Google’s AI-Powered SERPs: Strategies for Recipe, Travel, and Lifestyle Bloggers

The digital winds have shifted once again. If you’re a lifestyle, recipe, or travel blogger, 2025 has ushered in a new wave of challenges—and opportunities. With the AI search landscape evolving at breakneck speed, and with Google’s AI Mode changing how search results are displayed, it’s clear: the old playbook for visibility no longer cuts it.

So, where do we go from here?

This guide will walk you through what’s changed, what’s working, and what you must do to stay relevant and discoverable in the AI-powered SERPs.

A Big Shake-Up: What the March Update Means

On March 5th, Google rolled out its first core update of 2025, and it was anything but minor. With the update came a sharp decline in visibility for many bloggers, especially those relying on traditional SEO tactics. For recipe, travel, and lifestyle blogs, the impact has been especially brutal. Why?

Because AI Mode doesn’t just pull from your page anymore—it interprets, rewrites, and sometimes even replaces your content in the results.

The AI-powered SERPs now lean heavily on summarized, AI-generated responses. This means even well-optimized pages can be pushed aside if they don’t offer the data or structure Google’s AI finds valuable.

Enter AI Mode: What Is It and Why It Matters

AI Mode is essentially Google’s answer to the AI arms race in search. When a user types a query, they’re no longer just served a list of blue links. Instead, they’re often presented with an AI-generated snapshot that attempts to answer the question in real-time.

For bloggers, this means your content may still be contributing to the answer—but you’re not getting the click.

What’s worse? If your content isn’t structured clearly with metadata and semantic markers, it may not get pulled into the answer at all. That’s where custom schema becomes your new best friend.

Custom Schema: The Hidden Power Tool

One of the few silver linings in this evolving AI search landscape is that structured data still matters. In fact, it matters more than ever.

Using custom schema for recipes, FAQs, how-to posts, and travel guides increases the odds that your content is selected for inclusion in the AI snapshot. Google’s AI relies heavily on well-labeled, structured data to “understand” what your content offers.

If you haven’t yet implemented custom schema, especially for niche content like step-by-step recipes or itineraries, you’re already behind. Tools like Schema Pro or Rank Math make this easier for WordPress users. Don’t guess—label your content clearly and correctly.

Keywords Are Still King—But the Rules Have Changed

Traditional keyword optimization has not vanished, but in AI Mode, context and intent take center stage. You must now optimize your posts not just for keywords, but for how Google’s AI interprets those keywords.

Try this: run a query related to your blog on Google and see what the AI-generated summary pulls in. Does it feature list formats? Definitions? Step-by-step guidance? Then tailor your content to match that style.

The AI search landscape rewards clarity and depth. Blog posts that are too fluffy or vague don’t make the cut. And if your posts are riddled with outdated SEO tricks, they’ll be dismissed before they even get parsed.

Real-World Hits: What Bloggers Are Seeing

Since Google rolled out its first core update of 2025, bloggers across the board have noticed unusual shifts. Recipe bloggers have seen their once-top-ranking posts replaced with AI summaries that barely credit the original content. Travel bloggers report drops in impressions, even for evergreen content.

However, those who’ve leaned into structured data, updated content, and keyword-rich headers are faring better. For example, lifestyle bloggers using custom schema for product reviews and tutorials are increasingly being featured in AI answers.

What this tells us: proactive adaptation is key.

What You Should Be Doing Right Now

To protect—and even grow—your traffic in this new era, here are six steps you should take immediately:

• Audit your content: Update old posts, remove fluff, and enhance readability.
• Implement custom schema: Especially for posts with structured formats.
• Focus on intent-driven keywords: Align your content with what AI Mode wants.
• Shorten and simplify: AI prefers concise, clearly formatted information.
• Build topic clusters: Interlink related posts to demonstrate authority.
• Track your SERP visibility: Use AI-specific tools like AlsoAsked and GSC Insights.

Above all, remember that SEO is not dead—it’s just evolving. And your job as a blogger is to evolve with it.

Tools to Help You Navigate the AI Search Landscape

Here are a few tools that can help you adapt to the shifting terrain of AI-powered SERPs:

• Surfer SEO: Great for optimizing content based on SERP data.
• InLinks: Useful for semantic SEO and topic mapping.
• Schema Markup Validator: Ensures your custom schema is correctly implemented.
• ChatGPT / Gemini: Can simulate how AI might interpret your content.
• Google Search Console: Still your best friend for spotting visibility issues.

When Google changes the rules, the best defense is a better offense.

Final Thoughts: Adaptation Over Perfection

While it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the emergence of AI Mode, the core truth remains the same: useful, original content will always win—eventually.

Yes, the AI search landscape has become more competitive and opaque. And yes, SEO strategies that worked last year may now be obsolete. But with custom schema, intent-based formatting, and a willingness to pivot quickly, bloggers can still thrive.

Don’t let Google’s latest update push you down the rankings. Partner with Engage Coders to future-proof your blog with AI-ready development and digital marketing solutions.

Get in touch today!