Something significant is happening in search, and if you’ve noticed fewer website visits despite stable rankings, you’re not imagining it.
AI Overviews, instant answers, and map results now dominate the top of Google’s search results. Patients are getting the information they need without ever having to click through to websites.
For chiropractors competing for new patient leads, visibility in just one place isn’t enough anymore.
The practices that thrive? They’re showing up everywhere patients look.
What’s Really Changing: AI Overviews Are Taking Over
Google’s AI Overviews appear at the top of search results, pulling information from multiple sources to answer questions instantly. The problem? They take up prime real estate, pushing everything else: your paid ads, organic listings, and local map pack; further down the page.
When someone searches “lower back pain relief” or “chiropractor near me,” they see AI-generated answers first. Google answers their question for them, and many patients get what they need without scrolling to see your listing or visiting your website.
Healthcare practices feel this shift intensely. Symptom-based queries like “what causes sciatica?” or “how to relieve neck pain” trigger instant AI responses that satisfy curiosity without requiring a click.
The critical insight: If you’re only relying on one visibility strategy, you’re leaving huge gaps. When AI Overviews consume the top of the page, you need to be visible in multiple places to capture patient attention.
Why SEO, PPC, and GEO Must Work Together
The days of choosing between channels are over. Here’s why each remains essential:
PPC captures immediate intent. Paid ads appear prominently, often within AI Overviews now. When someone is ready to book, your ad is right there. You control targeting and can focus on high-intent searches like “emergency chiropractor near me.”
SEO builds long-term authority. Strong SEO makes you a source that AI Overviews reference and link to. You’re building sustainable visibility that establishes your practice as the trusted local authority.
GEO ensures AI includes you. GEO optimizes your content to appear within AI Overviews and on platforms like ChatGPT and Perplexity. As patients increasingly use AI tools for health information, GEO ensures your practice is part of that conversation.
Compare that to relying on just one channel. If you’re only running PPC, you disappear when someone clicks away from ads. If you’re only focused on SEO, you’re invisible above the fold. If you’re only optimizing for local search, you miss patients using AI tools to research.
That’s not just visibility, that’s dominance. This is what converts searchers into scheduled appointments.
Single-channel strategies leave gaps. Multi-channel strategies fill them all.
Your Action Plan for the New Search Landscape
- Run strategic PPC campaigns. Focus on bottom-funnel terms signaling booking intent: “chiropractor open now,” “new patient appointment.” Use click-to-call extensions and location targeting.
- Build AI-ready SEO. Create quality, locally relevant content that establishes expertise. Blog posts and FAQs support both traditional rankings and inclusion in AI-generated results.
- Embrace GEO for future-proof visibility. Ensure your website speaks the language of AI search engines so your practice appears in ChatGPT, Google’s AI tools, and other generative platforms.
Your Competitive Edge in AI Search
Search is evolving fast. The practices that thrive are blending SEO, GEO, and PPC into a unified strategy that captures visibility everywhere patients are searching.
The question isn’t which channel to choose. It’s how quickly you can get all three working together.
Ready to Dominate Visibility in the AI Search Era?
At Perfect Patients, we’re helping chiropractors adapt to this new landscape, combining SEO authority, AI visibility, and targeted PPC campaigns that drive real results.
Schedule a free Discovery Call today, and let’s build a strategy that keeps your practice visible across every platform where patients are searching for care.
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