Search is becoming increasingly visual.
People no longer need to type every query into Google.
They can point a camera at a product, upload an image, use Circle to Search or ask an AI-powered search engine a question about something they see.
That shift makes multimodal search SEO in 2026 increasingly important for businesses.
On September 24, 2026, Google introduced new Search Console reporting for web multimodal search. The report helps website owners understand how their content appears when people search with images.
The data can include activity from Google Lens, Circle to Search, uploaded images and Chrome’s “Search this image” feature.
You can read Google’s announcement in the official multimodal Search Console update.
So, what should businesses actually do?
This guide explains how visual search works, what Google is now reporting and how to prepare your website for image-based and AI-driven discovery.
What Is Multimodal Search?
Multimodal search allows a search system to understand more than text.
It may combine:
- Images
- Text
- Camera input
- Voice
- Context
For example, imagine seeing a chair in a hotel.
Instead of describing it with keywords, you could photograph it and ask Google:
“Where can I buy something like this in India?”
The search engine can analyse the image, understand the object and combine that information with the written question.
Google previously expanded this behaviour through Lens and multimodal capabilities in AI Mode.
You can see Google’s explanation of multimodal search in AI Mode.
Why Multimodal Search SEO Matters in 2026
Traditional SEO is not disappearing.
However, the ways people discover websites are expanding.
A potential customer may now discover your business through:
- A normal Google search
- Google Images
- Google Lens
- AI Overviews
- AI Mode
- Google Discover
- Circle to Search
- An image uploaded into Search
Therefore, businesses should not optimize only their written content.
Images are becoming part of the searchable information layer.
That is particularly important for:
- eCommerce stores
- Interior designers
- Restaurants
- Fashion brands
- Real estate companies
- Manufacturers
- Travel businesses
- Local businesses
- Agencies
Google’s own 2026 guidance also says useful image and video content can contribute to visibility in generative AI search experiences.
For more detail, read Google’s official guidance on optimizing for generative AI in Search.
Google Search Console Can Now Show Multimodal Search Data
This is one of the most important changes for SEOs this year.
Previously, visual-search activity could be difficult to separate clearly.
Google now provides a dedicated multimodal search type filter.
Website owners can use it inside Search Console performance reports.
According to Google, the data includes searches using:
- Google Lens
- Circle to Search on Android
- Image uploads
- Chrome’s Search this image feature
This means businesses can finally measure whether users are discovering their pages through visual interactions.
How to Check Multimodal Search Traffic
Start inside Google Search Console.
Open your performance report.
Then look for the new multimodal search-type filter.
If your site has enough relevant activity, you can analyse:
- Impressions
- Clicks
- Pages appearing in visual search
- Changes over time
Google also allows users to export the report.
Therefore, larger businesses can combine the data with analytics or reporting dashboards.
Multimodal Search and AI Search Are Starting to Connect
The change is bigger than Google Lens alone.
Google also added multimodal reporting to its Generative AI performance reporting.
That means website owners can better understand visibility across modern AI-driven search experiences.
Google’s dedicated Generative AI Search Console report can show impressions from features such as AI Overviews and AI Mode.
This supports an important strategy for 2026.
Businesses should optimize content so both traditional search engines and AI systems can understand it.
1. Use Original Images Whenever Possible
Generic stock images rarely add unique information.
Original visuals can.
For example, a software company can publish:
- Real dashboard screenshots
- Architecture diagrams
- Before-and-after interfaces
- Workflow diagrams
- Product screenshots
- Project examples
An eCommerce brand can publish original product photography from several angles.
A manufacturer can show products in real-world environments.
A service company can show actual project results.
Original images make your page more useful to both humans and visual-search systems.
2. Write Descriptive Image Alt Text
Alt text helps describe an image.
It is useful for accessibility and can also give search engines context.
Bad alt text looks like this:
image123.jpg
Or:
best SEO SEO company SEO service website SEO
That second example is keyword stuffing.
A better alternative would be:
Google Search Console dashboard showing multimodal search performance data
The description is clear and natural.
Google’s image SEO best-practices guide recommends helping Google discover images and giving the landing page meaningful context.
3. Put Images Near Relevant Text
Context matters.
If an image shows a checkout dashboard, place it near content discussing checkout performance.
Do not place unrelated images randomly throughout an article.
Search systems use surrounding information to understand what an image represents.
This also improves the reading experience.
4. Use Meaningful File Names
Before uploading an image, rename it.
A filename such as:
IMG_874921.jpg
provides little useful context.
A clearer filename could be:
google-multimodal-search-console-report-2026.jpg
Keep filenames descriptive.
However, avoid stuffing many keywords into them.
5. Compress Images Without Destroying Quality
Large image files can slow a website.
That creates a poor user experience.
At the same time, extreme compression can make images difficult to understand.
The goal is balance.
Use modern formats where appropriate and resize images to realistic display dimensions.
For websites built through our web development services, image optimization is considered alongside overall page performance and responsive design.
6. Make Images Responsive
A high-resolution desktop image should not break the layout on a phone.
Images should adapt to the user’s screen.
This matters because visual searches often begin on mobile devices.
A person may photograph a product using their phone and move directly into a search experience.
Therefore, your landing page should work smoothly when they arrive.
Our earlier guide to mobile-first website design explains why mobile usability affects the broader customer journey.
7. Create Useful Product Images for eCommerce
Visual search creates an especially interesting opportunity for eCommerce brands.
