# How to optimize for Google AI Overviews without chasing tricks. - working worksheet

Reviewed alongside the Eli guide: https://hireeli.io/resources/optimize-for-google-ai-overviews

## Decision to make

Improve eligibility for Google AI Overviews and AI Mode

Owner: ____________________
Review date: ____________________
Canonical page or destination: ____________________

## Buyer questions

- [ ] Do AI Overviews need special schema?
- [ ] Should I create pages for every fan-out query?
- [ ] Can Search Console show AI performance?

## Evidence-led work plan

### 1. Make the page eligible for normal Search

Google's generative features use its Search index and core ranking systems.

Evidence or artifact: ____________________
Status: [ ] not started  [ ] working  [ ] verified  [ ] blocked

### 2. Create information a buyer would keep

Use first-hand knowledge, original analysis, clear definitions, useful comparisons and current primary sources.

Evidence or artifact: ____________________
Status: [ ] not started  [ ] working  [ ] verified  [ ] blocked

### 3. Measure through Search Console

Use Google's Generative AI performance report where it is available, alongside standard query, page, click and impression data.

Evidence or artifact: ____________________
Status: [ ] not started  [ ] working  [ ] verified  [ ] blocked

### 4. Use Google-visible evidence as the control group

Before attributing a change to an AI Overview, confirm that the underlying page is eligible for normal Google Search: it can be crawled, returns indexable HTML, uses a self-consistent canonical and provides the relevant information visibly.

Evidence or artifact: ____________________
Status: [ ] not started  [ ] working  [ ] verified  [ ] blocked

## Source ledger

- [ ] Google: optimizing for generative AI features: https://developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/ai-optimization-guide
- [ ] Google: creating helpful, reliable, people-first content: https://developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/creating-helpful-content
- [ ] Google: guidance for AI-generated content: https://developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/using-gen-ai-content

## Measurement boundary

Baseline date and exact context: ____________________
7-day observation: ____________________
14-day observation: ____________________
30-day observation: ____________________
Known limitations: ____________________

Keep technical eligibility, citations, recommendations, visits, leads and revenue as separate evidence. This worksheet does not guarantee an external ranking or commercial result.