Many SEO methods circulating in the market are unfortunately either incomplete or completely misleading. In this article, I’ll explain how SEO really works and which SEO strategies actually work in 2025. First, let me be clear: there’s no easy way to do this. If you’re looking for miraculous results with minimal effort in a very short time, this article isn’t for you. Because things that everyone can do have little value, as you might expect.
Every website, every search term, every page has its own rank, and each rank level requires different methods (1). Most content you see online suggests there’s some magical single method. This approach is both misleading and harmful.
Misleading Advice from SEO Plugins
Let me explain this situation using one of the most popular SEO plugins, Rank Math. This plugin constantly gives me guidance like “add numbers to titles” and “use positive or negative sentiment words in titles.” Initially, I blindly followed these rules and told my editor friend Efe that he absolutely had to comply with these rules.
Then I realized this approach was ruining the site’s naturalness. When forced numbers and exaggerated words were used in every title, the site started looking artificial. Click-through rates could even drop because users find such titles untrustworthy (2).
So why are these recommendations made? Actually, there are logical reasons behind these suggestions:
Since I was at the beginning of the learning process, I needed to get into the subject. Then I realized that this site didn’t look very interesting. It was very noticeable that numbers were used forcibly in every title and exaggerated words were used. Slowly, everything started to become clear in my mind. I actually realized that there were completely different reasons behind these memorize-and-use-numbers type recommendations. I summarize this reasoning briefly below:
“Hmm.. it says use numbers. When using numbers, we’re actually adding words to our search term in accordance with the long-tail rule, right? What it calls positive or negative sentiment words also leads to the same door. Actually, we’re adding emotionally charged words that emphasize meaning to support our main search term with side searches. Emotionally charged words also helped with being noticed more in search results and getting clicked, I guess.. Does it still have the same effect? What about how the increase of these in search results looks? Google might not want such a results page..”
So when we don’t look at it by rote, what we’re actually implementing is just long-tail keywords. So if I understand the logic, I can think better and implement it instead of doing it by rote!
Using numbers: We’re actually adding words to our main search term according to long-tail rules. Creating long-tail keywords like “10 best methods in 2025.”
Emotion-laden words: Similarly, we’re strengthening the main search term with supporting secondary searches. They’re also attention-grabbing in search results.
However, in 2025, Google now recognizes these formula patterns and prioritizes user experience (3). Natural and user-focused titles are preferred over artificial ones.
Long-Tail Keywords: Still Critical SEO Strategy in 2025
If you’re planning to use a high-volume search term on a low-ranking site, I definitely don’t recommend it. Google tests a page’s performance at certain intervals and shows you to a limited audience in top positions. It doesn’t make sense to do this for high-volume keywords – otherwise, everyone could produce lots of low-quality content and get traffic.
Long-tail keywords come into play exactly at this point (4). You should find searches derived from your primary search term where competition is low and focus on these searches.
How to Implement Long-Tail Strategy?
- Search your term on Google and examine the results page
- If irrelevant pages rank high this is an opportunity for you
- Google is eager to list relevant results
- As your article rises with slow and steady growth, it will also advance in the primary keyword
This strategy is even more important in 2025 because Google now understands user intent much better (5). If your content gives exactly what users are looking for, you can rise from low-competition long-tail terms to the main term.
AI Search and E-E-A-T
Major changes occurred in the SEO world in 2025. Google’s AI Overviews feature now appears in 20% of searches (6). This situation creates both opportunities and threats.
Optimizing for AI Overviews
To appear in AI Overviews:
- Write content that provides direct answers (7)
- Use structured data
- Add frequently asked questions sections
- Reference reliable sources
E-E-A-T: Credibility Criteria
Google’s Experience, Expertise, Authority, Trust (E-E-A-T) system gained critical importance in 2025 (8). For your site’s credibility:
- Clearly state author information
- Show your area of expertise
- Share original research and your data
- Cite reliable sources
External Linking: SEO’s Secret Weapon
One of the most misunderstood topics on the internet is giving external links. The question “Would you send your customer to another store?” is complete nonsense. The resource links you give to someone reading your article serve your reader and build trust.
Benefits of External Linking
Increased credibility: Showing your sources gains your readers’ trust. They want to see if the foundation is solid.
Quality signal to Google: Linking to sites accepted as authorities shows your site’s quality (9). Google sees this not as spam but as adding value.
E-E-A-T score increase: Research conducted in 2025 shows that quality external links increase your E-E-A-T score (10).
Correct External Link Strategy
Linking to a reasonable number of authority sites benefits your site (11). For example:
“The most comprehensive research on this topic was published in Harvard Business Review.” Give natural references like this.
You’re not sending your customer to a competitor – you’re telling your customer that the milk comes from quality cows. If your customer wants to buy that cow, that’s their business!
Getting Backlinks and Spam Protection
Buying backlinks is very risky business. Google considers this fraud and can penalize your site (12). When not done professionally, it causes more harm than good.
