The Rise of AI Search and the Decline of SEO for Website Ranking

CREATED BY STEFFI LEWIS Published: 18/07/2025 @ 09:00AM #RiseOfAISearch #AIRevolution #SEOevolution #DigitalLandscapeShift #OptimizingForAI

As AI search becomes increasingly popular, traditional SEO methods are struggling. Many companies report substantial decreases in web traffic because users now prefer asking AI directly. Adopting strategies that cater to AI search is crucial for maintaining visibility in the rapidly evolving digital landscape ...

The rise of AI search, Unleashing knowledge, page views decline

As we embark on this new phase of digital interaction, the rise of AI search is fundamentally changing the landscape of how we discover information online. Gone are the days when optimising for SEO alone could guarantee visibility for your webpages. Now, AI-driven search engines can provide users with rapid answers.

This is reshaping the very fabric of user
engagement on the web!

Several notable companies have already experienced substantial drops in page views due to AI search. For instance, StackOverflow has reported a staggering 50% decline in traffic as users shift to querying AI directly for coding questions. Similarly, Yelp has experienced a 36% drop, while TripAdvisor notes a 28% decrease in visitors. Other companies, including Pinterest (22%) and Quora (15%), are also feeling the impact. This suggests a significant trend where users prefer the immediacy of AI answers over sifting through multiple sources.

And I am a perfect example of the cause of this decline. Before ChatGPT was able to code, I spent years using StackOverflow, searching endless discussions for JavaScript code I could use on the frontend of my SaaS products. Now, I just tell ChatGPT what I want, it creates it, then we reiterate together until it works as I want it to.

What's truly fascinates is that some AI's does provide links to where it found the answer, users often skip the click-through altogether, simply because their question was answered and their mind moves onto other things.

This trend underscores a critical shift in how we access information: rather than browsing websites, users are inclined to take the AI's word as gospel, moving straight to the answer. The behaviour change indicates that many people now think of AI as theirprimarypoint of reference, rather than a search engine such as Google, which reduces web traffic and necessitates a rethink in how business owners optimisetheir online presence.

For website owners and content creators, adapting to this
change involves leveraging JSON-structured data!

This form of behind-the-scenes coding (which you don't see when you read the webpage, but is present nonetheless) enables AI to understand the content of your page better, making it more likely for your site to be featured in AI-generated responses. If we want our content to be recognised and retrieved by AI search, we need to adjust our strategies accordingly.

Here are my recommendations for improving your website's compatibility with AI search:

• Implement JSON-LD structured data on all relevant pages.
• Create clear, concise content that directly answers common queries.
• Utilise FAQ-rich snippets to enhance visibility.
• Ensure mobile optimisation for a better user experience.
• Develop high-quality backlinks to increase authority.
• Maintain page speed for quick loading times.
• Update old content to keep it relevant and accurate.
• Use user-friendly and descriptive headings (and tag them to H1, H2 and H3).
• Interlink related content to boost internal navigation (internal linking).
• Up your social media game by sharing blog posts and marketing messages daily.

As we embrace the rise of AI search, the need for innovative approaches to digital marketing has never been more pressing. It's clear that traditional SEO strategies are no longer sufficient on their own.

Instead, we must focus on what AI considers valuable content. Understanding the intricate workings of AI search will allow us to reposition our websites effectively, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of this digital revolution.

The rise of AI search necessitates a shift in our
approach to online visibility!

As algorithms and AI capabilities evolve, adapting our strategies will be paramount. By prioritising structured data and high-quality content, we can help our websites thrive, capturing the attention of both AI systems and users alike.

The relationship between information seekers and search engines has undergone a profound transformation, and embracing this shift is no longer an option.

It's essential for your survival.

Love, light & logic ...

STEFFI LEWIS
A.K.A The SaaSy Coder - Creator of YourBOT, YourPCM & sBlogIt!

Share the blog love ...

