Google Search is becoming more visual, and website owners can now measure some of that traffic directly. On September 24, 2026, Google announced a new multimodal search filter in Search Console that reports traffic from image-led search experiences such as Google Lens, Circle to Search on Android, image uploads to Google Search, and Chrome’s “Search this image” feature.
For businesses, publishers and ecommerce sites, this matters because people do not always type what they want anymore. They may point a phone camera at a product, upload an image, circle something on a screen, or ask a question that combines an image with text.
What changed in Google Search Console?
Google says the new multimodal search data appears in the Performance reports for Search results and in reporting for generative AI features. If your site receives traffic from these experiences, you can use the new multimodal search type filter to view it and export the data for further analysis.
This does not mean every image on your website will suddenly receive more traffic. It means site owners now have better visibility into a discovery channel that was previously harder to separate from normal search traffic.
What counts as multimodal search?
According to Google’s announcement, the new reporting can include searches that begin through:
- Google Lens — for example, pointing a camera at an object and searching for visually similar or related information.
- Circle to Search on Android — selecting something visible on-screen and searching without leaving the current app.
- Image uploads to Google Search.
- Chrome “Search this image” searches started from an image on a webpage.
That makes visual content more important for businesses whose customers often make decisions based on appearance: ecommerce, fashion, food, real estate, travel, interior design, local services, education, software interfaces and many other categories.
How to check whether visual search is already sending you traffic
- Open Google Search Console for your website.
- Go to the Performance section.
- Open the Search results report or the relevant generative AI features report.
- Look for the new multimodal search type filter.
- Compare queries, pages, clicks and impressions.
- Export the data if you want to compare it with analytics, sales or lead data.
Google says the reporting is rolling out globally. If you do not see meaningful data yet, it may simply mean your website has not received enough measurable traffic from these search experiences.
What website owners should improve now
1. Use images that actually help the visitor
Do not add images merely because an SEO checklist says every page needs one. Images should explain, demonstrate, compare or show something that words alone do not communicate as efficiently.
Examples include product photos from multiple angles, screenshots showing software steps, before-and-after examples, diagrams, charts, real project images and clear photographs of services or locations.
2. Put relevant images near relevant text
Google’s image SEO guidance emphasizes the importance of the image landing page. An image is easier to understand when it appears next to text that clearly explains what the image represents.
For example, if you are explaining how to configure a WordPress plugin, place the screenshot beside the exact step it demonstrates instead of putting every screenshot into one gallery at the bottom.
3. Write useful alt text
Alternative text should describe the image naturally for people who cannot see it. That accessibility benefit also gives search systems useful context.
A good alt description says what matters in the image. Avoid stuffing keywords or repeating the article title in every image.
4. Use clear, high-quality images
Blurry screenshots, tiny product photos and heavily compressed images make content harder for people to use. Keep images clear enough to understand while still optimizing file size so pages load quickly.
5. Use descriptive filenames
A filename such as wordpress-security-settings.jpg is more useful than IMG_48392.jpg. Keep filenames short and descriptive rather than turning them into lists of keywords.
6. Make sure Google can crawl the images
Images used for search need to be accessible to Google. Avoid unintentionally blocking important image URLs with robots.txt rules, authentication requirements or other technical restrictions.
7. Keep the page itself useful
Visual SEO is not separate from normal SEO. A strong image cannot rescue a weak page. Google’s guidance still centers on useful, relevant pages that satisfy the person’s need.
What this means for ecommerce and product websites
Multimodal search is particularly useful when a person can see what they want but does not know the correct name for it. Someone could photograph a chair, pair of shoes, phone accessory or piece of equipment and look for similar products online.
For ecommerce sites, that makes accurate product photography, useful product descriptions, sensible product names, structured product information and image quality increasingly important.
If you operate a WordPress or WooCommerce site, review the images on your most important product and service pages. Ask a simple question: Could someone understand what this product or service is from the visual information alone?
What this means for service businesses
Visual search is not only for ecommerce. A web-design company can show real website work. A construction company can show completed projects. A school can show its facilities and learning environment. A restaurant can show actual meals. A salon can show real results.
These visuals build human trust first. Better search discoverability is an additional benefit.
Do you need a separate “visual SEO strategy”?
For most small businesses, you do not need a separate complicated strategy. Start by improving the visual usefulness of the pages that already matter.
- Use original images where they genuinely add value.
- Write descriptive alt text.
- Keep images close to relevant copy.
- Optimize file sizes without destroying image quality.
- Use meaningful filenames.
- Make sure important images can be crawled.
- Monitor the new Search Console multimodal report.
A practical next step
Open Search Console and review whether multimodal search is already producing impressions or clicks. Then identify the pages receiving that traffic. Those pages can tell you which kinds of visual content Google is already associating with your website.
After that, review your highest-value pages and improve the images where doing so would genuinely help a visitor understand the topic, product or service.
At Ziflite Studio, we work on websites, AI and automation systems, and practical digital education through Ziflite Academy. The goal is not to chase every new search feature, but to help businesses build useful digital assets that remain understandable to both people and modern search systems.
Official sources
Read Google’s official announcement: Web multimodal Search performance reporting in Search Console.
For implementation guidance, see Google’s Image SEO best practices and structured data guidelines.