Google is putting more links, and more prominent links, inside its AI answers. On October 15, 2026, Google announced that inline links in AI Overviews and AI Mode will appear higher in responses more often, and that it is testing a section that highlights a business’s or organization’s official website at the top of some answers. You don’t need a special “AI” setup to be one of those links: Google says the same pages that can appear in regular Search, with a snippet, are the ones it can link from its AI features.
So the real question for a small business owner isn’t “how do I hack AI search?” It’s “is my website clear, crawlable and genuinely useful enough to be the link Google picks?” Here’s what changed, what it means for a Surrey or Metro Vancouver business, and what to check this month.
What did Google actually change on October 15?
In a post titled “More ways to connect with the web from Search”, Google’s VP of Product Management for Search, Hema Budaraju, described five updates to AI Mode and AI Overviews:
- Inline links placed higher. Google says it has made continued and substantial increases to inline links in its AI experiences, and is now launching changes so they appear higher in responses more often.
- An “official sites” section (a test). For some searches, Google is testing a section at the top of the answer that shows official pages, with a short note on why each link is useful.
- Richer related-article links. Links at the end of some AI responses get image thumbnails and a more clickable design.
- More news carousels. Article carousels are starting to roll out to more locations and languages, and they highlight the reader’s Preferred Sources.
- Clickable creator names (a test). Creator and publisher names on video results in AI Mode may link to their profiles.
Google didn’t list which countries get each change first, and two of the five are tests. So don’t expect every search in Canada to look different tomorrow. The direction is clear, though: Google wants its AI answers to send people to websites more visibly than before.
Why does this matter for a small business in BC?
When someone asks Google “who fixes commercial HVAC in Surrey?” or “what should I check before hiring a bookkeeper in Langley?”, an AI Overview may now answer first. If that answer links to your page, you get a visitor who already trusts the context. If it links to a directory, a competitor or nobody, you don’t.
The “official sites” test is the part to watch. When a searcher is clearly looking for a specific business or organization, Google may point straight to that organization’s own website. That only helps you if Google can easily tell which website is officially yours, and if that site actually answers the question.
Do I need to do anything special to appear in Google’s AI answers?
No. Google’s own documentation on AI features and your website says there are no additional requirements to appear in AI Overviews or AI Mode, and no other special optimizations are necessary. A page has to be indexed and eligible to show in Google Search with a snippet. That’s it.
The same page says you don’t need new machine-readable files, AI-specific text files or special schema markup for these features. If someone is selling you a “guaranteed AI Overview placement” package, be sceptical. Nobody can guarantee it, and Google is explicit that meeting the requirements doesn’t guarantee a page will be crawled, indexed or shown.
What Google does recommend is ordinary, good SEO:
- Let Google crawl your site (check your robots.txt and that your host or firewall isn’t blocking Googlebot).
- Link your important pages to each other so they’re easy to find.
- Give visitors a good page experience on phones and desktops.
- Keep important information in real text, not only inside images or PDFs.
- Make sure any structured data matches what’s visible on the page.
How do I make it obvious that my website is the official one?
This is where many local businesses lose out, often without knowing it. Small inconsistencies make it harder for Google to connect your business with your website. Check these:
- Your Google Business Profile links to the right website. Not an old domain, a Facebook page or a booking platform. You can update it by following Google’s edit your Business Profile instructions.
- Your name, address and phone number match everywhere. Same business name on your website, Google profile, social accounts and directories. If you moved suites or changed numbers, update all of them.
- Your website has a clear About and Contact page. Who you are, where you operate (for example, Surrey, Delta and the Fraser Valley) and how to reach you.
- One website, not three. Old microsites and abandoned domains confuse both people and search engines. Redirect them to your main site.
What kind of content gets linked in AI answers?
AI answers are built to respond to questions, so pages that answer a specific question clearly have the best chance of being useful as a link. Google’s guidance on creating helpful, reliable, people-first content is the best checklist here. It asks whether your content provides original information, whether it’s written by someone with real experience, and whether a reader would leave feeling they learned enough to reach their goal.
For a small business, that usually means:
- Answer the questions customers actually ask you. Your front-desk staff and sales inbox are the best keyword research you have. “Do you service strata buildings?”, “How long does a permit take in Surrey?”, “Do you work weekends?”
- Put the answer near the top. One or two plain sentences, then the detail.
- Show real experience. Explain how you actually do the work, what you’ve seen go wrong, and who wrote the page.
- Keep service pages specific. One page per main service, with what’s included, the areas you cover and how to get started.
How can I tell if AI search is sending me visitors?
Google says traffic from AI Overviews and AI Mode is included in the Search Console Performance report under the “Web” search type. It isn’t broken out separately, so you won’t see an “AI Overviews” line. Instead, watch the trend for the pages and questions that matter most to you, and compare clicks and impressions month to month.
Your checklist for this month
- Confirm your website appears in Google: search site:yourdomain.com and check your key pages are there.
- Set up or log in to Google Search Console and look for indexing or crawl problems.
- Check that your Google Business Profile links to your main website and your details match the site.
- List the ten questions customers ask you most, and check whether your website answers each one clearly.
- Rewrite the first two sentences of your top service pages so they answer the main question directly.
- Make sure important details (services, areas, hours) are in plain text, not only in images.
- Redirect or retire old domains and duplicate pages.
- Note your current Search Console clicks and impressions so you can compare in a month.
If you’d like help working through this, our SEO services cover technical checks, Google Business Profile and content, and our AI search visibility service looks at how your business appears in AI answers and assistants.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pay Google to appear in AI Overviews?
No. The organic links inside AI Overviews and AI Mode aren’t sold. Google Ads is a separate product, and ads are labelled as ads.
Do I need an llms.txt file or special schema for AI Overviews?
Google says no. Its AI features documentation states you don’t need new machine-readable files, AI text files or special schema markup to appear in AI Overviews or AI Mode.
Will AI Overviews reduce traffic to my website?
It depends on the search. Some quick questions get answered without a click. Google’s October update moves links higher in AI answers more often, so pages that are clearly the best source have a better chance of earning the visit.
Is the “official sites” section available in Canada?
Google described it as a test and didn’t say which countries are included. Getting your website and Google Business Profile consistent now means you’re ready either way.
How long before changes to my site show up?
Google needs to recrawl your pages, which can take anywhere from days to months. You can request indexing of an updated page in Search Console’s URL Inspection tool.
Not sure where this leaves you? Call (604) 401-0699 or tell us what you need.
Sources: Google, “More ways to connect with the web from Search” (October 15, 2026); Google Search Central, AI features and your website; Google Search Central, Creating helpful, reliable, people-first content; Google Business Profile Help, Edit your Business Profile.
By Siddharth Suri, founder of Digital Allo.
