The Key to Successful SEO in 2025: Strong Brand Recognition

To stay ahead, I quickly learned the importance of adapting fast and leaning on the expertise of those who understand the ever-changing landscape. For me, this realization came in April 2012, when one of my successful online shops, which had been thriving on traffic, took a nosedive overnight.

At the time, I had no idea what had hit me. My store was filled with products that were becoming obsolete, and my reliance on PPC alone wasn’t cutting it anymore. Costs were climbing, and the returns were minimal. We lost a significant chunk of our investment, and my brush with Black Hat SEO tactics turned into a nightmare. That failure became the catalyst for a complete shift—I needed to learn from the best.

I dove into daily readings of blogs like SEJ, SEL, Seroundtable, Backlinko, and Moz. I followed industry experts on social media and attended live streams whenever I could. One standout moment was watching a panel discussion on Semrush’s YouTube channel. Among the experts was Jason Barnard, whose perspective on non-SEO methods completely shifted my thinking.

During that session, someone asked about the impact of click-through rate (CTR) on SEO results. This debate has raged on for years, especially since Rand Fishkin demonstrated that manipulating CTR could boost rankings—only for Gary Illyes to deny it. But Jason’s response cut through the noise. He said: It doesn’t matter if the impact is direct or indirect—what matters is that people click on websites they recognize and trust.

And he’s right. Users don’t just click; they engage, they buy, and they return. That’s the real game-changer. Think of it like this: going to the gym builds strength directly, but eating healthy and getting enough rest—those indirect factors—are just as, if not more, important. In SEO, brand recognition works the same way. People gravitate toward sites they know—like Amazon, Pinterest, or Wikipedia—even if the content isn’t always the most relevant. Building a recognizable brand is the cornerstone of modern SEO.

SEO for New Websites: Focus on What Matters

Many of my clients come to me with zero organic reach, even after years of effort. The problem? Overfocusing on SEO without considering the bigger picture. With over 1.1 billion websites online and 7 million blog posts published daily, the competition is fierce. Pouring all your resources into SEO alone often doesn’t yield the results you’re hoping for—97% of websites have no organic reach.

But let’s not blame Google for this. Google remains a leader because it constantly evolves and adapts faster than anyone else. Instead of resisting, we should be learning from early adopters who are already mastering the art of gaining attention in this crowded digital space.

Take Gary Vee, for example. He’s not an SEO expert, but his knack for adopting new platforms early has consistently put him ahead of the curve:

• Early 2000s: Leveraged email marketing and PPC to grow his family’s wine business.
• Mid-2000s: Created YouTube content and built connections on Twitter (now X).
• Late 2000s to Early 2010s: Expanded to Facebook, Tumblr, and LinkedIn.
• Mid-2010s to Present: Embraced Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok for engaging visual content.

Gary’s success isn’t accidental—it’s a masterclass in paying attention to trends and adapting quickly. Even SEO giants like Rand Fishkin, Brian Dean, and Neil Patel have embraced this approach. In 2015, Rand announced his shift from pure SEO efforts to focusing on brand recognition. Brian and Neil followed suit, diving into YouTube to tap into its massive potential as the second-largest search engine.

The lesson here? Adaptability wins. To stand out, you need to focus on building a strong, recognizable brand and being where your audience’s attention is. That’s the key to navigating SEO and beyond in 2025.

The First Step to Winning in Digital Marketing: Build a Loyal Audience

If you want to succeed quickly in digital marketing, there’s one unbeatable strategy: focus on underrated channels that most creators overlook. Are these channels still around today? Absolutely. And the surprise? Short videos are among the most powerful tools for newcomers.

When TikTok first appeared, many dismissed it as “just for kids.” But early adopters saw its potential and reaped the rewards. Today, even big SaaS companies have embraced the platform, recognizing that it still delivers massive exposure—millions of views—even for accounts with zero followers. The secret? There’s still a gap for valuable content on short video platforms.

For my projects, I’ve prioritized video content over traditional SEO efforts for new websites. The results speak for themselves: within a month, short and long videos earned over 100,000 views. There’s no other channel I know that can create brand awareness at this speed and scale.

And here’s more good news: repurposing content across multiple platforms multiplies those views. For example, I helped promote becoin.net, a crypto trading website. Starting with no content, no backlinks, and zero brand recognition, we hit over a million views and gained thousands of followers on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram—in just two months.

Could SEO have achieved that in the same timeframe? I don’t think so.

Short Videos as the Gateway to Loyalty

The magic of short videos isn’t just about views; it’s about building a loyal audience. While short videos don’t generate direct sales like long videos might—one study revealed that a billion views on long videos earn $55,000 compared to just $440 for shorts—they serve as a launchpad for engagement. Shorts fuel interest, bringing people into the ecosystem where they consume long-form content, engage more deeply, and become loyal followers.

