Google AI Mode Complete Checklist

  

SECTION 1: Understanding Google AI Mode

What is Google AI Mode?

●      A Gemini-powered AI search experience launched in 2025.

●      Replaces traditional blue links with AI-generated answers and a sidebar of citations.

●      Offers deeper reasoning, context retention, and multimodal capability (text, image, voice).

Differences: AI Mode vs AI Overviews

Feature	AI Mode	AI Overviews
AI-generated text	Ok	Ok
Traditional organic links	No	Ok
Ads	Ok	Ok
Sidebar with links	Ok (92%)	No

SECTION 2: How Google AI Mode Works

Core Technologies Behind AI Mode:

1. Fan-out querying – Breaks a user query into many sub-queries (like a semantic map).
   
   
2. Structured logic & reasoning chains – Organizes and validates information.
   
   
3. Personal context – Uses your search history, Gmail, and app data to personalize results.

SECTION 3: How AI Mode Impacts SEO

1. Visibility

●      No “10 blue links”; you either get cited in the AI response or not.

●      High dependency on domain-level authority and contextual relevance.

2. Traffic

●      Average traffic drops range from 20–60% where AI Overviews are shown.

●      However, high-quality domains are seeing more qualified conversions.

3. Analytics

●      Google Search Console lumps AI Mode traffic with normal search data.

●      No way (yet) to filter impressions/clicks by AI Mode alone.

4. Strategic Shift Required

●      Focus moves from rankings to citations, mentions, trust, and relevance.

●      SEO teams must evolve into OmniSEO™ teams (multi-channel, multi-platform).

SECTION 4: How Should SEOs Respond?

1. Reset Expectations

●      Inform clients/stakeholders about potential organic traffic drops.

●      Refocus KPIs on qualified leads, not just traffic volume.

2. Move from SEO → OmniSEO™

●      Be present across:

○      AI Mode

○      ChatGPT

○      Meta AI

○      Perplexity

○      Reddit, YouTube, UGC platforms

3. Lean into Fundamentals

●      Strong SEO foundations (crawlability, structured data, page experience) will still matter most.

SECTION 5: How to Optimize for AI Mode (GEO Strategy)

A. Technical Requirements

1. Allow Googlebot via robots.txt
   
   
2. Use sitemaps and confirm indexing via Search Console
   
   
3. No need for llms.txt (not officially supported)

B. On-Page & Content Optimization

1. People-First Content

●      Unique, detailed, helpful

●      Use data, expert insights, personal stories

●      Serve clear intent (informational vs transactional)

2. Query Fan-Out Strategy

●      Use keywords in:

○      Title tags

○      H1/H2/H3s

○      Body text

●      Include semantically related terms and FAQs

3. Enhance with Visuals

●      Use:

○      360° product views

○      Video explainers

○      Image-based instructions

○      Audio snippets

C. Structured Data (Schema)

●      Add schema for:

○      Organization, Product, LocalBusiness, FAQ, Review

●      Match schema content to visible on-page content

●      Test via Google's Rich Results Tool

D. Local & Shopping Optimizations

●      Keep Google Business Profile up-to-date (address, hours, services, images)

●      Ensure Google Merchant Center has:

○      Accurate pricing

○      Updated inventory

○      Product reviews

E. Off-Page & Brand Signals

1. Build Mentions

●      Get listed in:

○      “Best of” lists

○      Reddit threads

○      Interviews and product reviews

●      Both linked and unlinked mentions count

2. Invest in Digital PR

●      Create tools, data studies, or original research

●      Pitch media sites and bloggers

3. Be Active on UGC Platforms

●      Reddit, YouTube, Quora, and Facebook dominate citations

●      Build community presence and credibility

F. Expand Across Platforms (OmniSEO™)

●      Optimize your presence on:

○      ChatGPT (via citations & strong domain trust)

○      Meta AI (structured social data)

○      Perplexity (semantic answers & links)

●      Monitor brand across multiple AI engines

SECTION 6: How to Measure AI Mode Impact

●      GSC does not show AI Mode data separately

●      Use OmniSEO tools (like Semrush AI Toolkit) to:

