Sonu Goswami 2025 SEO & AI Shifts Every SaaS Founder Should Watch
2025 SEO & AI shifts: rank tracking update, spam rollout, AI flaws, Gemini in Chrome & more insights for SaaS founders.
Why SaaS Founders Should Care About SEO & AI
If you’re building a SaaS product, your growth depends not just on code and features, but also on visibility. In 2025, Google and the broader AI ecosystem introduced changes that could directly impact how your users discover, trust, and buy from you.
Here’s a breakdown of what happened — and what it means for SaaS growth strategies.
Rank Tracking Disrupted: Google Pulls num=100
Google removed the num=100 parameter that let SEOs and tools fetch 100 results per page.
- Impact: Rank trackers now see fewer results, which may make reports look weaker.
- For SaaS: Don’t misread lower “impressions” as a drop in demand. It’s a measurement change, not necessarily a market shift.
(Internal link idea: Link this section to your blog on “SEO Metrics That Matter for SaaS”)
Google Spam Update Completed
The August spam update officially finished on September 21, 2025.
- Many SaaS blogs saw sharp swings in visibility.
- If your site dipped, review Google’s spam guidelines.
(Internal link idea: Link to your own post on “Content Hygiene for SaaS Blogs”)
AI Search Sends More Users to Dead Ends
A study found that AI-driven search sends users to 404 pages 3x more often than Google.
- Opportunity for SaaS: Smart 404 pages can redirect “lost” visitors into free trial signups or product tours.
(Internal link idea: Link to “Turning Errors into Conversions: SaaS UX Tips”)
Gemini AI Arrives in Chrome
Google baked Gemini AI into Chrome for U.S. users, adding summarization and research help.
- For SaaS founders: Expect users to rely on browser-level AI for product research. Optimizing content for AI assistants will matter as much as SEO.
Publishers Sue Over AI Overviews
Penske Media sued Google, claiming AI summaries steal traffic.
- For SaaS founders: Don’t rely only on search traffic. Build owned channels like email, community, and direct demos to protect growth.
Even OpenAI is Hiring SEO Managers
OpenAI is actively recruiting SEO specialists.
- If the biggest AI company believes in SEO, your SaaS should too. SEO isn’t dead — it’s evolving.
Google’s AI Payment Protocol (AP2)
Google launched AP2, a payments framework that lets AI agents make secure purchases.
- For SaaS: Get ready for a world where AI, not humans, may subscribe to your product. Future-proof your billing and checkout workflows.
Key Lessons for SaaS Makers
- Treat rank-tracking dips as data noise, not panic signals.
- Stay compliant with spam updates to protect visibility.
- Use broken-link traffic to capture leads.
- Prepare for AI-first browsing.
- Diversify traffic sources with owned channels.
- Watch AI-driven commerce — it’s closer than you think.With SEO evolving and AI shaping how users search, SaaS founders need to think beyond “keywords” — it’s about visibility, trust, and adaptability.
With SEO evolving and AI shaping how users search, SaaS founders need to think beyond “keywords” — it’s about visibility, trust, and adaptability.