Is SEO dead In 2025: How to Survive in the AI Era?

AI is revolutionizing how customers search for products online. Comparing to directly typing their questions into Google, more customers now use AI tools to ask specific questions. For example, ‘which moisturizer is best for oily skin?’

They also rely on platforms like TikTok or Instagram to discover the real customer reviews. With the change in this search method, many marketers and eCommerce sellers are beginning to wonder:

Is SEO still necessary now?

The truth of the matter is that SEO isn’t dead; it’s progressing. Hence, e-commerce sellers must rethink their SEO strategies to maintain visibility in age of google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE) and AI-generated content 

In this article, we’ll explore how AI is changing organic search and provide actionable steps to help e-commerce sellers adapt and thrive in this new era.

The latest Google algorithm update

No, SEO is not ineffective. However, it has become more complex. And Google’s frequent algorithm updates are not helping in making things easier. For example, the newest March 2025 core update has introduced several new key features. The ones related to content are as follows.

• Enhanced Content Quality Standards: The upgrade emphasizes original, comprehensive, and valuable information. Websites with thin or redundant content may see a drop in rankings. ​
• Increased emphasis on User Experience: Aspects like page load time, smartphone friendliness, and straightforward navigation have become more important. Sites that ignore these aspects may experience diminished visibility. ​
• Google is stepping up its efforts to combat ‘parasitic SEO.’ So, authoritative sites can no longer get away with hosting low-quality or irrelevant content in order to manipulate search rankings.

Furthermore, the rise of AI tools is fundamentally altering user search queries. Notably, ChatGPT has emerged as a dominant player in the search engine world. It is attracting approximately 3.8 billion monthly visits. It has now surpassed most traditional platforms like bing.

All these shifts are reshaping how users access information online. Hence, traditional SEO strategies such as keyword stuffing have become less effective.

Is SEO Really “Dead”? 

As of 2025, we can confidently say the SEO industry is not dead. 

Here are a couple of reasons why we believe that SEO is still thriving in impacting search results.

1. Search Traffic is Still a Key Source for e-commerce sellers

Organic search is still an important traffic source for the e-commerce industry. The traffic distribution chart of the well-known website New Balance can confirm this for you.

57% of its traffic comes from brand influence, while organic traffic from searches related to its products accounts for 34%. It indicates that organic search remains a crucial factor in attracting new customers. This highlights the need for both brand-building and SEO optimization to maximize visibility and conversions.

The relevance of organic search traffic proves that SEO is still valuable for Shopify businesses. The higher level of organic research indicates that potential customers turn to Google for product research.

Moreover, customers actually looking for products by searching directly are more likely to purchase than ad-driven clicks. Thus proving that organic visitors often have a higher average order value (AOV) than other channels.

2. AI search is based on the results of search engines.

AI tools like ChatGPT rely on search engine data to generate responses, pulling information from high-ranking websites. If your content isn’t well-optimized, it won’t be cited by AI, limiting its visibility.

For example, when users ask ChatGPT for the “best travel backpack brand,” the AI references top-ranking sources to provide an answer. This demonstrates how search engines and AI prioritize authoritative, well-structured content.

As a result, SEO is no longer just about ranking on Google, it now determines whether AI-powered search assistants recognize and recommend your content. To secure a place in AI-driven results, businesses must focus on high-quality, intent-driven content that aligns with both user needs and search engine algorithms.

3. Paid Ads vs. SEO: Long-Term ROI Comparison

Paid advertising may seem like a quick way to drive traffic, but it comes with limitations. Higher visibility found that paid search accounts for only 23.6% of website traffic. However, organic search contributes substantially more.

What’s the key difference? Advertisements provide immediate visibility but require continuing commitment. When you stop paying, traffic reduces immediately. In contrast, SEO increases long-term organic visibility and brand authority.

Take Allbirds as an example. The sustainable footwear firm invests substantially in SEO, achieving top rankings for terms like “eco-friendly shoes.” In contrast to brands that rely primarily on PPC ads, this organic presence drives constant traffic without the need for continued ad investment.

