Google AI Mode Requires Indexed Content for Citation and Linking
Indexing is Essential for AI Mode and AI Overviews
Google has confirmed that for content to appear as a citation or supporting link in Google AI Mode or AI Overviews, the page must be crawled and indexed by Google. This is the same requirement as for appearing in standard Google Search results.
Technical Requirements for Eligibility
According to Google’s help documentation, to be eligible for inclusion:
- The page must be indexed and eligible to show a snippet in Google Search.
- There are no additional technical requirements specifically for AI Mode citations beyond normal search eligibility.
Insights from John Mueller and Testing Results
Google’s John Mueller reiterated on LinkedIn that indexing is a prerequisite for content to be shown as a link in AI Mode. He also emphasized that meeting eligibility requirements doesn’t guarantee inclusion.
Further testing by SEO experts like Dejan confirmed that indexing delays affect AI Overviews similarly to normal search, although AI Overviews may experience longer delays initially.
SEO Importance for AI Visibility
SEO strategies remain critical to ensure content is indexed promptly so it can appear in Google AI Mode and related features. However, whether users click on these AI-generated citations is a separate consideration.
Source: Search Engine Roundtable by barry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz). Read original.
