SEO trends in 2025: how to break into the top of search results?

SEO trends in 2025: how to break into the top of search results?
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SEO in 2025 continues to change rapidly. The process is strongly influenced by technology, artificial intelligence, and changes in user search behavior. Google is adapting to new antitrust requirements, the role of alternative search engines is growing, and the importance of EEAT factors is increasing. 

Algorithms are increasingly focused on user experience, loading speed, and intuitiveness of content. To stay in the top of search results, you need to take these trends into account and adapt your website promotion strategy.

Attention to alternative search engines

The search engine market is changing rapidly. Google is no longer the only undisputed market leader. Antitrust investigations, new technologies, and growing user interest in alternative platforms are opening up new opportunities for SEO.

The impact of antitrust cases on Google

Google is facing pressure from regulators, especially in the US and the EU. In 2023, the US Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Google, accusing the company of monopolizing the search market. Decisions in this case could be a game changer:

  • limiting Google’s exclusive agreements with browsers and device manufacturers;
  • strengthening control over the advertising ecosystem;
  • opening the market to new competitors.

What does this mean for SEO? For example, new ranking algorithms may appear in the search results, and the weight of various factors may change. Accordingly, the website promotion strategy should adapt to these changes.

Is it worth optimizing for new search engines?

With the emergence of Google’s competitors, such as Meta AI Search, SearchGPT, You.com, the search market is becoming more diverse. This creates additional opportunities for SEO specialists:

  • Meta AI Search can integrate search results directly into social networks, which opens up new opportunities for content marketing;
  • OpenAI’s SearchGPT can rank pages differently based on the quality of the text and the usefulness of the content;
  • You.com and other new search engines provide more opportunities for niche sites and affiliate marketing.

To stay at the top of the search results, you should start testing optimization not only for Google, but also look towards new systems, taking into account their unique algorithms and content requirements.

Strengthening the role of AI in SEO

Artificial intelligence (AI) has already become an integral part of SEO. In 2025, its role will only grow. Google is implementing algorithms that better recognize quality content, and AI tools help automate routine tasks, from writing texts to technical site audits.

AI for content generation

The use of artificial intelligence in content creation is gaining popularity. ChatGPT, Gemini, Jasper, Copy.ai, and other AI-based tools are actively used in the SEO field to solve the following tasks:

  • generate articles, meta descriptions, titles, and tags based on keywords;
  • optimize content for search engines by analyzing competitors;
  • Improve the style and uniqueness of texts by fine-tuning models.

But it’s worth remembering that Google is actively fighting against automatically generated low-quality content, so AI should only be an auxiliary tool, not a replacement for human authorship.

Automate the analysis of SEO indicators

Thanks to artificial intelligence, SEO analytics has become much more efficient. AI can help with:

  • technical SEO audit (for example, Screaming Frog, Sitebulb);
  • analyzing user behavior on the website through Google Analytics 4 and Hotjar;
  • monitoring positions in search results (Ahrefs, SEMrush, SE Ranking);
  • recommendations for content optimization (SurferSEO, Clearscope).

Thanks to automation, you can respond faster to changes in Google’s algorithms and improve website visibility.

Should you use AI content for SEO?

After the Google Helpful Content Update, it became clear that algorithms prefer materials written for people, not just optimized for search engines. 

This means that:

  • AI content can be effective if it is finalized by an editor;
  • automatically generated texts without verification can lower your rankings;
  • it is important to maintain expertise and originality, as Google evaluates not only the quality of the text but also the EEAT factors (experience, expertise, authority, trust).

It’s important to understand that AI in SEO is not a panacea, but a tool that helps simplify routine processes, but does not replace a professional approach to content creation.

EEAT factors and the desire for originality

Google’s algorithms are constantly improving to identify high-quality and reliable content. In 2025, the EEAT factors (experience, expertise, authority, trust) will play an even greater role in SEO. This means that sites must offer unique, useful, and trusted content to stay at the top of the search results.

How to improve content expertise?

Google evaluates not only the text itself, but also the author, sources of information, and credibility of the site. Therefore, content expertise can be significantly improved by taking the following steps.

Identify content authors – biography, photo, links to social media profiles or pages with professional backgrounds (LinkedIn, ResearchGate, etc.).

Refer to reliable sources – research, analytics, official reports (e.g., Google Search Central, Statista, HubSpot). Quotes from experts in the relevant field will add more weight to the content.

