Discover how to rank in Google AI mode with these 10 optimization strategies

When it comes to Google’s AI Mode, you have three options:

And you don’t have to choose just one.

Discover how to get cited and mentioned in AI Mode (and avoid being locked out of this AI search experience completely) with this mini-guide from digital marketing agency WebFX on how to rank in Google AI Mode.

How to rank in Google AI Mode

Start optimizing (and ranking) in Google AI Mode with these optimizations:

1. Allow Google’s crawlers

First, ensure Google’s crawlers can crawl, index, and serve your site in traditional search results. If you practice search engine optimization (SEO), you likely already have an optimized robots.txt file and XML sitemap.

While there is some popularity behind creating an llms.txt file (which is a proposed standard for LLM crawlers like Google-Extended) for AI SEO, an llms.txt file is not needed or recommended for appearing in AI Mode.

2. Deliver a great page experience

Google has pushed on webmasters for years to deliver a great page experience through several algorithm updates, including Core Web Vitals. Now, those changes come into play even more with AI Mode.

When looking at page experience, consider the following questions:

Does a URL display well across devices, like mobile vs. desktop?
How long do users need to wait before being able to interact with a URL?
Can users tell the difference between an ad vs. your content on a URL?

Delivering a better page experience requires collaboration between specialties, from marketing to development to sales. The value is immense, though, because besides increasing your chances of appearing in AI Mode, these changes can also improve conversion rates.

3. Produce people-first content

Content is one of the most important optimizations businesses can make when it comes to ranking in Google AI Mode. In a time when there is more content than ever, there is a greater need for people-first content.

What is people-first content? People-first content:

Gets specific with its recommendations, like “In the first week, do 15-20 reps.”
Shares first-hand insights, whether through case studies, quotes, or stories.
Speaks to its specific vs. general audience, like HVAC vs. accounting marketers.
Organizes content using headings, lists, and tables to improve readability.
Demonstrates E-E-A-T, like through awards, certifications, or history.
Helps people solve their problem through well-written, easy-to-read content.

With this level of content, it’s easier for businesses to get mentioned or cited in AI Mode because the content is specific to the user and their search intent, which is one reason users are so attracted to AI search experiences.

4. Use relevant queries in prominent locations

Keywords aren’t dead — they’re redefined for AI search optimization.

In AI Mode, Google uses a query fan-out technique, which is exactly what it sounds like. Google takes the user’s initial query and “fans it out” into related queries, which are then searched simultaneously to generate a response.

Optimize your people-first content for the query fan-out technique by:

Including the most relevant phrases in your title tag and headings.
Incorporating other related and relevant phrases throughout the body copy.
Enhancing content with details that address fan-out queries.

This optimization aligns with best practices for keyword integration, which Google includes as one of its foundational SEO best practices, which are mentioned as being relevant to AI Mode appearances.

5. Enhance content with visuals

Search is becoming multimodal, meaning users can search via:

You can see an example below:

A screenshot of a bumper repair cost’s result in Google AI mode and in multimodal searches. – WebFX

Producing text-based, people-first content isn’t enough. Companies need to expand their content’s usefulness to users with multimedia, from video walkthroughs to concept graphics.

A screenshot of a cells cycles’ text results and video previews on Google. – WebFX

Some examples of how businesses can do this include the following:

Create 360° product views, unboxing videos, and image-based sizing guides.
Generate audio summaries for guides or long-form blog posts.
Build interactive or static timelines or data visualizations
Produce tools or templates to help users complete a task

With AI Mode’s shopping experience, which allows users to try on clothes and purchase products, it’s vital for ecommerce stores to consider — and optimize for — a multimodal shopping experience.

6. Use structured data

Google doesn’t just recommend structured data for appearing in AI Mode — it recommends businesses ensure their structured data matches their on-page content, signaling a common (and often unintentional) issue.

When it comes to structured data, there are plenty of options, including:

A website plugin like Yoast SEO can make generating and implementing certain schema markups seamless. For others, there are free tools — like Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper and even ChatGPT — for generating schema.

In either case, test the markup using Google’s Rich Results Test. You can also check Google Search Console’s Enhancements reports for structured data issues, though this report won’t flag when the on-page content doesn’t match the structured data. For teams evaluating how to improve visibility in AI results, an accurate, on-page-matching schema is a low-effort, high-impact win.

7. Maintain an up-to-date Google Business Profile

Across AI Mode experiences, the platform will mention and link to brands using their Google Business Profile — as well as use that data to generate its answer.

A screenshot showing Red’s Eat’s business profile and details on Google. – WebFX

That’s why it’s critical to maintain your Google Business Profile’s:

If you haven’t already, start by claiming (or creating) your Google Business Profile.

8. Maintain up-to-date Google Merchant Center listings

When it comes to its AI search experiences, from AI Mode to AI Overviews, Google relies on its Shopping Graph to generate responses. That’s why it’s vital for ecommerce businesses to:

Join Google Merchant Center
Maintain listing accuracy, from pricing to inventory

A screenshot of a travel bag’s product overview and price listings from different sources on Google. – WebFX

AI Mode has a vast catalog to choose from when recommending products to users. Don’t let your products get overlooked by failing to update your listings.

9. Build online mentions

Most AI Mode optimizations focus on elements within your control, from content quality to page experience, but Google’s AI search experiences are rooted in its core ranking algorithms, which makes off-page optimizations non-negotiable.

Whether linked or unlinked, the following mentions can improve your chances of appearing in AI Mode responses:

Best of list, like “best [your product] for enterprises”
Forum response, such as a “buy it for life” product recommendation
Interviewee and/or quoted person
Social media, like through an influencer

You can build these mentions naturally, such as:

Providing an exceptional product and service
Producing high-quality, people-first content and multimedia

Outreach is another common option, too, such as partnering with a micro-influencer or connecting with a journalist at an industry-specific media site.

10. Expand search channels

What else can businesses do to optimize for AI Mode? Expand.

Search is changing. Even though generative AI traffic is less than 1% of the total traffic websites receive, it’s growing 165X faster than other channels, signaling a new opportunity for those that move the fastest.

Don’t ignore Google (or AI Mode), but don’t ignore new search channels like:

Instead, expand, and capture the eyes of your target market across generative AI search experiences, from AI Overviews and AI Mode to ChatGPT and Perplexity.

This story was produced by WebFX and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

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Discover how to rank in Google AI mode with these 10 optimization strategies