A shopper may search by photographing:
- Shoes
- Furniture
- Jewellery
- Home décor
- Clothing
- Electronics
- Accessories
If your product pages contain clear, original and well-structured imagery, search systems have more information to work with.
Useful product photography can include:
- Front view
- Side view
- Detail view
- Product in use
- Scale reference
- Colour variations
Businesses planning a better commerce experience can explore our eCommerce development services.
8. Improve the Page Around the Image
Image SEO is not separate from page SEO.
The page itself still matters.
Make sure the page contains:
- A clear title
- Useful headings
- Relevant written content
- Fast loading
- Mobile usability
- Internal links
- Structured information
Google explicitly says the landing page affects image discovery and understanding.
Therefore, uploading hundreds of images to thin pages is not a good strategy.
9. Use UI/UX Design to Improve Visual Search Landing Pages
Search visibility is only the first step.
The visitor still has to understand the page.
Imagine someone searches a chair with Google Lens and lands on your product page.
If the page contains:
- Unclear pricing
- Poor images
- A hidden Add to Cart button
- Slow loading
- Confusing product options
the traffic may not convert.
That is why visual SEO and user experience should work together.
10. Add Structured Data Where It Matches Visible Content
Structured data can help search engines understand information on a page.
However, schema is not a shortcut to ranking.
The structured data should accurately describe information visible to users.
For ecommerce pages, that may include product information.
For articles, it can include article information generated by your SEO plugin.
For images with licensing requirements, Google also supports specific image metadata.
11. Build Topic Context Around Important Images
One strong image is useful.
A complete topic is stronger.
For example, imagine a software company publishes a diagram about microservices.
The surrounding article should explain:
- What microservices are
- When they help
- When they create unnecessary complexity
- How services communicate
- How deployment works
That gives search engines far more context than a diagram alone.
You can see this approach in our guide to microservices architecture.
12. Measure AI Visibility as Well as Normal SEO Traffic
Classic Google Search Console data still matters.
However, businesses should now monitor additional discovery channels.
Google’s Generative AI reporting can help show whether pages appear inside AI-driven search experiences.
The company says these insights were rolled out globally by August 31, 2026.
Therefore, SEO reporting in 2026 should include more than traditional blue-link clicks.
You should monitor:
- Traditional organic clicks
- Search impressions
- Generative AI impressions
- Multimodal search activity
- Conversions from organic traffic
Does Visual Search Mean Traditional SEO Is Dead?
No.
In fact, Google’s own guidance says normal SEO best practices remain foundational to generative AI visibility.
Search engines still need to discover, crawl and understand your website.
Good content still matters.
Internal linking still matters.
Technical performance still matters.
Authority still matters.
The difference is that SEO now includes more formats and more discovery surfaces.
Our existing guide to SEO for small businesses covers many of those foundational principles.
What Businesses Should Do This Week
Start with a simple audit.
- Open Google Search Console.
- Check whether multimodal reporting appears for your property.
- Identify pages receiving visual-search impressions.
- Review the images on those pages.
- Improve filenames and alt text where needed.
- Check mobile performance.
- Add useful original imagery.
- Measure whether those visits generate leads or sales.
Do not redesign the entire website based on one new report.
Start with the pages already showing opportunity.
How NRS Technologies Approaches AI-Era SEO
At NRS Technologies, we do not treat SEO as a checklist of keywords.
Modern search requires coordination between:
- Technical SEO
- Content
- Website performance
- UI/UX
- Structured data
- Images
- Internal linking
- AI-search visibility
- Conversion optimization
Our digital marketing services focus on attracting qualified traffic rather than chasing impressions with no commercial value.
At the same time, our development team can address the technical issues that marketing tools alone cannot fix.
Is Your Website Ready for Visual and AI Search?
Search behaviour is changing quickly.
That does not mean businesses need to chase every new trend.
However, they should make their websites easy for both people and machines to understand.
That includes images.
If your business depends on organic discovery, now is a good time to audit:
- Your image quality
- Alt text
- Mobile UX
- Page speed
- Content structure
- AI-search visibility
- Internal linking
You can review our selected projects to see the digital experiences we build.
You can also learn more about NRS Technologies and our approach to development, design and growth.
Talk to NRS Technologies about improving your website’s search visibility →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is multimodal search SEO?
Multimodal search SEO is the process of making content easier to discover through search experiences that combine text, images, camera input and other forms of information.
Can Google Search Console track Google Lens searches?
Google introduced multimodal search reporting in September 2026. The report can include search activity from Lens, Circle to Search, image uploads and Chrome’s Search this image feature.
Does image alt text help visual search?
Alt text gives search engines and assistive technologies useful context about an image. It should accurately describe the image instead of stuffing keywords.
Do original images help SEO?
Original images can make a page more useful and provide unique information. They are especially valuable when they directly support the content on the page.
Is SEO still important for Google AI Mode?
Yes. Google states that established SEO best practices remain foundational for visibility in its generative AI search experiences.
Can NRS Technologies optimize an existing website for AI search?
Yes. NRS Technologies provides SEO, technical optimization, web development, UI/UX and content strategy services that can support traditional and AI-driven search visibility.
Final Thoughts
Google’s September 2026 Search Console update tells us something important.
Visual discovery is becoming measurable.
That makes images more than decoration.
They are part of your searchable content.
Businesses should therefore combine strong written content with useful images, technical SEO and good user experience.
Do that well, and your website has more opportunities to appear across traditional Search, Images, Lens and emerging AI experiences.
If you want help preparing your website for this new search environment, contact NRS Technologies for an SEO and website review.