EducationalAI in Marketing

SEO Tools Remain Essential for Marketers Amidst AI Growth

Zoe Ashbridge· July 29, 2026 View original

Summary

Despite concerns that AI might diminish SEO's importance, a HubSpot survey indicates that 27% of marketers still consider websites, blogs, and SEO as their top ROI channel, confirming the continued necessity of SEO tools.

The article addresses the perception that the growing influence of artificial intelligence might render traditional Search Engine Optimization (SEO) less critical. However, it counters this notion by presenting data that underscores SEO's enduring value for marketing professionals. A recent HubSpot survey revealed that a significant portion of marketers, specifically 27%, identified their website, blog, and SEO efforts as the primary source of return on investment for the current year. This finding strongly suggests that specialized SEO tools continue to be indispensable for effective marketing strategies, even in an AI-driven landscape.

Why it matters

For marketing professionals, this reinforces the strategic importance of SEO and its associated tools, providing data-backed reassurance that these efforts still yield significant returns despite the evolving AI landscape.

How to implement this in your domain

  1. 1Evaluate current SEO tool stack for effectiveness and integration with AI strategies.
  2. 2Invest in training for marketing teams on advanced SEO techniques and AI-powered SEO tools.
  3. 3Prioritize website and blog content optimization based on SEO best practices.
  4. 4Analyze competitor SEO strategies to identify new opportunities.

Who benefits

MarketingE-commerceDigital MediaPublishingSaaS

Key takeaways

  • SEO remains a high-ROI channel for marketers.
  • AI's rise does not negate the need for SEO tools.
  • Websites and blogs are critical for marketing ROI.
  • Marketers should continue investing in SEO strategies.

Original post by Zoe Ashbridge

"SEO might feel like it’s under threat with the rise of AI. But the data tells a different story — SEO tools are still a must-have for marketers. In a HubSpot survey, 27% of marketers agreed that the biggest ROI channel of this year was the website, blog, and SEO."

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Originally posted by Zoe Ashbridge on X · view source

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