○      Track citations across LLMs

○      Benchmark domain vs. competitors

○      Monitor citation patterns & SERP behavior

SECTION 7: Key Findings from the Study

Insight	Takeaway
AI Mode shows 7 unique domains per query	You need domain-level strength
Sidebar links dominate	These are more exploratory
User-generated content (UGC) rules	Reddit, YouTube, Facebook most cited
AI Mode is closer to ChatGPT than Google Search	Treat it like an answer engine
High organic rankings → High AI citations	Strong Google presence still vital

Final Checklist for AI Mode SEO Strategy

Task	Status
Allow crawl/indexing
Update schema markup
Produce multimedia content
Create people-first, expert-level content
Build forum/Reddit presence
Claim/optimize Google Business Profile
Maintain Merchant Center feed
Track AI citations via Semrush or other tools
Earn digital PR & brand mentions
Monitor SEO performance across LLMs

Summary: What To Do Next

1. Update your site to comply with Google's technical and content guidelines.
   
   
2. Publish better content with visuals, depth, and query intent in mind.
   
   
3. Earn your spot in forums, Reddit, and product reviews.
   
   
4. Think omnichannel — SEO alone won’t get you cited.
   
   
5. Track performance with AI-aware tools like Semrush, OmniSEO, or Ziptie.

In Details

WHAT IS GOOGLE AI MODE?

Google AI Mode is a new search experience powered by Gemini AI. It transforms search from "10 blue links" to AI-generated summaries + citations in a sidebar.

How It Works:

1. User enters a query
   
   
2. Google uses Gemini to:
   

○      Break the query into multiple sub-questions

○      Search the web for answers (fan-out querying)

○      Rank, synthesize, and cite information

3. Returns:
   

○      AI-generated answer block

○      Sidebar with 5–7 clickable source links

It feels like ChatGPT, but with real-time web knowledge.

WHY IT MATTERS FOR SEOs

Old Google SEO	New AI Mode SEO
Rank on Page 1	Get cited in AI-generated content
CTR from titles	Less user scrolling — clicks are rare
Blue link-focused	Sidebar citation-focused
Keywords = success	Contextual authority = success

AI Mode isn’t just search — it’s a decision assistant. If you don’t show up in its citations, you get ignored.

THE CORE TECHNOLOGIES IN AI MODE

1. Fan-Out Querying
   

○      Google splits your question into 5–20 related subtopics behind the scenes

○      Example: Searching “best probiotics” triggers sub-queries like:

■      “Are probiotics safe?”

■      “Top probiotic strains for gut health”

■      “How to take probiotics”

■      “Reddit reviews on probiotics”

2. Contextual Synthesis
   

○      Combines articles, forums, videos, and shopping feeds into 1 clean AI answer

3. Sidebar Citations
   

○      These are NOT ranked by traditional PageRank

○      They are selected based on:

■      Relevance

■      Topical authority

■      Entity association

■      Format (FAQs, comparisons, user experiences)

IMPACT ON SEO STRATEGY

A. Traffic Impact

●      Sites lose 20%–60% traffic on AI-triggered queries.

●      Why? Because AI answers satisfy the query directly.

B. Ranking ≠ Visibility

●      Ranking #1 may NOT get you into the AI box or sidebar.

●      Google chooses pages that explain, cite, or add value — not just keyword matches.

C. No Direct Analytics (Yet)

●      Google Search Console does NOT tell you if a click came from AI Mode.

●      You must infer performance via patterns or use LLM monitoring tools (like Semrush AI Toolkit).

WHAT YOU MUST DO NOW — FULL CHECKLIST WITH DEEP EXPLANATION

1. Optimize for Crawl & Indexing

Action	Details
Allow bots	Don’t block Googlebot or Bingbot in robots.txt
Submit sitemap	Always updated and clean
Canonicals	One clear version per page
Mobile-first design	AI Mode uses mobile rendering only

2. Write “Fan-Out Ready” Content

Google breaks complex queries into smaller questions.

How to Prepare Your Content:

●      Structure content with question-based H2s/H3s
 Example:

 H2: Are probiotics safe?
 H2: What are the side effects of probiotics?

