Google is testing a new ad layout inside AI Mode that adds sitelinks, the row of secondary links advertisers have long used to point searchers to specific pages on a site, directly beneath the sponsored response. The format keeps the ad in the AI-generated answer block while giving it more destinations to click, a change that could reshape how paid placements compete with the AI Mode’s own citations.
The test surfaces as Google Ads continue to appear throughout the AI-generated responses in AI Mode. Advertisers have already been watching their CTR move as Google’s monetization strategy for AI Mode takes shape, and sitelinks are the latest format under evaluation. Sitelinks have been a fixture of standard Google Search ads for years, expanding a single ad into four or more sub-links that route users to deep pages such as product categories, store locators, or help articles. Bringing that structure into AI Mode gives a sponsored block a way to spread the click across multiple destinations inside the conversational answer, rather than competing with one headline and one URL.
How the sitelink layout shows up in AI Mode
The screenshot of the test shows an AI Mode response with a sponsored block that mirrors the look of a traditional Google Search ad: a headline, a visible URL, and a short description, followed by a row of sitelinks grouped under it. From the user’s perspective the difference between an organic citation and a paid placement in AI Mode is becoming one of the clearest in the interface. Each sitelink is a separate clickable path inside the same AI-generated answer, so the advertiser is effectively turning one placement into several entry points without leaving the chat-style layout.
One practical detail stands out. Google is testing various ad formats to see which layouts earn the highest click-through rate, since links inside AI Mode behave differently from the standard ten blue links. A sitelink block pushes more destinations into a smaller space, and the visual hierarchy inside an AI answer is tighter than on a classic results page. That makes the order and the wording of the sitelinks themselves more important to performance than in traditional Search.
What advertisers should watch
- Click distribution. Sitelinks split attention between the main ad and the secondary links, so a strong headline still matters, but the sitelink copy now carries more weight inside AI Mode.
- CTR benchmarks. Click-through behavior on links inside AI Mode is not the same as on standard Search, and adding sitelinks changes the math again. Paid teams should compare CTR before and after the rollout shows new lift on sitelink-enabled AI Mode ads.
- Asset reuse. Existing sitelink assets from standard Search campaigns can travel into the new format, which means less creative work but a need to check that descriptions still read well at the smaller AI Mode size.
- AI Mode monetization cadence. Loyalty Customer Match recently rolled out to more regions inside AI Mode, and URL tracking parameters are also being tested against AI Overviews and AI Mode. The sitelink test is part of a broader push to expand the ad surfaces available inside generative answers.
Why this format is under test
AI Mode is becoming a meaningful ad surface for Google. Loyalty programs, customer match lists, and URL tracking have all been extended into the experience in recent weeks, and the sitelink format is the next step in that expansion. The pattern is familiar: each format moves into AI Mode as a test, then graduates or is dropped based on engagement data. Advertisers who want a head start should review their current sitelink assets, refresh any that read as clipped, and prepare to measure AI Mode placement performance separately from standard Search once sitelinks are fully available inside the AI-generated answer.
FAQ
What is the new Google Ads sitelink format in AI Mode?
It is a test layout that places a sitelink block, the row of secondary links advertisers have long used in standard Search ads, directly under a sponsored result inside AI Mode. The aim is to give a paid placement more destinations to click from within the AI-generated answer.
Why is Google adding sitelinks to AI Mode ads?
Google is testing various ad formats in AI Mode to find which layouts earn the highest click-through rate, since links inside AI Mode do not behave like links in the standard ten-blue-links results.
How does this affect advertisers?
Advertisers can reuse existing sitelink assets, but should review their copy at the smaller AI Mode size and plan to measure CTR separately for AI Mode placements once the format is widely available.
Related coverage
- Google AI Mode vs AI Overviews: Study Reveals Divergent Search Behavior – BizScoreAI
- Google Ads AI Max automated ad copy: test results
This article summarizes reporting from seroundtable.com. See our editorial disclaimer for how our articles are produced.
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