How Often Should You REALLY Be Building Backlinks?

736: Can a $5 press release really trick Google’s AI into calling your brand "reputable"? Yes - and today I break down exactly how. In this episode, I unpack a wild strategy that shows how startups (or anyone) can influence Google's AI Overviews using low-cost press releases. We talk about why this works, how to test it safely, and how it differs from other LLM manipulation tactics floating around online. Whether you're in SEO, digital marketing, or running a scrappy startup - this might just blow your mind. Topics covered: - How AI parrots press release language - The role of domain authority in AI citation - Gaming brand name searches with low competition - Testing the strategy without risking your own brand - The difference between press release SEO vs. clone site SEO 🎩 Harpreet’s post - https://x.com/harpreetchatha_/status/1942304237821853998 🎩 Ep 734 - Gaming LLMs & Google Best Lists -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-61nkv_HcAI 🎩 Gaming ChatGPT with spun content - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/dowdell_llmmarketing-seo-chatgpt-activity-7346161041803735044-USDC/ 💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/ 00:00 Introduction: Press Releases for AI Overviews 00:35 Case Study: Manipulating AI Overviews 01:08 SEO and Domain Authority 01:37 Harpreet's Experiment and Its Implications 03:27 Comparing Different SEO Tactics 06:06 Testing the Strategy Yourself 08:08 Conclusion and Final Thoughts The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #blackhatseo #generativeengineoptimization #searchengineoptimization #seohacks

E735: Are you building too many backlinks… or not enough? I break down exactly how often you should be doing link building - and why most people are getting it completely wrong. You'll learn: - Why overdoing backlinks can actually hurt your SEO - The dangers of doing too little (and looking unnatural to Google) - A simple daily backlink strategy you can start today - Tools and platforms to get high-quality links - The difference between topical authority and general authority - and why both matter Whether you're just starting out or scaling your SEO game, this episode gives you the blueprint for sustainable, effective link building in 2025. 💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/ 00:00 Introduction 00:25 The Importance of Backlinks 01:12 Pitfalls of Overdoing Link Building 02:08 Consequences of Doing Too Little 02:41 Finding the Sweet Spot 02:47 Daily Link Building Strategies 03:10 Recommended Resources for Backlinks 05:28 Final Tips The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #linkbuilding #backlinks #seotips #searchengineoptimization

E734: I share how people are trying to manipulate both ChatGPT and Google by creating fake “best of” lists. I walk through a viral LinkedIn post exposing a black hat tactic that's purportedly currently working to influence AI-generated recommendations. You'll hear: - The exact tactic being used to game ChatGPT's rankings - Why LLMs are vulnerable to surface-level content signals - Real examples (and skepticism) from the SEO community - How some are manipulating Google’s knowledge graph using Parasite SEO and fake best-of lists - What actually works today if you want long-term SEO results Whether you're curious, skeptical, or just trying to stay ahead of the curve - this one's packed with insights. 🎩 The LinkedIn post shared - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/dowdell_llmmarketing-seo-chatgpt-activity-7346161041803735044-USDC/ 🎩 The blog post shared - https://www.seolondonsurrey.co.uk/blog/quality-issues-in-some-google-knowledge-graph-results 💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/ 00:00 Introduction to Gaming Best Lists 00:44 Black Hat Tactics for LLMs 02:22 Reactions and Replications 04:35 Gaming Best Lists in Google Search 07:04 Parasite SEO Techniques 11:50 Concluding Thoughts and SEO Tips The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #blackhatseo #parasiteseo #searchengineoptimization #seohacks

E733: I break down why Threads might be the next major platform for Parasite SEO - and how you can take advantage of it right now. Threads.com is spiking in Google traffic after a smart domain migration and is showing signs of becoming a powerful source for organic reach. I’ll walk you through how to repurpose your content into threads, why it’s (surprisingly) not that black hat, and what velocity to post at so you don’t trigger spam filters. What you’ll learn: - How Threads went from 0 to 11.7M monthly clicks from Google - Why their 301 redirect (vs. 𝕏’s 302 mistake) made all the difference - What Parasite SEO is, and why Threads might be the next big platform - How to repurpose your site content into threads - using AI - Why content velocity matters (and how to avoid spam filters) - The smart way to build long-term SEO wins using existing platforms Whether you're an SEO strategist, affiliate marketer, or content creator, this is an opportunity you don't want to miss. 💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/ 00:00 Introduction 00:20 Threads' SEO Journey and Migration 02:18 Comparing Threads and 𝕏's SEO Performance 03:03 Parasite SEO 04:35 How to Use Threads for Parasite SEO 06:04 Practical Tips for Implementing Parasite SEO 07:36 Final Thoughts The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #parasiteseo #searchengineoptimization #seohacks #digitalmarketing

