SEO in 2025 – The Role of AI & Why On-Page + Technical SEO Still Matter

by Romil Tripathi – Best SEO Expert & Founder of SEOFirstStep.in

As we move deeper into the AI era, many marketers are asking:
"Does SEO still matter in 2025?" The answer is a clear YES—but it has evolved.

1. AI is Changing Search—But Not Replacing SEO

With Google’s AI Overviews and search generative experiences (SGE), search engines are becoming more intelligent. They now focus on intent, context, and trust signals rather than just keywords.

But here’s the truth:
AI doesn’t replace SEO — it makes good SEO more important.

You now need optimized content that:

• Answers questions clearly.

• Uses semantically rich keywords.

• Earns authority via trusted sources.

 2. On-Page SEO in 2025: Still the Foundation

On-page SEO is how you signal value to both users and AI search bots. Even in the AI age, on-page SEO tells Google what your page is about.

Important On-Page SEO Factors:

• Title & Meta Description: Must be compelling, keyword-rich, and CTR-friendly.

• Header Tags (H1-H6): Structure your content with clarity.

• Keyword Optimization: Naturally include long-tail keywords like:

  • “How to optimize content for AI Search”

  • “Best SEO strategy for 2025”

• Content Depth: Create helpful, E-E-A-T-compliant content (Experience, Expertise, Authority, Trustworthiness).

• Image SEO: Use ALT tags, compress images, and use descriptive file names.

 3. Technical SEO: The Backbone of AI Search Rankings

Search engines rely on your site’s infrastructure to rank it properly. In 2025, AI demands a clean and structured backend. Here's how:

 Key Technical SEO Elements:

• Schema Markup (Structured Data) for reviews, FAQs, services, and more.

• Core Web Vitals optimization (LCP, FID, CLS).

• Mobile-First Design – most AI crawls happen on mobile.

• Fast Loading Speed – especially important for AI summarization.

• Crawlability & Indexation using XML sitemaps, robots.txt, and canonical tags.

• HTTPS Security – a trust factor in AI’s algorithm.

 4. Content for AI: Write for Users, Format for Machines

AI reads and ranks pages that answer real questions. Use:

• FAQs with Schema

• Conversational Tone

• Featured Snippet-style Answers

• Clear Formatting (bullet points, bolding)

 5. Future-Proofing Your SEO

If you’re starting SEO now or optimizing a website, focus on:

• Long-tail keywords

• Topical authority

• Content clusters

• Local + AI Search (especially for service-based businesses)

• Technical SEO

• SEO On Page

 Final Thoughts by Romil Tripathi

Whether you're a business in India, Canada, USA,  Australia or UAE, the rules of SEO have evolved, but the need for it hasn’t gone away. AI is your friend—but only if your site is technically sound, content-rich, and user-optimized.

Need help with SEO in 2025?
Connect with SEOFirstStep.in — your partner in smart SEO growth.