T-12 Google generative Search eligibility must be built on core Search eligibility

Why it matters

AI Overviews and AI Mode draw on pages that Google can already crawl, index and show as snippets. A page that fails those basics, or a site that has switched off generative inclusion without meaning to, will not appear in those answers however well it is optimised. Settling Search eligibility first stops GEO effort being wasted on pages that cannot qualify.

How to implement

1. Open the correct property in Search Console and review the Search generative AI setting, including any inherited or overridden values.
2. Keep the inclusion option switched on if you want visibility, and record any change in the SEO changelog.
3. Use URL Inspection to confirm the page is indexed, and check the canonical, robots, noindex and HTTP status.
4. Check that the main content is visible in Google's render.
5. Review any nosnippet or snippet limits for their effect on generative use.
6. Complete these Search eligibility checks before starting GEO optimisation.

Checklist

• Open the correct property in Search Console.
• Review the Settings, then Search generative AI control.
• If visibility is the goal, keep the "Include my site's links and content..." option switched on.
• If there is a parent and child property structure, check the inherited and overridden preferences.
• Record setting changes in the SEO changelog.
• Confirm with URL Inspection that the page is indexed.
• Check the canonical, robots, noindex and HTTP status.
• Test whether the main content is visible in Google's render.
• If you use nosnippet or snippet limits, manage their effect on generative use deliberately.
• Establish Search eligibility first, then do GEO optimisation.

How to audit

• Verify the Search Console setting with a screenshot or a record.
• Check the setting inherited from the parent property.
• Evaluate the inclusion status together with AI Performance data.
• Check Search Console URL Inspection.
• Check the Google-selected canonical.
• Review the rendered HTML and the snippet controls.

Related controls

• T-13 OpenAI search, training and user-directed crawler roles must be managed separately P0
• T-14 Anthropic crawler roles must be managed separately P1
• T-15 PerplexityBot access must be managed deliberately P1
• T-16 Bing crawl, indexing and AI telemetry must be set up together P1

Sources

• [G17] Search generative AI control
• [G3] Optimizing for generative AI features on Google Search
• [G6] Google Search technical requirements