Google's own guidance for AI Overviews and AI Mode says there are no additional requirements to appear in them, and that you don't need new machine-readable files, AI text files or special structured data. The same SEO basics that get a page into Google Search are what get it quoted.
That matters because owners are being sold the opposite. A page is eligible to appear as a supporting link in Google's AI features if it's indexed and can be shown in Search with a snippet. The work is making sure your facts are on the page, in text, and say the same thing everywhere.
The order we'd follow:
- Put your prices, services, hours and area on the website as text.
- Answer the questions customers actually ask, on the page they'd land on.
- Make your Google Business Profile match the website, word for word where you can.
- Treat structured data and llms.txt as tidy-up, not a shortcut.
AI answers are built from text that's easy to find and check
When someone asks "where can I get a keratin treatment near Bishan under $200", the answer is assembled from pages that state those facts plainly. A price list inside an Instagram story, or a timetable that only exists as an image, can't be quoted. A short text table on your services page can.
Google's list of what still matters is ordinary: allow crawling in robots.txt, link your important pages from your own site, make important content available as text, give visitors a good page experience and keep your Business Profile up to date. None of it needs a developer for long.
1. Your key facts are written, not pictured
Check that each service page says what it is, who it's for, the price or "from" price, how long it takes and where you are. Put your address area and nearest MRT station in text on the contact page. If your fee sheet is a PDF or an image, add the main numbers as text on the page too.
2. Each common question has an answer on the right page
Scroll through last month's WhatsApp chats and list the questions you answer most: parking, trial classes, what to bring, cancellation rules. Answer each one in a sentence or two on the page where it belongs. A tuition centre's "Is there a trial class?" belongs on the classes page, not buried in a separate FAQ nobody opens.
3. FAQ markup is optional, and won't win you a box
Since August 2023, Google has shown FAQ rich results only for well-known, authoritative government and health websites. Adding FAQPage structured data to a salon's site won't bring those expandable answers back in Search. Keep any FAQ markup you have, since Google says there's no need to remove it, but write the answers for people first.
4. Structured data should repeat what the page already says
Structured data is a small block of code that labels facts for search engines: your business name, hours, address area, services. Google's advice for AI features is that structured data should match the visible text on the page. Use it to confirm what's written, never to say something the page doesn't.
5. llms.txt is a proposal, so don't pay for it
llms.txt is a suggested file that lists a site's key pages in a format AI tools can read. It's a community proposal, not a standard, and Google says you don't need AI text files to appear in its AI features. Some sites, ours included, publish one because it's quick to write. If a vendor charges you for it, spend the money on rewriting your services page instead.
6. Your profile and website agree with each other
Conflicting facts are worse than missing ones. If your Google Business Profile says you close at 9pm, your website says 8pm and your Instagram bio says "open late", an AI answer may pick any of them. Choose the true version and make every place say it. Our Google Maps and website checklist walks through the profile side.
7. You can measure the results for free
Traffic from AI Overviews and AI Mode is counted in Search Console's Performance report, inside the normal "Web" search type. Verify your site there if you haven't, so you can see which pages get impressions and clicks over the next few months.
Give it three months before you judge. Rewrite one page at a time, starting with the service page that gets the most visits, and note the date you changed it so you can compare before and after.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an llms.txt file to appear in AI search?
No. Google says you don't need new machine-readable files or AI text files to appear in AI Overviews or AI Mode. llms.txt is a community proposal that some sites publish, but it isn't required.
Does FAQ structured data still help small business websites?
Not for rich results. Since August 2023 Google shows FAQ rich results only for well-known government and health sites. Answering real questions on the page still helps visitors and search.
How do I know if my site appears in Google's AI Overviews?
Search Console counts AI Overviews and AI Mode traffic in the Performance report under the Web search type. It isn't reported separately, so watch impressions and clicks on the pages that answer common questions.
How Furoki can help
Furoki Marco checks how Google, Google Maps and AI assistants see your business across 10 areas, including crawling, page titles, speed on phones, local presence and AI search readiness. You get a score out of 100 and the fixes ranked by impact, free, with no sign-up, in about two minutes.
Run a free Marco audit to see which of these seven checks your site already passes.
