2025: The Year the Web Changed (Again) – And How To Win In 2026

Before we unplug for the holidays and reset for the New Year, I wanted to share a roundup of what we learned, say a massive thank you, and give you a sneak peek at the game-changing strategy series I’m launching in January.

First: A Massive Thank You

To the clients of RichKeller.com—both the long-standing partners and the new faces I met this year—thank you.

2025 threw us some curveballs. We saw algorithm updates that panicked the industry, new design standards that required quick pivots, and the flood of AI content that made the internet noisier than ever. But you stayed the course, trusted the process, trusted my strategy, and together, we kept your businesses growing. Your resilience is the reason I love what I do.

The 2025 Rewind: What Just Happened?

If I had to sum up 2025 in three trends, it would be this:

1. The "Bento" Grid Takeover Web design moved away from long, scrolling landing pages toward modular, "bento box" style grids. Users wanted information fast, compartmentalized, and scannable. We spent a lot of this year restructuring sites to stop the "doom scroll" and start the "quick click."

2. Accessibility Became Non-Negotiable This was the year legal standards (WCAG 2.2) tightened up. We moved past "good to have" accessibility to "must have." If your site wasn't readable by everyone, search engines (and users) punished you for it.

3. The Flood of "Beige" Content The internet got flooded with generic AI text. Suddenly, every website sounded the same. This created a new problem for 2025: How do we stand out in a sea of robots?

The 2026 Preview: "Human-First" is the New SEO

This brings me to next year.

If 2025 was about reacting to AI, 2026 is about mastering it. The only way to beat the "beige" content flood is to be undeniably, unapologetically human.

I have spent the last few weeks building a comprehensive  website roadmap for 2026, and I am not keeping it to myself.

Starting in January, I am launching a 3-Part "Success in 2026" Series right here on the blog.

Here is what is coming your way:

📅 Coming in January: The Great Reset

We are going to kick off the year by auditing your "Human Factor." I’ll be teaching you how to strip away the robotic elements of your site and infuse it with the kind of personality that drives sales.

• Teaser: We’ll be talking about why your "About" page might be the most important SEO asset you have.

📅 Coming in February: Mastering GEO (Generative Engine Optimization)

SEO is evolving into GEO. I’ll be breaking down how to optimize your content so that AI engines (like ChatGPT and Google’s AI Overviews) cite you as the expert, rather than your competitors.

• Teaser: It’s not about keywords anymore; it’s about "Answer Strategy."

📅 Coming in March: Search Everywhere

Your customers aren't just on Google. They are searching on TikTok, YouTube, and voice assistants. We will cover how to expand your digital footprint to catch customers no matter where they are looking.

Let’s Make 2026 Your Best Year Yet!

The digital world isn't slowing down, but you don't have to face it alone.

I’m taking a short break to recharge with family, but I am already fired up for what we are going to build in January.

Keep an eye on your inbox (and this blog) for the first part of the series in Week 1 of January.

Happy Holidays, and here is to a prosperous, high-visibility New Year!

— Rich Keller RichKeller.com