The SEO world has been buzzing with one major fear:
“Google’s AI Mode will kill website traffic.”
Most early studies claim AI overviews reduce clicks—leading many to believe that once AI becomes the default Search experience, businesses will lose visibility and leads.
But here’s the catch:
Almost all those studies focus only on informational queries.
Yes—if someone searches “what does a basal cell carcinoma look like?” AI Mode may satisfy that query instantly.
But transactional intent—like “find a dermatologist near me”—is a very different story.
To uncover the truth, we conducted the first-ever UX study focused solely on transactional queries. The team observed 52 users across the U.S. and Canada, analyzing 22 hours of real search activity for services like dentists, dermatologists, and cosmetic providers.
Here’s what the data reveals—and why your business (and your SEO strategy) might be safer than you think.
When users searched with transactional intent, 69% of AI Mode sessions resulted in a website visit.
Only 27% felt confident to make a decision based solely on the AI summary.
The remaining users clicked deeper into:
AI Mode is not replacing the click—it’s shaping the consideration set.
Traditional SEO is built on a single idea:
Rank #1 or lose.
AI Mode changes this dramatically.
In our study:
This is a major shift.
You no longer need to fight only for the top spot—you need to fight to be in the top 3–5 results, the new “consideration set.”
As long as you appear in that set, you have a real chance to earn the click.
Contrary to old beliefs, users do scroll inside AI Mode.
Because users treat AI Mode like a curated list—not a single answer—they’re more willing to explore multiple options.
This means:
Good positioning anywhere in the top 5 still works.
Photo engagement was low:
So what drives decisions?
Reviews. Social proof. Reputation.
AI Mode puts textual trust signals front and center.
Your gallery is nice, but your reputation earns the click.
People who want to buy, book, or visit?
They’re still clicking.
The real shift isn’t loss of traffic—it’s a shift in how people choose.
Rank #1 at any cost.
Be in the top 5 and dominate with reviews and reputation.
If your website relies heavily on purely informational content, yes—you will see hits.
But if you're a local service provider, doctor, clinic, restaurant, or business that thrives on local SEO…
You do NOT need to panic.
AI Mode still sends your most valuable traffic—
the traffic from customers ready to take action.
For brands, clinics, and local service providers, the shift is clear:
This is exactly where a strong partner like eMarketters – a leading Digital Marketing Company in Lucknow can help.
We ensure your business appears in the new AI-powered consideration set—and gets the clicks that matter.
7 FAQs
No. New data shows that 69% of transactional queries still lead to a website click, even in AI Mode. Users still prefer visiting websites when making real decisions, especially for services like doctors, dentists, or clinics.
A consideration set is the top 3–5 businesses users explore during a transactional search. Instead of picking the No. 1 result, users now check multiple options—making it crucial for businesses to appear in this set.
Not necessarily. AI Mode changes behavior:
Reviews and social proof matter more than anything else.
Only 21% of users check photos, while 74% read reviews before clicking.
Focus on:
Yes, informational or “how-to” content is more likely to see reduced clicks because AI summaries provide direct answers. However, transactional and local-intent searches still send strong traffic.
eMarketters, a top Digital Marketing Company in Lucknow, helps businesses rank in the new AI-powered landscape through:
CTR-focused content
This ensures your brand stays within the consideration set and wins high-value clicks.
