SEO as a Service: Still Worth It in 2025?
We remember someone once asked me—almost half-jokingly—”Isn’t SEO dead by now?”
It’s not. Not even close.
In fact, according to the 2024 Research and Markets SEO Services report, the SEO market is projected to grow from $75.13 billion in 2023 to $88.91 billion in 2024, and it’s expected to double by 2028—reaching around $170 billion. That’s a compound annual growth rate of 17.6%. So no, SEO isn’t dead. It’s thriving, if anything. Though… admittedly, it has changed a lot.
And maybe that’s where the confusion comes in.
SEO Isn’t Just a Tactic—It’s a Profession
Here’s the thing. SEO is kind of unusual. You can do SEO (like optimizing a page or tweaking keywords), but you can also be an SEO. A person. With a job title. It’s both a skill and a role—sometimes even a full department if you’re lucky.
But what makes SEO even more layered is how broad it is. There’s on-page SEO, technical SEO, local SEO, content-driven strategies, link-building, site architecture… and honestly, that’s not even all of it. If it feels a little overwhelming to wrap your head around—it is. That’s normal.
No Clear Roadmap, Just Real-World Learning
Unlike more traditional career paths—law, medicine, accounting—SEO doesn’t come with an official license or universally accepted certification. There’s no “SEO university.” (At least not one that everyone agrees on.)
Most people working in SEO learned by doing. They got their hands dirty with Google Analytics, fumbled around in Google Search Console, maybe played with a few Semrush reports. Then kept going. There are tons of free tools out there, and yes, some really good paid ones too—but for beginners? Free data is more than enough to start figuring things out.
It’s also a field where curiosity goes a long way. Maybe even farther than a fancy degree would, to be honest.
So… Is SEO Still Worth It in 2025?
Short answer? Yes.
Long answer? Absolutely—but only if you understand what it means now. SEO today isn’t just stuffing keywords into blogs or obsessing over backlinks (though, sure, those things still matter). It’s a strategic, data-informed service that supports visibility, credibility, and long-term growth.
And businesses—especially ones that want to be found online—should still invest in it. It’s one of the few digital marketing channels that builds over time. A well-optimized website might not bring instant results, but give it time… and it becomes an asset that works around the clock.
Final Thought (or, a Bit of Wandering Reflection)
Maybe SEO feels less glamorous than running ads or chasing viral moments on social media. But its value is quieter, more enduring. It’s the difference between showing up because you paid to be there—and showing up because you deserve to be.
So, yeah. SEO isn’t going anywhere.
It’s just evolving. Like it always has.