Here’s a direct comparison of Paid Ads vs. SEO:

Feature	Paid Ads (PPC)	SEO (Organic Search)
Traffic Source	Instant but paid	Grows over time, free
Cost	High CPC	Initial investment but no ongoing cost per click
Longevity	Stops when the budget runs out	Sustained over time
Trust & Credibility	Lower, as users prefer organic results	Higher, builds brand authority
Conversion Impact	Immediate, but depends on the budget	Long-term customer acquisition

4. Search Is Evolving Towards “Multimodal”

Modern search is no longer restricted to written requests. Google is increasingly prioritizing multimodal search, which allows users to obtain results using a combination of text, images, and videos. For you, this transition means that optimizing for various content formats is now an essential component of SEO.

One important part of this advancement is image SEO. Product photographs that have been optimized with informative alt text, relevant filenames, and structured data can increase their Google Image Search rating. Glossier, for example, makes efficient use of high-quality product photographs with keyword-rich metadata to ensure that its beauty goods appear in both organic search and Google images.

Similarly, UGC (user-generated content) on platforms such as Pinterest and TikTok can help improve search visibility. Shopify businesses can benefit from user-generated content (UGC) by encouraging customers to create content about their items. For example, Lululemon incorporates user-submitted photos into its website and social media channels, increasing engagement and discoverability.

Shopify Merchants’ SEO Survival Guide for 2025

SEO is continuously evolving, and Shopify businesses must use AI-driven techniques to stay competitive. Google’s Search Generative Experience favors authoritative brands and high-quality content, rendering traditional techniques ineffective. To thrive, you must incorporate AI tools for content.  Here’s how to make your SEO strategy future-proof for 2025.

1. AI-powered content and SEO Optimization 

In order to rank higher and attract more clicks, focus on AI-friendly strategies.

Title and Description Optimization

Optimizing your titles and meta descriptions is critical for increasing click-through rates (CTR). Moldstud found that including numbers in headlines increases engagement by 36%. To achieve maximum impact:

• Use Power terms: To attract clicks, use action-oriented terms like “Proven,” “Ultimate,” or “Step-by-Step”.
• Maintain Clarity and Relevance: To increase exposure in search results, keep titles around 60 characters and descriptions under 160 characters.
• Use AI for A/B Testing: Tools like ChatGPT and SurferSEO can help you build and test various variations to see what attracts the most traffic.
• Long-Tail Keywords: Use particular user queries to align with search intent and boost ranking potential.

Image Search Optimization

Try to use high-quality images with the least amount of burden on the site. Google’s developer suggests lossless WebP images as they can be 26% smaller than PNGs. 

After optimizing image sizes, you need to add descriptive ALT tags with relevant keywords. This helps search engines understand the content, improving visibility in image search results.

Schema Markup for Product Pages

Implementing structured data allows Google to display rich snippets in search results. You can use SEOAnt to add schema markup, such as JSON-LD schema. I will enable rich snippets for your site’s pages.

The rich snippets allow the display of product details like pricing, availability, and reviews. This makes it easier for your customers to understand the data on your page. 

2. Combining Social Media to Boost SEO Impact

It is the reality of today’s world that social media garners a significant amount of views and influences consumer behavior. Here is how you can improve your SEO by combining it with social media:

1. Share Optimized Content: Ensure the content you share on social media is SEO-optimized. For example, use relevant keywords and hashtags, and make sure titles and descriptions are compelling. The content should also be of high quality and value to encourage users to click and share.
2. Increase Social Media Engagement: Regularly post engaging content (such as polls, Q&A, or discussions) to encourage users to comment, like, and share. This not only increases brand exposure but also boosts social signals, which can indirectly impact SEO performance.
3. Post Consistently: Regular posting keeps your social media profiles active, increasing brand visibility online. By maintaining activity, you can drive more users to visit your website and boost external traffic.
4. Utilize Appropriate Social Platforms: Choose the right social platforms based on your target audience. For example, Instagram is great for visual content, Twitter is perfect for quick updates and engagement, and LinkedIn is ideal for B2B. Posting optimized content across multiple platforms broadens your brand’s reach.
5. Gain More External Links: Through social media shares, other websites or blogs may link to your content. These external backlinks help improve your website’s authority, thus boosting SEO rankings.
6. Use Social Media Ads: If budget allows, use social media advertising to promote your content or website. While ads don’t directly affect SEO, they increase visibility and traffic, which can indirectly improve rankings.
7. Monitor Social Media Analytics: Analyze engagement data to see which content received the most shares and clicks. Use this information to refine your content strategy, aligning it better with SEO goals.

3. Brand SEO: Creating Keywords for Your Brand

Strong branding makes your store stand out and increases search visibility. For example, you feel like your brand is new and does not have influence in the market. You must create visibility by integrating branded keywords into your SEO strategy.

