Optimizing your website in 2025 isn’t the same game it was in 2022. Over the last three years, search behavior has evolved dramatically. Social media, map-based searches, and AI-driven tools like ChatGPT are reshaping how people find businesses online in Walnut Creek, Concord, and the greater San Francisco Bay Area.
One of the biggest shifts? Google’s dominance is slipping—just a bit. In December 2023, Google held 91.62% of the search market share. As of February 2025, that number has dipped to 87.86%. Meanwhile, ChatGPT has entered the search market with 0.25% of searches as of March 2025. While that may seem tiny compared to Google’s 14 billion daily searches, it still amounts to 37.5 million AI-driven queries per day—and that number is growing. Predictions suggest ChatGPT could reach 1% of the search market this year.
What does this mean for your business? Your SEO strategy needs to adapt. Google’s AI overviews are changing how search results appear, making traditional ranking tactics less effective. However, one principle remains constant: you need to be an authority in your market.
Here’s how to stay ahead:
- Dominate your niche. Be the best in your market, both online and in person.
- Optimize your Google Business Profile. Generate 5-star reviews, keep your listing updated, and engage with customers.
- Leverage social media. More searches are happening on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Your business should be visible there.
- Earn quality backlinks. Get high-authority websites to link to yours, and have others write about your business.
- Invest in content marketing. Publish valuable, relevant blog posts that position you as an industry leader.
You can’t afford to rely on referrals forever. Word-of-mouth is great, but it’s not a sustainable growth strategy. A strong organic search presence builds a pipeline of leads that doesn’t vanish the moment you stop paying for ads. Google Ads work well for businesses with big budgets and high margins, but as soon as you turn them off, the traffic disappears. Organic SEO, on the other hand, has long-lasting value.
At Tenaya360, we specialize in SEO, branding, website design, and website development for businesses in Walnut Creek, Concord, and across the Bay Area. Whether you need website maintenance, support, or hosting security, we’re here to help.
The digital landscape is evolving fast, and we’re staying ahead of the curve so you don’t have to. Want to future-proof your online presence? Start optimizing now. Let’s talk strategy.
