Is SEO Dead? (Spoiler: No)
Is SEO dead? It’s a question I’ve been hearing often. With AI-powered search, voice assistants, and zero-click results on the rise, it’s a fair one. But here’s what research and experts say: SEO isn’t dying - it’s evolving into something more versatile.
1. SEO Is Evolving
Neil Patel reminds us that while Google still drives ~63% of U.S. traffic, today’s searches happen everywhere - from YouTube and TikTok to Alexa and ChatGPT. He calls this Search Everywhere Optimization - an expansion of traditional SEO into all platforms where people seek answers.
What this means for you: More platforms, more formats, but still the same goal - to be findable and helpful.
2. Structure Now Drives Discovery
As users ask questions in AI platforms, they expect clear, structured answers. That’s where Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) come in. These strategies focus on how content gets pulled into AI tools like Google’s AI Overviews, ChatGPT, or voice assistants.
To show up in AI-generated answers:
Use short Q&As and conversational headings
Write your content as if you're answering a question in a therapy consult. Create headings like “What is trauma therapy?” or “How do I know if I need couples counseling?” These are the kinds of phrases people type - or say out loud - in search bars and smart devices. Just make sure to do keyword research so you know what people are searching for in your specific area.Layer in structured data or schema markup
Schema is a way of marking up your page to help machines understand it. Even if you don’t code, tools like RankMath or Yoast (on WordPress) help automate this. For therapists, FAQ schema is especially useful - it can signal to AI tools that your page directly answers key client questions.Make answers concise and authoritative
It’s about saying something useful in the first 2-3 sentences. If you have a specific approach to your therapeutic work that is fulfilling, own it. Speak plainly. Say what you mean. Show up as an expert and as a human.
This doesn’t replace blogging - it raises the bar. You still write content, but with attention to structure, clarity, and question-focused framing.
3. Your Voice Is More Valuable Than Ever
Here’s the game-changer: AI might flood the web with something, but it can’t replicate your therapeutic voice. Wired reports that as AI churns out mediocre copy, people are seeking authentic human voices more than ever.
That’s your edge. Your voice, empathy, and lived experience meet a need AI can’t fill.
4. What to Do: Adapt, Don’t Abandon
Start with the W.R.I.T.E. method we use in the SEO Bootcamp:
Words clients say
Rough Outline
Intent (what the searcher really means)
Tune for SEO (headers, keywords)
Engage (human-led editing, therapist tone)
Apply it with AEO/GEO in mind - Q&A formatting, clear structure, schema where needed. But most important, always finish with the real-you, human polish.
5. Tools That Support Your Voice
Your advantage grows when you:
Brainstorm with prompts that reflect client questions
Draft using frameworks that support structure
Refine output so it reads like you - not an algorithm
The SEO Fundamentals for Therapists Bootcamp has a custom GPT does all that. It helps with structure, tone, insights from your analytics, and context for each assignment.
No, SEO isn’t dead -
- It’s evolving toward structure, intent, and human voice. And with the right strategy, therapists are perfectly positioned to thrive in this new world.
The SEO Bootcamp launches in 10 days - June 23. If you’re ready to fill your visibility gap with grounded, strategic writing, I’d love to meet you there.