You need to constantly monitor the relevance of the content and update it. You need to track all changes, remove and replace outdated information.

SEO in 2025 is not only about optimizing for search engines, but also about creating useful content for people, backed by facts and real experience.

Relevance of content updates

So, we’ve already established that updating old articles is an important part of an SEO strategy. Even if the material was at the top of the SERPs, without updating it, it will gradually lose its position.

How often to update the content:

  • once every 6-12 months for informational articles;
  • quarterly – for content in competitive niches;
  • promptly – if there are significant changes (updates to Google’s algorithms, new research, changes in legislation, etc.)

What to update:

  • add new facts, cases, and links;
  • optimize keywords if search queries have changed;
  • add media content (videos, infographics, diagrams);
  • check the technical aspects of SEO (Core Web Vitals, mobile adaptation, loading speed).

Updating articles helps to maintain positions in the SERPs and improves behavioral factors, as users are more likely to stay on updated pages.

Do user reviews help?

Reviews and comments are a powerful signal of trust for Google. This is especially true for e-commerce, services, healthcare, finance, and local SEO niches.

How UGC (user-generated content) affects SEO:

  • improves behavioral factors – comments keep users on the site;
  • adds unique content – users write in their own words, which improves the variety of queries;
  • helps to get stars in search results (for e-commerce and local businesses).

How to encourage users to leave reviews:

  • add the “Your feedback” block on the website;
  • use email campaigns with a request to leave a comment;
  • integrate reviews from Google Reviews or social networks.

Thus, in 2025, SEO is not only about optimization, but also about trust and authority. Reviews, content updates, and the expertise of authors directly affect search engine rankings.

Content tailored to the user

Google’s algorithms are increasingly focused on user experience, so traditional SEO approaches no longer have the same effect as before. In 2025, the key success factors are understanding search intent, personalization, and adaptation of content to the real interests of the audience.

How to determine the real interests of users?

To create effective content, it is important to analyze the behavior of website visitors and their search intentions. To do this, you can use:

  • Google Analytics 4 (GA4) – shows which pages users view, how they interact with the content, and when they leave the site;
  • Google Search Console – helps to track search queries that bring people to your website;
  • Competitor analysis – tools like Ahrefs, Semrush, SimilarWeb allow you to see what topics work in your niche;
  • polls and comments – feedback from readers and customers will help you understand what they are really interested in.

Create personalized content

Users expect the content to be relevant to their interests, needs, and even consumption format. To achieve this goal, work in several areas will help.

First, it is audience segmentation. You need to divide your website visitors into the following categories:

  • new visitors (basic content is required);
  • regular users (in-depth analysis, detailed guides);
  • potential customers (case studies, recommendations, product comparisons). 

Second, you need to adapt the content. Some audiences are more comfortable reading articles, while others prefer watching videos or viewing infographics. Combining different content formats will help you achieve maximum reach.

Third, you need to use dynamic content. For example, recommendations based on user behavior and interactive elements (quizzes, calculators, test questions).

Optimization for search content

Classic keywords no longer yield the same results as before. Google has learned to recognize the context of the query and ranks content based on the user’s intent.

Search intentions can be divided into the following categories:

  • informational – the user is looking for an answer to the question (What is SEO?);
  • navigation – looking for a specific brand or website (Ahrefs blog);
  • commercial – compares products or services (the best hosting for WordPress);
  • transactional – ready to make a purchase (buy an iPhone 15).

To adapt the content to the content, you need to constantly work with it. First of all, you need to analyze SERPs (search engine results pages). This will help you find out what types of content Google shows for your keyword. 

Also, use long-tail keywords to better reflect user intent. Don’t forget to add answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) to increase your chances of being featured in featured snippets.

In 2025, it’s not enough to just select keywords for effective SEO. A deep understanding of the audience and its search intentions plays an important role in promotion. Content must meet real needs, be personalized and convenient for consumption.

No-click search and quick answers

Recent changes in Google, such as AI Overviews (formerly Search Generative Experience, SGE), have a significant impact on organic traffic. More and more users are getting answers without going to the site, which forces SEOs to adapt their strategies.

AI Overviews: what is it and how does it work?

AI Overviews is a Google feature that generates quick answers based on artificial intelligence. It appears at the top of the SERP and grabs users’ attention, reducing clicks on traditional results.

