Observed Signal · Sep 25, 2026 · Technical Release · Source: OnlineMarketing.de · Impact: 4/5 · Sentiment: Positive
Google Search Console Adds Multimodal Search Reporting
Google has introduced a new multimodal reporting feature in the Search Console, enabling SEOs to analyze performance of visual search queries across Google Lens, Circle to Search, and image-based searches. The filter is available in the Performance report under Search type > Web > Multimodal, covering both standard results and generative AI features. Notably, these multimodal impressions were previously not included in web data, according to Google's John Mueller. The feature provides insights on queries without textual search terms, though queries are not provided as a dimension. This holds significant value for image-heavy websites, shops, and publishers. Google has also made these multimodal data available for platform properties like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, building on recent AI performance report expansions.
This feature update from Google, a major platform, directly impacts SEO and visibility for advertisers and publishers, providing new data on visual search performance. It is a significant technical release for the search ecosystem.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Google Search Console now offers a multimodal filter for web search performance.
- The filter covers Google Lens, Circle to Search, image uploads, and 'Search this image' in Chrome.
- John Mueller confirmed these multimodal impressions were previously not included in web data.
- Multimodal data is also available for platform properties like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.
- Google does not provide a query dimension for multimodal searches.
Ontology Mapping & Concepts
Related Market Signals & Shifts
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