Why Is SEO Important? 10 Reasons It Matters More Than Ever

“SEO is dead.”

We’ve heard that line more times than we’ve refreshed GA4. And that’s saying something.

Honestly? We get the sentiment.

AI overviews are eating clicks. Publishers are facing brutal traffic drops. More content marketers are diversifying their efforts across different channels like TikTok, LinkedIn, and email.

So, is SEO still worth the effort?

Short answer? Yes. Long answer? Absolutely yes.

We’ve run paid ads, built email funnels, sponsored podcasts—you name it. They work. But none of them deliver the consistent, compounding results we’ve seen from search.

And while everyone’s busy declaring the end of SEO, Google quietly dropped this stat:

It now processes over 5 trillion searches every year.

That alone tells you search isn’t going anywhere.

So before you write it off, let’s look at the importance of SEO in 2025.

But first, a quick refresher.

What is SEO?

SEO stands for search engine optimization. It’s the practice of improving your site’s visibility in the organic (unpaid) results on search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo.

When someone enters a query (like “best project management tools for remote teams”), Google displays two types of results:

1. Paid listings: These are ads. You pay every time someone clicks. They appear as soon as your campaign goes live.

2. Organic listings: These are free, but you have to earn your spot. It takes time and effort to get there.

SEO is how you earn those organic spots.

The goal is simple: rank higher for relevant queries so your site gets more clicks, traffic, and conversions without paying for every visitor.

But here’s what most marketers miss:

SEO isn’t just one tactic. And it’s definitely not a marketing channel.

It’s a set of interconnected tactics that all work together to help your site appear and rank higher in search results.

To actually win at SEO, you need to understand these SEO principles. Let’s break them down:

Keyword research: This includes identifying the search terms your audience types into search engines when they’re looking for something related to your business, product, service, and/or industry For example, if you sell CRM software, a solid keyword might be “best CRM tools for small businesses.”

Content creation: This involves producing high-quality, user-focused content around those keywords. For instance, if your primary keyword is “best CRM tools for small businesses,” you could write a listicle about the top 10 CRM tools for small businesses.

On-page SEO: This is all about making your content easy to understand for both users and search engines. This includes optimizing title tags, meta descriptions, headers, image alt texts, and internal links.

Technical SEO: This part focuses on how well your site performs. It includes fixing broken links, compressing images, improving page speed, setting up redirects, and making your site mobile-friendly.

Off-page SEO: This covers everything you do outside your website to improve its search engine rankings. The most important part is earning backlinks (links from one site that point to another) from reputable websites.

Local SEO: If you’re targeting customers in a specific city or region, local SEO can help your business show up for local searches. This includes optimizing your Google Business Profile, collecting and managing reviews, targeting city-based keywords, and getting listed in local directories.

When all these parts work together, SEO becomes one of the most reliable ways to attract your potential customers. And drive long-term compounding growth.

Ryan Prior, Head of Marketing at Modash, is a huge advocate for SEO. Modash’s site now drives around 178K visits each month from search engines.

He stated:

“SEO was the first initiative I invested in to grow Modash—because it let me tap into the channel where many of our potential customers were already in-market and actively searching for a solution.”

Before we explain the importance of SEO in 2025, it’s important to first understand how search engines work.

How Do Search Engines Work?

To show up in search, you first need to understand how search engines actually work.

It all comes down to three steps: crawling, indexing, and ranking.

Here’s the simple version:

• Crawling: Search engines send bots (called spiders or crawlers) to discover new and updated content by following links across the web. If they can’t find your page, it won’t show up in search results.
• Indexing: Once crawled, your content is analyzed and, if it meets quality standards, it’s added to Google’s index (aka its giant database of pages).
• Ranking: When someone searches, Google looks through its index and ranks the most relevant pages based on hundreds of ranking signals like content quality, backlinks, and search intent.

If even one of these steps breaks (say your page isn’t crawlable or gets skipped in indexing) you’re out of the game before it even starts.

That’s why good SEO isn’t just about keywords. It’s about making sure your content is findable, understandable, and worth showing to real people.

What Influences Search Engine Rankings?

Google doesn’t hand out a comprehensive checklist of ranking factors that influence search engine rankings. But the 2024 Semrush Ranking Factors Study is a solid resource that gives us some pretty solid clues.

They analyzed 300,000 positions across 16,000 keywords, and the patterns were loud and clear. 

