We’ve been seeing things everywhere of people quitting SEO, saying things like SEO is dead, my traffic tanked… so on and so forth.
But what if we told you the opposite is true? Right now, is actually the best time to be a small business using SEO?
And before we get into this, we want to say that it’s okay to take a break, too. SEO is a marketing tactic just like Instagram, TikTok, email marketing, etc. And we are humans that sometimes just need a dang break. That’s okay.
But if you want to double down on SEO for the rest of 2025 and 2026… Here’s why it’s an extremely smart idea.
Key Takeaways:
- The old way of SEO vs. new strategies to rank
- Why AI is actually an opportunity, not a threat
- How AI gives you a leg up in search results
The Old Way vs. The New Way
The old SEO (that we never actually believed in) tried to help you trick Google into ranking you higher. Things like:
- Keyword stuffing
- Backlink farming
- Buying multiple domains that match keywords
- Hidden keywords
- Automated content
- Comment spamming
Things that actually got you banned from search engines, not ranked higher. Search engines penalize manipulation.
Tip: If an SEO tactic feels sketchy and like a way to get ranked higher and faster, it probably isn’t legit.
The new SEO prioritizes clarity, good content, and real people-first experiences.
Google (and AI search) are rewarding authenticity and expertise…. something small business owners naturally have.
AI is an Opportunity, Not a Threat
AI doesn’t mean SEO is dead. AI tools are making keyword research, blog topic brainstorming, and content outlining faster and more accessible.
Obviously, don’t ever copy and paste information from AI. It still needs to be tweaked with your brand voice and checked for accuracy.
But no one is talking about this… how AI makes the work you do for SEO easier. This is true for Abbey, our clients, and our students… It’s truly a game-changer.
Here are some of the ways we’re using AI to help with SEO.
- Breaking down jargon and explaining complex ideas
- Getting help with custom coding (something we will walk through in SEO on Tap!)
- Outlining or refreshing blogs
- Finding new competitors and content gaps
Plus, the more you use AI, the better it’s learning about you, your business, your expertise, your POV, and your ideal audience.
Meaning: the better this tool can serve you and your ideal customers.
4 Ways AI Is Actually Going To Give You A Leg Up
You might think SEO is dead and there’s no point in putting any effort into it. In reality, AI is giving small businesses a ton of new opportunities to rank, even among big competitors.
1. Google’s new AI Overviews level the playing field.
You probably think you have to be the #1 search result to get any clicks. And this used to be true.
Traditionally, the top three organic results (and ads) captured the most clicks, which meant small businesses struggled to compete against big brands.
With AI Overviews, Google summarizes answers directly in search, and it pulls from a broader mix of sites, not just page-one results. This gives you a real chance to be featured, even if you aren’t in the #1 spot.
2. 47% of Google searches now feature AI Overviews, and it’s growing daily.
AI Overviews seem to have completely taken over the search space. It’s at the point where it’s surprising when you don’t see an AI Overview at the top of your search.
But this is a big opportunity for you. It means there are more chances every day to show up in front of potential clients in ways that weren’t possible before.
Optimizing for AI-driven search will earn you more visibility in search results. But if you choose to just wait and see what happens, you might get left behind.
3. Google doesn’t inherently favor big brands.
Traditional search rankings tend to lean toward big, well-known websites because they usually have more domain authority, backlinks, and ranking keywords.
AI Overviews focus more on the quality and relevance of information. If your content clearly answers the user’s question and demonstrates expertise on the subject, you can be featured right alongside (or even above!) huge brands.
4. Businesses ranking on pages two and three of Google search results can still be featured in AI Overviews.
We all know that being buried past page one meant you were basically invisible.
With AI Overviews, Google pulls from a wider net of sources. So even if your business isn’t on page one, your content can still appear at the top of search results in an AI-generated answer. You have more opportunities to be featured in search results.
Rankings still matter, but you don’t have to be on page one to get traffic. AI Overviews will pull any information it deems valuable and relevant, whether you’re on page one or page ten.
The key factor for inclusion is having high-quality, authoritative content that directly answers a user’s questions, regardless of its organic search ranking.
What should you take away from this?
Read AI Overviews before you create content. Think about what’s missing and how you can add content that will help round out the AI answer.
The search landscape is shifting, but it doesn’t mean SEO is dead. It actually means the playing field is more level than ever.
It’s not about finding those secret hacks—it’s about creating good content for your audience. It’s simple. So let’s stop overcomplicating it, okay!?
And if you are ready to optimize your website and make the entire process feel simple, then hop on over to SEO on Tap and see what our students have to say about it.
FAQs About SEO with AI Overviews
Is SEO a waste of time in 2025?
No, SEO is a valuable marketing technique, now more than ever. You just have to adapt to new best practices now that AI has entered the market.
Is SEO dead with AI search?
Nope! It’s still important to optimize your content for keywords, add value by answering your audience’s questions, and write alt text for your images. AI just wants your content to be layered with expertise and authenticity.
How to humanize AI content?
Never copy and paste AI content. You need to add your brand voice and a personal, human touch to your content. You can do this by adding some humor, emojis, tone of voice, or personality.
Does Google punish AI content?
Google doesn’t like low-quality content, and no shade to AI, but a lot of the content it spits out isn’t the highest quality. Google looks for content that’s authentic and valuable. So yes, there’s a chance Google could punish AI-written content.
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Abbey Oslin and Courtney Petersen are Minnesota-based marketing experts, educators, and co-founders of boutique marketing agency Duo Collective, which specializes in SEO, social media strategy, and branding for small business owners and creative entrepreneurs. To learn more about Duo Collective, or to inquire about working with our team, head over to www.duocollective.com.
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