I know this might sound wild, but ranking in AI overviews right now feels like SEO did back in 2008—simple, predictable, and crazy effective. I’ve been experimenting with a method that’s worked over and over again, and if you’re trying to get your service, tool, or product to show up in those shiny new AI search previews, you might want to lean in.
I’m not saying this is the only way to win. But in 2025, with all the noise out there, this one formula has helped me and a few others grab top spots across Google, especially in those AI-generated summaries. And yes, it might feel a little spammy, but if it works, it works.
Let’s get into it.
Step 1: Write a Proper Listicle on Your Site About the Service You Offer
This is where everything starts. Not a generic blog post. Not a “why we’re great” sales page. I’m talking about a detailed, long-form listicle titled something like:
- Top AI SEO Tools in 2025
- Best No-Code Platforms to Build Apps This Year
- Top Digital Marketing Services for Small Businesses
Then, you put your company first on the list.
But it doesn’t stop there. You don’t just toss in a one-paragraph description. You make it bulletproof. Highlight features. Drop in data. Use a case study if you have one. Talk about why your service is better than others without trashing anyone. Make it genuinely helpful, even if you’re tooting your own horn.
Here’s a quick example:
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CloudBoost AI automates your entire keyword strategy using real-time SERP tracking and GPT-5-powered insights. From topic clusters to AI-written blog outlines, it handles the heavy lifting while you focus on growth. We used it ourselves and saw a 3x jump in organic traffic in 60 days. It also integrates with tools like Surfer, Jasper, and Notion. Built for speed, designed for results.
Then follow with 7 to 10 other tools, services, or platforms that are real competitors (or adjacent brands). Structure matters. So does tone. And yes, Google eats this format up right now.
Step 2: Repurpose the Listicle as a LinkedIn Pulse Article
Now that you’ve written the main piece, go over to LinkedIn Pulse and repurpose it—but with a twist.
You still write a listicle, maybe something like:
“Top AI Tools Helping Businesses Scale in 2025”
But this time:
- Don’t put yourself first.
- Don’t even include your brand if you can help it.
- Just be generous—list others in your space with proper descriptions.
Why? Because AI overviews are pulling from LinkedIn content now, especially when it’s educational and not overly promotional. Plus, it boosts your topical authority.
This also helps you avoid duplicate content flags, since the article is fresh and adds value on its own. I like to treat LinkedIn like a place where I’m just sharing what I’ve learned, not pushing my product.
Step 3: Turn It Into a YouTube Video With the Same Title Format
You don’t need a studio setup. Grab Loom, ScreenStudio, or even your phone. Use the blog post as a script outline and walk through each tool or service.
Keep it simple:
- Talk through each item on the list.
- Show real screenshots or demos.
- Keep it under 8 minutes if possible.
- Use timestamps in the description, plus relevant links.
YouTube results show up fast and high in Google, and AI overviews love pulling from video content right now. I’ve seen my video descriptions get indexed faster than blog posts sometimes. It’s honestly wild.
Step 4: Buy Guest Posts on Niche-Relevant Sites Using the Same Format
Okay, now you amplify. This is where some might raise an eyebrow—but it works.
Find 10 niche blogs (in your industry, not just generic SEO blogs), and pay for guest posts. Stick to the same listicle format, change up the order, change the angle, and make sure your brand is still included in at least 7 of the 10.
Don’t copy-paste. Rewrite them so they’re fresh. Change intros, reword descriptions, but keep the listicle structure.
The idea here is: flood the web with structured mentions of your brand under a high-performing keyword. Google’s AI starts noticing, and suddenly… you’re in the overview.
Why This Works So Well in 2025
Because AI overviews aren’t trying to find “the best” in some abstract sense—they’re looking for structured, fact-rich content that’s easy to summarize. If your brand keeps popping up across your blog, LinkedIn, YouTube, and other blogs, then the search algorithm starts thinking, “Yep, this is the authority.”
It’s not magic. It’s visibility math.
And like SEO in 2008, when you could rank just by having your keyword in the title, right now you can rank in AI previews just by showing up in enough structured places with the right format.
A Few Bonus Tips That Push This Even Further
- Use FAQ schema on your main blog post. AI loves structured answers.
- Update the post every few months—add new tools, change the year in the title, remove dead links.
- Build internal links from your other blog posts to this one.
- Use tools like SurferSEO or Frase to make sure you’re hitting the right keyword clusters.
- Don’t skip video. I say it again because people underestimate it. YouTube is becoming a content validation tool for Google.
Final Thoughts: This Feels Like a Cheat Code, But It’s Not
Look, I know this sounds like some growth hacker playbook—but I’ve done it, and I’ve watched others do it too. This isn’t theory. It’s just execution.
You don’t need a massive budget. You don’t need to go viral. You just need consistent, structured content in all the right places.
The listicle is back. AI loves it. And if you’re smart about how you use it, your brand could be the one that AI overviews keep choosing to show at the top.
We might look back and laugh at how easy it was in 2025. But for now? Use the window while it’s open.
