Top SEO trends marketers need to know include AI-powered search optimization, content designed for AI retrieval, and building topical authority through comprehensive content coverage.
Search engines increasingly use AI to generate direct answers, making it crucial to optimize for both traditional search and AI-generated responses.
Key SEO trends marketers need to know for 2025:
- Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). Optimize content to appear in AI Overview, ChatGPT, and other AI-generated answers by creating citation-worthy, authoritative content
- Chunk-level content optimization. Structure content in self-contained sections since AI systems retrieve passages, not entire pages, for answer synthesis
- Enhanced E-E-A-T signals. Demonstrate Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness through author bylines, original research, and credible sources
- Topic cluster content strategy. Build comprehensive coverage around core topics rather than targeting individual keywords in isolation
- Multi-modal content optimization. Include images, videos, and structured data that AI systems can easily parse and reference
- Core Web Vitals and mobile performance. Page speed, mobile responsiveness, and overall user experience remain critical ranking factors
- Local SEO expansion. Geographic relevance continues growing as more searches include location intent
Semrush's AI Visibility Toolkit helps track brand visibility across AI platforms and provides insights for optimizing content for both traditional search and AI-generated responses.
Focus on building topical authority and creating content that serves as the authoritative source AI systems want to cite and reference.
