AI-generated overview
According to Ahrefs' analysis, free tools represent a content format that AI Overviews have not yet displaced in search results. While AI Overviews effectively handle how-to guides and listicles—causing informational page clicks to drop by 30% or more in some cases according to recent studies—searches for tools like mortgage calculators, list randomizers, and backlink checkers still direct traffic straight to websites without AI Overview interference. The video argues that free tools remain valuable for SEO because they provide inherent utility, naturally attract backlinks, and capture high-intent visitors even on AI-dominated search engine results pages. The recommended strategy involves using keyword research tools to identify tool-related search queries by filtering for terms like 'calculator,' 'checker,' or 'converter' within a niche, then creating those tools to capture traffic that bypasses AI competition.
AI Overviews have caused clicks to informational pages to drop by 30% or more in some cases, according to recent Ahrefs research, indicating significant traffic loss for traditional content formats.
Free tools like calculators, checkers, and converters do not trigger AI Overviews in search results, making them a protected content format that still sends clicks directly to websites.
Free tools provide three strategic advantages: inherent usefulness to users, natural backlink attraction, and the ability to capture high-intent visitors even in AI-dominated search results.
To identify tool opportunities, marketers should use keyword research tools to filter broad topic searches for words like 'calculator,' 'checker,' or 'converter' to discover what tools people actively search for.
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There's one content format AI Overviews haven't taken over yet which you can still get a ton of
SEO traffic from. It's not how-to's or listicles because AI Overviews are great at answering and
summarizing these types of questions. And people are clearly using them because our recent study
shows that clicks to informational pages are dropping, in some cases by 30% or more.
The content type AIOs haven't taken over are free tools.
There's no AI Overview for a mortgage calculator, no AI Overview for a list randomizer,
no AI Overview for a backlink checker. Those searches still send clicks straight to websites,
which is why free tools are still a great way to get traffic. They're inherently useful,
they attract backlinks naturally, and they bring in high-intent visitors even in an AI-first SERP.
To find the right tools to make, just enter a broad topic related to your niche in a keyword
research tool like Ahrefs' Keywords Explorer. Hit a keyword ideas report,
filter for words like calculator, checker, or converter, and you'll see exactly which
tools people want. Then go and create them, get backlinks to it, and boom,
you're getting traffic that's not competing with AI.
#ahrefs #seo