What Is Google Perspectives?

Below, we’ll unpack how it works, why it matters, and how to adapt your AI SEO / GEO strategy to thrive in this new era.

Table: Google Perspectives vs Traditional Search

Why Google Introduced Perspectives

Elevating “Experience” in Search

In late 2022, Google officially expanded its E-A-T framework to E-E-A-T by adding Experience, meaning first-hand, lived involvement in a topic is now explicitly part of how content is evaluated. (Google for Developers)

According to Google:

“We’re introducing … ways to find and share their insights … new updates to surface more firsthand perspectives in results.” (blog.google)

This move signals that content rooted in personal use, narrative, and authenticity now carries weight, not just technical SEO or backlink profiles.

A Response to AI-Driven Content Saturation

As AI content generation proliferates, the risk is that search becomes saturated with generic, formulaic pages optimized for keywords; but with little uniqueness or value. Google Perspectives works as a corrective: it hands a stage to voices that aren’t trying to “game the algorithm,” but to share experience. (kosedigital.com)

It’s also a bridge to what people feel when searching: “I want to hear what others did,” “I want to see the problems,” “I want to read unfiltered stories”; especially when researching purchase decisions, travel, software reviews, or career choices.

Evolution of the UI

• Initially, Google launched a Perspectives filter on mobile (U.S., English), letting users toggle to view experience-based content. (blog.google)

• Later, Google rolled it out to desktop and introduced a carousel under “Top Stories” showing perspective content. (blog.google)

• Over time, the Perspectives filter has sometimes been replaced or merged with a “Forums” tab in some markets. (Ignite Visibility)

In other words, the precise interface evolves, but the core signal remains: show voices of people, not just brands.

Types of Content That Qualify for Perspectives

Not everything will show up under a Perspectives filter or carousel. Here are the commonly observed content types:

• Short-form and long-form video: YouTube, Shorts, TikTok-style content, creator clips. (kosedigital.com)

• Social media posts / captioned media: Instagram posts, Tweets (if indexable), etc. (kosedigital.com)

• Forum or Q&A threads: Reddit, Quora, niche community forums discussing detailed, lived experiences and conversations. (blog.google)

• User reviews / testimonies / first-person blog posts: Especially unique stories or case studies not repeatedly restated elsewhere. (kosedigital.com)

Importantly: content from your brand’s main domain doesn’t often appear under Perspectives. Rather, user-generated content (UGC) or creator content about your brand may.

For example, searching your company name under Perspectives might show:

• A video review from a creator

• A Reddit thread where someone mentions your product

• A social post discussing pros/cons

It gives brands an indirect presence via others’ voices.

How Google’s Emphasis on Authenticity Over Traditional SEO Changes the Game

Engagement & Credibility Matter More Than Links

Traditional SEO thrives on backlinks and keyword density. But under Perspectives, what looks more like a signal is:

• Engagement: likes, comments, shares, replies

• Craft & originality: fresh angles, unique experiences

• Author credentials: content creators who are followed and trusted

• Format variety: multimedia and conversational formats

So instead of obsessing over backlinks, you need to foster content that gets reactions, spreads naturally, and carries a distinct voice.

SEO becomes cooperation, not competition

To appear under Perspectives, brands should:

• Collaborate with creators / influencers so they speak about your product or service in their voice

• Encourage customers to share stories: UGC becomes discoverable

• Cross-pollinate formats: use creators’ videos inside your content, use excerpts from social, embed Reddit quotes, etc.

• Optimize creator content: ensure social posts, videos, threads are discoverable, use SEO-friendly descriptions and titles

AI SEO / GEO implications

In the age of generative engine optimisation (GEO) or AI SEO optimisation:

• You can no longer rely purely on long-form blogs stuffed with keywords

• You must consider which content an AI assistant (like ChatGPT or Gemini) might pick up as a citation or answer snippet

• Being cited by AI agents often means being quoted or embedded in creators’ content, therefore your brand's presence is stronger via others’ voices

• Your AI Visibility optimisation strategy must include creator amplification, UGC seeding, and enriching real narratives

How to Recover Traffic Lost to AI Tools; Using Perspectives as a Lever

Many brands feel their organic traffic has dropped as AI overviews or AI-driven query tools have started to answer questions before users click through. To counter that:

1. Be present in the conversation, not just the content
   If AI assistants are summarising, they often depend on quoted snippets or recognized authority voices. If your brand doesn’t appear in those quotation chains, you’re invisible.