Protection from Negative SEO
Spam Score monitoring: Regularly check the spam score of links to your site.
Using disavow: If you detect spam-scored links, tell Google you’re rejecting these links (13).
Natural link profile: Focus on earning natural links through your content quality.
The Growing Importance of Social Media
The impact of social media on SEO became even stronger in 2025. Google included the engagement you get on social media in its search algorithm (14).
Social SEO Strategy
Building audience: First, gain trust with short and informative posts. People don’t have the luxury of reading every long article.
Engagement focus: As your audience settles over time, you can share your long articles more comfortably and get the engagement you deserve.
Platform diversity: Be active not just on one platform, but on all social media channels where your target audience is.
2025’s New Trend: Multi-Platform SEO
Reddit and Forum Optimization
Reddit experienced a 40% traffic increase in the second half of 2024 (15). Google now prioritizes forum content more. Being active in relevant subreddits and providing helpful answers is the new way to show your expertise.
Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)
AI-based search engines like ChatGPT and Perplexity are growing (16). For visibility on these platforms:
- Use citable content formats
- Give clear and concise answers
- Position yourself as a reliable source
Zero-Click Searches: New Reality
In 2025, the rate of zero-click searches reached 57% on mobile and 53% on desktop (17). This situation requires rethinking SEO strategies.
Zero-Click Optimization
- Optimize for featured snippets
- Ensure visibility in SERP features
- Develop brand awareness strategies
2025 SEO Success Checklist
Here are the strategies you should implement for SEO success in 2025:
- Expand your audience with short posts on social media
- Don’t hesitate to give external links to sources you benefit from
- Don’t force your article to search terms, let search terms fit your article
- Turn to long-tail alternatives instead of competitive terms
- Regularly check links to your site, add spam-scored ones to disavow list
- Keep readers on your site with internal links
- Announce your articles on social media
- Get opportunities to promote your site by providing resources to other sites (guest posting)
- Analyze SERPs and use search terms with irrelevant results
- Create content compliant with E-E-A-T criteria
- Optimize for AI Overviews
- Implement multi-platform strategy
SEO is not a one-dimensional endeavor. It’s difficult to rise using only these methods. In addition to on-page and off-page SEO, AI optimization, multi-platform visibility and E-E-A-T compliance are also critically important in 2025.
Planned and strategic progress is essential for success. Create an SEO routine for yourself and stick to this routine. The SEO world is changing rapidly in 2025, but the basic principles remain the same: adding value to users and being trustworthy (18).
Remember, SEO takes time but there’s no sitting in a corner waiting. You can reach your goals by continuously learning, testing, and improving.
References
- Google Search Central – SEO Starter Guide: The Basics. Google for Developers. https://developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/seo-starter-guide
- Backlinko – Google’s 200 Ranking Factors: The Complete List (2025). https://backlinko.com/google-ranking-factors
- Search Engine Land – SEO priorities for 2025: Your guide to search success. https://searchengineland.com/seo-priorities-2025-453418
- Backlinko – How to Create an Effective SEO Strategy in 2025. https://backlinko.com/seo-strategy
- Backlinko – 5 Crucial SEO Trends in 2025 (and How to Adapt). https://backlinko.com/seo-this-year
- WordStream – The 8 SEO Trends That Will Shape Search in 2025. https://www.wordstream.com/blog/seo-trends-2025
- TopRank Marketing – SEO in 2025: Adapting to Google’s New Reality. https://www.toprankmarketing.com/blog/seo-in-2025/
- Search Engine Land – 5 SEO trends for 2025. https://searchengineland.com/seo-trends-2025-447745
- Yoast – Do outbound links matter for SEO? https://yoast.com/outbound-links/
- StanVentures – SEO Benefits of Outbound Links You Must Know in 2025. https://www.stanventures.com/blog/link-building/outbound-links-for-seo/
- SEMrush – Outbound Links: What Are They & Do They Help SEO? https://www.semrush.com/blog/outbound-links/
- Backlinko – The Complete SEO Checklist for 2025. https://backlinko.com/seo-checklist
- Google Search Central – Documentation to Improve SEO. https://developers.google.com/search/docs
- Conductor – The State of SEO in 2025 Research Report. https://www.conductor.com/academy/state-of-organic-marketing/
- Detailed.com – The State of SEO in 2025. https://detailed.com/state-of-seo/
- RevenueZen – Study These SEO Predictions To Rank Higher In 2025. https://revenuezen.com/seo-trends/
- WordStream – The 8 SEO Trends That Will Shape Search in 2025. https://www.wordstream.com/blog/seo-trends-2025
- Leadfeeder – State of SEO in 2025: Trends + How to Prepare. https://www.leadfeeder.com/blog/state-of-seo/
Academic Sources:
- PMC (PubMed Central) – Search engine optimization for scientific publications: How one can find your needle in the haystack. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9557955/
- SAGE Journals – Impact of Search Engine Optimization as a Marketing Tool. Bhandari, R. S., & Bansal, A. (2018). https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/2278682117754016