How AI Overviews works:

  • Google analyzes the most relevant sites;
  • generates a generalized answer with links to sources;
  • the user gets a ready-made answer without going to the website.

What does this mean for SEO? It’s very simple – it’s important to get into AI Overviews because Google is still adding links to primary sources. To increase the chances of getting into this category, you need to make your content clear, structured, and in line with the intent of the query. It is crucial to keep the focus on E-E-A-T (experience, expertise, authority, trust).

How to get to the zero position?

Featured Snippets or the zero position are special Google blocks that provide quick answers before the click. Getting into them means getting maximum visibility even in no-click searches.

How to optimize your content for Featured Snippets:

  • Q&A (question and answer) format – a clear answer in the first 2-3 sentences;
  • Tables, lists, bullet points – Google loves structured data;
  • use of subheadings (H2, H3) – helps Google recognize the logic of the content;
  • FAQ blocks – increase the chance of appearing in extended answers.

Does it make sense to fight for traffic in search without clicks?

The decrease in clicks due to AI Overviews and Featured Snippets means that traditional SEO no longer guarantees high traffic. But there are alternative strategies to engage the audience.

First, it is branded traffic. People are more likely to switch to familiar brands, so it’s worth developing recognition. Of course, we shouldn’t forget about the uniqueness and expertise of the content.

Another way is to focus on content with high engagement. The fact is that Google values in-depth, useful content, not just one-line answers. Add CTAs (calls to action) – motivate users to go to the site.

Don’t forget that your users can use more than just Google. Therefore, use as many channels as possible to generate traffic – social media, YouTube, email marketing. 

Technical SEO in 2025

SEO is becoming more and more technical. In 2025, Core Web Vitals, site security, and internal structure will play a key role in rankings.

What is important in technical SEO:

  • loading speed – websites should be lightweight and fast;
  • security – HTTPS, protection against DDoS and malware;
  • mobile responsiveness – Google indexes websites according to Mobile-First;
  • optimization of internal linking – the correct structure of the site helps to rank.

How to improve Core Web Vitals?

Core Web Vitals (CWV) is a set of Google metrics that measure the speed and interaction of a website.

The main indicators of CWV:

  • LCP (Largest Contentful Paint) – the speed of loading the main content (≤2.5 seconds);
  • FID (First Input Delay) – the speed of website interaction (≤100 ms);
  • CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift) – layout stability (≤0.1)

These metrics need to be constantly monitored and improved if necessary. To do this, you need to optimize images (WebP, AVIF, adaptive resolution), reduce JavaScript (remove unnecessary scripts), use caching and CDNs to speed up loading, and check the site in PageSpeed Insights and Lighthouse.

Fixing technical errors on the website

Even small technical problems can worsen rankings and reduce traffic. 

The following main technical problems can be identified:

  • 404 errors – deleted pages without redirects;
  • duplicate content due to incorrect canonical URLs;
  • outdated XML sitemap – it is important to update it;
  • slow server response (TTFB) – check the hosting.

Once such errors have been identified, they should be eliminated as soon as possible. The following steps will be helpful:

  • use the Google Search Console to monitor errors; 
  • set up 301 redirects to eliminate 404 pages;
  • make sure that the canonical tags are specified correctly;
  • improve server response by using fast hosting.

The impact of internal linking on SEO

Internal linking is a powerful tool for distributing page weight and improving website indexing. It has a strong influence on SEO, in particular, it helps Google to better understand the structure of the site. In addition, proper linking transfers PageRank between pages and improves behavioral factors (reduces bounce rate).

To optimize linking, you need to use contextual links in articles, apply anchor texts with keywords, and create a logical structure of the site (sitemaps, breadcrumbs).

In 2025, the technical aspects of SEO will have an even greater impact on the final ranking. Google will definitely not stop improving its algorithms, so you should adapt quickly. In particular, regularly check websites for technical errors, improve site structure and linking, control speed and CWV.

Mobile-First SEO

Google has long ago switched to Mobile-First Indexing, which means that it evaluates a website primarily by its mobile version. If the mobile version is inconvenient or slow, the site’s search rankings may drop.

Responsive design and loading speed

The reality is that 60-70% of search traffic comes from mobile devices. Google takes mobile loading speed into account in its rankings. Accordingly, poor mobile UX is a direct path to a high bounce rate.

