amsive's research, keywords that trigger both AI Overviews and Featured Snippets have seen an average 37% decrease in click-throughs to organic website results.
For authors, this means the traditional SEO playbook - getting your website to rank highly in search results - is no longer enough. The game has fundamentally changed.
My Search Engine Education (And Why It Matters More Than Ever)
Before becoming a full-time author and marketing coach, I spent a year working at an SEO agency. My days were filled with helping businesses understand a simple truth: if customers can't find you when they're searching, you might as well be invisible.
I watched as companies with inferior products outperformed their competition simply because they understood how to rank higher in search results. The pattern was consistent across every industry we served. When potential customers typed their needs into a search box, they almost always selected from the first few options presented to them.
A study by Backlinko confirmed this pattern: the top Google organic result gets, on average, 27.6% of clicks from a given search. Number two gets 15.8% and number three, 11%. The tenth result gets 2.4% of clicks (one-tenth of the first result) and if you're on page two, you can almost forget about traffic.
But that was the old world. Now, with AI Overviews capturing an increasing share of user attention and clicks, even ranking first doesn't guarantee the traffic it once did.
When I transitioned to publishing my first book, I was shocked to discover how few authors applied these principles to their work. The same rules that determined which businesses thrived or failed were silently at work deciding which books would be discovered, and now those rules are evolving faster than ever.
Why Authors Need SEO More Than Most (Especially Now)
Here's the brutal maths: Over 4 million books are published annually worldwide. Your book is competing not just with new releases but with literally every book ever written.
In this new AI-powered search landscape, the stakes are even higher:
Without strong SEO positioning:
Potential readers who would love your book will never know it exists
Your sales will rely primarily on increasingly expensive advertising
Your discoverability diminishes over time rather than growing
AI systems may never surface your content in their summaries
With effective SEO in the AI era:
Your book continues attracting new readers months and years after publication
You build sustainable, passive discovery channels
Your marketing efforts compound rather than requiring constant reinvestment
Your content becomes part of the knowledge base that AI systems draw from
Navigating the New Google: Beyond Traditional SEO
The emergence of AI Overviews means authors need to think differently about Google search optimisation. It's no longer just about ranking; it's about being featured.
Understanding AI Overview Triggers
AI Overviews typically appear for informational queries: the exact type of searches that can introduce readers to authors and their expertise. Searches like "best books about productivity," "how to write compelling dialogue," or "authors similar to Stephen King" are prime candidates for AI Overview treatment.
This creates both challenges and opportunities:
The Challenge: Your website might receive fewer clicks even if it ranks well, because users get their answers directly from the AI summary.
The Opportunity: If your content is featured in AI Overviews, you gain massive visibility and credibility: your expertise is literally being endorsed by Google's AI.
Strategic Content Creation for AI Visibility
To succeed in this new landscape, your content strategy needs to evolve:
Create comprehensive, authoritative content that AI systems will want to reference. Instead of short blog posts, develop in-depth resources that thoroughly cover topics your readers care about.
Focus on unique insights and experiences that only you can provide. AI systems value original research, personal anecdotes, and expert perspectives that can't be found elsewhere.
Structure your content clearly with headers, bullet points, and logical flow. AI systems parse well-organised information more effectively.
Answer questions directly and completely in your content. The more comprehensively you address reader queries, the more likely you are to be featured in AI summaries.
Your Author Website in the AI Era
Your website optimization strategy needs updating for this new reality:
Create topic clusters around themes relevant to your books. Instead of isolated blog posts, develop interconnected content that establishes you as the definitive source on specific subjects.
Develop FAQ sections that anticipate and thoroughly answer questions your readers might search for. These are prime candidates for AI Overview inclusion.
Build expertise, authority, and trustworthiness (E-A-T) through comprehensive author bios, testimonials, media mentions, and detailed ‘about’ pages. AI systems increasingly factor credibility into their selections.
Optimize for featured snippets as well as AI Overviews. Many of the same tactics that earn featured snippet placement also increase your chances of AI Overview inclusion.
Amazon SEO: Still the Bookstore That Never Sleeps
While Google's changes are dramatic, Amazon remains crucial for direct book sales, and its algorithm continues evolving too.
Title and Subtitle Strategy
Your book title and subtitle function as search queries in Amazon's system. This becomes even more critical as Amazon integrates AI-powered recommendations and search features.
For non-fiction, be explicit: "The Marketing-First Author: Building Your Platform in the Age of AI-Powered Discovery" clearly signals content to both readers and algorithms.
For fiction, strategic subtitles help: "Shadows of Tomorrow: A Dystopian Thriller About AI Surveillance" helps categorisation and discovery.
