How to feature in Google’s AI results: a strategic guide
Search is changing as fast as ever. Where once SEO was about keywords and clicks, now Google’s AI-powered results are reshaping how brands appear online. Visibility, not just traffic, has become a key metric. So how do you make sure you show up in these AI-driven answers?
In this guide, we’ll show how expert content, community platforms like Quora and multi-platform strategies can help your brand appear in AI Overviews and AI Mode.
Why Google’s AI visibility matters
AI is reshaping how brands are discovered online. Visibility in Google’s AI results is now as important as traditional rankings or clicks. Understanding AI Overviews and AI Mode is essential for shaping your marketing strategy.
- AI Overviews: These appear automatically in traditional search results and take insights from multiple sources. They provide users with quick, high-level answers, even without clicking through to the source. Being cited here tells Google that your content is authoritative and trustworthy.
- AI Mode: A more interactive, opt-in experience (currently used by only 3% of Google search users in the UK, but highly engaged).
Why AI visibility is relevant for your brand or business:
AI search tools and generative platforms like ChatGPT are changing how people find information. Because of this, business goals have shifted. Instead of chasing clicks, the priority is now visibility at the top of the funnel. It’s no longer only about ranking organically or through paid search, you need to be sharing trusted and relevant content to be sourced by AI. Businesses that recognise these trends now will have the upper hand.
Why are community platforms like Quora a top source for AI results?
AI favours knowledge-based, expert-driven communities. Platforms like Quora and LinkedIn are a perfect fit because Google’s AI tends to cite authoritative sources with structured, high-quality content.
- Quora is the most cited source in Google AI Overviews and the third most cited in AI Mode.
- With over 400 million users on Quora and over 1.1 billion members on LinkedIn, their content feeds into wider search visibility beyond the platforms themselves.
What content performs best in Google’s AI?
The content Google’s AI rewards the most is substance, clarity and credibility over exact keywords. Understanding what works can help your content get cited in AI Overviews and AI Mode.
Insights uncovered through Quora and AI research:
- Substance over keywords: AI isn’t keyword-driven. It values clarity, completeness, and trustworthy perspectives.
- Engagement matters: Quora reports that threads with 37+ replies were more likely to be cited. Discussion signals validation.
- Relevance algorithm: 90% of cited replies were marked relevant by Quora’s own systems.
- Combined sourcing: Google AI rarely lifts an entire answer. Instead, it rephrases insights from multiple sources.
Practical takeaways for AI-friendly content
Write answers with 2 – 3 structured points, break down your thinking with bullets and add examples. Clarity and completeness make your content AI-friendly.
Best practices for AI-friendly answers
Creating answers that get cited in Google AI Overviews and AI Mode requires more than just responding to questions. Follow these best practices:
- Start with a direct, clear answer, then expand with context and comparisons.
- Use formatting like bullets, short paragraphs and bold text to make content easy to scan.
- Phrase answers in a way that encourages replies and comments to increase engagement.
- Write consistently around the same core topics to strengthen your visibility. But be sure not to just copy and paste, be purposeful and helpful.
- Show expertise. Include first-hand experiences, professional credentials, and unique insights to strengthen E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) signals.
- Repurpose content strategically. Adapt blogs, FAQs, or internal knowledge into answers, ensuring relevance and quality.
Think multi-platform, not single source
Don’t rely on platforms like Quora alone. Google AI pulls from multiple platforms, including LinkedIn and Reddit. Be present where your audience seeks expertise and maintain consistent themes across platforms.
Key points:
- Diversify your presence: Post answers on Quora, LinkedIn, Reddit and other relevant industry forums to increase the chances of your expertise being cited.
- Align messaging: Maintain consistency in themes and topics across platforms to establish topical authority and enhance AI recognition.
- Engage across platforms: Respond to comments, upvote or share relevant content and link between posts to create a network of authoritative content.
- Track performance: Monitor which platforms drive citations in AI Overviews or engagement, then focus efforts on high-performing channels.
- Repurpose content: Use blogs, FAQs, or internal knowledge to create content tailored for each platform while maintaining a consistent brand voice.
Experts are the differentiator
With AI lowering the barrier to content creation, authority and expertise are what set you apart in AI results. This is built on first-hand experiences, unique perspectives and professional credibility through titles, credentials and reputation.
People want insights from real experts, not just rephrased generic information. Businesses that elevate expert voices are more likely to appear in AI-driven results.
Final thoughts
Visibility in Google’s AI results isn’t about keywords; it’s about showing up as a trusted expert consistently. By combining platforms like Quora for engagement with a multi-platform strategy, your business can secure a place in the evolving search landscape.
Looking for in Google’s AI search results?
Trio helps businesses do just that. We show you how to optimise your expert content for Quora and beyond, advise on best practices and create content that highlights your authority. The result? Your insights reach the right audience, build trust and drive measurable SEO impact.