2. Seed stories into existing creator / user content
   Encourage case-study videos, testimonial stories, podcast mentions. These stories can show up under Perspectives and feed into AI answer graphs.

3. Optimize to get cited by ChatGPT / Gemini / Perplexity
   These models often rank content that is already quoted or referenced across the web. The more your brand is talked about, the more it can be pulled in.

4. Think multi-format and conversational
   Let creators interview customers, record panels, share screenshots of conversations. These formats are more likely to be surfaced.

5. Track discovery via Perspectives & Forums tab insights
   Where are people talking about your brand? Which threads are getting traction? Use that to fuel SEO strategy.

In short, when traffic seems to vanish under AI’s shadow, you need to embed your brand inside voices that AI tools respect. Perspectives is your staging ground.

Four Pillars to Optimize for Google Perspectives & AI SEO

To systematically approach this shift, center your strategy on these pillars:

1. Experience-First Content

• Use stories, lessons learned, successes + failures

• Avoid generic “5 tips” formats unless backed by unique personal insight

2. Multi-Format & Cross-Pollination

• Embed social posts, videos, screenshots, commentary inside blog content

• Encourage creators & users to reference your brand in their content

3. Amplification & Seeding

• Work with micro-influencers / niche experts

• Offer incentives or interview opportunities

• Encourage UGC with prompts: “Share your story + tag us”

4. Measurement & Adjustment

• Use Google Search Console / Analytics to see queries that show Perspectives presence

• Monitor community threads, social mentions

• A/B test which story formats generate traction

Each pillar supports both recovering traffic lost to AI and getting your brand cited in AI assistants.

Objections, Risks & Nuances

“This is just a gimmick or trend”

It could be, but Google is doubling down on personalization, generative answers, and E-E-A-T shifts. Perspectives is less a fad than a long-term direction. SEO strategy needs to evolve with it.

“We don’t control third-party content”

True. But you can influence it with outreach, partnerships, incentives. And once someone already discussed you, your next job is to optimize how that discussion is discoverable.

“It’s hard to scale storytelling and creators”

Yes, scalability is a challenge. But even small, consistent storytelling efforts compound over time. You don’t need 100 pieces; you need the right pieces that resonate and propagate.

“Will Perspectives cannibalise our traditional SEO rankings?”

Some overlap is possible. But often, they complement each other. If a Perspectives result shows a creator voice that then links or references your page, it can push users to your site. Think synergy, not zero-sum.

Future Outlook: Where Perspectives, AI Overviews & GEO Converge

• As AI Overviews (Google’s generative summary layers) grow, they increasingly lean on content that is already quoted, referenced, or surfaced across creator networks. (Wikipedia)

• Consequently, content not present in conversations risks exclusion.

• Brands that embed themselves inside the “web of voices” have a higher chance of AI agents quoting them.

• Thus, the divide between “SEO content” and “social / creator content” will collapse: you need both signal-rich pages and voice-rich amplification.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Google Perspectives in simple terms?

Google Perspectives is a feature that highlights real stories and opinions from social media, forums, and creators to make search results feel more authentic and human.

2. How does Google Perspectives affect SEO?

It shifts SEO focus from backlinks and keywords to genuine experience, originality, and engagement, rewarding brands that share real voices and collaborate with creators.

3. How can businesses appear in Google Perspectives?

By encouraging user stories, partnering with creators, and producing multi format content that shares first hand experiences about their products or services.

Conclusion

Google Perspectives surfaces real, first-hand experiences from creators and communities. It changes what's visible in search. And to thrive, your strategy must evolve accordingly, weaving authentic voices, amplifying experiences, and reclaiming presence inside the conversations that AI engines and humans both consume.

👉 Book your AI Visibility Audit with IndexLab today and make sure your brand isn’t invisible in the age of AI search