How to Get Cited by Google AI Overviews – The Schema Strategy That Works
How to Get Cited by Google AI Overviews – The Schema Strategy That Works
Najam Ahmed The digital landscape is shifting fast.
With Google’s AI Overviews, AI Mode and tools like Gemini answering user queries directly, many website owners are starting to ask:
“Is Google still sending traffic, or just taking our content?”
The truth is sobering: AI-driven summaries are replacing traditional search results for more than 25–30% of queries, and that number is growing. Your content could be seen but not clicked, read but not credited, unless you take proactive steps to signal ownership and structure.
One of the most powerful — yet misunderstood — tactics? Using the right schema markup, especially the Speakable schema.
Quick Stats to Understand the Shift
- 64% of Gen Z and Millennials prefer getting answers directly from AI, not clicking links (Statista, 2024).
- AI Overviews appear in over 75% of informational search queries on mobile in the U.S. (Similarweb AI Monitor, 2024).
- Fewer than 10% of indexed websites use Speakable schema (BuiltWith, 2025) — meaning most are not AI-ready.
What Is Schema Markup — and Why Does It Matter Now?
Schema markup is structured data embedded in your webpage’s code to help search engines and AI systems understand your content better.
In the AI era, schema doesn’t just enhance visibility — it supports:
- Proper attribution and citation
- Improved parsing of structured content
- Better compatibility with voice and AI interfaces
This is where Speakable schema has recently regained interest, but not without misconceptions.
What Is Speakable Schema?
Speakable schema was originally developed for voice assistants like Google Assistant to identify parts of a webpage best suited to be read aloud.
What it does:
It marks quotable, summarizable sections (like titles or intros) so that voice tools or AI models can understand where to focus.
Now, many believe it’s one of the few schema types that can help AI Overviews decide what text to quote — and which source to cite.
Here’s a sample JSON-LD snippet you can use:
{
“@context”: “https://schema.org”,
“@type”: “WebPage”,
“speakable”: {
“@type”: “SpeakableSpecification”,
“xpath”: [
“/html/head/title”,
“/html/body//h1”
]
}
}
You can replace the XPath with specific sections like summaries, key takeaways, or opening paragraphs.
No Single “Magic Tag” Can Guarantee Citation by Gemini
Let’s set the record straight.
While some SEO communities claim Speakable is a “remedy” to get cited in AI Overviews, there is no schema tag that forces Google Gemini or AI systems to link to your site.
Here’s why that belief is misleading:
- AI citation behavior is algorithmic and multifactorial.
Gemini and AI Overviews rely on content quality, domain authority, E-E-A-T, and user signals — not just code. - Schema markup is a helpful hint, not a directive.
Structured data helps AI understand your content more accurately, but it doesn’t compel citation. - Google has not confirmed Speakable influences citation.
Their documentation emphasizes content quality, trust, and relevance, not schema tricks. - SEO best practices still matter.
Headings, clean formatting, internal linking, and strong summaries help AI parse and value your content far more than a single tag.
Instead of shortcuts, the real focus should be:
- Clear, structured writing
- Accurate and original insights
- Appropriate use of schema
- Strong domain reputation built over time
How to Implement Schema on Your Website
Custom PHP or Static HTML
Paste the JSON-LD code into your <head> section or PHP templates like header.php.
WordPress (Best Plugins)
Rank Math SEO (Pro)
- Visual schema builder
- Add custom schema sitewide
- Supports Speakable and 20+ schema types
Schema & Structured Data for WP
- XPath support for Speakable
- Works with AMP and custom post types
- More developer-friendly
Yoast SEO
- Great for basic schema like Article
- No built-in support for Speakable
- Use only if you’re adding schema manually
Other CMS Platforms
| Platform | How to Add |
| Drupal | Use Schema.org Metatag module or Twig |
| Joomla | Manual template insertion or EFSEO |
| Shopify | Paste JSON-LD in theme.liquid or use SEO apps |
| Magento | Add via layout XML or SEO extension |
| Webflow | Embed JSON-LD using custom code block |
| Wix | Limited control; not ideal for schema injection |
Combine Speakable with Other Schema Types
For better AI citation chances, implement these schema types too:
- Article / BlogPosting — Include author, headline, publisher, and mainEntityOfPage
- FAQPage — Helps extract direct answers for AI-generated responses
- HowTo — Best for step-by-step guides or instructional content
- Review / Product — Useful for ecommerce or service businesses
Best Practices to Get Cited in AI Overviews
- Don’t rely on one tag. Schema helps but isn’t a guarantee.
- Write clearly and intentionally. Use short summaries, clean formatting, and logical hierarchy.
- Add schema across key pages. Blog posts, service pages, FAQs, etc.
- Build E-E-A-T signals. Include author bios, backlinks, and real-world authority markers.
- Focus on actual user value. If your content genuinely helps, it’s more likely to be summarized and cited.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Chase Hacks — Build Quality
There is no magic schema tag that “forces” Gemini or Google to cite you.
But there is a proven formula:
- Great content
- Clear formatting
- Strong reputation
- Strategic schema
Use Speakable schema and others like Article or FAQPage not as gimmicks, but as supportive signals that your content is organized, trustworthy, and worth referencing.
Need Help Making Your Website AI-Citable?
We offer:
- Schema audits and implementation
- AI-era SEO consulting
- Content structuring for Gemini, AI Overviews, and Google AI Mode
Let’s future-proof your website — so you’re not just indexed, but quoted, trusted, and clicked.
