40 Types of SEO You Should Know in 2025

When people say “do SEO,” they often mean one thing—usually stuffing keywords into a page and praying Google notices. But here’s the kicker: SEO isn’t just one tactic. It’s a whole universe of approaches depending on your goals, your platform, and even how people search.

In 2025, we’re not just talking about “on-page” vs. “off-page.” There are 40+ distinct types of SEO—from mobile SEO and voice SEO to parasite SEO (yes, it’s a thing). Each plays a role in shaping how your site shows up in search, AI overviews, and even on social platforms like TikTok or Reddit.

This guide breaks them down into categories, so you can see which ones matter most for your business.

Source: Linkedin User

The Core Pillars of SEO

There are over 40 types of SEO, including core pillars like on-page SEO, off-page SEO, and technical SEO, plus specialized forms such as mobile SEO, voice SEO, ecommerce SEO, and programmatic SEO. Each type focuses on optimizing for a specific search channel, business model, or ranking factor.

These are the “classic three” every strategy builds on:

• On-Page SEO – optimizing titles, meta descriptions, headers, content, and internal links.
  
• Off-Page SEO – backlinks, brand mentions, digital PR, and authority building.
  
• Technical SEO – site speed, structured data, crawlability, mobile-friendliness.

Specialized SEO by Search Type

Search isn’t just text anymore. These SEO types optimize for different user behaviors and formats:

• Mobile SEO – ensures pages load fast and display perfectly on phones.
• Voice SEO – optimizing for conversational queries like “near me” searches.
• Video SEO – ranking YouTube videos and video snippets in Google.
• Image SEO – alt text, compression, and appearing in Google Images.
• News SEO – optimizing for Google News and trending stories.
• AI Chatbot SEO – getting cited in AI answers (SGE, ChatGPT, Perplexity).

SEO by Business Type

Different industries = different strategies:

• Enterprise SEO – scaling across thousands of pages.
• Ecommerce SEO – optimizing product pages and category structures.
• Affiliate SEO – review sites, buyer guides, and commission-driven content.
• Local SEO – ranking in Google Maps, “near me,” and city-specific searches.
• International SEO – targeting multiple countries with hreflang tags.
• Multilingual SEO – translating and optimizing content in several languages.

SEO by Tactics

Not all SEO is created equal. Some play nice; others push the limits:

• White Hat SEO – best practices, long-term safe.
• Gray Hat SEO – clever loopholes, not outright spam.
• Black Hat SEO – risky tricks (keyword stuffing, cloaking, PBNs).
• Parasite SEO – ranking content on powerful third-party domains.
• Brand SEO – optimizing your name, reputation, and search real estate.
• Accessibility SEO – ensuring compliance and usability for all audiences.
• Programmatic SEO – generating hundreds of pages dynamically with data.

Curious about AI-powered tools that make tactics like programmatic SEO easier? Explore AI Tools on TheAISurf.

Platform-Specific SEO

Each platform has its own rules:

• Amazon SEO
• Etsy SEO
• eBay SEO
• Shopify SEO
• App Store SEO
• Podcast SEO
• Reddit SEO
• Quora SEO
• YouTube SEO
• TikTok SEO
• LinkedIn SEO
• Pinterest SEO
• Google Maps SEO
• TripAdvisor SEO

Why So Many Types of SEO?

Because search keeps evolving. Google SGE (Search Generative Experience), AI chatbots, and even social feeds act like search engines now. To win, you need the right mix of SEO types—not all 40, but the ones aligned with your audience and platform.

Relevant Reads:

60-Day LLM SEO Checklist: Boost Visibility Fast

AI SEO: Why Authority Beats Keywords in 2025

Conclusion

SEO isn’t one-size-fits-all anymore—it’s a toolbox of 40+ strategies. The smart move? Pick the 4–5 types that align with your business, then layer in emerging ones like voice SEO and AI chatbot SEO as search evolves.

Explore more AI tools and SEO insights on TheAISurf.

FAQs

1. What is the most important type of SEO in 2025?

On-page, technical, and off-page SEO remain the foundation, but mobile SEO and AI chatbot SEO are rising fast with Google SGE.

2. Do I need to focus on all 40 types of SEO?

No—you only need the ones relevant to your goals. For example, an Etsy seller should focus on Etsy SEO, local SEO, and image SEO.

3. How do I keep up with new SEO trends?
 

Follow SEO news sources, test often, and explore AI tools that can automate keyword research and optimization.