This contrasts with SEO, where the top funnel often isn’t as effective for immediate engagement. Social media thrives on fresh content, allowing new posts to outrank even giants like Wikipedia, which dominate search engines.

But here’s the catch: many people shy away from creating video content. They feel uncomfortable on camera or think it’s too much effort. The good news? AI is here to help. AI avatars and voices can now produce professional-quality videos that rival seasoned creators.

For example, I promote a YouTube channel, The Solitaire, which gains a lot of subscribers daily. Some videos feature AI avatars alongside human presenters, and even my friends couldn’t tell the difference when I showed them the content.

The takeaway? The first step in your digital marketing journey isn’t SEO—it’s building a loyal audience with video content on social media. For my own website, unmiss.com, I focused on video marketing before diving into SEO. We established a strong presence on YouTube and LinkedIn, creating a foundation of loyal followers.

Wanna sell now with video marketing? Please reach out to me.

The Next Step: Optimizing for Brand Search

Once you’ve built your audience, the next step is optimizing for brand searches on Google. This step is essential if you want to stand out and establish authority in your niche.

One of the best resources I’ve come across for this is Jason Barnard’s book, The Fundamentals of Brand SERPs for Business. It’s packed with actionable insights that are easy to understand and implement. While some parts might need an update to cover AI-driven search results, the core strategies remain invaluable:

• Use White Hat SEO practices.
• Post consistently on social media.
• Manage your reputation proactively.
• Optimize all channels.
• Create high-quality content.

I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing Jason on my YouTube channel and following his podcast. His expertise has been a guiding light in modern SEO, especially as branding becomes more critical.

For 2025, my strategy is clear: focus on video marketing and brand awareness before jumping into aggressive SEO. The landscape is shifting, and the path to winning isn’t just about ranking on Google—it’s about earning your audience’s trust and loyalty first. With a loyal following, the rest becomes much easier.

SEO Thrives on High-Quality Content and Brand Recognition

Once your brand recognition is strong and you’ve built a loyal audience, it’s time to dive into SEO. But before jumping straight into blogging, pause and evaluate. If you’re a skilled writer, then absolutely go for it—just follow these best practices:

• Focus on the middle and bottom funnel.
• Prioritize traffic value over volume.
• Tackle pillar topics in broad terms to establish authority.
• Keep it less but high-quality—quantity isn’t king anymore.
• Share valuable, fresh, and straightforward content.
• Repurpose your articles for platforms like LinkedIn Pulse or Medium.

However, if writing isn’t your strong suit, don’t sweat it—outsource to professionals who already write for prominent blogs and media outlets. Here’s how:

1. Identify popular blogs in your niche.
2. Compile a list of authors who contribute to these sites.
3. Use tools like Ahrefs to analyze their publications and check their organic reach.
4. Find their contact info via RocketReach or similar tools.
5. Reach out and collaborate.

Over the years, I’ve worked with authors contributing to publications like Forbes and Investopedia. These are professionals who don’t advertise their services on platforms like Upwork, but they’re often open to extra income opportunities.

If you have access to great writers—or are one yourself—blogging can still be effective. But I’ll be honest: it’s not my go-to strategy anymore. With AI-driven search rising and competition more intense than ever, organic reach is harder to achieve through blogs alone.

Think Beyond Blogs: Build Tools That Attract Traffic

Instead of launching yet another blog, consider developing AI-driven tools that users find valuable and return to regularly. Tools like:

• Converters
• Calculators
• Chatbots
• Other automation solutions

Platforms like OpenAI, Gemini, and Claude offer APIs that make building these tools easier than ever. Here’s how to get started:

1. Look for simple tools in your niche that are outdated but still attract traffic.
2. Work with designers and developers to modernize and enhance them with AI.
3. Partner with experts who have a proven track record to bring your ideas to life.

You don’t need to create massive platforms like Ahrefs or Semrush. Even simple tools can generate substantial, relevant traffic and keep users coming back.

We’ve launched 27 SEO AI tools that bring us a loyal audience daily. It’s not just about boosting SEO traffic — it’s about building a base of direct and returning visitors.

Conclusion

Some claim that SEO will never die—that’s not entirely true. Like everything else, SEO will eventually evolve or fade away. But for now, you have plenty of time—years, possibly decades—before new technologies fully take over.

Start by building a loyal audience and recognition through social media, particularly with video content. Once you see results, remember that videos aren’t just for boosting SEO—they’re a powerful, standalone channel.

When your brand and social media presence are solid, begin optimizing for brand searches on Google. Only then, with extra resources and without cutting back on your video content investment, should you dive into SEO.

For most projects, blogging is best suited for exceptional writers. For everyone else, AI-driven tools present an exciting, less competitive opportunity to gain traffic and create lasting value.