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AI and SEO news for small businesses: November 2026

Google's AI answers now appear on most searches, according to one trade report that does not say who produced the figure, and Google says it is adding more links to websites inside them. A small study suggests few people click from those answers. Rankings also moved around on 24 October, though Google has not confirmed an update. None of this needs a rush. Checking that your website and contact details are clear is enough for now.

By Best Rated Company · 5 minute read

Key takeaways
  • Google's short AI answers are showing on a large share of searches, so what your website says about your business matters in more places.
  • Google said on 15 October that it is adding more links to websites inside its AI answers, and testing a section for official websites.
  • One small study found few people click from AI answers, but it covered a single website, so do not read too much into it.
  • A ranking wobble on 24 October was not confirmed by Google, so judge your own month by calls and enquiries, not by rumours.

Want to know where your own website stands? Our free check reads it the way Google and AI assistants do and tells you in about ten seconds what it can and cannot see. The full report is £7, paid once, with no subscription.

Are Google's AI answers now showing on most searches?

Search Engine Roundtable, a search news website, reported on 30 October that Google AI Overviews now appear on over 80% of search queries. An AI Overview is the short written answer Google puts above the normal list of results.

The report does not say who produced the figure or which countries it covers. The same weekly recap said Google is testing the removal of the sources box that sits beside some AI Overviews.

What this means for you. Treat the 80% figure as a rough guide, not a fact about your town. Your customers are likely to see these answers often. Which businesses an AI answer names depends partly on what it can read on websites. You can see for yourself: search for what a customer would type, such as your trade and your town, and note whether an AI answer appears and whether it gets your business right. There is more on how AI assistants choose which businesses to name if you want it.

Source: Search Engine Roundtable: Video: Google Volatility X2, Spam Updates, AI Overviews Everywhere...,

Do people actually click on Google's AI answers?

Cyrus Shepard posted a small case study on LinkedIn, reported by Search Engine Roundtable on 30 October. He blocked one website from appearing in AI Overviews and AI Mode, which is Google's chat-style search option, and compared the results.

He estimated that about 0.9% of people who saw the site in AI answers clicked it. He also said clicks on ordinary results dropped while the site was blocked. The reporter called it a very limited study on a small sample.

What this means for you. One website is not enough to prove anything, so please do not change your site because of this. The study hints that being mentioned in AI answers may be linked to how often people click elsewhere, but that is only the author's view. There is no need to block Google's AI features, and nothing here suggests you should.

Source: Search Engine Roundtable: Google AI Overviews & AI Mode 0.9% Click-Through Rate Says Small Opt Out...,

Is Google changing how AI answers link to websites?

Google said on 15 October that it is putting more inline links in its AI answers. Inline links are links built into the words of the answer. It said it is showing them higher up more often.

Google also said it is testing a section at the top of some AI answers for official web pages, with a note on why each link is useful. It is also rolling out news carousels to more places and testing clickable creator profiles on video results.

What this means for you. For a local business, the useful part is the official page test. If someone wants to book or call, Google appears to want to point them to the right official page. That is a good reason to make sure your own website clearly states your name, address, phone number and what you do. Our guide to contact details and trust signals shows what to look for. Nothing here promises that your site will be shown.

Source: Google: AI Mode and AI Overviews updates to explore the web,

Did Google change its rankings in late October?

Search Engine Roundtable reported on 30 October that Google search rankings moved around twice in the week. Its recap describes the changes on 24 October as an unconfirmed update, with a spike in chatter among people who watch search closely.

The report does not say Google confirmed any update, and it does not say who was affected.

What this means for you. Rankings are the order in which websites appear in results. They move around often, and a rumour is not a reason to act. If your phone has been quieter, compare this October with last October for calls, messages and form enquiries. If you see a clear drop that lasts, that is the time to look at your website more closely.

Source: Search Engine Roundtable: Video: Google Volatility X2, Spam Updates, AI Overviews Everywhere...,

Do I need to worry about Google's new Connected Apps?

Search Engine Journal reported on 31 October that Google opened a public preview of its Connected Apps Platform. Google announced it on 28 October. It lets software developers apply to have their apps run inside AI Mode and the Gemini app, which is Google's AI assistant.

According to the report, the apps now working in Search are in the United States and in English. Examples listed include Instacart and Canva. Google said more developers, countries and products will be added over the next few months.

What this means for you. You can ignore this one for now. It is aimed at software developers, and it is not live for UK searchers according to this report.

Source: Search Engine Journal: Google Opens Connected Apps Preview For AI Mode & Gemini,

Is there a simple way to learn how Google Search works?

Google Search Central said on 6 October that it has grouped its YouTube videos into two playlists. One is for beginners. It covers how Google finds and shows web pages, plus how to read Google's Search Console reports. Search Console is Google's tool for website owners.

The second playlist is for developers and technical specialists.

What this means for you. You do not need to watch any of it to run a good business. If you are curious about how your website gets found, the beginners playlist is an official place to start. Skip the technical one.

Source: Google Search Central: New learning paths: curated YouTube playlists for Search fundamentals and...,

What should you do this month?

  1. Search Google for what a customer would type to find you, such as your trade and your town. Write down whether an AI answer appears and whether the details about your business are correct.
  2. Check that your website shows your business name, address, phone number, opening hours and the services you offer, written as plain text on the page.
  3. Note how many calls, messages and enquiries you get this month, so you have your own figures to judge by instead of rumours about rankings.
  4. Run our free website check to see what Google and AI assistants can and cannot read on your site.
  5. If you are curious, watch the first few videos in Google's beginners playlist. It is optional.

Questions people ask

What is an AI Overview on Google?
It is a short written answer that Google can show above the normal list of results. Google writes it using information from websites, and it often includes links to them. Whether one appears depends on what the person searched for.
Can I pay to be named in AI answers?
No one can guarantee it, and you should be cautious of anyone who says they can. What a small business can do is keep its website clear and accurate, with correct contact details and plain descriptions of what it does. We do not sell rankings or AI visibility.
How do I know if Google can read my website properly?
Search for your business name and check that the details shown are right. You can also use a website check tool that reads your site the way Google does. Our free website check does this in about ten seconds.
Should I worry when people say Google has changed its rankings?
Not usually. Rankings move around often, and many reports are rumours that Google has not confirmed. Look at your own calls and enquiries over a few weeks, and only look closer if you see a clear drop that lasts.

Sources and dates

The stories come from the sources listed above, and an AI tool drafts the write-up. A person read and approved this post before it was published. It is general information, not advice for your own business. Figures, names and dates come from the pages above; check them there before you rely on them.

Read more in our guide

See an example reportA whole health check report for an invented business, section by section. The Website Health Check GuideWhat every part of your report means, in plain words, with a short glossary. Being recommended by AI assistantsHow ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity choose who to name, and what you can change.

Try it on your own website

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Type your web address and see in about ten seconds whether Google can read your site, how it looks on a phone and whether AI assistants are being turned away. The full report is £7, paid once, with no subscription.

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