Visual search is measurable now

What the platform says

Google Search Console now includes a multimodal search-type filter in Search results performance and in its Generative AI performance reporting. The data covers image-led searches such as Google Lens, Circle to Search on Android, image uploads to Google Search and Chrome’s “Search this image” feature.

Google’s image-search guidance still emphasises discoverable HTML images, relevant landing-page context, descriptive alt text and filenames, responsive high-quality media, and fast delivery.

What it does not say

Multimodal reporting does not mean that any photograph automatically becomes a ranking advantage, nor does it make professional production a mandatory SEO requirement. It gives site owners another way to observe how visual content participates in discovery.

Ozmov practice

Treat original photography and video as business assets first. Publish the strongest material on relevant pages with useful surrounding text, proper HTML image elements, descriptive alternative text where appropriate, responsive delivery and consistent entity information.

Then measure. If Search Console begins showing multimodal visibility, use the data to understand which pages and visual subjects are actually being discovered rather than guessing which images “should” perform.