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How Google’s July 2025 Algorithm Update and AI Overviews Are Changing Search

July 31, 2025 · Min Read

© Stranded

Google just completed its July 2025 Algorithm Update, and it’s a big one. These broad changes may positively or negatively affect your current rankings and how your content appears across Google Search, AI Overviews, and tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity. I wanted to take this opportunity to update you on how we’re evolving our strategy in response.

At Stranded, we’ve been tracking these shifts closely. Below is a breakdown of what’s new—and how we’re evolving our strategy to keep clients ahead.

Why Did Google Make These Algorithm Changes?

Google’s algorithm is constantly evolving to keep up with how people actually search. People now make faster decisions and rely on platforms like AI Overviews, ChatGPT, and Google snippets to get the answers they need. These tools are shifting how we search, what we trust, and how we validate businesses, products or services.

• SPEED - AI Overviews (Google): Users are turning to these for fast answers. Google summarizes based on who gets mentioned most often and is considered a trusted, authoritative source.
• AUTHORITY - ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, etc.: People are using AI tools to double-check, summarize, or compare information. This isn't just search. It's decision reinforcement.
• VALIDATION - Featured Snippets and Instant Answers: Even before AI, users trusted the top-of-page results and zero-click snippets. AI has simply deepened that behavior.

What’s Changed With Google's July Algorithm Update

• Topical authority is now critical: Google is doubling down on E‑E‑A‑T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness). Sites that can demonstrate deep knowledge on a topic are being rewarded.
• AI Overviews are expanding: More search results now include AI-generated summaries. These AI Overviews pull information from well-structured, trustworthy websites. If your site isn’t optimized for these summaries, you risk being left out.
• Zero-click searches are on the rise:Searches ending without clicks to traditional web results have surged—especially when AI Overviews are present. Reports cite up to 58–69% of searches ending in zero clicks, significantly reducing organic traffic even when rankings remain stable.
• Quality over quantity with backlinks: Gone are the days of chasing hundreds of backlinks. Google now values backlinks from high-authority, reputable sites—and penalizes spammy or low-quality links.
• Helpful content is being redefined: The update continues to penalize keyword stuffing or AI-generated placeholders. Google favors content that is genuinely helpful, well-written, structured, and aligned to real user intent.

How We're Responding To The Algorithm Changes

• Publishing on high-authority platforms regularly crawled by ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity
• Building topical authority with tightly structured content clusters around core themes
• Using a smart mix of keywords, including primary, long-tail, and geo-specific terms that adapt over time
• Training AI tools to recognize your brand by optimizing brand signals across platforms
• Refining on-page SEO to boost performance in both traditional rankings and AI Overviews

The Takeaway: Authority and Visibility Go Hand in Hand

Staying visible now requires more than just landing on the first page or ranking for keywords. It’s showing up with authority and genuine value across both search results and the AI-driven tools people now rely on to make buying decisions. Adapting to these changes won’t happen overnight, which is why I always emphasize consistency and a long-term approach.

If you’re unsure how to pivot your current SEO strategy, we’re here to help. Contact us to learn how Stranded can turn these changes into growth for your brand.