First, use your brand name and integrate relevant keywords associated with your products. Then, use tools like Google Keyword Planner or Ahrefs to find high-intent terms. The next step would be to incorporate these keywords into your page titles, meta descriptions, and product listings.

It is extremely important to encourage branded searches by consistently using your brand name across all digital touchpoints like social media, blogs, and influencer collaborations. You also need to optimize image alt text with your brand name keyword.

Lastly, add structured data to ensure search engines index your brand effectively

This practice will allow you to differentiate yourself from the market and attract targeted traffic.

4. Using AI and Data Analytics for More Efficient SEO

Utilize AI tools such as Semrush’s Keyword Magic Tool and Ahrefs’ Keyword Explorer. These tools build broad keyword lists based on search queries and competition.

They can also help in analyzing industry trends and determining search intent. Rather than depending exclusively on AI-generated keywords, incorporate them into well-researched content that addresses consumer pain points

For example, if you own a skincare Shopify store, Channelwill’s AI SEO tool can recommend high-intent keywords like “best vitamin C serum for dry skin.”

You can also use Channelwill’ Keyword Explorer to analyze competitor data and adjust your content strategy to include related terms like “hydrating vitamin C serum” or “dermatologist-approved serums.”

After identifying the keywords, you can create content around them with expert insights to garner traffic with relevant articles.

Looker Studio allows you to monitor search traffic trends and optimize your keyword strategy over time. By evaluating real-time data, you can find high-performing keywords and tailor your content for long-term SEO success.

5. Increased Focus on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness)

E-E-A-T is one of the four crucial factors for ranking in the world of Google’s SGE. Your content must correspond with E-E-A-T to rank highly on Google’s ever-changing search landscape. Here is how to optimize for each factor:

• Experience: Use firsthand insights, case studies, and user-generated content to illustrate practical understanding. To increase authenticity, include customer feedback or real-world applications of your products.
• Expertise: Work with subject matter experts to develop detailed, well-researched content. Including author bios with credentials or referring to trustworthy sources shows credible expertise.
• Authoritativeness: Establish your brand as a reliable resource by providing original research, industry studies, or expert interviews. Backlinks from high-authority websites also help to increase the authority of your content.
• Trustworthiness: Increase trustworthiness by giving explicit return policies, security certificates, and customer testimonials. Avoid relying too heavily on AI-generated material; instead, maintain relevance and quality through human oversight.

By concentrating on E-E-A-T principles, you can keep current with SEO trends, increase brand authority, and retain good search ranks in the face of constant algorithm changes.

6. User Experience (UX) as a Ranking Factor

Google’s Core Web Vitals now prioritizes User Experience (UX) as a ranking criterion. Page speed, interactivity, and visual stability all need to be focused on. You must guarantee that your websites load quickly. And offer a consistent browsing experience across all devices.

Portent observed that pages that loaded in less than one second had a threefold greater conversion rate than slower pages.

Here’s how you can improve user experience (UX) and raise SEO rankings:

• Make sure your website is mobile-friendly with a responsive design, fast-loading content, and simple navigation. Google prioritizes mobile-first indexing.
• To improve page speed, compress pictures, employ a content delivery network (CDN), and remove extraneous scripts. A quicker website lowers bounce rates and boosts rankings.
• Improve Navigation and Structure by employing clear menus, logical layouts. Moreover, breadcrumb navigation can help users and search engines grasp your site’s structure.
• Create engaging and readable content. Use brief paragraphs, headers, bullet points, and graphics to make your information more digestible and entertaining.
• To increase usability for all visitors, focus on accessibility and UX design. This includes ensuring font contrast, alt text for images, and keyboard-friendly navigation.
• Use Strategic Internal Linking to direct users to relevant information, thus increasing time spent on your site.

Implementing these UX enhancements not only increases user satisfaction but also improves your site’s SEO performance.

Conclusion 

SEO is not dead; rather, it is evolving. To maintain visibility, Shopify merchants must stay agile in the face of AI-powered search, multimodal content, and shifting ranking factors. High-quality content, UX optimization, and AI-powered SEO tools are critical for long-term success.

Channelwill provides Shopify sellers with superior SEO solutions, AI-powered analytics, and professional tactics for e-commerce growth. Do you want to future-proof your store’s SEO? Let’s maximize your search visibility and drive consistent organic traffic together. Contact us right away!