Google Moves Inline Links Higher in AI Mode and AI Overviews
Google says links to websites will appear higher in AI answers more often, and it is testing a box for official sites at the top.
Google announced on October 15 that it is placing inline links higher in AI Mode and AI Overviews, according to Search Engine Journal. The post, from Google product VP Hema Budaraju, reports "continued and substantial increases" in inline links but gives no figures. Inline links are the source links shown right inside the AI answer.
9to5Google adds the other changes. The "Dive Deeper" links at the end of some answers now get image thumbnails and a more clickable design. Carousels of timely articles that feature your Preferred Sources are expanding to more locations and languages, and Google says use of Preferred Sources has grown 7x since launch.
Two items are tests with limited availability. One is a section at the top of AI responses for sites that are the "one or two official places on the web" to finish a task, with a note on why each link helps. The other is clickable creator and publisher names on AI Mode video results, which lead to Search profiles. Search Engine Journal notes Search Console counts all links in an AI Overview as one position, so moving a link higher will not change its reported position.
If customers find you through Google, make sure your site is eligible for AI features in Search Console and consider asking your readers to add you as a Preferred Source. If you are the official place to book, pay or get a refund, keep that page clear and current, since that is the kind of site the new test targets.
- Google Puts Inline Links Higher In More AI Search Responses (Search Engine Journal)
- Google AI Mode and AI Overview link updates (9to5Google)
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