Business owners who celebrate ranking number one on Google may be missing a critical shift in how customers experience search results, according to recent analysis and commentary from a search visibility expert. The traditional ten blue links that once defined Google search have been pushed down by a growing array of features—ads, AI Overviews, local Map Pack results, and related questions—that often appear before organic listings. This means that even the top organic result may not be seen at all.
A 2025 analysis by GrowthSRC Media, which examined more than 200,000 keywords across 30 websites, found that the click-through rate for the top organic result fell from 28% to 19% after AI Overviews expanded. Search Engine Journal reported the findings, noting that the analysis found a correlation but did not prove that AI Overviews alone caused the decline. Still, the trend highlights a growing challenge for businesses that rely on search visibility to reach customers.
“Business owners can still be proud of ranking number one,” said David Brown, founder of db Consulting. “But they should also ask what customers see before that listing. If an AI answer, ads and a Map Pack fill the screen first, the ranking report may tell only part of the story.” Brown’s advice is for companies to experience search as their customers do: search for the service you most want to sell in the city you most want to reach, check the results on a phone, and look for your business in Maps, AI-generated answers, and traditional listings.
“This isn’t the end of SEO,” Brown said. “It’s the end of pretending one position number tells you whether customers can find you. Customers see the whole page, from AI answers and Maps to traditional listings. Your strategy has to reflect what they actually see.” He added a touch of humor: “My cat Batman doesn’t understand Google’s algorithm. He just steps in front of my screen until I notice him. Honestly, that’s a better visibility strategy than hoping someone scrolls down.”
Brown works with Newsworthy.ai and Encino Labs on local search, Google Maps, and AI-powered search, supported by digital PR and technical expertise. For businesses concerned about their visibility, Brown suggests visiting neo1seo.com to request a free visibility review and see where your business appears across Google Maps, AI-powered results, and traditional listings. Then decide whether your current visibility is enough.
