Search engine optimisation in 2025: a complete guide to get you to the top of Google (not just for experts!)

Success is not a matter of chance. It is for those who find the right path and walk it with courage. – Neil Patel

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Imagine: your website is like a hidden treasure chest in the middle of the Sahara – shiny and full of value, but no one can find it. Sound familiar? Don’t be discouraged! Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is the digital map that guides visitors to your treasure. This article is not a dry theory, but a whizz-bang, ready-to-use guide to the cutting-edge SEO techniques of 2025 – for beginners and advanced users alike. Dive in and get your website to the top of Google!

On the Internet, the winner is not the one who shouts the loudest, but the one who is the best to find. – Rand Fishkin

What is SEO and why is it your best friend in 2025?

Search engine optimisation (SEO) is not magic, it’s a strategy: a scientific approach to help Google (and other search engines) find, understand and prioritise your website. Think of it like a digital librarian giving the right book to the right reader – only here, your website is the book and your visitors are the readers.

Why is it worth investing time and effort in SEO?

• Free traffic: Organic searches bring visitors for free, unlike paid ads.

• Building trust: Being on the first page of Google is like having a Michelin-starred chef recommend your restaurant.

• Competitive advantage: If you don’t optimise, your competitors will – and they will take the visitors.

Google only shows you what it understands. If your website does not speak its “language”, you can forget the first page. But don’t worry, we’ll show you how to be Google’s best friend!

A strong house is not only beautiful, but also stable and welcoming. – Unknown

The Holy Trinity of SEO: House, Reputation, Engineering

SEO rests on three pillars: on-page, off-page and technical SEO. Let’s look at what they mean and how to use them in 2025!

1. On-Page SEO: Your perfectly organised house

On-page SEO is the optimisation of the content and structure of your website. It’s like arranging your house: everything has to be in place to make your guests (visitors) feel comfortable.

The content is the king, but the context is the queen – together they rule the realm. – Ann Handley

Key elements:

• Keywords: Think of the keyword as the name of a dish in a recipe book. If “goulash soup” is the keyword, it should be included in the Title, the meta description, the body text and the alt text of the images. But be careful: don’t force it! Google values natural language and search intent in 2025.

• Titles and subheadings: Use H1, H2, H3 tags to make the content easy to read. The headline (H1) should be attention-grabbing, e.g. “How to Make Perfect Goulash Soup in30 Minutes “.

• Content: Write a valuable, unique and detailed text. Google likes long, in-depth articles (1500+ words) that solve real problems.

• Internal links: Link your relevant pages together so that visitors browse further and Google understands the structure of your website.

Pro tip: Use LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) keywords such as “goulash soup” alongside ” Hungarian recipe”, “traditional soup” or ” one-dish meal”. This will increase the relevance of your content.

2. Off-Page SEO: Your digital reputation

Off-page SEO is the optimisation of factors outside your website, such as backlinks and brand mentions. This is digital ‘word of mouth’: the more people talk about you, the more credible you are.

Reputation is like fire: hard to get, easy to lose, but if well nurtured, it shines far and wide. – Warren Buffett

Why is a backlink important?

• A backlink is like Gordon Ramsay recommending your restaurant . If a reputable, high-traffic site (e.g. a news portal) links to you, it carries a lot of weight in Google’s eyes.

• Quality > quantity: A link from a strong domain (e.g. Forbes, Medium) is worth more than a hundred weak, spammy links .

• How to get backlinks? Writing guest articles, PR articles, forums or social media activity can all help.

Trend 2025: Google is paying more and more attention to brand mentions, even if there is no link. If your name pops up in a podcast or blog, it also boosts your credibility.

3. Technical SEO: A solid foundation and fast plumbing

Technical SEO optimises the “invisible” parts of your website: speed, mobile-friendly design, URL structure. It’s like the foundation and plumbing of a house – if they’re weak, everything falls apart.

Technology is like the foundation: it’s invisible, but without it, everything collapses – Elon Musk

Key elements:

• Speed: According to Google PageSpeed Insights , your page should load in under 2 seconds. Use CDN, compress images, and minimize JavaScript.

• Mobile-friendly design: More than 60% of searches will come from mobile in 2025. If your site isn’t responsive, you can kiss good rankings goodbye.

• Structured data (schema markup): Help Google understand the content of your page using JSON-LD format, for example for recipes or events.

• Security: Without HTTPS, Google will not take you seriously.

Pro tip: Check for technical errors on your website using Google Search Console. Broken links, indexing problems? Fix it now!

