Savannah is a content marketer with editorial experience spanning several businesses. Specializing in social media and marketing trends, she loves talking about the latest developments in online marketing. When she’s not writing, Savannah loves traveling, hoarding books and coffee mugs, and adoring her cat. Please don’t ask her about famous true crime cases, or else she’ll tell you all about her theories and get absolutely no work done.
The best way to stay ahead of the curve with these shake-ups is to look ahead at emerging SEO trends. We’ll explore seven SEO trends, why they matter, and what they mean for your SEO strategy in 2025:
AI Overviews (formerly known as Search Generative Experiences) appear above organic rankings in search results. Essentially, they’re AI-generated answers to queries, with information pulled from top-ranking sources across the web.
While only 7% of searches feature AI Overviews, you can expect content tailored toward answer-based questions to see decreased traffic. Why? AI Overviews are answering those queries directly in search results, leading to more instances of zero-click searches.
So, how do you boost your website’s visibility in a world where AI results are reigning supreme? First, target middle-of-funnel content to avoid question-based queries that don’t focus on “what,” “where,” and “how.”
Or, you can optimize your top-of-funnel, question-based content for AI results by following these tips:
As we mentioned, search engines are becoming increasingly reliant on AI Overviews and summaries. Because of this, optimizing your content’s E-E-A-T signals (known as Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trust) will be a top SEO trend in 2025.
Why? Google and AI answer engines like ChatGPT and Gemini are trained to show searchers content that’s helpful and trustworthy, among other factors. So, when it comes to boosting your visibility in AI search results or increasing your chances of showing up in answers on AI platforms, optimize your content for E-E-A-T to give your content a fighting chance.
Expert insights from
Sarah B.Web Marketing Consultant
Lean into what Google’s AI Overviews want to deliver — helpful content with unique perspectives that users can trust. Google’s emphasized its focus on people-first content with its helpful content system, E-E-A-T, and YMYL, and we can deliver on its expectations by producing content that follows SEO best practices while also:
Letting experience vs. the SERPs inform content (in some cases, this might even mean addressing why a frequently-mentioned tip, step, or tool doesn’t work).
Including videos and/or custom graphics, so users can experience the content in a way that works for them.
Incorporating trust signals, like certifications, awards, author biographies, etc., into content or page designs.
So, how do you demonstrate E-E-A-T to Google and AI answer engines? Start with following these best practices:
Answering user search intent and directly addressing other related queries
Letting experience inform your content
Using multimedia to give people options on how to experience your content
Signaling trust and authority (certifications, awards, author bios, case studies, etc.)
3. Increased traffic to forums
One of the biggest SEO developments to happen in 2025 is the increased visibility of forums like Reddit and Quora in search results. In fact, Google has a spot dedicated to forums in SERPs:
Google’s shift to highlighting first-hand information from Internet users on topics of interest has already had a major effect on SEO, siphoning search traffic from other organic results, and we expect it to continue to do so in 2025.
Expert insights from
Jordan D.Senior Performance Support Operations Lead
In early 2024, we saw a dramatic shift take place in the SERPs with Google increasing visibility for forum websites such as Reddit and Quora. Since that change was made, we have seen these sites siphon traffic from client results to the degree where Reddit reported a 40% increase in organic search traffic during the first half of the year.
To combat this lost search traffic, try boosting your presence on forums through organic posts to better position yourself as a prominent industry voice. Or, consider running ad campaigns on forums your audience spends time on, along with strategic content promotion.
Forum sites aren’t the only ones popping up in SERPs — today, users are met with relevant YouTube videos in search results, making video optimization and YouTube SEO a major 2025 SEO trend.
Expert insights from
Jordan D.Senior Performance Support Operations Lead
We’ve known for years that Google sees value in on-page video, as pages with video generally perform better than pages without video. At the same time we saw forum websites pop up in the SERPs, we have seen more YouTube results as well. This means we need to double down on video in 2025 with an on-page video strategy and YouTube SEO as well. Users want to hear directly from a trusted source, which follows the same logic as the increased prominence of forum sites in the SERPs.
To stay on top of this SEO trend in 2025, businesses need to diversify their content strategies. Invest in written content as well as video to set up a one-two strategy that’s poised for long-term success.
Additionally, optimize for YouTube SEO to take your video strategy to the next level. Integrate relevant keywords, and optimize video titles, tags, thumbnails, and descriptions to boost your visibility on YouTube and start earning more valuable traffic.
5. Doubling down on traditional SEO strategies
Where there are many new and exciting SEO strategies to try in 2025, many of the traditional strategies still work well and shouldn’t be put on the back burner.
Expert insights from
Jordan D.Senior Performance Support Operations Lead
We should continue focusing on tried and true content strategies, as they will drive performance for sites in 2025. For example, both B2C and B2B companies continue to see success with geo-targeted content such as service pages focusing on each of their locations, and ecommerce sites still see the best results when focusing on valuable, short-form category content like FAQs.
Traditional SEO strategies like local and technical optimization, as well as targeted content creation, are still incredibly relevant. By strengthening your traditional SEO efforts while also integrating new strategies like AI optimization and YouTube SEO, you can build a multifaceted campaign that’s capable of driving leads from multiple different search channels.
6. Zero-click searches
The prevalence of AI in search has ushered in an era of zero-click searches, so one of the biggest SEO trends for the coming year is adapting to this search mentality.
To be successful in a zero-click environment, you must create content that’s helpful and puts users first. This means ensuring your content has a zero-click framework. In other words, it should:
Be optimized for featured snippets and relevant keywords
Target FAQs and People Also Ask (PAA) queries
Present information in an organized, easy-to-scan manner
Directly address user search intent
7. OmniSEO™
If there’s one thing you should take away from this list of SEO trends for 2025, it’s that search has become much more diverse.
Now more than ever, businesses need to adapt their search strategies to new channels like ChatGPT and Meta AI, as the search landscape now involves AI and SEO. By adapting their strategies, brands can continue getting in front of their target audiences no matter where they are.
Through OmniSEO™ strategies like AI search optimization, you can diversify your search strategy to stay on top of the latest SEO trends and, most importantly, on top of SERPs.
Partner with Clutch’s #1 SEO agency today!
SEO is an ongoing process that doesn’t stop once you’ve implemented the trends we’ve just discussed. It takes continuous time and effort to monitor and adjust, and when you’re already running a business, that can feel like a lot. Enter an SEO agency like WebFX. We’re an award-winningUSA SEO services agency and a top Atlanta SEO agency, with multiple locations across the world.
When you partner with WebFX for SEO services, you’re not getting a one-size-fits-all strategy that temporarily solves your SEO needs — you’re getting a custom SEO solution that’s scaled to fit your business and foster long-term growth and success. With a dedicated team of SEO by your side, adjusting your campaign for the latest SEO trends will be a breeze.
Get in touch with our team today to learn more about how you can leverage the latest SEO trends along with WebFX’s custom professional SEO services in 2025!
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