Content Is still Traffic Foundation: Why SEO Hinges on Site Content

Organic search accounts for 53% of all website traffic in 2025, and that alone keeps content at the center of any traffic plan.

From my point of view, you don’t win on brand ads alone. You win when you publish material that answers real questions, helps buyers compare options, and proves your expertise over time. In 2025, 90% of marketers include content marketing in their strategy, and 84% say content creation is a core SEO activity. That’s not a trend, that’s a baseline. If you skip content, you skip a lever that already works for most businesses.

Content isn’t just about pages. It’s about forming a signal. In practice, that means creating content that targets informational and navigational intents. For Google, 68% of online experiences start with a search engine, and 65% of Google searchers click an organic result. Those numbers aren’t accidents. They reflect how people discover, compare, and decide. Your site becomes a trustworthy hub when you publish helpful posts, product guides, and how-to content that earns backlinks and keeps visitors on site longer. In 2025, 74% of new web content includes AI content, and 74% of new content uses AI in some form. That doesn’t replace human insight; it scales research, drafts, and optimization, while you add the unique perspective only your team can provide.

Aligning content with SEO: from broad strategy to specific impact

I’ve seen campaigns succeed when teams align content with SEO beyond generic keyword stuffing. The data shows 72% of marketers say relevant content creation is the most effective SEO tactic. That means your content needs to be specific to your audience, not generic. And it isn’t just about blog posts. 70% of internet users prefer learning about a company through blog content rather than ads. Your blog strategy should feed product pages, category hubs, FAQs, and even long-tail guides.

On-page SEO only goes so far; you need authentic, in-depth content that earns 1,000+ unique referring domains (unique external sites linking to you (SEO credibility metric)) if you want to compete in Google’s top 10. In practice, that means technical reviews, original case studies, and data-backed analyses that others can reference.

Let’s talk numbers you can act on. Google processes over 8.3 billion searches per day in 2025, and 75% of users don’t go past the first page. If your content isn’t built to rank above, you’re leaving a large audience on the table. Also, consider intent. 52% of Google keyword searches have informational intent. That’s a hint to invest in how-to content, explanations, and decision-ready guides. And the private truth: 96% of sites in Google’s top 10 have over 1,000 unique referring domains. That’s a signal you won’t win with a lone landing page; you need a content ecosystem that earns external links.

What works in 2025, practically

• Build a content calendar around core topics that match buyer questions, with a plan to publish 1-2 long-form assets per quarter that can be repurposed across channels.
• Create product and category pages that go beyond specs to show use cases, ROI, and comparisons, plus FAQs that cover common objections.
• Invest in data-driven formats: case studies, benchmarks, how-to tutorials, and industry analyses that others will reference.
• Use AI to scale research and drafts but add human review to ensure accuracy, brand voice, and trust signals.
• Target top funnel to bottom funnel with a clear conversion path on each asset.

If you’re starting fresh, begin with a content footprint map: map buyer intents to content pieces, align with keyword opportunities, and identify gaps where competitors fall short. Then, set a measurement plan: organic traffic, dwell time, pages per session, and backlink growth.

The data supports the approach: 68% of online experiences start with a search engine, 65% click organic results, and 75% don’t go past page one. You need to be where those users look, with content that keeps them.

In the B2B and B2C wrlds, AI is viewed as a plus for SEO by 83% of companies in 2025. That means AI is a tool, not a replacement. Use it to surface topics, analyze intent, and generate drafts, but govern output with human quality checks and industry expertise. The market for SEO is growing: theExplodingTopics data puts the long-term value of SEO on a trajectory toward a $143.9B market by 2030. That’s not a hobby. It’s a channel that compounds.

Evergreen assets, link strategy, and measurement

On a practical note, don’t underestimate the power of evergreen assets. A cornerstone guide built this year can drive traffic for years, especially if you keep it updated. Backlink growth matters; the top players already have 1,000+ referring domains. So plan for linkable assets, outreach, and partnerships that earn credible mentions. By the way, they also say the same across sources: content creation is central to SEO strategy.

To wrap up, content remains the foundation because it feeds every stage of search, engagement, and conversion. You can’t skip it and expect sustainable traffic. If you’re willing to publish thoughtfully, optimize for intent, and keep the content ecosystem growing, you’ll see durable traffic and better rankings.

Key takeaways you can act on today

• Start with a content footprint map tied to buyer intent and SEO opportunities.
• Publish 1-2 long-form assets per quarter; repurpose across channels.
• Build linkable assets and pursue credible outreach to hit 1,000+ referring domains over time.
• Use AI to scale research and drafts, then apply human review for accuracy and tone.
• Track organic traffic, dwell time, pages per session, and backlink growth to measure progress.

What do you think? Do you think content still drives SEO in your market? Comment below. Read more of our articles to see how other brands structure their content strategies. I hope you liked this, don’t forget to comment.

Juliana Moreau

Marketing Strategist & Brand Consultant. Juliana is recognized for her ability to decipher complex marketing strategies and predict emerging trends, making her analysis indispensable for industry professionals. Her writing cuts to the chase, offering clear, actionable analysis that challenges conventional wisdom and reveals what really drives consumer behavior.