Here are some observations:

• Content relevance is the strongest correlating factor: Semrush found a 91%+ text relevance score among top 5 pages. These pages fully align with the search intent. If your content drifts off-topic or only scratches the surface, you’re unlikely to break into the top results.
• High-quality content outranks longer content: Pages that ranked well weren’t necessarily the longest. What mattered more was clarity, usefulness, and structure. In fact, top-ranking content consistently scored higher on Semrush’s content quality metric, regardless of word count.
• Backlinks from unique domains still moved the needle: There’s a clear link between rankings and the number of referring domains. Top-performing pages had significantly more backlinks from unique and reputable sites. 
• Strong domain authority = better visibility: The average Domain Authority Score among top 10 results was 67. Domains with long-term credibility and a healthy backlink profile are more likely to rank across multiple keywords and maintain those rankings.
• URLs with more organic traffic rank higher: Pages in position #1 had up to 2x the organic traffic of those in positions 2 or 3. This isn’t just a result of ranking well, it’s also a signal. Google sees traffic as validation that users find the page valuable.
• Broad keyword coverage supports top rankings: Top-ranking pages covered more semantically related terms, not just the main keyword. This comprehensive coverage helped them rank for more queries and better serve user intent.
• Branded and direct traffic correlate with higher positions: Nearly 1 in 3 visitors to top-ranking domains arrived via direct traffic. Another 1 in 4 came through branded searches. These signals reflect trust and recognition, which Google appears to reward in the rankings.

10 Reasons Why SEO is Important in 2025

Why is SEO important in 2025? Here are my two cents:

1. Google Processes Trillions of Searches Each Year

There has been a lot of noise lately about SEO being dead. 

We get why.

Everyone’s raving about AI for SEO.

More Reddit conversations are appearing in search results.

And many publishers have seen brutal traffic drops.

But when you look at the data (not just the headlines) the story isn’t so simple. 

Google still processes over 5 trillion searches a year. 

That’s not a recycled stat from 2019. That’s from 2025.

Even with evolving SERPs (we mean, AI overviews), most people still turn to Google when they are looking for information. 

Whether it’s “best crypto platforms” or “quiet hotel near Zurich airport,” organic search is where the discovery process begins for many.

No other marketing channel comes close to giving your brand this level of reach and exposure.

You can run ads, send emails, and post on LinkedIn or TikTok. And those channels can work. 

But none of them give you the ability to show up in front of millions of potential customers, right when they need what you offer without paying for every single impression.

That’s not just powerful. That’s irreplaceable.

And it’s why SEO is important and still deserves a front-row seat in your brand marketing strategy.

2. AI Tools Pull From Top-Ranking Search Results

AI doesn’t just make stuff up. Most tools are trained to scrape, summarize, and remix what’s already published online.

And where do they get most of that information? From top-ranking search results.

We’ve seen this firsthand. Recently, we asked ChatGPT, “best time-tracking tools for freelancers.” 

It listed Toggl Track as the top pick.

Then, we Googled the same query. 

The first organic result was Zapier’s blog post titled 5 Best Time Tracking Apps in 2025.

And guess which tool was listed #1 in this post?

Toggl Track.

See the pattern?

From what we’ve seen, AI tools are mostly pulling from blog posts already ranking in the top five.

This means, if your content isn’t there, it’s not getting referenced in AI answers.

That has changed how we think about SEO at Ninja Promo.

We don’t just focus on creating content that ranks on Google (even though that’s a BIG priority). We also create content that AI tools want to cite by going deeper on the topic, covering missed angles, and structuring content so it’s easy to crawl, parse, and quote.

Want to see it for yourself?

• Ask an AI tool a niche question you want to rank for.
• Check the sources it pulls in (tools like Perplexity show this clearly).
• Now search the same query on Google.

3. SEO Results Are Long-Lasting

Most digital marketing campaigns have a shelf life. You run a campaign, see a spike (in traffic or revenue), and then watch the numbers fall off a cliff.

Results come fast, and disappear just as quickly.

SEO is different. Results don’t vanish when you stop publishing or putting in efforts.

We’ve written blog posts for our clients that still bring in steady traffic without requiring them to spend a single dollar on promotion. A study reveals that the median age of a top-ranking page on Google is 5 years old.

When a web page secures a top-ranking position for a relevant keyword, it can continue attracting traffic for months (even years) with minimal upkeep.

For example, one of the top-ranking results for the keyword “what is blogging” is a guide by The Balance, which was published back in 2008.

Of course, rankings aren’t permanent.

But with constant updates (thanks to Freshness algorithm update), you can maintain your position over time.

That same Balance article has been updated several times.

If you check the source code, you’ll see it was most recently refreshed in 2024.