Description Optimization in the AI Age
Your book description serves multiple masters: persuading readers, informing Amazon's algorithm, and potentially being referenced by AI systems discussing your book or topics.
Include relevant keywords naturally within compelling copy. The first 150 characters remain particularly important for algorithmic weight, but now consider how your description might be quoted or summarised by AI systems.
Get a thorough analysis and strategic suggestions for your book description with our Book Description Package.
Categories and Keywords: Choosing Your Battlefield
Amazon's category and keyword system helps you choose which searches you compete in. Research less competitive categories where your book can rank higher rather than selecting obvious broad genres.
Consider how AI-powered recommendation systems might interpret your category choices. A romance novel might perform better as "Gothic Romance" than competing in the massive "Contemporary Romance" category.
Ready to unlock your book’s full potential? The categories you choose matter more than you think. A small shift can mean a massive increase in visibility and sales.
That’s why we offer a Book Keyword and Category Strategic Plan - tailored to your book, your audience and your goals.
Beyond Google and Amazon: The Expanding Search Universe
The search landscape extends far beyond the traditional giants, and AI is transforming these platforms too:
Goodreads and AI-Enhanced Discovery
Goodreads increasingly uses AI to power recommendations and search results. Complete your author profile with relevant keywords about your writing style and genres. Create lists and participate in discussions: this activity feeds into AI recommendation systems.
BookBub and Algorithmic Matching
BookBub's recommendation engine becomes more sophisticated each year. Ensure your author profile is keyword-optimised, as followers gained there receive notifications about future releases and deals.
Pinterest: Visual Search Meets AI
Pinterest combines visual search with AI-powered content recommendations. Create pins with your book covers, quotes, and themes. Certain genres (romance, recipes, self-help, and visually appealing topics) perform particularly well.
YouTube: Video Content in the AI Era
YouTube's AI systems increasingly surface relevant video content in search results and recommendations. Author interviews, book trailers, and thematic content can rank well on the world's second-largest search engine.
Common SEO Mistakes Authors Make (Updated for 2025)
Working with authors over the years, I've observed costly mistakes that are even more damaging in today's AI-enhanced search environment:
Ignoring Content Depth and Authority - Thin, superficial content performs poorly with AI systems. Instead of multiple short blog posts, create comprehensive resources that establish you as a definitive source.
Failing to Adapt to AI Overview Opportunities - Many authors haven't adjusted their content strategy to capture AI Overview placements, missing significant visibility opportunities.
Neglecting Cross-Platform Consistency - AI systems increasingly cross-reference information across platforms. Inconsistent author information, book descriptions, or biographical details can confuse algorithms.
Overlooking Voice and Conversational Search - As voice search grows and conversational AI becomes more prevalent, optimising for natural language queries becomes crucial.
Taking Action: Your AI-Era SEO Implementation Plan
The new search landscape might seem overwhelming, but you can make significant progress with this updated approach:
Audit Your Current AI Visibility
Search for topics you write about and note whether AI Overviews appear
Check if your content is ever referenced in AI summaries
Identify queries where AI Overviews dominate traditional results
Note where competitors appear in AI-enhanced results
Identify High-Impact Opportunities
Which topics related to your expertise frequently trigger AI Overviews?
Where could you create comprehensive content that AI systems would want to reference?
Which platforms drive most of your current discovery?
What questions do your readers ask that AI systems might help answer?
Implement Changes Strategically
Focus on creating AI-friendly content that provides unique value
Update existing content to be more comprehensive and authoritative
Develop topic clusters rather than isolated pieces
Monitor both traditional rankings and AI Overview appearances
Build for the Future
The search landscape will continue evolving rapidly. Build systems and create content that can adapt to further AI developments rather than optimising only for today's algorithms.
SEO as Author ‘Self-Care’ in the AI Age
I've come to view SEO not as a technical marketing chore but as a form of professional self-care for authors. By making your work more discoverable across all search platforms: traditional and AI-powered, you're honouring the time and creativity you've invested in your books.
When authors tell me they're not "tech-savvy" enough for modern SEO, I remind them that understanding algorithms isn't required. You need to understand your readers: what they're searching for, what problems they're trying to solve, and what experiences they're hoping to find in books like yours.
The tools have evolved, but the fundamental truth remains: great content that serves readers will find ways to be discovered, whether through traditional search results or AI-powered summaries.
That's not just good SEO. That's good authorship.
The search revolution is here. The question isn't whether it will affect your discoverability - it already is. The question is whether you'll adapt to thrive in this new landscape, or watch opportunities pass by while wondering why your carefully crafted traditional SEO strategy isn't delivering results.
Your readers are out there, searching for exactly what you've written. In the age of AI-powered search, make sure they can find you.
To your boo'k’s success
Fleur
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