Guess what is new in online searching? Google has stopped something called Infinite Scroll. This means when you search for something, Google will only show endless results if you tell it to. They want to make sure you find what you need quickly!
Something exciting is also happening: AI, like a competent computer helper, is pushing Google to improve. Because of this, Google has to work hard to make online searching even better for everyone.
Get ready for something exciting: Almost half of companies using AI say their website rankings got better after Google updated its algorithms. This is a massive success for AI, proving it can compete in the quick world of online searches! And here is something else – about one in four people using AI believe the content it generates is more attractive and works better than human-written content at grabbing attention and keeping people interested.
The fantastic thing about SEO is that it is never constant. We are eager to see AI’s impact on online search in the coming year. As we wait for the new year, let us explore major SEO trends influencing search optimization in the coming years. Let us dive in!
Here are some of the SEO trends that will revolutionize how you search online in the new year:
1. Boosting Author Credibility Through N-E-E-A-T Optimization
In January 2024, Danny Sullivan, who works with Google Search, tweeted about an article from The Verge. The article said that Google made websites add author names because of their guidelines:
In SEO, showing who wrote something has become more critical because it helps create trust and makes the content seem more reliable. Google looks at author bios, qualifications, and links to professional profiles to decide which content should rank higher.
This idea fits Google’s N-E-E-A-T system (Notability, Expertise, Experience, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). Content linked to trustworthy authors meets all these criteria, making it more likely to do well in search results.
However, this approach isn’t perfect and is changing quickly. Let us look at it in a table to understand how authorship worked in 2024, what will happen in 2025, and what it means for SEO professionals.
Limitations of the Authorship Trend
Tough Start for New Writers
If you are new, showing you’re good at what you do can be challenging. Experienced writers already have an advantage, making it harder for beginners to get noticed.
Focus on Specialized Areas
Showing expertise is very important for topics like healthcare or legal advice. However, not all fields feel the same need to focus on being an author.
Need for Technical Knowledge
Being an author involves precise implementation of schema markup and technical SEO, which can be difficult for smaller businesses without the right resources.
Preference for Well-Known Names
Rankings might be dominated by more prominent companies and famous experts, making it less likely for smaller voices to be heard.
What It Means for SEO Professionals?
In 2025, SEO experts will have to do many different jobs. Simply concentrating on keywords or backlinks will not be enough. They will need to focus on creating and promoting author profiles. This includes:
- Assisting clients or team members in writing detailed bios that highlight their qualifications.
- Making sure structured data, such as author schema, is used correctly.
- Keeping an eye on how authors are perceived online across various platforms.
- Helping new content creators learn how to build trust and authority in their area of expertise.
2. Voice Search and Long Tail Keywords Will Drive SEO Searches Going Forward
Around 21% of people use voice search regularly, making it a regular part of their week. Voice searches are usually longer in duration and more detailed than typing. This means your content should have long-tail keywords…Phrases more specific than short, general words. For example, if you sell jewelry, it is better to concentrate on the keyword – handmade sterling silver charm bracelets -and not silver jewelry.
Using longer, more detailed words or phrases can make your business more noticeable in voice search results. Many websites still use shorter, more common words for typed searches and don’t take advantage of these longer phrases.
Longer phrases are not only good for voice search, but they also help catch the attention of people looking for specific things. The more specific and clear your content is, the easier it is to use several popular words or phrases together.
Challenges with Voice Search and Long-Tail Keywords
Difficulty in Forecasting All Searches
People talk differently from how they type. Voice searches can be very detailed or quite varied, making it tough to guess and prepare for every option.
Slow Process of Making Content
Creating material that answers specific, chatty questions can be very time-consuming. You have to write in a way that sounds natural, which often means changing how your website is set up.
Need for Technical SEO Skills
Voice search depends heavily on organized data, including schema tags, to help search engines comprehend your content. However, not all businesses possess the tools or know-how to do this properly.
Strong Competition
As more companies improve their voice search strategies, the fight to appear for detailed long-tail keywords becomes more complex. If you start late, it will be challenging to catch up.
Risk of Overdoing It
Putting too much effort into voice search could result in over-optimization, where the content seems awkward or unnatural for people reading it on screens.