The SEO roadmap: 4 steps to the Google throne

Now that you know the Holy Trinity, it’s time to make a battle plan. Here are 4 steps to take your website to the top of Google in 2025:

Tactics without strategy is only noise; strategy without tactics is only a dream. – Sun Tzu

1. Reconnaissance: keyword research and competitive analysis

• Tools: Use Ubersuggest, Ahrefs or Google Trends to find relevant keywords. See what your target audience is searching for and what your competitors are doing well.

• Example: If you run a fitness blog, search for the terms “home workout 2025″ or ” quick weight loss tips” and see what content ranks on them.

2. Design: content strategy

Good content not only informs, it inspires – Seth Godin

• Decide what type of content you produce: blog articles, videos, infographics, or all three? Google likes diverse, multimedia content.

• Tip: Create “pillar content” (e.g. “The Complete Guide to Home Exercise”), supplemented with smaller supporting articles.

3. Attack: SEO-friendly content and technical settings

It is action that turns possibilities into reality. – Tony Robbins

• Write content that responds to user intent. If someone is looking for” how to lose weight fast” , don’t just give tips , give a specific exercise plan and diet.

• Check technical SEO: fast loading, clean URLs, XML sitemap.

4. Managers: Google Analytics in Search Console

You cannot control what you do not measure. – Peter Drucker

• You cannot improve what you do not measure. Google Analytics shows traffic and Search Console shows indexing errors and keyword performance.

• Pro tip: Watch your bounce rate. If it is high, your content is not relevant or attractive enough.

The future of SEO in 2025: fight against AI or symbolism?

Google Search Generative Experience (SGE) and AI-based searches are transforming SEO. But don’t panic – here’s how to adapt:

Change is the only constant – adapt or get left behind. – Heraclitus

SBU 1: Be the source!

Originality is the greatest treasure in the age of AI – Unknown

• SGE (Google’s artificial intelligence search engine) generates summaries at the top of search results. How can you get in? Write complex, unique content that AI can cite. Example: detailed guides, statistics, case studies.

• Tip: Use questions in the headlines (“Why is your diet not working?”), because the SGE often answers direct questions.

2. E-E-A-T: Experience, expertise, credibility, reliability

Credibility cannot be bought, only earned. – Brian Clark

• Google’s E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) system is key in 2025. Show that you have experienced what you write! If you have a fitness blog, tell us about your own workout routine or successes.

• Example: An article written by a doctor on “managing diabetes” is more credible than a general summary.

3. Voice search and video SEO

The future belongs to those who make their voices heard – literally. – Amy Webb

• Voice search (e.g. Siri, Google Assistant) and video content are growing in popularity. Optimize for long, conversational keywords (“how to bake gluten-free bread at home”) and create YouTube videos with SEO-friendly descriptions.

When to call a professional “SEO Specialist”?

Sometimes the best investment is to hire an expert to do the job. – Robert Kiyosaki

Sometimes it’s better to call in the experts than to fight Google’s algorithms on your own. Turn to a pro if:

• You don’t have time to deal with SEO on a daily basis.

• You have a complex project (e.g. an e-commerce site).

• You want quick results (although SEO is a long-term game).

Warning: Anyone who promises you a “guaranteed 1st place” is probably after your wallet. SEO is like a good wine: it takes time to mature.

GY.I.K. – What you always wanted to ask about SEO

Questions are the keys that unlock the doors of knowledge. – Unknown

How long does it take for SEO to produce results?
It usually takes 3-6 months to see visible results, but the long-term investment pays off.

How much does search engine optimisation cost?
For as much as a car: it can be a cheap Suzuki or a luxury Ferrari. A good expert will work from 100-500 thousand forints a month, but the price depends on the size of the project.

is SEO dead ?
It is ” buried” every year but is still alive and well in 2025. The algorithms change but the principles remain.

Can I do it alone?
Yes, if you have the time and determination. This article is your first step!

How to get started?
Pick one thing – like a keyword or the speed of your website – and start working on it today !

Don’t just read it, do it!

SEO is not theory, it is practice. Start today:

1. Check the speed of your website with Google PageSpeed Insights.

2. Optimise an article around a keyword.

3. Look at your competitors and come up with a new content idea.

Google-tron is not inaccessible – you just need a good map. This article is your map. Use it and fly your website to the top in 2025!

SEO is not a sprint, but a marathon. Persistent work brings long-term success – Neil Patel.