●      Use clear definitions and comparisons

●      Add FAQs at the end of every content piece

●      Write with semantic clusters, not just keywords

3. Use Entity-Based SEO (Not Just Keywords)

AI understands concepts, not just strings.

How to Optimize:

●      Use schema like:

○      Person

○      Product

○      FAQ

○      Review

○      LocalBusiness

●      Mention known entities in your content

○      Tools like InLinks or Kalicube Pro can help build entity maps

4. Add Multimedia to Improve AI Visibility

AI Mode loves diverse formats.

Media Type	How It Helps
Video	YouTube is heavily cited
Images	Infographics and step-by-step visuals get pulled
Audio	Podcasts, voice replies, embedded clips

Use Alt-text, schema, and captions with relevant keywords.

5. Improve Product & Local Visibility

If you run an e-commerce or local site, this is key.

For Local:

●      Keep Google Business Profile updated

●      Add photos, reviews, services, and Q&A

●      Use Local Schema (LocalBusiness + GeoCoordinates)

For E-commerce:

●      Keep Google Merchant Center optimized:

○      Real-time inventory

○      Customer reviews

○      Structured product info

6. Get Featured Where AI Pulls Data From

This includes:

●      Reddit

●      Quora

●      YouTube

●      Blog posts

●      Medium

●      Help forums

AI Mode pulls heavily from forums, UGC, and expert explainers.

What You Should Do:

●      Start Reddit threads about your product or niche

●      Answer Quora questions

●      Create YouTube explainers & “vs” comparisons

●      Submit your brand to “best of” lists or review sites

7. Invest in Brand & Digital PR

AI uses mentions and citations to determine trust.

Get Your Brand Cited:

●      In expert roundups

●      In niche publications (e.g., TechCrunch, Moz, Wired)

●      In data studies and research pages

●      On sites with existing AI trust

8. OmniSEO™ — Be Present Across AI Engines

Beyond Google AI Mode, also optimize for:

●      ChatGPT — Use citations from high-authority sources

●      Perplexity — Answer real-world questions with blogs

●      Meta AI — Tag your brand properly on Facebook/Instagram

●      Bing CoPilot — Use schema and links that Microsoft indexes

SEO is no longer just Google — it's Search Everywhere Optimization.

TRACKING AI VISIBILITY (Until Google Adds AI Reports)

Use these tools:

●      Semrush AI Toolkit → Tracks citations across Google, Bing, ChatGPT, Perplexity

●      Ziptie → Monitors brand mentions inside AI models

●      Brand24 or Mention → Real-time UGC tracking

FINAL CHECKLIST — AI MODE STRATEGY 2025–2026

Task	Action	Done
Crawlability	Fix robots.txt, sitemap, mobile UX	☐
Fan-Out SEO	Structure pages with FAQs + H2s	☐
Entities & Schema	Use advanced schema + link to Wikipedia entities	☐
Multimedia	Add YouTube, image, and audio-based support	☐
Off-Page UGC	Build Reddit, Quora, YouTube presence	☐
Google Business	Fully optimized & verified	☐
Merchant Center	Updated feed, images, prices	☐
Earned Media	Run digital PR, get cited in industry content	☐
AI Audit	Monitor mentions in Gemini, ChatGPT, Bing, Perplexity	☐

Summary: What You Must Do Now

1. Shift your mindset: Ranking is no longer enough — get cited in AI answers.
   
   
2. Update your content: Use fan-out logic, multimedia, and real-world insights.
   
   
3. Show up in the right places: Reddit, YouTube, product pages, Google Business.
   
   
4. Build trust across the web: Google uses entities, schema, and mentions.
   
   
5. Track your presence in AI: Use tools to monitor how and where you're cited.

How AI Mode Works and How SEO Can Prepare for the Future of Search (Mike King)

1. Understand AI Mode Architecture & Shift

●      Recognize AI Mode as a multi‑phase system, layered atop Google's classic index searchengineland.com+14ipullrank.com+14x.com+14.

●      It leverages:

○      Persistent user context via embeddings (query history, device, clicks) ipullrank.com+5ipullrank.com+5linkedin.com+5.

