How I Approach SEO in 2025: Practical Strategies That Still Work

Discussion in 'Search Engine Optimization' started by Haya Asif, Mar 12, 2025.

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Are you working on SEO?

  1. YES

    2 vote(s)
    100.0%
  2. STILL NOT SURE

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  1. #1
    Hey everyone,
    I wanted to open up a conversation about SEO strategies that are actually working right now in 2025. A lot has changed in the last few years—especially with Google’s updates shaking up rankings—but I’ve found that focusing on the basics (with a twist) still brings solid results.
    I’ll share a few things I’m doing and would love to hear your thoughts too!

    1. User Intent Is Everything
    We all know content is king, but context is queen. What’s been working for me lately is digging deep into search intent before creating any page or blog post. Instead of stuffing keywords, I focus on answering the exact questions people are asking in the simplest way possible.
    • Tip: I use tools like Google’s People Also Ask, but more importantly, I talk to actual people in my niche. Their language often gives me better keyword ideas than any tool can.

    2. Faster Websites Win
    I recently worked on a portfolio site (it’s a personal one showcasing SEO and e-commerce work), and just by compressing images, cleaning up the CSS/JS, and moving to lighter themes, I shaved seconds off the load time.
    • My mobile page speed went from 72 to 91, and rankings improved within weeks (small niche, but still!).
    • Pro tip: Lazy load images and avoid unnecessary plugins. Speed is user experience.

    3. Topical Authority Over Random Posts
    Instead of writing about random SEO topics, I built a content cluster—a set of related blog posts on my site all linking back to a core page. For example:
    • One core page about SEO Audits
    • Supporting blogs on On-Page SEO, Technical SEO, Competitor Analysis, etc.
    This structure signals to Google that you know your stuff about a topic. And it builds trust with readers too.

    4. Don’t Sleep on Schema Markup
    Adding schema (FAQ, Breadcrumbs, Reviews) has helped increase my CTR on search results. It’s easy to implement and makes your listing stand out in SERPs.
    Even something as simple as Breadcrumb schema improves navigation and gives Google more context.

    5. Consistency > Perfection
    One thing I realized is that regularly publishing helpful content—even if it’s not “perfect”—brings better results over time than waiting for the perfect article.
    I write about SEO case studies, little wins, and even experiments on my portfolio site. Some of those posts now rank with zero backlinks because they answer questions nobody else has.

    Would love to hear what’s working for you all! Are you still seeing success with backlinks, or has content become your main focus? Let’s share notes and see how 2025 SEO is evolving.
     
    Haya Asif, Mar 12, 2025 IP
  2. Decuriosity

    Decuriosity Greenhorn

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    #2
    The fifth point is really interesting. Just imagine if google ranking algorithms worked like a human being. In the sense that I as a living person would like a blog with quality articles at different times more than a blog that regularly publishes content for content's sake every week.
     
    Decuriosity, Mar 14, 2025 IP
  3. GreenHost.Cloud

    GreenHost.Cloud Active Member

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    #3
    It sounds like a solid approach especially loving the focus on user intent and speed. Keeping it real with what people need makes a big difference.
     
    GreenHost.Cloud, Mar 24, 2025 IP
  4. Marcustaylor21

    Marcustaylor21 Greenhorn

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    #4
    Great insights! Totally agree—2025 SEO is all about intent and clarity. One thing that’s been working for me is combining AI-assisted content with strong human editing to hit that sweet spot of relevance and readability. Also, refreshing older content with updated info and internal links has brought surprising ranking boosts. Backlinks still help, but I'm seeing more value from topical depth and smart on-page SEO. Schema + fast UX = underrated combo.
     
    Marcustaylor21, Apr 17, 2025 IP
  5. Asterion

    Asterion Active Member

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    #5
    John Mueller recently said that structured data has no impact on Google rankings. In fact, he outright denied that it’s a ranking factor.
    What’s your take on that?
     
    Asterion, Apr 23, 2025 IP
  6. LiliaTimofeyko

    LiliaTimofeyko Peon

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    #6
    Valuable insights. As a person that is deeply into domain rate growth in particular and SEO in general what we do with our website:
    - Valuable content (relevant to domain, useful for our potential and current customers)
    - Actual content (like to remove listicles of top-2022), consisency in content posting
    - Health link profile building (hunting good links is a hard job, but it is a vital necessity)
    - Keyword strategy (we build monthly plans)
     
    LiliaTimofeyko, Apr 29, 2025 IP
  7. backlink expert

    backlink expert Peon

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    #7
    Like you said, user intent is everything. For our Chicago clients, we dig into hyper-local search intent—think marketing company in Chicago or “web design near me.” We use Google’s People Also Ask and talk to local business owners to uncover phrases they actually search. For example, a recent client page targeting “Chicago small business SEO” ranks because it answers specific local pain points, like optimizing for Google Business Profile.

    2. Speed + UX = Local SEO Wins
    Your point about faster websites is spot-on. We revamped a Chicago client’s WordPress site by compressing images, removing bloated plugins, and switching to a lightweight theme (Astra). Their mobile PageSpeed score jumped from 65 to 88, and they climbed from page 2 to #5 for “Chicago marketing agency” in weeks. Lazy loading and CDN integration (Cloudflare) were
     
    backlink expert, May 2, 2025 IP
  8. Sumit_Singh

    Sumit_Singh Well-Known Member

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    #8
    Yes, Structured data is not an direct ranking factor. Google uses it for understanding content. And, it helps in potentially boosts the CTR and enhance visibility.

    Posting on regular basis seems spammy to me.
    For news websites it is good to post on regular basis but as if you said you mostly post about SEO case studies (how is it even possible to post case studies on regular basis).
     
    Sumit_Singh, May 3, 2025 IP
  9. Growth optimizers

    Growth optimizers Peon

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    #9
    In 2025, my focus shifts towards optimizing user experiences, AI-based keyword targeting, and fostering backlinks. Digital marketing companies in Dubai have taken the lead by integrating the use of technical SEO with leading content marketing, data-driven strategies, and real-time analytics. Partnering with digital marketing companies in Dubai ensures you are always at the forefront of innovation. visit us- kyptronix(Dot)com
     
    Growth optimizers, May 6, 2025 IP
  10. lami07

    lami07 Peon

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    #10
    i think same
     
    lami07, May 6, 2025 IP
  11. Revantage Healthcare

    Revantage Healthcare Greenhorn

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    #11
    How i can grow my website traffic: this is my website if you have any idea please help me out. https://revantagehbs.com/
     
    Revantage Healthcare, May 6, 2025 IP
  12. MGwebmaster

    MGwebmaster Well-Known Member

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    #12
    I’d also add a sixth point:

    6. Work on building and developing your brand. The goal is to get people to deliberately search for your website or company in search engines - to make them genuinely want to become your customer or read your content specifically.
    A recognizable brand not only builds trust and increases conversion rates when you’re selling something - it also acts as a layer of protection against traffic drops caused by search engine penalties.
    I explained this in more detail in my article: How having a brand changes the game in SEO and how to succeed at it.
     
    MGwebmaster, May 9, 2025 IP