Has zero-click searches killed SEO?
Zero-click searches have changed the game in 2025. Some people even claim that SEO is dead because zero-click searches eliminate a vast majority of content and explanations. SEO isn’t dead, but has been changed dramatically to adjust to how people have changed the way they search in the past few years.
So what is a zero-click search?
You’ve certainly done it yourself; when you’re using Google, it’s easiest to just type in your query and look at the results without having to click on any of the results themselves. And that’s zero-click. So how does this change the game? Before zero-click searches became so prevalent, people searching for information were more likely to click on a link and read more whereas increasingly people just get their information from the meta description of a website. In fact, in 2025, 65% of internet traffic is from mobile devices, and 60% of searches are considered zero-click. This means that it has become more important than ever to optimize your website for how people have changed the way they search.
How to improve zero-click SEO
As people change the way they search, website design has to change as well. Since people look for information in zero-click searches by looking at just descriptions, that means that every word in that description matters. In addition, AI overviews have become and will likely continue to grow in popularity, further contributing to the zero-click trend. While optimizing the entire website for SEO is important, these short descriptions can be the make-or-break for many websites. Here are some general tips for improving zero-click SEO:
Accurate data: Making sure that data is correct and up-to-date will always be an important aspect of gaining trust and credibility.
Clear content structure: Ensuring that content is organized in a thoughtful way helps users identity what they are looking for quickly.
Utilizing visual content: Graphs, videos, and images have become great at capturing the attention of zero-click searches.
Measuring success: Using tools like Semrush or Ahrefs can help ensure that your website is on track to increasing its overall SEO.
So what now?
With the increasing use of zero-click searches and AI overviews, searching habits have changed and it is up to digital marketers and webpage designers to adapt their webpages to meet the new needs of users. Search trends have come and gone in the past, and it’s important to stay on top of each trend.
Have further questions about how to implement your zero-click strategy? Contact me and we can discuss how to increase your organic traffic and build a community around your brand.
Sources:
https://explodingtopics.com/blog/mobile-internet-traffic
https://searchengineland.com/google-search-zero-click-study-2024-443869
