SEO ROI Statistics in 2025: What You Should Know About Organic Search

SEO has seen massive shifts over the years.

2024 was no exception, with more AI advancements and algorithm updates than ever before.

Some people might say, “SEO is dead.”

I couldn’t disagree more.

In fact, 2025 is shaping up to be one of the best years yet for SEO growth.

But if you’re relying solely on AI, you’re going to hit some walls.

This article breaks down the true power of SEO.

It’ll show you how to refine your strategy and drive more organic growth this year.

Let’s dive into the top SEO ROI stats you need to know for 2025.

1. 57% of B2B marketers say that SEO generates more leads than any other marketing initiative

This one’s a no-brainer.

SEO captures leads right when users are ready to buy.

Unlike other channels that need constant adjustments, SEO keeps driving leads indefinitely.

It’s a long-term play with consistent returns.

2. 60% of marketers say that inbound marketing (SEO, blog content, etc.) is their highest quality source of leads – [9]

SEO doesn’t just bring in more leads—it brings in better leads.

You can target users at every stage of the funnel, including those ready to purchase.

And because you’re not paying per click, your CAC stays low.

Better leads, lower costs—it’s a win-win.

3. SEO delivers the highest ROI, averaging 200%-275% and generating $2.75 profit per dollar invested for eCommerce businesses (source: soocial.com)

For eCommerce, SEO is one of the best ways to drive purchases.

Users are already searching for your products—it’s just about showing up in front of them.

Google Merchant Center can give you even more visibility directly in search results.

With lower costs and higher visibility, it’s no surprise eCom SEO ROI outshines most industries.

4. SEO outperforms pay-per-click advertising, driving 15 times more clicks. [8]

The classic SEO vs. PPC debate.

PPC is great for immediate results, but ad spend drives up your CAC fast.

While paid ads have their place, users trust organic results more.

That’s why SEO consistently drives more clicks—and better long-term results.

5. 49% of marketers say that organic search has the highest ROI of any marketing channel [5]

SEO doesn’t just drive traffic—it captures demand.

You’re not interrupting users; you’re meeting them exactly where they are in their journey.

And because of that, your CAC stays low, and ROI stays high.

It’s the channel most marketers bet on for consistent returns.

6. 69% of companies invested in SEO last year [5]

Brands are doubling down on SEO—and for good reason.

The ROI is hard to ignore, and the potential for long-term growth is unmatched.

Expect even more investment in SEO moving forward.

7. SEO generates ROIs of up to 12.2x initial spend [4]

SEO isn’t a quick win—it’s a long game.

While PPC might show faster results, SEO compounds over time.

That’s why it can deliver returns up to 12.2x the initial investment.

Patience pays off in SEO.