Impact of Voice Search and Long Tail Keywords on SEO Professionals
Voice search is becoming more critical for people who work in SEO. It’s both a chance to do better and a difficult task. Here’s what’s changing:
SEO experts must understand what people want and write content that sounds like how people talk. It’s not just about using certain words—it’s about giving clear and quick answers to questions.
Professionals will create more FAQ pages, blogs that feel like conversations, and websites that are easy to use for voice searches.
- SEO experts will need to learn how to use schema markup to help search engines find and show content that works well with voice searches.
- It will be very important to keep track of and understand voice search questions. Experts will have to watch how people use voice search to stay ahead of others in their field.
- Many companies don’t understand the importance of voice search. SEO experts will need to explain to clients why spending on long-tail keywords and improving voice search is a good idea.
3. Local SEO Steps into the Spotlight
A massive 76% of people search for “near me” every day to find businesses close to them! This shows how important local SEO has become on platforms like Google. For businesses, it’s now more important than ever to use local SEO strategies to get noticed in their area and bring in customers both online and in person. By making sure they appear in local searches, businesses can establish connection with people actively searching for their products or services in close proximity, giving them a big advantage in the local market.
Limitations of Local SEO
More Competition
As more companies work on local SEO, it will be harder to stand out in a busy market.
Importance of Reviews
Customer feedback strongly affects local search rankings, and bad reviews can lower a business’s visibility.
Regular Updates Needed
Local SEO needs continuous care, like keeping business hours, contact info, and services current.
Voice Search Challenges
With more people using voice search for local info, businesses must optimize for natural, chat-like phrases, which is more difficult.
Algorithm Updates
Google often changes its local ranking rules, making it tough for businesses to keep stable rankings.
Impact on SEO Professionals
For SEO professionals, the dominance of local SEO creates both opportunities and challenges:
- There will be more demand to study local search patterns and user actions to improve strategies and get better results.
- They need to make sure their clients’ information is set up for smaller, specific areas.
- Managing and replying to reviews will be important to keep good reputations.
- They must regularly check and update Google Business Profiles with correct details, like holiday hours or service options.
- SEO experts will need to change their plans to handle voice-based local searches, which are usually more conversational and detailed.
- There will be more demand to study local search patterns and user actions to improve strategies and get better results.
4. Video SEO Will Emerge as a Standard Practice
Video marketing has helped 87% of marketers reach their audience and boost sales. Here’s a simple explanation of how companies make videos to attract potential customers:
Many companies now make short videos, usually under two minutes, to attract customers and reach new people. This shows that videos are very important for marketing in all kinds of businesses. How often do we see videos on Instagram or LinkedIn that make us want to share them with our friends and coworkers? That’s the power of video marketing. In the coming year, video marketing can be very successful, especially if you use good SEO strategies to get long-term benefits.
Limitations of Video SEO
Expensive and Time-Consuming Video Production
Making high-quality videos can cost a lot of money and take a lot of time. Companies might find it hard to compete if they don’t spend money on good equipment, editing, and production.
Understanding Video SEO
Video SEO involves many things like how long people watch, how often they click on the video, and how much they interact with it. Figuring out and improving these complex parts can be difficult.
More Competition
As platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram keep growing, there’s a lot more video content. This makes it tougher to get noticed.
Too Much of Meta Data
Making video titles, descriptions, tags, and thumbnails better needs a lot of work and ideas. If you don’t do this well, fewer people will see your videos.
Accessible for Everyone
Making sure everyone can watch your videos, like adding captions or subtitles, is important but takes more time for creators.
Impact on SEO Professionals
SEO experts will need to learn how to optimize videos, which means using the right words in titles, descriptions, and tags. They should also use advanced methods, like adding time markers for search engines.
- SEO experts must keep up with changes in how video platforms rank content, especially as AI and machine learning play a bigger role.
- Since videos are popular on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and other sites, SEO professionals must make special plans for each platform while keeping the brand’s message the same.
- SEO experts will need to work closely with creative teams to make videos interesting and good for search engines.
- Video SEO won’t work alone. SEO professionals will need to mix videos with blogs, landing pages, and social media posts to create a complete content plan.
- SEO experts must keep up with changes in how video platforms rank content, especially as AI and machine learning play a bigger role.
