Google’s September 24, 2026, update to Search Console quietly introduced a new way for website owners to see how people are finding their pages — and it’s not through typed keywords. DigitalGuider, a US-based digital marketing agency, has analyzed the new multimodal reporting option and what it means for businesses trying to understand their online visibility in an increasingly visual search landscape.
The agency’s examination of Google’s new Search Console multimodal reporting focuses on how businesses can leverage image-based search data to gain a clearer picture of website visibility.
Search is becoming more visual. Google’s new reporting helps website owners see which pages attract visitors through image-based searches, beyond traditional keyword data.”— Leo Dias, SEO Director at DigitalGuider
SHERIDAN, WY, UNITED STATES, October 9, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — The new reporting functionality, introduced as an option within the Web search type in the Search Console Performance report, covers a range of visual search methods. These include Google Lens, Circle to Search on Android, image uploads to Google Search, and Chrome’s right-click “Search this image” feature. Google has confirmed the rollout is global.
What sets this reporting apart is its separation of traditional text-based search traffic from searches where an image serves as the query. This distinction gives website owners a fresh lens through which to examine how their pages are being discovered, particularly as visual tools become more deeply integrated into Google Search’s core functionality.
However, there’s a notable limitation baked into the new data: specific search queries are not included. Google explains that because multimodal searches rely primarily on images rather than text, conventional query information simply isn’t available. Instead, businesses can review which pages are receiving this traffic and compare performance across dimensions like country and device.
For ecommerce operations and websites that depend heavily on product or visual content, this reporting could prove particularly valuable. A product or service page receiving clicks from image-based searches indicates users are arriving through a search involving an image — though the specific image used by the searcher remains undisclosed.
SEO services can assist businesses in strengthening the elements that make web pages clear, relevant, and accessible to search engines. As image-led discovery becomes more seamless for users, businesses can audit their visual assets, page content, image descriptions, and overall website structure to ensure each page provides useful context.
In tandem, digital marketing services can help businesses align search data with broader marketing objectives. Examining image-driven visits alongside traditional search performance can offer companies a more comprehensive view of how different audiences discover their websites.
DigitalGuider advises businesses to watch for the new reporting option as it appears in their Search Console properties. Google notes that the metrics will show up for sites that actually receive traffic from these types of searches, meaning not every property will display the data right away.
To help businesses put the new data to practical use, DigitalGuider recommends the following steps:
- Reviewing the web search section in the Search Console Performance report for the new multimodal option.
- Identifying pages that receive traffic from searches involving images.
- Reviewing product images, image descriptions, page content, and other on-page elements for clarity and relevance.
- Comparing image-based traffic with traditional web search performance across available countries and devices.
- Exporting Search Console data for additional analysis and reporting.
The agency cautions that this new data should be treated as just one component of a broader SEO analysis. While Google Search Console can reveal which pages receive this type of traffic, businesses still need to examine their content, website structure, audience behavior, and conversion goals to understand the full impact.
DigitalGuider’s analysis ultimately points to another significant shift toward visual and multimodal search experiences. The new reporting grants website owners greater visibility into image-assisted discovery while introducing a constraint: specific query information is not available for this traffic. The agency recommends that businesses monitor the new data and weave relevant findings into their digital marketing strategy as search continues to evolve.
For more information about DigitalGuider and its services, or to schedule a free consultation regarding SEO and digital marketing services, visit www.digitalguider.com.
About DigitalGuider
DigitalGuider is a US-based digital marketing agency specializing in online reputation management, content marketing, SEO, and AI-driven campaigns. It helps small and medium businesses compete by using new ideas and proven strategies across different industries.
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Why it matters: As Google continues to integrate visual search tools into its core product, the data website owners can access — and the gaps in that data — will shape how businesses optimize for discovery. Understanding this new reporting now gives companies a head start in adapting their SEO strategies to a search landscape where images increasingly lead the way.