Full List of SEO ROI Statistics

1. SEO delivers a 14.6% conversion rate, significantly outperforming traditional outbound methods at 1.7%.
2. 57% of B2B marketers report that SEO generates more leads than any other marketing strategy.
3. SEO leads have a 14.6% close rate, compared to a 1.7% close rate for outbound leads.
4. Businesses experience an average revenue increase of 2.8% from SEO investments.
5. The average ROI for e-commerce SEO ranges between 700% and 900%.
6. 61% of marketers rank improving SEO and organic presence as their top inbound marketing priority.
7. SEO leads to a 60% lower Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) compared to inorganic channels.
8. SEO delivers an average ROI of 748% over a three-year period.
9. The first organic search result garners a 39.6% click-through rate, nearly 20 times that of the top paid ad.
10. 89% of consumers trust organic search results on the first page of Google.
11. The top three organic search results receive 75.1% of all clicks.
12. Users are 5.66 times more likely to click on organic search results compared to paid ads.
13. 93% of all internet experiences begin with a search engine.
14. 76% of searches from mobile devices are related to something nearby, emphasizing the importance of local SEO.
15. 28% of local searches result in a purchase, highlighting the effectiveness of local SEO strategies.
16. 63% of Google’s organic search traffic in the U.S. is generated via mobile devices, underscoring the need for mobile-friendly websites.
17. 72% of consumers that conducted a local search also visited a business that was within 5 miles of their location.
18. 18% of local mobile searches lead to a purchase within one day.
19. 97% of people will learn more about a local business on the internet than anywhere else.
20. 88% of mobile phone users utilize a search engine daily.
21. 75% of users never go past the first page of search results.
22. 50% of users on Google will click a page within 9 seconds of starting their search.
23. 96.55% of content gets no traffic from Google.
24. 68% of all generated website traffic is sourced from both organic and paid search.
25. 65% of users who search on Google click at least one of the organic search results they’re presented with.
26. 87% of smartphone owners use a search engine daily.
27. 51% of smartphone users have discovered a new company or product when searching on their smartphones.
28. 60% of smartphone users have contacted a business directly through the search results, using features such as the “click to call” option.
29. 57% of local search queries are submitted using a mobile device or tablet.
30. 46% of Google search queries have local search intent.
31. 58% of businesses don’t optimize for local search.
32. 76% of people who search on their smartphones for something nearby visit a business within a day.
33. 28% of searches for something nearby result in a purchase.
34. 63.6% of consumers say they are likely to check reviews on Google before visiting a business location.
35. 84% of search engine users will use Google 3 times a day or more.
36. 20% of searches on mobile devices are conducted via voice text.
37. 40% of users will abandon your website if it takes more than three seconds to load.
38. 72.3% of websites have slow page speeds, which can lead to poorer keyword rankings.
39. 80% of top-ranked websites are optimized for mobile phones.
40. 33% of websites meet the standards set by Google’s Core Web Vitals.
41. 95.2% of websites have redirect issues.
42. 80.4% of websites are missing alt attributes on images, which hinders accessibility.
43. 60% of marketers report that inbound marketing, which includes SEO and blog content, is their highest quality lead source.
44. 29% of marketers use an SEO-optimized site and blog to generate leads.
45. 72% of marketers consider content relevancy the most effective SEO factor.
46. Marketers prioritizing blogging are 13 times more likely to see ROI.
47. 88% of marketers using SEO plan to continue investing in it, allocating the same or higher budget.
48. 36% of SEO experts believe the headline/title tag is the most important SEO element.
49. 92% of keywords have a search volume of fewer than 10 searches per month.
50. Long-tail keywords have a conversion rate of 36%.

Sources:

1. “SEO Conversion Statistics Compendium.” Evan Bailyn. First Page Sage. Jan. 28, 2022. https://firstpagesage.com/reports/seo-conversion-statistics-compendium-fc/
2. “State of SEO 2024 Report.” Search Engine Journal. Oct. 2023. https://www.searchenginejournal.com/state-of-seo/
3. “The ROI of SEO in 2024.” Ahrefs. Nov. 2023. https://ahrefs.com/blog/seo-statistics/
4. “SEO Statistics for 2024: Trends, Data, and Insights.” Backlinko. Dec. 2023. https://backlinko.com/seo-stats
5. “2024 Local SEO Statistics.” BrightLocal. Sep. 2023. https://www.brightlocal.com/research/local-seo-statistics/
6. “E-commerce SEO Benchmarks 2024.” Semrush. Jan. 2024. https://www.semrush.com/blog/ecommerce-seo-statistics/
7. “2024 Marketing Statistics, Trends & Data.” HubSpot. Feb. 2024. https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/marketing-statistics
8. “Global Search Engine Optimization Market Report.” Statista. Mar. 2024. https://www.statista.com/topics/seo/
9. “Mobile SEO Trends 2024.” Think with Google. Apr. 2024. https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/marketing-strategies/search/mobile-seo/
10. “The Future of SEO: Predictions for 2025.” Moz. May 2024. https://moz.com/blog/seo-predictions-2025