E732: I break down one of the biggest SEO failures in internet history - how 𝕏 (formerly Twitter) lost billions of clicks by mishandling its URL migration and on-page SEO. I also show how Threads and Bluesky are making similar mistakes, and the ridiculously simple fixes that could bring them billions of free monthly clicks. We cover: - The shocking impact of Twitter’s switch to 𝕏 on Google search traffic - Why Threads is accidentally doing SEO better (but still failing) - How basic SEO elements like page titles, meta descriptions, and H1s are being ignored - Simple AI-powered fixes that could change everything overnight - A breakdown of what should be done - from alt text to advanced keyword optimization Whether you’re into digital marketing, SEO, or just want to understand how big tech continues to fumble easy wins - this one’s for you. 💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/ 00:00 Introduction to SEO Issues with X, Threads, and Bluesky 01:18 The SEO Catastrophe: Twitter to X Migration 03:30 SEO Basics: Page Titles, Meta Descriptions, and H1 Tags 12:00 Advanced SEO Strategies Using AI 15:42 Wrapping The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #searchengineoptimization #seotips #seohacks #digitalmarketing

E731: Cloudflare just declared war on AI. In what might be the biggest AI x SEO development since the launch of ChatGPT, Cloudflare announced it will block AI crawlers by default and launched a bold new initiative: Pay Per Crawl. What does this mean for websites, content creators, publishers, and the future of AI training? Is this the beginning of a new economic model for the web - or just another speed bump for AI companies? I break down: - What Cloudflare's announcement really means - How Pay Per Crawl works (and who’s already on board) - Reactions from the SEO community and industry insiders - Why this could change visibility, search, and content forever Whether you're in SEO, content, media, or tech - this one’s a must-listen. ⭐️ Cloudflare to block AI crawlers by default with new Pay Per Crawl initiative - https://searchengineland.com/cloudflare-to-block-ai-crawlers-by-default-with-new-pay-per-crawl-initiative-457708 ⭐️ Cloudflare will now block AI crawlers by default - https://www.theverge.com/news/695501/cloudflare-block-ai-crawlers-default ⭐️ Content Independence Day: no AI crawl without compensation! - https://blog.cloudflare.com/content-independence-day-no-ai-crawl-without-compensation/ ⭐️ Announcing Cloudflare pay per crawl beta - https://www.cloudflare.com/paypercrawl-signup/ ⭐️ Reddit: Pay per crawl has been announced. - https://www.reddit.com/r/SEO/comments/1lpyknc/pay_per_crawl_has_been_announced/ 💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/ 00:00 Breaking News: Cloudflare's Major Announcement 00:43 Understanding Cloudflare's New Policies 01:32 Implications for AI and Web Content 02:27 Cloudflare's Pay Per Crawl Initiative 03:31 Industry Reactions and Support 06:21 The Verge's Take on Cloudflare's Move 09:56 SEO Community’s Response 12:45 Final Thoughts The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #searchengineoptimization #digitalmarketingnews #ainews #artificialintelligence

E730: Google’s June core algorithm update is rolling out - and Instagram might be the next big SEO play. Why? Platforms like Reddit and Instagram offer real-time, high-engaging content that users trust. And Google seems to be rewarding that - Reddit just gained 162M clicks in 10 days, and Instagram content could be indexed far more widely in search with this update. You’ll learn: - How Reddit gained 162M clicks in 10 days from Google - The new Instagram notice about your photos and videos showing in search - Exactly how to write captions and use carousels to rank in Google - Why engagement + recency on Instagram might now be real SEO factors - How to build topical authority… without even using a website Whether you’re an SEO pro or just trying to get more visibility for your content, this is a game-changer. ⭐️ Learn more - https://edwardsturm.com/articles/instagram-official-seo-notice-to-creators/ 💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/ 00:00 Introduction to Google's June Core Algorithm Update 00:23 Reddit's Traffic Surge: A Case Study 01:07 Instagram's New Search Engine Visibility 03:01 Maximizing Instagram for SEO 05:42 Practical Tips for Instagram SEO 10:42 Conclusion and Further Resources The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #searchengineoptimization #digitalmarketingnews #instagrammarketing #searchengineoptimization

