How To Rank in Google’s AI Mode
Alright, so let’s talk about AI mode. Google’s rolling out all sorts of clever updates (AI Mode being the big one), and if it feels like the rules of SEO are changing every five minutes, you’re not imagining things.
Just last week, we gained three new clients, thanks to AI search results. Not paid ads. Not cold calls. Just good SEO tweaks that hit the right notes with the new AI-driven algorithms. So if you’re wondering how to have your company show up in those smart AI-written summaries and overviews, you’re on the right blog!
Here’s the inside tip on just how to do so without having to burn all you’ve learned about SEO based on Google’s latest patents.
Level 1: The Basics Still Matter – A Lot
Start with the basics. First, before Google’s AI even thinks of featuring you, the basics of traditional SEO need to be in prime shape. Boring? Maybe. But important? Yes. Make sure:
- Your on-page search engine optimisation is sorted – titles, headings, file names, internal linking, all that stuff.
- Your Core Web Vitals are not terrible. Your site will load in a flash and work on mobiles. Google is “mobile-first” after all.
- You have added Schema markup – basically code that informs Google what your page is about.
- Your business information (NAP) doesn’t vary anywhere. That is, your name, address, and phone number don’t fluctuate from directory site to directory site.
- GA4 is measuring conversions such as bookings, downloads, form fills – whatever is important to your business.
- Your UX isn’t terrible. If folks bounce or fail to scroll, AI gets the message and continues on.
It’s dull, but it’s foundation. Without it, you wouldn’t even receive an invitation to the AI party.
Level 2: Content That Actually Helps People (and AI Notices It)
This is where things get interesting. Google’s AI no longer just looks for keywords – it breaks down a search into a whole lot of smaller questions (they call this “query fan-out”) and then searches for pages that actually provide answers to them.
So your written content? It needs to do something more than merely state the thing. It needs to be answered. Correctly.
Let’s say someone types in: “how to decrease LDL cholesterol.” The AI isn’t merely answering that exactly. It’s also thinking about things like:
- What foods decrease LDL?
- Is LDL the same as HDL?
- Should this person see a physician?
- What are the risks of high cholesterol?
What to do:
- Create topic clusters that meet what your target audience is really searching for and where they are in the buying cycle (just browsing, ready to buy, panicking at 2am, etc.)
- Use tools like Google Notebook LLM to examine actual sub-questions surfaced when someone chats with Google Gemini.
- Add FAQs, lists, comparisons, ‘People Also Ask’ style sections. Anything that facilitates making it easy to answer stuff quickly and simply.
- Shorten your paragraphs and keep them well-organized. AI grabs excerpts from such content.
- Make your titles explicit. Like, “Best foods to lower LDL.”
- Freshen up your old content. AI is not a fan of the old one.
Content types that work ridiculously well right now:
- X vs Y comparison
- “Before you buy…” guides
- “Alternatives to…” pages
- Original research, interviews with experts
- Case studies and price breakdowns
- Helpful tools and resources
- Decision-focused, long-tail content for action-ready individuals
Basically, help people make decisions, AI loves that.
Level 3: Build a Brand People (and AI) Trust
Google’s AI is not dumb. It doesn’t look at your site and say “okay, rank this.” It needs to trust you. Here’s what works:
- Loads of good reviews. Google, Trustpilot, industry sites, wherever.
- Brand mentions on other sites, even without links. Forums like Reddit, directories like Foursquare, blogs, that kind of thing.
- Consistent messaging. Don’t claim one thing on LinkedIn and another on your site. Confuses people and the algorithm.
- Strong branding across your site, socials, Google Business Profile, the works.
- Local signals like partnerships, sponsorships, community events (if local traffic is high on your priority list).
- Real people. Real names. Real qualifications. Show your team. AI wants to know you’re not just a generic faceless company.
Ahrefs recently said branded mentions (even without links) seem to make the biggest difference when it comes to showing up in AI Overviews. So yeah, that matters.
Level 4: Be Visible Everywhere (Not Just Google)
The thing is, AI pulls content from everywhere, not just your site. So if you’re not showing up on the channels your audience are on you’re missing out. That includes:
- Reddit, LinkedIn, X (yep, Twitter)
- YouTube, Google Maps, Google Business
- Quora, Bing, Apple Maps (yes, even those)
Where your customers are looking and answering questions or looking at alternatives, that is where you need to be. Not only visible but engaging. Or else, AI presumes you’re lost. So just have a sneaky look at where your customers actually hang out. Then make sure you’re showing up there in a helpful, helpful way.
Final Thought: Forget Keywords (Well, Not Completely)
This whole thing? It’s not really about keywords anymore. Or rankings, in the old-school sense. AI is looking for semantic fit, relevance, trust, and intent. So, if you’re still writing blog posts purely around keyword density time to rethink. The brands that win in AI search are the ones who show up with value, consistency, and clarity.
And if you’re thinking, this sounds like a lot, you’re not wrong. But it’s doable. Want help getting there? Just drop us a message. Happy to walk you through it.