We’ve found that improvements to a post, like refreshing stats, tightening intros, or addressing new search intent, are often enough to maintain its search engine position.

4. SEO Traffic Compounds Over Time

Most marketing channels stop working the moment you stop investing in them.

Turn off ads, and traffic disappears. Pause email campaigns, and engagement fades.

But SEO operates differently. 

Search engines reward patience, consistency, and long-term effort.

You can spend months publishing high-quality content, optimizing your site’s technical performance, and building backlinks. And see little to no movement at first.

It’s slow and frustrating.

But beneath the surface, real progress is happening.

Your domain authority increases. Your content begins to establish a clear topical footprint. Search engines slowly start to recognize your site as a reliable and trustworthy source in your niche.

And that’s when things begin to shift.

It’s rarely a single post that drives the change. What we’ve seen (time and time again) is dozens of pages quietly climbing the rankings together.

A blog that brought in 5 visits last month now pulls in 50. Another page jumps from position 18 to 7. None of them are explosive on their own; but collectively, they start to stack.

Suddenly, your traffic isn’t just growing, it’s compounding.

The effort you put in three months ago starts paying off today. The content you publish today lays the foundation for growth six months from now.

That’s why you should treat SEO as an investment.

5. SEO Is More Cost-Effective Than Paid Ads

Paid ads stop working the moment your budget exhausts.

The traffic, leads, and visibility they generate? Gone instantly.

Every click costs money. And in competitive industries, that cost can skyrocket. We’ve worked with clients spending $10 or more per click just to stay visible in the SERPs.

Take the keyword “HR platform”—its average CPC is $29.15. At that rate, scaling with paid traffic becomes incredibly expensive, incredibly fast.

SEO works differently.

Yes, it takes upfront investment.

You need to create high-quality content, optimize your site’s technical performance, and build backlinks. Most importantly, you need to stay consistent with your efforts.

But once a page ranks, it can continue to drive traffic for months (or even years) without additional spend.

Another example: Investopedia’s blog post on marketing, first published in 2005, still ranks on the first page of Google for the keyword “marketing.”

And drives approximately 100,000 monthly visitors, according to Semrush’s Domain Overview.

We’ve seen the same dynamic in our own work.

A single blog post has outperformed entire ad campaigns, both in terms of traffic and conversions. And while we still use ads strategically, we don’t depend on them to build long-term visibility.

That’s where SEO shines.

Just don’t burn your budget on overpriced SEO retainers. You don’t need a $10K-a-month agency to get results.

Look for affordable SEO services that care about outcomes; not vanity metrics. 

That’s the mantra we follow at Ninja Promo. 

6. SEO Builds Brand Authority Over Time

Traffic is great. Leads are better. 

But authority? That’s what makes a brand unforgettable.

One of the most underrated benefits of SEO is how it quietly builds brand authority. 

Every time your content ranks for relevant keywords and delivers value to the reader, it builds trust.

Now imagine your brand showing up for multiple keywords across the entire customer journey. That signal only gets stronger.

It’s no longer just a one-off article, they start seeing you everywhere. From top-of-funnel questions to bottom-of-funnel comparisons, your name keeps coming up.

The more search touchpoints you create, the more trust you’re likely to build; before a prospect even speaks to you.

This trust can eventually turn into preference. And that’s what gives you a competitive edge.

Carlos Silva, Senior Content Writer at Semrush, shares his personal experience:

“When I was learning SEO (a long time ago), I’d instinctively click on Semrush or Backlinko articles. Why? Because their content consistently delivered value and these brands had earned my trust. This is the power of SEO. When you consistently deliver quality content, users begin to recognize and prefer your brand in search results—regardless of how you rank. That’s when SEO truly transcends rankings and can become a competitive advantage.”

Another example: HubSpot. 

What set them apart early on was their aggressive SEO content strategy.

They targeted a wide range of educational keywords like “what is inbound marketing,” “email marketing tips,” and “sales funnel examples”—all highly relevant to their audience. Many of these posts ranked at the top of Google and brought in consistent organic traffic.

This gave them more search touchpoints than most competitors and helped them build brand authority.

As they started ranking for hundreds of marketing and sales terms, they created consistent visibility across the entire customer journey.

Their name became synonymous with trustworthy and actionable content.

7. SEO Improves User Experience (UX) and Engagement

Good SEO doesn’t just bring people to your site, it helps you build a better one.

To rank well, your site needs to load fast. It needs to work on mobile. It needs clear navigation, intuitive structure, and content that actually answers the visitor’s question.

For instance, here’s the mobile version of our site:

All of that improves user experience. And user experience is a confirmed ranking signal.

