How to Win Google SERPs with Visual, Video & Multimodal Search Optimization

Let’s go back to the days of yore when SEO was all about getting the right words in somehow. 

You picked a keyword, wrote a 1,500-word blog post, sprinkled it like salt across headings, and watched the rankings roll in.

But in 2025?

Text is just one piece of the puzzle, and in many cases, it’s no longer the most important one.

People don’t just read anymore. They speak, scan, swipe, watch, and snap. They point their phones at restaurant menus. They search TikTok for tutorials. They screenshot outfits, scan food labels, and skip entire paragraphs in favor of a 15-second video.

Welcome to the age of multimodal search.

If your content doesn’t speak multiple “languages” such as visual, video, semantic, and contextual, then search engines won’t speak to you either.

This isn’t the future of search.

It’s the right now of search.

And it’s time we start optimizing like we know it.

In this blog, we’ll take you deep into the world of multimodal search, visual search SEO, and video SEO, showing you how to future-proof your content and dominate beyond just text on the future SERP. 

So, whether you’re a marketer, content creator, or an e-commerce store owner, buckle up. This ride’s going to change how you think about SEO forever.

On that note!

Source

What is multimodal search, really? (And why should SEOs care?)

Let’s be real, the way people search today is… different.

Sometimes we type.

Sometimes we ask Alexa.

At other times, we take a photo of a peculiar plant and ask Google to identify it.

(Just me?)

That’s multimodal search. It’s how we use various methods, including words, images, voice, video, and even gestures, to find things online. 

And search engines? They’re not just rolling with it; they’re thriving on it.

Here’s the deal: Google isn’t just scanning the words we type into a box anymore. 

It’s watching what we click, listening to how we talk, analyzing what we upload, and stitching it all together to figure out what we’re actually trying to do.

Ask a question on your phone, upload a screenshot, watch three YouTube tutorials in a row, boom, Google gets it. It responds with a mix of text answers, videos, images, products, and forums, sometimes all on the same page.

It’s like the search engine turned into a mind reader… with a multimedia toolkit.

And what’s powering all this?

Massive AI models like MUM, BERT, and now Gemini are trained to understand meaning, not just words, across formats. They connect the dots between your messy, human questions and the best results, whether it’s an article, a TikTok, or a how-to video.

Now here’s the kicker and why SEOs should care: If your content only exists as a blog post with a few keywords, you’re basically whispering in a crowd of creators shouting with visuals, storytelling, and video.

In a world where Google sees and hears everything?

You don’t just need to be searchable. You need to be watchable, listenable, clickable, and above all, useful.

Visual search SEO: Because Google’s eyes are wide open

Ready for a quick challenge?

Open Google Lens on your phone, point it at your sneakers, and hit search.

Ta-da! You’re now shopping without typing a single word.

That’s visual search in action. And it’s not just cool, it’s quietly transforming how people find products, places, ideas, and inspiration online.

Visual search SEO is exactly what it sounds like: making your images findable, understandable, and rankable in search results. It’s not enough for your product to look good; it needs to look good to Google.

So, how do you make Google “see” your visuals?

If you’ve been treating alt text like an afterthought or uploading 3MB images with generic names… yeah, Google notices.

And one more thing, visual search isn’t some distant trend. Google Lens is being used over 12 billion times a month. That’s not a niche, that’s the new normal.

Video SEO: Your content’s new frontman

To be honest, most of us would rather watch something than read about it.

Want to fix a leaking faucet? Cook Korean ramen? Understand GA4?

YouTube’s got you with a smattering of quick-fix vids.

Google knows it, and now shows videos front and center in search.

So, if you’ve been pouring your soul into blog content but ignoring video, here’s some tough love: you’re leaving reach, rankings, and ROI on the table.

Want to show up in those juicy video carousels?

Here’s your action plan:

We have a fun bonus tip for you: turn every blog post into a short video script. You already have the content, just speak it, shoot it, and get it out there.

Because here’s the reality: A great video can do more for your SEO than 2,000 perfectly optimized words ever could.

Semantic search SEO: Writing for meaning, not just algos!

Remember when SEO meant stuffing awkward phrases like “best affordable blue running shoes cheap” into every third paragraph?

Yeah… those days are gone. (Thank goodness!)

Now, it’s all about semantic search, where search engines focus less on keywords and more on meaning. 

It’s how Google knows that when someone searches “what’s that app with the ghost logo,” they mean Snapchat, even if the word “Snapchat” never appears in the query.

This shift is massive.

Here’s how to play the new game:

• Think in topics, not just keywords

One keyword = one page is old-school. Build topic clusters and become the go-to voice for a subject area.

• Use natural, conversational language

You’re writing for people, not crawlers. Google’s smart enough to know that “How do I fix a dripping tap?” and “Fix a leaky faucet” are the same intent.

• Lean into entities and relationships

Google now understands things (like “Nike” or “Air Jordan”) as entities, not just words. Connect those dots in your content.

• Create supporting content that reinforces context

If you have a page on DSLR cameras, linking to a guide on camera lenses tells Google you know your stuff.

The bottom line is, don’t write for robots. Write like a human who deeply understands what another human wants to know.

On that note, we recommend reading our detailed guide on semantic SEO, titled “What Is Semantic SEO?” A Beginner’s Guide to Smarter Search Optimization.

AI-powered search optimization: Use the bots to beat the bots

Let’s face it: we can’t talk about modern SEO without talking about AI. But here’s the twist: the best SEO pros aren’t being replaced by AI… they’re being supercharged by it. You know, two can play at a game! 😉

AI is now baked into everything from search results to search behavior. Google’s own ranking models are built on deep learning and LLMs. Therefore, it makes sense to utilize AI to optimize your content for AI-driven search.

Here’s how you can do that:

• Use AI tools (like ChatGPT or Jasper) to brainstorm ideas, repurpose content into scripts, or generate outlines. But always refine and add your voice.

• Use tools like Clearscope or Surfer to analyze top-ranking pages and understand the semantic signals Google expects.

• Automate repetitive tasks, such as image tagging and schema generation, so you can focus on what actually moves the needle: strategy and storytelling.

Monitor multimodal SERP features using tools like Ahrefs, Semrush, or Exploding Topics. These show where visual, video, and other content formats are gaining traction.

AI isn’t cheating. It’s just the new calculator.

If you know how to use it and stay human in the process, you’re already miles ahead.

The road ahead

If you host a killer podcast and want it to reach many more auditory canals, then we recommend reading ~ SEO for Podcasts: Actionable Strategies for Amplifying Your Audio Reach in 2025.