Why Google Removed Authorship & What It Means for SEO in 2025

SEO is always evolving. From the early days of keyword stuffing to today’s world of AI-driven search, semantic SEO, and voice optimization, Google constantly updates its algorithm to provide better user experiences. One of the biggest changes in the past decade was Google’s decision to remove authorship photos from search results. While that update happened years ago, understanding why it happened — and what replaced it — gives us crucial insights into how to build a sustainable SEO strategy for 2025 and beyond.

What Was Google Authorship?

Google Authorship was introduced around 2011 alongside Google+. It allowed webmasters to link content with an author’s Google+ profile, displaying their profile photo and byline directly in search results. This experiment was meant to:

Improve trust and credibility in content
Encourage expert-driven publishing
Help Google understand content ownership

For a few years, search results showed author photos and names, making listings visually stand out. However, by 2014 Google officially announced the removal of authorship markup from SERPs.

Why Did Google Remove Authorship?

Google’s John Mueller explained that authorship photos and bylines didn’t significantly increase click-through rates (CTR) and sometimes even distracted users from results. In other words, it was not delivering the value Google expected. Instead, Google shifted its focus to structured data and rich snippets, which are more universally helpful.

“Unfortunately, we observed that authorship information was not as useful to users as hoped, and it could even distract from search results. With this in mind, we decided to stop displaying authorship pictures in search.” — John Mueller

The Rise of Schema & Structured Data

Even though authorship disappeared, structured data became more important than ever. Using Schema.org markup, websites can now tell Google exactly what their content means, not just what it says. This leads to:

Rich snippets (stars, FAQs, product details)
Knowledge panels (brand/entity recognition)
Featured snippets (position zero)
Improved context for voice and AI search

SEO in 2025: EEAT & Entity Optimization

Today, Google emphasizes EEAT — Expertise, Experience, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. Instead of showing photos, Google evaluates whether your content is written by experts, cited by credible sources, and aligned with user intent. Some key SEO trends shaping 2025–2026 include:

Entity-based SEO: Google’s Knowledge Graph connects brands, authors, and topics as “entities.”
AI Search (SGE): Google’s AI-generated answers prioritize well-structured, authoritative content.
Voice & Visual Search: Users now search via voice and images more than ever.
Topical Authority: Sites ranking well in 2025 are those covering entire subject areas deeply, not just one-off keywords.

What Does This Mean for Bloggers & Businesses?

If you relied on authorship for clicks in the past, don’t worry. It never really boosted traffic in the first place. Instead, you should focus on building a strong online presence through:

Author bio pages with internal links (connects your expertise to your content)
Adding Article & Author schema to your blog posts
Leveraging SEO consulting services to implement structured data
Publishing long-form, evergreen content that earns backlinks

How to Optimize for SEO in 2025 & Beyond

Implement Structured Data: Use JSON-LD for articles, reviews, and FAQs.
Answer Search Intent: Write in-depth content that solves problems better than competitors.
Leverage AI Tools: Use AI for keyword clustering and content outlines but keep writing human-first.
Build Authority: Collect reviews, testimonials, and mentions on trusted sites.
Refresh Old Content: Update blogs regularly for freshness signals.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Does Google still use author data in SEO?

Yes, but not as photos in SERPs. Instead, Google relies on structured data, author bios, and entity recognition to determine credibility.

How can I add structured data to my WordPress site?

You can use SEO plugins like RankMath or Yoast, or manually insert JSON-LD code for Article, FAQ, and Review schema.

Will AI search replace traditional SEO?

Not entirely. AI will change how users consume results, but SEO fundamentals — authority, content quality, and structured data — will always remain key.

Final Thoughts

Google’s removal of authorship wasn’t the end of author authority — it was the beginning of structured SEO. In 2025, building credibility through schema, EEAT, and topical authority is far more valuable than profile pictures ever were.

If you want your business to stay ahead of Google’s evolving algorithms, work with Shajee Fareedi — SEO Expert Pakistan. I help businesses implement future-proof SEO strategies that drive rankings, traffic, and conversions in the AI era.