If You’re Still Relying on Traditional SEO Tactics, Prepare for a Traffic Slump
You worked hard on your website. You wrote the blogs, optimized the keywords, and even got a few solid backlinks. But despite all that effort, your website traffic is starting to look like a tumbleweed rolling through an abandoned town.
What’s going on? Well…
👉 AI is giving people answers without sending them to your website.👉 Google keeps shifting the goalposts with its never-ending algorithm updates.👉 People are searching for brands in places you’re not even thinking about (Hint: It’s not just Google).
So, how do you actually get people to your website in SEO in 2025? Let’s break it down.
Where People Are Discovering Brands in 2025 (Spoiler: It’s Not Just Google)
Once upon a time, people typed their questions into Google, clicked on a blue link, and landed on a website (hopefully yours). But now? They’re skipping Google altogether.
🔎 TikTok: People search for product reviews, tutorials, and recommendations—because watching a real person demo something is way more convincing than reading a blog.
🔎 YouTube: From “best hiking boots for beginners” to “how to use Notion for business,” YouTube is a top search engine for how-to content.
🔎 ChatGPT & Perplexity: Instead of clicking through pages of search results, users just ask an AI bot for the answer—and get it instantly.
🔎 Reddit & Facebook Groups: People trust real conversations and recommendations from communities over faceless search results.
The takeaway? If your marketing strategy is 100% Google-dependent, you’re missing out on massive discovery opportunities elsewhere.
How AI Search is Dramatically Affecting Click-Through Rates—And What That Means for Your Business
Back in the day, getting the #1 spot on Google meant a guaranteed flood of traffic. Now? Not so much.
Why? Because AI-driven search results summarize the information right in the search box—so users don’t even need to visit a website.
What this means for you:
📉 Lower Click-Through Rates (CTR): Even if you rank high, AI might be stealing your traffic.📈 Higher Importance of Branding: If people don’t need to visit your site, you have to make them want to visit it.⚡ The need to optimize for AI search: Structure your content so AI tools actually pull from it and reference your brand.
How? By being a go-to authority. If your brand is known, trusted, and recommended, people will seek YOU out—even when AI tries to keep them on Google’s search page.
Fresh Strategies to Keep Your Brand in Front of Potential Customers (Even When Algorithms Are Working Against You)
Let’s be real—waiting around for Google’s next update is like playing roulette with your business. Instead of hoping for traffic, take control of your visibility with these strategies:
🚀 1. Create Content AI Wants to Feature
Instead of fighting AI, feed it.✅ Answer specific, high-intent questions concisely.✅ Use structured data & schema markup to make content AI-friendly.✅ Become a trusted brand so AI bots reference you over your competitors.
🎥 2. Double Down on Social Media Search (Especially Video)
TikTok and YouTube are search engines—and people trust them more than a random blog post.✅ Make short-form videos with clear, searchable captions.✅ Post content with high engagement (shares, comments, saves boost rankings).✅ Create how-to guides, listicles, and explainer videos—they perform best.
📩 3. Own Your Audience with Email & Community Building
Google can change its algorithm, but it can’t take away your email list.✅ Build an email list and send regular, valuable content.✅ Create private communities (Facebook Groups, Discord) where people engage directly with your brand.✅ Use SMS marketing to stay connected.
🌎 4. Be Everywhere (Not Just Google)
Diversify where your brand appears:✅ Post on TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram regularly.✅ Get featured on podcasts & YouTube interviews.✅ Collaborate with influencers to tap into new audiences.
Final Thoughts: The Future of Website Traffic Isn’t About Search—It’s About Brand Demand
Instead of just trying to rank higher on Google, focus on making people seek out your brand.
Because when your audience is actively looking for YOU—whether on TikTok, Reddit, or even in an AI chatbot—you’ll never have to stress about an algorithm change again.
Want help building a brand that thrives in SEO in 2025? That’s what we do at Shelley’s Social Media.
👉 Let’s strategize a new SEO approach that works for today’s digital world. Contact us here! 🚀