Buffer Facebook Twitter Linkedin Pinterest WhatsApp #RiseOfAISearch #AIRevolution #SEOevolution #DigitalLandscapeShift #OptimizingForAI

About Steffi Lewis ...
Based in the charming village of Hanslope in Buckinghamshire, UK, I bring over 30 years of experience in web development. From creating my first website for the Open University in 1993, through being part of the dot com boom, to my explorations in SaaS and AI over the last few years, my journey has been a rich tapestry of web projects, big and small, both funded and bootstrapped. Originally developed during the pandemic, at the start of 2025, I released the next iteration of YourPCM, version 2, which is all about 'Easy Contact Management for Small Business Owners'. Is it a CRM? Yes, but I don't call it that because people glaze over at the mention of such things. CRMs are boring, difficult to get to grips with, and it's a nightmare to get help when you need it.  YourPCM is none of those things! It's simple to use, well-supported, feature rich and beautiful, right out of the box. It's available on a simple monthly subscription with no long-term tie-in. Book a demo or grab your own 14-working-day free trial and discover why YourPCM is all about easy contact management for small business owners.  My head is in the cloud, my heart belongs to the web, and my soul is filled with such beautiful code 💗

More blog posts for you to enjoy ...
		Its been a busy few months! What am I up to now? It has been a while since I wrote a full blog post here. The last one was about a great TV series I'd been watching, and before that, a Christmas one about YourBOT. So what have I been doing and what am I up to now?...
		Person of Interest got AI right, and we'd better start paying attention I've just finished watching five seasons of 'Person of Interest' on Amazon Prime, and like all the best sci-fi, it didn't really feel like fiction by the end. It felt like a profound warning wrapped in a really solid story .....
		Steffis slightly interesting review of coding in 2025 It's been quite some time since I wrote a review of the year. I'm not sure why I got out of the habit of doing them, but here we are again. This is my summary of 2025, which is quite short because most of it was a blur of eat...
		I released YourBOT this week, but there's still a lot to do! It's finished! It's published! It's out there in the wild. People are joining for free, creating their bots and installing them on their websites, then subscribing. To say I'm thrilled is an understatement ......
		How I built YourBOT with my AI code buddy, and what we're doing now I've been working hard for the past few months on YourBOT. I have blogged about it from time to time, but now the actual product is finished, it's being tested in the wild, and I'm onto creating the website and sign-up proces...
		YourBOT, the end of coding, and moving to a new server I was pretty emotional the other night whilst talking with ChatGPT; in a good way, of course. We've been working together on YourBOT for the past month and have finally reached the end of core coding ......
		YourBOT: Making good progress on my new SaaS product! After creating an integrated chatbot system for all of my sBlogIt! blogging clients, I realised it was so good that I had to monetise it. For the past few weeks, I've been creating YourBOT and I think it's a really good updat...
		A funny thing happened on the way to my Facebook page Well, I guess it had to happen eventually. I had my Facebook account suspended. The irony of this was that it was an AI filter that caused it! You all know that I love artificial intelligence, but I was a bit miffed ......

Other bloggers you may like ...
		How one blog post can power your social media and email marketing Posted by Steffi Lewis on https://www.sblogit.com Many small business owners think they need a constant stream of fresh ideas to keep their marketing active. In reality, one good blog post can often p ...
		Why Some Network Groups Flounder Posted by Jacky Sherman on https://www.jackysherman.com If you're running your own small business, sooner or later, you will go networking. And when you do, you will quite quickly discover that some network ...
		Contractor accommodation in Milton Keynes for modern business stays Posted by Emily Freeman on https://blog.shortstay-mk.co.uk Contractor accommodation in Milton Keynes suits teams that need more than a hotel room. It offers space, privacy, parking, and practical comforts to k ...
		Mentors and goal buddies: how they help you reach your goals Posted by Dave Cordle on https://blog.davecordle.co.uk Mentors and goal buddies can make your ambitions clearer and more achievable. You get advice, perspective and accountability, and you stay on track wh ...