The 2026 eCom Trends Report
Top Report Findings: This is our sixth Trends Report with 300 owners representing $3.5...
Is SEO actually dead this time, or are we just watching it slowly lose relevance? In this episode, I’ll share why I officially stopped investing in SEO after building multiple businesses on it for over a decade. You’ll learn what’s changed in the search landscape, why organic traffic is declining for even experienced operators, and how crowded search results have made it harder than ever to win meaningful traffic.
I also break down real data from seven- and eight-figure store owners, showing where traffic is actually coming from today and what channels are outperforming SEO. Listen in to hear where to focus now and how to rethink long-term growth strategies in a world where attention is shifting away from traditional search.
You’ll learn:
- Why I have stopped investing in SEO after years of relying on it. (00:51)
- The long-standing debate around “SEO is dead” and why this time feels different. (3:20)
- Why Google search results are now too crowded to drive meaningful traffic. (7:35)
- The decline of organic traffic as a top channel for eCommerce stores. (9:20)
- Where to focus instead. (15:00)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music
(With your host Andrew Youderian of eCommerceFuel.com)
What Was Mentioned
Ideas Worth Sharing:
"58% of stores are still doing SEO, yet only one in six say it's their top channel." - Andrew Youderian Tweet this "Paid traffic went from being the number one traffic source for 29% of stores a decade ago to 66% of stores now saying paid is the number one traffic source for their business." - Andrew Youderian Tweet this "If you're still allocating real money to SEO out of habit or hope, go look at your numbers. I think it might be time to move on." - Andrew Youderian Tweet this
Post by Andrew Youderian
Founder and Chief Instigator, eComFuel
Andrew quit an early finance job to sell CB radios online — an admittedly unorthodox career path. It set him on a course to found and sell multiple businesses, host a decade-running podcast, lecture at Harvard Business School and create eComFuel, the leading community for 7- and 8-figure online business owners. Andrew is fascinated with branding, AI, building community, investing and growing meaningful businesses that don't require sacrificing what truly matters.