Because Google wants to show results from sites that offer a great user experience. 

When users find what they need quickly and easily, they stay longer, bounce less, and are far more likely to take action.

That’s one of the biggest benefits of SEO. We’ve seen this firsthand.

When we fixed core web vitals, cleaned up cluttered layouts, and made the content easier to scan, our rankings improved And so did user engagement.

Visitors weren’t just landing on the page. They were reading, clicking, and scheduling an intro call.

That’s what makes SEO so powerful.

It’s not just about getting traffic. It’s about delivering a great experience, so when people arrive, they stay, engage, and convert. 

The better the experience, the better your performance across the board.

8. Local SEO Brings More Customers to Small Businesses

If you run a local business, SEO isn’t just helpful, it’s a lifeline.

When someone searches “best dentist near me” or “coffee shop open now,” they’re not just casually browsing.

They’re often looking for a local business they can visit, call, or book soon after.

And if your business doesn’t show up in those results, you’re missing out on people who are actively considering their options.

That’s where local SEO comes in.

Local SEO is the practice of optimizing your local business’s online presence so your business shows up in local search results; especially in Google Maps, the local pack, and neighborhood-specific queries.

It helps connect your business with people searching in your area.

Local SEO includes:

• Creating and optimizing your Google Business Profile
• Getting listed in local directories
• Targeting “near me” and geo-specific keywords
• Collecting and responding to customer reviews
• Ensuring your name, address, and phone number (NAP) are consistent everywhere

Related Content: Effective Small Business SEO Strategies for Better Online Visibility

Quick example:

We once helped a family-run home services business optimize their Google Business Profile, collect reviews, and build local citations. Within three months, they went from barely showing up to ranking in the top 3 for searches like “AC repair in New York.” 

Bookings followed.

With local SEO, you’re not competing with the whole internet. You’re just making sure the right people in your area can actually find you.

9. SEO Supports the Customer Journey at Every Stage

We’ve built SEO strategies that guide users through every stage of their buying journey; starting with an informational blog post, leading to a comparison guide, and eventually to a case study or product page.

Because SEO isn’t just about driving traffic.

It’s about showing up at the right time, with the right content, no matter where someone is in their buying journey.

Here’s how that journey typically looks:

• Top of funnel (Awareness): The user is trying to understand a problem or learn something new. Example: “How to improve team productivity”
• Middle of funnel (Consideration): The user is exploring solutions and weighing options. Example: “Best project management tools for remote teams”
• Bottom of funnel (Decision): The user is ready to act, they just need validation.
  Example: “A customer case study”

When you meet potential customers at each stage with content tailored to their intent, you’re moving them forward. 

That’s why SEO matters. And it’s still powerful.

SEO doesn’t just bring people in. It walks with them, all the way to the finish line.

10. Works in Synergy with Other Digital Marketing Strategies

SEO doesn’t exist in a silo. And it shouldn’t.

In every project we’ve worked on, the best results happen when SEO supports and amplifies everything else: paid ads, social media, email campaigns, and even influencer marketing.

Here’s why that matters.

Let’s say a potential customer has read a couple of your blog posts over the past few months. Later, they see a paid ad for your product or a limited-time offer. 

Because they already know your name, they’re more likely to trust the ad and click.

SEO builds the foundation. It makes your brand familiar before the pitch even shows up.

When done right, SEO doesn’t compete with your other efforts—it amplifies them.

That’s why we never treat SEO as a standalone tactic. It’s the engine quietly powering everything else.

Want More Traffic and Customers? NinjaPromo Can Help You Get There

Doing SEO right doesn’t mean paying $10K/month to an agency that sends you vanity reports and vague promises.

At NinjaPromo, we do things differently.

We focus on what actually moves the needle. And we work as your full SEO department on subscription. 

You pick a monthly package. That gives you a set number of expert hours (like 80 hours/month on our $5,600 plan).

You can then flex those hours across content, technical SEO, link building—whatever your priorities are that month.

No matter what industry you’re in — our subscription-based SEO team tailors strategies to your unique challenges. We don’t follow templates: we dive deep into your market, audience, and competitors to craft solutions that truly deliver results. With us, you get more than just website optimization — you get a flexible growth tool, from technical audits to content that attracts, engages, and converts.

You don’t need 12 tools and a full-time hire. You need outcomes. And that’s what we care about.

Book a call to see:

• How our SEO subscription model works (and why it’s 15x faster than hiring)
• What your customized SEO strategy could look like
• Why hundreds of brands trust NinjaPromo to drive long-term growth