How to Optimise Your Website for Multimodal Search in 2026
What Is Multimodal Search?
Multimodal search allows a person to use more than written words to find information. Instead of typing “modern office desk Perth,” for example, a user might photograph a desk, upload the image or use a visual search feature and then ask where they can buy something similar.
The search engine has to understand the visual input, identify relevant concepts and connect that information with useful web pages. Your opportunity as a website owner is to make your pages easy for search systems and people to understand.
Why Multimodal Search Matters for SEO in 2026
Google’s current documentation makes clear that search is expanding across AI features, images and other search experiences while traditional SEO fundamentals remain relevant. Google also recommends providing useful local, shopping, image and video content rather than treating AI optimisation as a completely separate discipline.
Google announced in September 2026 that Search Console is rolling out a multimodal search filter in Performance reporting. The reporting covers searches involving Google Lens, Circle to Search on Android, image uploads to Google Search and Chrome’s “Search this image” feature.
For businesses, this means image SEO should be treated as part of the wider search strategy. Product photography, service photos, diagrams, screenshots, maps and other useful visuals can support discovery when they accurately represent the page.
1. Create Helpful Images That Match the Page
Start with relevance. A stock image that merely looks attractive is less useful than an image that genuinely supports the information on the page.
For example, a Perth digital marketing agency could use an authentic image of a campaign dashboard, a website audit, a local business meeting or a clearly labelled process graphic. A service page should show the service being described rather than an unrelated generic office.
Use high-quality images, but avoid unnecessary file sizes. Google’s image guidance highlights image metadata and preferred-image signals as useful ways to help search systems understand which image should represent a page.
2. Write Descriptive Alt Text
Alt text should describe the meaningful content of an image. It is not a place to repeat a keyword dozens of times.
Instead of “SEO SEO SEO Perth digital marketing,” write something such as “digital marketing analytics dashboard showing website traffic and campaign performance.” The description should reflect what is actually visible.
For decorative images, use appropriate empty alt text rather than forcing keywords into every image.
3. Use Clear Image File Names
Before uploading an image, give it a useful filename. perth-seo-audit-dashboard.jpg is more informative than IMG_8392.jpg.
Keep filenames concise, descriptive and accurate. File names are only one signal, so they should support—not replace—good page content.
4. Connect Images to Strong Page Context
An image rarely stands alone. The surrounding heading, paragraph, caption, page title and structured data can help establish what the image represents.
If an image shows a Google Ads campaign dashboard, place it in a section that explains campaign reporting rather than burying it in unrelated content. Consistent context makes the page easier for visitors to understand and gives search systems more information to work with.
5. Improve Your Website’s Structured Data
Structured data helps Google understand the entities and content represented on a page. Google’s documentation lists supported structured-data features including Article, Breadcrumb, Local Business, Organization, Product and several other types.
Use only structured data that accurately represents the visible content. For a local Australian business, accurate organisation and local-business information can help search systems understand who operates the website and where the business serves customers.
6. Strengthen Local SEO Signals
Multimodal search can be particularly relevant to businesses with physical locations or service areas. Keep your business name, address, phone number, service descriptions and location information consistent.
Create genuinely useful local pages rather than producing near-identical pages for every suburb. Include practical information that helps a customer decide whether your business serves their needs.
7. Make Your Content Useful Without AI Filler
AI-powered search does not remove the need for quality content. Google says its guidance for generative AI features continues to emphasise established SEO best practices and non-commodity content. Its documentation also notes that spam policies apply to generative AI responses in Search.
For a business website, this means publishing content based on real expertise, useful examples, original explanations, accurate information and genuine customer needs. Do not create dozens of pages simply by changing a location name or rewriting the same paragraphs.
8. Improve Page Experience
Visual search can bring visitors to pages that were not originally designed as landing pages. Make sure those pages work well on mobile devices, load efficiently and make the next action obvious.
Google’s page-experience guidance recommends paying attention to Core Web Vitals, mobile usability, secure delivery, intrusive interstitials and the overall experience rather than chasing a single ranking signal.
9. Track Multimodal Search Performance
If Search Console has the multimodal search reporting available for your property, use it to establish a baseline. Google says the new reporting can show searches involving Lens, Circle to Search, image uploads and “Search this image” interactions.
Look for pages and images that receive impressions or clicks. Then ask practical questions: Which visual assets are attracting attention? Do the landing pages answer the user’s intent? Are important images properly described? Can the visitor immediately understand the business and its offer?
Multimodal Search SEO Checklist
- Use relevant, high-quality images.
- Write accurate descriptive alt text.
- Use meaningful image filenames.
- Keep image dimensions and file sizes appropriate.
- Place images beside relevant headings and copy.
- Add captions where they genuinely help readers.
- Use accurate structured data.
- Maintain consistent local business information.
- Make important pages mobile-friendly and fast.
- Publish original, useful content rather than repetitive AI-generated pages.
- Review Search Console performance and image visibility regularly.
What This Means for Australian Businesses
For Australian businesses, the practical lesson is straightforward: do not treat images as decoration. Your photographs, diagrams, screenshots, product visuals and other media can become part of how customers discover your website.
A strong strategy combines traditional SEO, useful written content, technical optimisation, local relevance and high-quality visual assets. The goal is not to optimise for one specific search feature. It is to make the business and its information understandable wherever customers search.
Final Thoughts
Multimodal search is becoming a measurable part of the search landscape. Google’s September 2026 Search Console update gives publishers new visibility into this type of discovery, making it easier to understand whether visual search is contributing to website performance.
If your website already has strong technical SEO and useful content, the next step is to make your visual content equally clear, relevant and accessible. Review your images, strengthen their context, improve page experience and monitor the data. These improvements can support both traditional search and newer multimodal experiences.
Digital You helps Australian businesses with SEO, digital marketing, WordPress development, social media and related digital services. If your website needs an SEO and content review, start by identifying the pages and search experiences that matter most to your customers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is multimodal search?
Multimodal search lets users search with multiple forms of input, such as text, images or visual queries. Google is now adding dedicated multimodal reporting to Search Console for qualifying traffic.
Does image SEO still matter in 2026?
Yes. Images remain an important part of search discovery, and Google continues to document image SEO and visual-search-related best practices.
Should I add keywords to every image’s alt text?
No. Alt text should accurately describe the image when the image conveys meaningful information. Keyword stuffing can make the experience worse and does not make an image more useful.
How can I measure multimodal search traffic?
Check Google Search Console’s Performance reporting and look for the multimodal search type filter when it is available for your property. Availability depends on whether your site receives qualifying traffic.
Sources: Google Search Central: Multimodal Search Console reporting, Google Search documentation updates, Google Search appearance documentation, and Google page experience guidance.
