How to show up in Google's AI Overviews and AI Mode

More and more Google searches now start with an AI written answer at the top of the page. Here's what that means for a small business, and the plain, sensible things you can do so Google mentions you in it.

If you've searched for anything on Google lately, you'll have seen it. Before the usual list of links, there's often a short summary written by Google's AI, with a few websites linked underneath as sources. That's an AI Overview. Google also added AI Mode in the UK in the summer of 2025, a separate tab where people can ask longer questions and have a back and forth conversation with search.

For a lot of small business owners this raises an obvious worry. If Google answers the question itself, does anyone still click through to my website? And how do I get my business into that answer instead of a competitor's? The good news is that you don't need a new trick or a special tool. You mostly need to do the basics properly.

What AI Overviews actually are

An AI Overview is Google pulling together information from several web pages and writing a short summary. It doesn't make things up from nowhere. It leans on pages Google has already found, indexed and trusts, then links to some of them so people can read more.

AI Mode works in a similar way but goes further. Google has explained that it breaks a question down into smaller related searches, looks at the results for each, and then builds one longer answer with links. So a question like "who can build me a website with online booking near Stoke" might quietly turn into several searches about web designers, booking systems and local businesses all at once.

The important bit for you: both features are built on top of normal Google Search. If your website isn't showing up well in ordinary results, it's very unlikely to be picked as a source in an AI answer.

Do you need to do anything special?

Google's own guidance for website owners is refreshingly clear on this. It says there are no extra requirements and no special optimisation needed to appear in AI Overviews or AI Mode. The same good practice that helps you rank in normal search is what makes a page eligible to be used as a source.

That's worth knowing, because you'll probably start seeing people selling "AI search optimisation" packages. Some of the advice will be sensible. Some of it will just be ordinary SEO with a new label and a bigger price. If anyone promises to get you into AI Overviews, be cautious, because nobody outside Google controls what appears there.

Five practical things that help

1. Answer the questions customers actually ask

AI answers are built from clear, direct information. If your website only says "quality service at competitive prices", there's nothing useful for Google to quote. Think about the questions you get asked on the phone every week. How much does it roughly cost? How long does it take? Do you cover my area? Do you do evenings? Put short, honest answers to those on your site, ideally on the relevant service page or a simple FAQ page.

2. Make it obvious who you are and where you work

Spell out your business name, what you do and the areas you cover in plain words, not just inside a logo or an image. If you're a local business, mention the towns you actually serve. This helps people and it helps Google understand when your business is relevant to a local question.

3. Keep your Google Business Profile up to date

For local searches, Google draws on a lot more than your website. Your Google Business Profile, with your opening hours, services, photos and reviews, is a big part of how Google understands your business. If you haven't looked at yours in a while, my guide on getting found on Google Maps walks through it step by step.

4. Make sure Google can actually read your site

This sounds basic, but it trips up more websites than you'd think. Important information hidden inside images, PDFs or pop ups is harder for Google to use. Pages that load slowly or break on a phone give a poor impression to people and search engines alike. Your key content should be written as normal text on a page that loads quickly. It's also worth setting up Google Search Console, which is free, so you can see which of your pages Google has indexed and spot problems early.

5. Be consistent everywhere

Your business name, address, phone number and what you offer should match across your website, your Google profile, social media and any directories you're listed in. When the details agree, it's easier for Google to trust that the information is right.

Will AI answers mean fewer visitors?

Honestly, for some kinds of search, possibly. If someone just wants a quick fact, they may get it from the AI answer and never click anything. That's been happening in smaller ways for years with featured snippets and the Google Maps results.

But most small businesses don't really rely on people looking up quick facts. You rely on people who are ready to buy, book or get a quote. Those people still want to see your work, check your prices, read your reviews and get in touch. An AI answer might be the first place they hear your name, but your website is still where they decide whether to trust you.

So the job of your website shifts slightly. It needs to be the source Google is happy to point to, and it needs to turn the visitors who do arrive into enquiries. That means clear pricing guidance where you can give it, real photos of your work, an easy way to contact you, and pages that work perfectly on a phone. If your current site falls short on those, that's where I'd start, whether it's a tidy up or a fresh website build.

The bottom line

AI Overviews and AI Mode are a genuine change in how Google looks, and they're not going away. But the way to show up in them is not a secret. Google has said as much itself. Be clear about what you do and where you do it, answer real customer questions in plain English, keep your Google Business Profile current, and make sure your site is fast and easy to read.

Do those things well and you give yourself the best chance of being mentioned, whatever Google's search page ends up looking like next year.