○      Query fan‑out: one user query spawns many sub‑queries for richer results linkedin.com+6ipullrank.com+6ipullrank.com+6.

○      Multi‑stage LLM orchestration: specialized models summarize, compare, translate, and structure data .

○      Passage‑level semantic retrieval vs page‑level indexing ipullrank.com+9ipullrank.com+9linkedin.com+9.

2. Prepare Content for Query Fan‑Out

●      Decompose key topics into sub‑questions (e.g., “Are probiotics safe?”, “Side effects?”).

●      Use structured headers (H2/H3 FAQs) so each passage answers one sub‑query

●      Ensure discrete, meaningful content chunks — not long, dense blocks linkedin.com+7linkedin.com+7ipullrank.com+7.

3. Optimize for Passage‑Level Relevance

●      Focus on passages, not entire pages. Frame each section to stand alone as a clear answer ipullrank.com.

●      Use semantic triples (Subject–Predicate–Object) to express facts clearly ipullrank.com.

●      Include quantifiable data (statistics, dates, measurements) for higher citation potential linkedin.com+6linkedin.com+6ipullrank.com+6.

●      Enhance readability: short sentences, bullet points, descriptive headings .

●      Avoid generic statements — be specific and unique ipullrank.com.

4. Build Content Presence Beyond Your Site

●      AI Mode values corroborated information across domains linkedin.com+14linkedin.com+14ipullrank.com+14.

●      Publish key facts across: LinkedIn, Reddit, YouTube, guest posts, news releases — aligning messaging everywhere ipullrank.com+2ipullrank.com+2linkedin.com+2.

●      Diversify your content formats: text, images, audio, video for multimodal indexing.

5. Leverage Agentic AI and Relevance Engineering

●      Embrace Agentic AI: systems that complete tasks — optimizing not only for user consumption, but also for AI agent interpretation linkedin.com+1ipullrank.com+1.

●      Develop internal tools to:

○      Chunk content into semantic pieces

○      Simulate fan‑out query coverage

○      Track citations in AI-generated outputs

●      Tools to explore: Qforia, DemandSphere, FetchSERP ipullrank.com+1linkedin.com+1linkedin.com.

6. Refresh Legacy Content

●      Review older pages; break up wall‑of‑text, restructure with headings.

●      Map synthetic queries into content — update sections as needed ipullrank.com.

●      Add semantic triples, data points, and readability improvements.

7. Track AI Mode Behavior & Adapt

●      Use SimilarWeb data to compare new AI Mode referral patterns (only ~4–5% sessions click links vs 24% in traditional search) ipullrank.comipullrank.com+1ipullrank.com+1.

●      Anticipate volatile referral streams; monitor for long-term adoption trends ipullrank.com.

●      Understand your audience: early adopters tend to be tech-savvy, exploratory users ipullrank.com.

8. Redefine SEO KPIs Around Visibility

●      Visibility = being cited, not just ranking or traffic.

●      Focus on:

○      Passage presence in AI output

○      Citations across user contexts & platforms

○      Content surfaced for fan‑out sub‑queries

●      "Traffic" is now a side effect — visibility by AI is the goal.

9. Technical Basics Still Matter

●      Keep your site crawlable, indexable, and mobile‑optimized.

●      Use structured data (schema FAQs, Product, Person, etc.) to help AI understand your content chunks.

Summary Table: AI Mode Optimization Checklist

Strategy	Actions
Fan‑Out Sampling	Create FAQ headings + chunked passages
Semantic Optimization	Use triples, data, readability
Distributed Presence	Publish aligned facts across trusted external sites
Passage‑Level SEO	Optimize chunks, not full pages
Leverage AI Agentic Tools	Use Qforia or custom tools to test relevance
Update Legacy Content	Calculate fan‑out gaps and refresh accordingly
Track Referral Patterns	Use SimilarWeb to compare AI Mode vs standard search
Rethink KPIs	Track citations, not just clicks
Technical Compliance	Mobile-friendly, crawlable, structured data
Adopt Relevance Engineering Mindset	Shift from ranking to AI visibility & trust