Reviewed 14 October 2026. AI answer formats and source selection change, so treat any visibility check as a dated observation rather than a permanent ranking.
Can my page appear in Google AI features?
Google says a page must be indexed and eligible to appear in Search with a snippet to be shown as a supporting link in AI Overviews or AI Mode. Its standard SEO guidance still applies; no special AI file or markup guarantees inclusion. Begin with the crawl and indexing checklist.
What is the difference between a mention and a citation?
A mention names a business or brand in an answer. A citation is a linked source the interface shows for a particular response. Record the platform, exact question, date, location and whether the result was a mention, citation or neither. One observation cannot establish a trend or prove a lead came from AI search.
What should I improve first?
Make the underlying service pages accurate and accessible, answer real buyer questions clearly, and show evidence for claims. Read the 90-day AI search playbook, SEO in an AI-driven search world and the July 2026 AI search update in that order. Use their dates when judging which advice is current.
Keep a repeatable observation sheet
Record the platform, date, exact question, location or account context where available, business mention, linked citation, destination URL and any factual error. Save enough context to reproduce the check without recording private account information.
Repeat the same question set under comparable conditions. Record "neither" when the business is absent, so unsuccessful checks remain in the sample. For example, report "cited in 2 of 10 checked answers on this date" rather than simply "two citations". This is a small observation sample, not a measure of all users' answers.
Keep these checks separate from actual referral visits and confirmed enquiries. If the answer contains an error about the business, check your own published information first and record what needs correcting.
Can anyone promise citations?
No. Answers vary with query, platform and time. A repeatable question sample can reveal changes to investigate, while Search Console and confirmed enquiries remain separate measures. The AI search optimisation service explains the audit approach. Discuss your site for a tailored quote.
Sources: Google AI features and your website, Google Search essentials. Reviewed 14 October 2026.
