Google can now answer a local question with an AI Overview, or a whole conversation in AI Mode, before anyone scrolls to the map. That raises questions most guides skip: is your site even allowed to show up, can you see when it does, and why might Google's AI call your front desk? Here are the six checks we run for clients.
How do AI Overviews and AI Mode pick a local business?
They pull from the same places regular Google Search does: pages in Google's index and the business data behind Google Maps and your Business Profile. Google says there are no extra requirements and no special AI files or markup. If a page is indexed and can show a snippet, it's eligible.
The difference is how the answer gets built. Google's guide to generative AI features says both may use "query fan-out," running several related searches at once and combining the results. So a question like "who can fix hail damage on an older home in Fort Worth" might draw on a roofer's service page, its review summary and a local directory in one answer.
1. Is your site actually allowed in Google's AI answers?
Probably, but check. Since August 31, 2026, every Search Console property has a "Search generative AI" setting. Include is the default. Exclude removes your links and content from AI Overviews, AI Mode and AI features in Discover, and you get no traffic or impressions from them. Make sure nobody flipped it.
Open Search Console, go to Settings, then Search generative AI. A child property can inherit from its parent, so check the top-level property too. Google's help page covers each option.
A Squarespace note: the "Block known artificial intelligence crawlers" box under Settings > Crawlers is a different switch. It asks bots like GPTBot and Google-Extended not to crawl your site, and Google says Google-Extended doesn't affect Search inclusion. If you see those bots listed in a default Squarespace robots.txt, don't panic. They share the standard rules for every crawler and aren't blocked.
2. Can you see when Google's AI shows your site?
Yes, partly. Search Console's Generative AI performance report shows how often your pages appeared in AI Overviews and AI Mode, broken down by page, country, device and date. It shows impressions only. There are no search queries, no clicks and no position. Clicks from AI answers are counted in the regular Performance report under Web.
If you can't find the report, Google says that usually means your site hasn't had enough AI impressions yet. That's common for a small local site. Or the site is excluded (see check 1).
Google Analytics won't fill the gap. Its AI Assistant channel leaves out AI Overviews and AI Mode, which we covered in what to check in Google Analytics.
3. Is your front desk ready for a call from Google's AI?
It should be. AI Mode can call local businesses for a customer to check prices, availability or appointments, and Google says it calls when a business has limited information online. Google's help page says these automated calls work in every US state except Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Montana and Nebraska. Texas businesses can get them.
What to do:
- Tell whoever answers the phone. A clear, honest answer helps the customer who asked. Google also warns that anyone asking for money to keep you on Google isn't Google.
- Put the basics online. Starting prices, service menus and how to book give Google less reason to call. Google says stores sharing in-store product details through Merchant Center won't get inventory calls.
- Choose on purpose. In your Business Profile, under More > Business Profile settings > Advanced settings, you can switch "Bookings and inquiries from customers" on or off. We'd leave it on if someone reliably answers. Google's help page has the details.
4. What does Google's AI say about you, and how do you fix it?
Search your business name in AI Mode and ask what a customer would: hours, service area, whether you do a specific job. If something's wrong, fix the source first. That's usually your website, your Business Profile or an old directory listing. Then give the answer a thumbs-down. On an AI Overview, choose Report a problem and say what's wrong.
Reviews matter here too. Google says its AI review summaries are built from reviews from the past year, so a rough stretch last spring can still color the summary. Our Google Business Profile checklist covers asking for and replying to reviews. For other AI tools, try our ChatGPT self-test.
5. Do you need a page for every DFW suburb?
No. Many local SEO playbooks still say to make a page for each city, like "plumber Keller" and "plumber Burleson," with the same text and a new city name. Google warns against exactly that, and one solid page per service does more.
Google's AI guide says making content for every search variation mainly to steer rankings or AI answers breaks its scaled content abuse policy, and its spam policies list pages "targeted at specific regions or cities that funnel users to one page" as doorway abuse.
Write each service page from real jobs: what you see in older Fairmount or Arlington Heights homes, what changes during hail or freeze season, how scheduling works, which areas you cover and what you don't do. Google's guide calls this "non-commodity" content and says it will likely matter more over time than any other tip in the guide.
6. What can you skip?
According to Google, you can skip an llms.txt file, "chunking" pages into tiny pieces, rewriting content just for AI, chasing inauthentic mentions and special AI schema. None of them are needed for Google Search. Spend that time on your pages instead.
Structured data is still worth having for rich results, but it isn't required for AI features, and it should match what's visible on the page. Google also says no third-party tool has access to its internal ranking or AI systems.
Want help?
Sovic Creative handles SEO and search analytics for Fort Worth and DFW businesses as part of our digital marketing work, and we build sites that are easy for both people and Google to read through website development. Questions? Check our FAQ or contact us.
FAQs
Do I need to do anything special to show up in Google AI Overviews? No. Google says there are no extra requirements. Your page must be indexed and eligible to show a snippet, and your site must be included in Search generative AI features in Search Console, which is the default.
Does blocking AI crawlers on Squarespace remove me from AI Overviews? No. Squarespace's AI crawler box asks Google-Extended and other AI bots not to crawl, and Google says Google-Extended doesn't affect Search. AI Overviews and AI Mode are controlled by the Search generative AI setting in Search Console.
Can I see AI Overviews and AI Mode traffic in Search Console? You can see impressions in the Generative AI performance report, by page, country, device and date. It doesn't show queries or clicks. Clicks from AI answers are counted in the regular Performance report.
Why is Google's AI calling my business? A customer likely asked AI Mode to check your prices, availability or booking. Google calls when that information isn't online. You can turn these calls off in your Business Profile's advanced settings.
How do I fix wrong information about my business in AI Mode? Correct the source first, usually your website or Business Profile. Then give the answer a thumbs-down. On an AI Overview, choose Report a problem and explain what's wrong. Changes aren't instant, so check again in a few weeks.
