Google’s Tips for Optimising AI Overviews & Mode

Google has released new guidance to help website owners optimise their content for AI-driven search features such as AI Overviews and AI Mode. In a blog post written by John Mueller, Google outlines practical tips for improving visibility and performance in these new formats.

The advice covers several key areas, including ensuring your site meets technical standards and incorporating a range of media such as images and videos. Importantly, the post also notes a shift in user behaviour — while people may carry out more queries in AI Mode, the quality of clicks tends to be higher, with users spending more time on pages they visit.

This official update is designed to help publishers adapt their strategies as AI becomes a more prominent part of the search experience.

Google has unveiled updated guidance aimed at helping website owners improve their visibility in AI-enhanced search experiences. As search results evolve to include more AI-powered elements, understanding how to optimise for these changes is becoming increasingly important.

In a recent blog post, John Mueller, a Search Advocate at Google, outlined specific recommendations for site owners looking to perform well in features like AI Overviews and AI Mode. These tips are designed to support better rankings as AI becomes more integrated into search.

This move reflects Google’s shift away from solely relying on traditional search listings — often referred to as “blue links” — and towards more advanced, AI-driven presentation of information.

AI Is Changing Search Behavior

Google has observed that users are now engaging with search in new ways, particularly by asking longer and more detailed questions, often followed by related queries. This shift, largely driven by the introduction of AI-powered interfaces, brings both challenges and fresh opportunities for publishers trying to maintain or improve visibility.

John Mueller, a Search Advocate at Google, emphasised that the fundamental principles behind successful search optimisation still apply. He reiterated the importance of focusing on the need

 

Content Quality Remains Paramount

Google continues to stress the importance of producing “unique, non-commodity content” as the key to success across all types of search results, including those powered by AI. Originality and usefulness remain central to how content is evaluated.

Rather than attempting to manipulate the algorithm, the company advises creators to concentrate on meeting the needs of their audience. This user-first approach is especially relevant as AI-driven search encourages more specific questions and follow-up queries.

According to Google, these new patterns in user behaviour highlight the value of in-depth and well-structured content. The more thorough and informative your material, the better it is likely to perform in AI-enhanced search experiences.

 

Technical Requirements and Page Experience

In addition to creating high-quality content, Google also emphasises the importance of ensuring your site meets key technical standards. Website owners must make certain that Googlebot is not blocked, pages load without issues, and all relevant content is properly indexable.

Technical accessibility goes hand in hand with user experience. Google encourages a strong focus on elements such as mobile responsiveness, fast loading times, and a layout that highlights the primary content clearly and efficiently.

As John Mueller explains in the blog post, even the most valuable content can leave users frustrated if the page is cluttered, confusing, or makes it difficult to access key information. Whether visitors arrive via traditional search or through AI-powered features, delivering a smooth and engaging on-page experience is essential.

 

Managing Content Visibility In AI Experiences

Google has confirmed that the existing content control settings remain effective for its AI-powered search features. This provides reassurance for publishers wanting to manage how their material appears in AI-driven results.

Website owners can continue using tags such as nosnippet, data-nosnippet, max-snippet, and noindex to control the display and indexing of their content. These tools help determine what portions of a page can appear in search features, including AI Overviews and AI Mode.

However, Google notes that applying more restrictive tags may limit the visibility of your content within these AI search experiences. As always, finding the right balance between content control and discoverability is crucial.

 

Multimedia Content For Multimodal Search

 

In its recent blog post, Google highlighted the increasing significance of using images and videos, especially as its AI capabilities continue to advance.

With the rise of multimodal search, users can now upload images and ask related questions, making visual content more important than ever. Google advises publishers to include high-quality images and videos that enhance and complement the surrounding text.

For ecommerce businesses in particular, it’s essential to keep information in the Merchant Center and Google Business Profile up to date. Doing so can help improve visibility and performance in visual search results, which are becoming more integrated into the overall search experience.

 

Rethinking Success Metrics

 

Google has recently offered some insights into how users interact with search results that include AI-generated content. These findings may prompt publishers to rethink how they define success in terms of performance metrics.

According to the company, users who click through to websites from pages featuring AI Overviews tend to be more engaged. These visitors are reportedly spending more time on the sites they land on, which could be an indication of higher quality traffic.

Google believes this is because AI-enhanced results offer greater context around the topics being searched. As a result, users arrive on websites better informed and more interested in the content.

In light of this, John Mueller from Google recommends that website owners broaden their focus beyond just click-through rates. Instead, they should pay closer attention to more valuable indicators such as completed purchases, newsletter signups, and user engagement.