5. Featured Snippets Will Continue to Consolidate Their Strong Domination
Featured Snippets, or zero searches, have become a prominent feature on Google SERPs. In fact, you will be surprised to learn that 12.3% of search queries contain featured snippets. Such has been the dominance of featured snippets. In 2024, 99.58% of featured snippets acquire ranks from one to ten on the Google search engine.
So, what does this mean for global businesses? Love it or hate it but you cannot ignore the significance of making your query ranked on Google SERPs. In fact, every time you search for anything on Google, chances are, you will find a featured snippet on top of SERPs for about 12.3% of search queries. You will find 99.58% of featured snippets finding a prominent place in the first-page SERPs. This goes to show that the passion to get your write-up ranked on featured snippet will still be on the top-priority list of companies moving into the new year.
Limitations Faced while Trying to Get Your Write-up Ranked on Featured Snippet
More Businesses Want the Best Spot
Featured snippets are at the top of search pages, so it’s very hard for companies to get this spot. Only one result is shown, so others have less chance to be seen.
Fewer Clicks to Websites
Featured snippets give quick answers, so people don’t always need to click on a website. This can mean fewer clicks, especially for content that just gives information.
Relying on Google’s Algorithms
Google chooses which content appears in snippets, and its rules can change often. Companies have little control, so it’s tough to stay visible in these snippets.
Voice Search and Featured Snippets
Using voice assistants to get answers often relies on featured snippets. Making your content visible for both voice search and snippets can be challenging and require a lot of effort.
Restricted Content Types
Although Google has added more types of snippets, there are still some restrictions. Content that is interactive or very visual may not appear in featured snippets.
Impact on SEO Professionals
- SEO experts should focus on organizing content for search results, like using clear titles, bullet points, and short answers to common questions.
- It is important to know what users want and make content that fits what search results need, like answering “how,” “why,” and “what” questions.
- Experts should find a balance between making content good for search results and getting users to click for more details.
- SEO experts need to work with content writers to make sure the information is well-researched, interesting, and formatted for search result optimization.
- Some industries might have special problems, like strong competition or difficulty in making content that works well for search results, especially for complex topics.
6. Prioritizing User Experience Will Become a Non-Negotiating Priority in Search Optimization
A single-second delay in loading your webpage can cause a drastic drop of 26% in your conversion rate. This shows that user experience is an essential component of the SEO strategy.
Today, users want their desired information seamlessly without foregoing their overall experience on your website. Hence, Google also observes how your users interact with the website, how your website functions, and the overall digital strategy you have employed to decide whether to showcase your website on top of SERPs.
In the mobile era, you cannot afford a website with poor aesthetics and a bad UX design. Even personalization has a role in delivering a great user experience on your website. The user experience factor will always remain a top priority of Google whenever they look to rank your website.
Limitations in Improving User Experience on Your Website
Integrating AR and VR in providing an immersive experience
Augmented and virtual reality will completely transform how users interact with digital content. This will prompt you to create more engaging and personalized experiences.
Changes in Creating Personalized Experiences for Users
The biggest challenge is integrating technologies like AI and headless CMS integration to streamline content delivery and provide personalized user experiences.
Including voice and conversational interfaces to provide a top-class digital experience
With voice-operated technology becoming a hit in 2024, the next step is to design UX that considers voice and conversational interfaces.
Embracing minimalistic designs and including micro-interactions
This is the next level of user satisfaction that will take a lot of effort and time to deliver minimalistic designs through micro-interactions.
Using sustainable and ethical design
The biggest goal for digital entities is to ensure that they provide a sustainable and ethical design that has minimal impact on the global environment and develops users’ trust and loyalty.
Impact on SEO Professionals
- Make sure that your website’s visitors can easily search for things they are looking for.
- Compress images and use CDNs to speed up the performance of your website.
- SEO professionals should prioritize mobile-first responsiveness to ensure that users get the best experience on their websites.
- Make sure the website’s fonts are easy to read, with clear headings and sufficient white space to make the users’ experience top-grade.
The Future of Digital Search is Here!
Here you have it some of the trailblazing SEO trends that will make the new year even more special. If you want to learn more about the digital future of search optimization, you will enjoy this edition from us. If you would like us to include some more SEO trends for the year 2025, do let us know. We look forward to hearing from you. Keep motivating us by posting your invaluable comments below!