E729: Datos - secretly one of the most important companies in the SEO ecosystem. Today’s guest is co-founder and CEO of Datos, Eli Goodman. While many marketers have never heard of Datos, the smartest ones quietly rely on its clickstream data to understand how the world searches, clicks, and behaves online. This episode is a deep dive into how search is changing in actual behavior. Eli breaks down what the data shows about Google, AI search, ChatGPT, and what’s driving clicks in 2025. We discuss: - What 20 million users reveal about search behavior - The truth about AI search vs. traditional Google search - Will AI kill SEO anytime soon - The rise of zero-click searches and what it means - How clickstream data works - and why it matters - How Datos tracks behavior across 200+ countries - Google’s AI overviews vs. ChatGPT and Perplexity - Why most AI search queries aren’t commercial - Classic search vs. AI search behavior patterns - The “additive” nature of AI search - What marketers get wrong about search trends - How Datos’ data predicted earnings for major companies - Pinterest’s early rise spotted in clickstream data - What most marketers miss about non-linear attribution - Whether AI search is more “journey” than “destination” - Why publishers should be worried - and what’s next - The war between LLMs and search engines - and its timeline - Why user behavior changes slower than people think - The future of data, privacy, and search segmentation ⭐️ Eli Goodman on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/eligoodman/ ⭐️ Datos - clickstream data to power your products and insights - https://datos.live/ 💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/ 00:00 Predicting the Future with Data 01:19 Real-World Examples of Accurate Predictions 01:47 Detecting Pinterest 02:51 Datos Is One of the Most Important SEO Players 04:01 Understanding Clickstream Data 05:10 The Role of Data in Marketing Decisions 11:03 The Evolution of Search and AI's Impact 19:27 Behavioral Differences in Search Patterns 26:57 The Ongoing Battle Between AI and Traditional Search 28:59 The Impact of ChatGPT on Google and Meta 29:46 The Power of Established Networks 30:38 Apple's AI and Market Dynamics 31:28 The Future of AI in Search 32:22 Behavioral Changes and Search Patterns 36:55 Predicting Trends with Clickstream Data 43:03 The Role of Clickstream Data in AI 50:16 Google's Zero Click Search and SEO Trends 54:52 Concluding Thoughts and Future Discussions The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #searchengineoptimization #digitalmarketing #performancemarketing #seotips

E728: Google just rolled out its June 2025 core algorithm update - and it’s already shaking up the entire SEO landscape. I break down what’s actually changing, why traffic is dropping, and what we’re seeing so far. From Reddit surges to AI content penalties, thin pages getting deindexed, and trusted domains losing rankings - this update is hitting hard. I also explain how it compares to March’s update, what types of content are being targeted, and steps you can take right now to check if you’ve been impacted. Here’s what we cover: - How the June 2025 Google Core Algorithm update compares to the March update - Why some top-ranking pages are dropping in results - The removal of low-value, thin, or outdated pages from the index - New pressure on unedited, AI-generated content - Increases in visibility for platforms like Reddit and other user-generated content - How to check your traffic, rankings, and keyword data - What steps to take now to adapt to the changes Whether you're an SEO, site owner, or digital marketer, this one’s essential listening. 💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/ 00:00 Google's June Core Algorithm Update 00:36 Other Core Algorithm Updates 01:28 Impact on User-Generated Content Platforms 02:11 SEO Community Reactions and Observations 03:07 Differences Between March and June Updates 03:58 Targeting Low-Value and AI-Generated Content 05:49 Prioritizing Real Experience and User-First Writing 06:11 Steps to Check Impact on Your Website 06:35 Trends and Future Expectations 08:01 Final Thoughts The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #googlecoreupdate #searchengineoptimization #digitalmarketingnews #digitalmarketing

E727: Nik shares his screen (watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/wsllqj9wCE8) and walks us through the exact AI workflows he uses to run his podcast, streamline his business, and save dozens of hours every week - using tools like Claude, ChatGPT, Zapier, Google Sheets, and the Limitless Pendant. We talk about: - What happened when AI was given full control of a real company store - Nik’s personal AI stack, including how he organizes 200+ podcast episodes with automation - Why Notebook LM is a game-changer for accuracy and research - How to use AI for intern onboarding, podcast production, SEO, and more - The 90/10 rule of AI automation - and where most people go wrong Whether you’re AI-curious or already building with it, this episode is packed with real demos, practical insights, and honest takes on what works - and what doesn’t. Tools Covered: - Claude (Anthropic) - ChatGPT (OpenAI) - Notebook LM (Google) - Zapier - Google App Script + OpenAI API - Google Sheets + AI Formulas (Workspace Labs) - Limitless Pendant (by Limitless, formerly Rewind AI) ⭐️ Nik Hulewsky’s podcast, Nikonomics - https://www.youtube.com/@NikonomicsPodcast ⭐️ Nik Hulewsky on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikolas-hulewsky-617b132a/ 💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/ 00:00 Anthropic's AI Experiment 00:35 AI's Performance in the Store 01:26 General AI Hype and Realities 03:02 Historical Parallels with Tech Giants 05:15 Consistency and Luck 08:10 Practical AI Workflows and Tools 11:17 Setting Up AI Integrations in Claude 12:37 Podcast Management with AI 23:11 AI Formulas in Google Sheets 27:11 Exploring Different Marketing Channels 27:56 SEO Keyword Analysis 30:15 Using AI for Keyword Research 32:32 SEO Tools and Techniques 36:44 Podcasting Insights and Strategies 37:47 Leveraging AI for Podcast Content 42:50 Creating and Using Claude Artifacts 48:35 More AI Workflows and Practical Applications 50:59 Internship Management with AI 54:05 Conclusion and Final Thoughts The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #aiworkflows #claudeworkflows #limitlesspendant #digitalmarketing