How to make a website mobile-friendly:

  • use responsive design;
  • minimize pop-ups; 
  • optimize buttons: they should be clickable even on small screens; 
  • reduce the number of scripts and heavy images; 
  • check the site in Google Mobile-Friendly Test.

These steps will help improve the speed of your mobile site:

  • use WebP instead of JPEG/PNG;
  • enable lazy load for images;
  • minimize CSS and JavaScript; 
  • use a CDN for fast downloads.

Is it worth considering the behavior of mobile users?

You can’t ignore mobile traffic, it needs to be constantly analyzed. To check the behavior of mobile users, you can use Google Analytics 4. First of all, you need to pay attention to the time spent on the page and bounces, study heatmaps in Hotjar or Clarity.

When creating a mobile version of a website, you need to take into account the peculiarities of the behavior of gadget users:

  • They read less and scroll more;
  • often use voice search;
  • prefer short and structured content.

The following steps will help you adapt your website to mobile behavior:

  • make shorter paragraphs and simpler text;
  • optimize for voice search (long keywords); 
  • use click-to-call for businesses.

Mobile-First SEO is not just a trend, but a necessity. Websites with a fast mobile version and good UX get better positions in Google. Optimization for mobile users will bring more conversions and higher SEO rankings.

YouTube SEO and video content

Video content is becoming an integral part of SEO strategy. Google is increasingly displaying videos in its search results, and YouTube is the second most popular search engine in the world.

Video optimization for search engines

For effective promotion on YouTube, you need to take into account the main SEO factors that affect the visibility of videos in search results. First of all, it’s important to choose the right keywords and integrate them seamlessly into the title, description, and tags of your video. This will help YouTube’s algorithms understand the content’s topic and recommend it to the appropriate audience.

Another key factor is viewer retention (watch time). The longer people watch a video, the higher it ranks. To achieve this, you should make videos of optimal length (usually 8-15 minutes), maintain dynamic editing, and avoid long introductions. 

Equally important is the CTR of thumbnails (previews) – if users actively click on a video after viewing its cover, YouTube perceives it as relevant and raises it in the search results.

For a video to get more views, you need to optimize its components properly. The title should be not only informative but also intriguing, contain keywords, and motivate the user to click on the video. It is recommended to write a description of 300-500 characters long, adding keywords, timecodes for easy viewing, and links to additional resources. Hashtags also play a role in categorizing content – you should use 3-5 relevant tags.

Additionally, using subtitles and transcription increases the chances of a video appearing in search results because YouTube recognizes text and takes it into account when searching. It also improves the accessibility of content for people with hearing impairments or those who watch videos without sound. You should also take care of the thumbnail – it should be bright, with contrasting colors and clear accents that will attract attention.

In general, video optimization is a complex process that includes both technical aspects and an understanding of audience behavior. By following these recommendations, you can significantly increase the chances of your video getting into the top search results and getting more views. 

How to design a YouTube channel for promotion?

To successfully promote a YouTube channel, it is important to design it properly and make it user-friendly. The main page plays a key role in this. It should contain a high-quality trailer that briefly explains what the channel is about and motivates people to subscribe. It is also worth creating playlists that will help structure content by topic, making it easier for viewers to navigate.

The description of the channel is also important. The main requirements for it are conciseness and information content. It is extremely important to use keywords for the chosen niche in the text, because YouTube uses them to determine the topic of the channel and recommend it to the target audience. 

In the description, it is advisable to indicate what exactly users will find on the channel, as well as add links to social networks or a website.

For a channel to steadily gain views and subscribers, you need to publish content regularly – optimally, 1-2 videos per week. This helps to keep the audience interested and signals the YouTube algorithms about the channel’s activity.

Another effective tool is YouTube Shorts. Short vertical videos have a high probability of going viral and can quickly attract new subscribers.

Interaction with the audience is equally important. Responding to comments, conducting polls, and active communication help build a community around the channel. YouTube positively evaluates audience engagement, which affects the ranking of content.

In general, successful channel promotion means not only high-quality content but also competent design, regular publications, and active interaction with subscribers.

Can video replace textual content?

With the rise of platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, video content has become the dominant format for consuming information. Many users prefer watching videos to reading long texts. However, this does not mean that textual content is completely losing its importance.

