The New Search Landscape

Google's AI Mode, which rolled out globally in late 2025, fundamentally changed how search results work. Instead of ten blue links, most informational queries now receive a comprehensive AI-generated answer at the top of the page. For affiliate marketers who relied on ranking blog posts for "best X for Y" queries, this is a seismic shift.

The data tells a clear story: informational queries that trigger AI Mode answers see 30-40% fewer clicks to external websites. But transactional and comparison queries — the bread and butter of affiliate content — are affected differently. Understanding these nuances is the key to adapting your SEO strategy.

What Still Works

1. Target Queries AI Cannot Fully Answer

AI Mode excels at synthesizing general information but struggles with three categories of queries that affiliate marketers can dominate:

Highly specific comparisons: "Jasper vs. WriteSonic for ecommerce product descriptions under /month" requires nuanced, experience-based judgment that AI synthesizes poorly
Current pricing and availability: AI answers often lag behind real-time pricing changes, creating an opening for up-to-date affiliate content
First-hand experience queries: Searches phrased as "has anyone used X for Y" signal the user wants human experience, not AI synthesis

2. Optimize for AI Mode Citations

When AI Mode does generate an answer, it cites sources. Getting cited is the new "ranking #1." Sites that appear as AI Mode citations see click-through rates comparable to the old position 1-3 in traditional results.

To increase your citation probability:

Structure content with clear, factual claims that can be attributed (avoid vague opinions)
Include original data, benchmarks, or test results that AI cannot generate on its own
Maintain strong E-E-A-T signals: author bios with verifiable credentials, transparent methodology sections, regular content updates with visible timestamps
Use concise, quotable paragraphs — AI Mode tends to cite content it can cleanly extract

3. Invest in Non-Google Traffic Sources

The smartest affiliate marketers in 2026 are diversifying away from Google dependency. Channels seeing the strongest growth:

YouTube and video search: Video results are less disrupted by AI Mode and carry higher purchase intent
Reddit and community content: Google frequently cites Reddit in AI Mode answers, and users increasingly search Reddit directly for authentic recommendations
Email and owned audiences: Traffic you control is immune to algorithm changes. Building an email list is no longer optional — it is existential
TikTok and short-form video: Product discovery on social platforms bypasses search entirely

Technical SEO Updates for 2026

Schema Markup Is Now Critical

AI Mode heavily relies on structured data to understand and cite content. The following schema types directly improve your visibility:

Product schema with offers, pricing, and availability
Review and AggregateRating schema with clear scoring methodology
FAQ schema for question-targeted content
HowTo schema for tutorial and guide content

Page Experience Still Matters

Core Web Vitals remain a ranking factor, and sites with poor page experience are less likely to be cited by AI Mode. The threshold for "good" has tightened: aim for LCP under 1.5 seconds, INP under 150ms, and CLS under 0.05.

The Strategy That Ties It All Together

The winning SEO strategy for affiliate marketers in 2026 is not about chasing any single channel. It is about building topical authority so deep that both Google's AI and human users recognize you as the definitive source in your niche.

Publish original research. Test products yourself and document the results with screenshots and data. Update content monthly, not annually. Build an audience that comes directly to you. The marketers who do this will not just survive the AI Mode era — they will be the ones AI cites.