AI Overview optimization: Google AIO detection and citation criteria

What does it mean?

AI Overview optimization means improving pages so they can be selected as sources in Google AI Overview results.

HaloX view	What to check	Decision
Keyword Status / Analysis	Keyword-level search and AI signals	Separate ranking, AIO, and question-demand issues.
Prompt Status	M/S/C state by tracked question	Find whether the signal stops at mention, source, or citation.
Prompt Analysis	Coverage and competitor comparison by engine	Decide which prompt set or engine to fix first.
Citation Tracking	Source domains, URLs, counts, and share	Check which pages become AI-answer evidence.

State	Meaning	Next action
Mention exists but citation is missing	The brand appears, but source ownership is weak.	Strengthen answer-ready paragraphs, evidence links, and page structure.
Competitors own the source share	Competitors are selected as evidence more often.	Compare competitor cited pages with your missing source pages.
Coverage is low in one engine or prompt group	The average hides a specific gap.	Inspect the weak engine or question group separately.

Check M/S/C status by question.

Compare signals by prompt set and engine.

Review actual source domains and URLs.

Review all product metric definitions.