Advantages of video content:

  • engagement and emotional contact – video conveys emotions, voice, and facial expressions, which helps to better convey information and retain attention;
  • YouTube and social media algorithms – the platforms actively promote videos, which gives them a better chance of going viral;
  • greater reach through various formats – the ability to use videos in Shorts, Reels, TikTok, and as embedded content on websites;
  • SEO benefits – video can rank at the top of Google search, especially if it is properly optimized.

Advantages of textual content:

  • SEO and long-term effectiveness – articles, blogs, and longreads remain in search results for years, while videos have a shorter life cycle;
  • ease of searching for information – text allows you to quickly find the desired fragment, while in video you have to look for the appropriate timecode;
  • depth and structure – articles can contain tables, graphs, and lists that make it easier to understand complex information;
  • accessibility for different types of users – some people prefer reading, especially in the work or study sphere.

The ideal solution is to combine both formats. For example, you can create articles with embedded videos or make text transcripts for videos. This will help you reach a wider audience and maximize the impact of your content.

Voice search and its impact on SEO

Voice search is becoming more and more popular thanks to the development of smart assistants such as Siri, Google Assistant, Alexa. Users are increasingly looking for information by voice, which is changing the approach to SEO optimization. It is important to understand how to adapt content to meet this trend.

Long-tail queries and spoken language in SEO

Voice search differs significantly from traditional text search. When people enter queries manually, they try to reduce them to the smallest number of words, for example: “Kyiv weather”. However, with voice search, queries become more natural, similar to natural speech: “What’s the weather like in Kyiv today?”. This means that content needs to be optimized for such longer, conversational queries (long-tail keywords), as these are the ones that voice assistants choose.

To increase your chances of being included in Google Assistant or Siri’s answers, you should pay attention to the structure of your content. Questions in the format of “what”, “how”, “why” work best, which can be presented in the form of FAQ blocks. For example, if your website offers repair services, a FAQ section such as “How much does it cost to repair an apartment in 2025?” will help increase your chances of getting into voice responses.

Another important point is structured data (Schema Markup). It allows search engines to better understand the content of a page and select relevant fragments to display in voice search results. If you design an article or page correctly, Google will be able to highlight the most important blocks of information and use them in voice assistant responses.

Is it worth creating content for voice search?

Absolutely, yes! If your audience actively uses mobile devices and voice commands, ignoring this trend means losing potential traffic.

Google is constantly updating its algorithms, in particular, thanks to BERT technology, which analyzes the context of the query rather than individual words. This means that natural writing style is becoming a key factor for SEO. If earlier the content was optimized for individual keywords, now it is important to take into account the tone, query logic, and even possible wording options.

Special attention should be paid to adaptation for voice assistants. For example, pages with clearly structured answers can be used by Google Assistant or Siri to provide quick answers. This is especially relevant for local businesses, as most voice queries are about finding local services: “Where is the nearest coffee shop?”, “What are the working hours of the dentist nearby?”.

In general, voice search optimization is not just a trend, but a necessity for effective promotion in 2025. Voice technologies continue to evolve, and those who adapt their content first will gain a competitive advantage.

Conclusions

SEO in 2025 requires a deeper understanding of user intent, personalization of content, and adaptation to new search formats. Classic keywords are giving way to optimization for voice queries, clickless search, and AI algorithms. The technical component remains critical, as speed, adaptability, and internal linking directly affect rankings.

The importance of mobile traffic and video content is growing, and YouTube SEO is becoming an integral part of the promotion strategy. Voice search is also gaining popularity, so you should adapt your content to spoken language and long queries. The main thing is to create useful and accessible content that meets the expectations of users and the requirements of search engines.

Frequently asked questions about SEO in 2025

Do I need to optimize my website for SearchGPT?

Yes, new AI search engines are changing the approach to SEO. It is important to create high-quality content that meets user needs, as SearchGPT analyzes context, not just keywords.

How have Google’s algorithms changed in 2025?

Google is actively fighting AI-generated spam and improving its understanding of user intentions. The quality of content, author’s expertise, and usefulness of the page play the main role in the updates.

What technical factors have the greatest impact on SEO?

Core Web Vitals, loading speed, mobile responsiveness, and proper website structure remain key ranking factors.

Do I need to switch to video content?

Yes, video is playing an increasingly important role in SEO. Search engines and social platforms favor video content, and YouTube remains the second most popular search engine.

How to adapt content for voice search?

Optimize pages for long queries, use spoken language, add FAQ sections and structured data. Voice assistants such as Google Assistant and Siri are better able to understand clear and direct answers.

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