Is SEO even worth it anymore?

[vambrose]

Morning all,

Just sitting here with my coffee, and brain switched on to my "random thought mode" and I wanted to know... (and be honest haha)

....Are you still doing SEO the old way or have you kind of given up?

Feels like Google just answers everything itself now and AI tools are stealing clicks before people even hit your site.

Curious what people are actually doing right now, still blogging, switching to AI optimisation, or just focusing on traffic you control?

 

[tiiberius]

Definitely not the old way but the "new way" works just fine.

 

[vambrose]

Definitely not the old way but the "new way" works just fine.

I’ve been in marketing for 20+years, but honestly most of that was leveraging other people’s work through things like reseller and partner setups rather than doing SEO hands-on myself.

Because of that, I’ll be the first to admit I probably know less about the current SEO playbook than I should. Reading threads here has been a bit of an eye-opener( in a good way)

So when you say “new way,” I’m genuinely curious what you mean by that.

 

[Slappy Blunt]

Yes, but the goal has shifted from ranking for keywords to owning topics. Google's AI answers simple queries, but complex, commercial, and "how-to" topics still drive immense traffic to expert-led content. I focus on creating definitive, link-worthy resources that a snippet can't fully answer, which builds sustainable authority.

 

[SMMRocket]

I haven't given up, but the game has definitely changed. I'm moving away from 'answer-based' keywords that AI steals and focusing more on deep, experience-led content that Google's AI can't easily replicate yet.

 

[SkullCrusher]

I haven’t given up on SEO, but I treat it more as brand visibility and demand generation now, while putting more energy into traffic I own and audiences I can directly reach.

 

[Black Cipher]

SEO is still worth it, but the old “blog and wait” approach is mostly dead. People who are winning now focus on search intent, brand authority, and traffic they control (email, social, communities), while adapting content for AI summaries instead of fighting them.

 

[awesomewebsites]

Morning all,

Just sitting here with my coffee, and brain switched on to my "random thought mode" and I wanted to know... (and be honest haha)

....Are you still doing SEO the old way or have you kind of given up?

Feels like Google just answers everything itself now and AI tools are stealing clicks before people even hit your site.

Curious what people are actually doing right now, still blogging, switching to AI optimisation, or just focusing on traffic you control?

Google also wants to good content to be discovered by users. How can they kill SEO just like that ?

 

[Paidvcc]

AI engine extracts data from SERP. so seo is still relevant in this time.

 

[ads studio]

I haven't given up, but the game has definitely changed. I'm moving away from 'answer-based' keywords that AI steals and focusing more on deep, experience-led content that Google's AI can't easily replicate yet.

I agree to this as well, to be honest i am stuck too

 

[haris_1401]

Morning all,

Just sitting here with my coffee, and brain switched on to my "random thought mode" and I wanted to know... (and be honest haha)

....Are you still doing SEO the old way or have you kind of given up?

Feels like Google just answers everything itself now and AI tools are stealing clicks before people even hit your site.

Curious what people are actually doing right now, still blogging, switching to AI optimisation, or just focusing on traffic you control?

Every year people say SEO is dead, but it’s really only dead for those who don’t evolve. Real SEO is about adapting to trends and focusing on what actually works, not clinging to old tactics.

 

[Herry412]

I still think SEO is worth it, just not the old way. Chasing generic keywords feels harder now, but targeting specific intent, niches, and problems still brings real traffic. AI answers changed the top of SERPs, but people still click when they want depth, comparison, or trust. It’s more focused and slower, not dead.

 

[Jonathan Miles]

Morning all,

Just sitting here with my coffee, and brain switched on to my "random thought mode" and I wanted to know... (and be honest haha)

....Are you still doing SEO the old way or have you kind of given up?

Feels like Google just answers everything itself now and AI tools are stealing clicks before people even hit your site.

Curious what people are actually doing right now, still blogging, switching to AI optimisation, or just focusing on traffic you control?

I think a lot of us are adapting rather than giving up. While Google’s SERPs and AI features are definitely changing the landscape, core SEO principles like high-quality content, relevance, and good user experience still matter.

Many are experimenting with AI to speed up research or content ideation, but real engagement still comes from traffic you can influence directly email lists, social channels, and niche communities. Seems like a mix of old-school SEO plus new tools is what’s working for most people right now.

 

[vambrose]

I haven't given up, but the game has definitely changed. I'm moving away from 'answer-based' keywords that AI steals and focusing more on deep, experience-led content that Google's AI can't easily replicate yet.

That’s interesting, I get the idea but I’m not very technical with SEO.

When you say “deep, experience-led content”, what does that actually mean in simple terms?

Are we talking things like real examples, personal results, step-by-step stories, or something else?

Thanks!

 

[fpiket18]

Morning all,

Just sitting here with my coffee, and brain switched on to my "random thought mode" and I wanted to know... (and be honest haha)

....Are you still doing SEO the old way or have you kind of given up?

Feels like Google just answers everything itself now and AI tools are stealing clicks before people even hit your site.

Curious what people are actually doing right now, still blogging, switching to AI optimisation, or just focusing on traffic you control?

Yes if you rank, it is very valuable. Even with low comp keywords, it will eventually snowball if you grow more.

But you need clean, non-trashy content. Good links, and organic stuff. Sadly the old ways do not work anymore.

 

[nigunim]

Morning all,

Just sitting here with my coffee, and brain switched on to my "random thought mode" and I wanted to know... (and be honest haha)

....Are you still doing SEO the old way or have you kind of given up?

Feels like Google just answers everything itself now and AI tools are stealing clicks before people even hit your site.

Curious what people are actually doing right now, still blogging, switching to AI optimisation, or just focusing on traffic you control?

Honestly, I haven't quit SEO, but I've adapted a lot. The old "publish and rank" method doesn't work like it used to. I still blog, but with more focus on intent, branding and authority. At the same time, I’m putting more effort into traffic I control like email lists and social platforms.

 

[vambrose]

Honestly, I haven't quit SEO, but I've adapted a lot. The old "publish and rank" method doesn't work like it used to. I still blog, but with more focus on intent, branding and authority. At the same time, I’m putting more effort into traffic I control like email lists and social platforms.

When you say intent, branding and authority, is that more about writing for people who are further along in the buying or decision process, and backing it up with real experience rather than just keyword-focused posts?

I’m trying to wrap my head around how you decide what’s worth writing now vs the kind of content Google or AI just swallows up.

Also, side note, love your avatar. The Dude abides!

 

[darksky26]

i have been thinkig about starting lately, buying a website and see how it goes

 

[HavenX]

Yes, SEO is still worth it. Organic search drives long-term, cost-effective traffic, builds trust, and complements paid campaigns, making it essential for sustainable growth.

 

[SirPrompt]

Perhaps it's better not to say what the first message says. But there is a niche: manipulation using your own model (AI)