Most SEO Agencies Are Selling You Stuff That Doesn't Work (Here's What Actually Does)

E903: Is SEO actually dying, or is the industry just rebranding the same fundamentals under new names like GEO, AEO, and AI SEO? In this long-form holiday roundtable, we break down what really changed in search over the past year, what didn't, and why so much confusion is spreading across marketing teams, LinkedIn, Reddit, and conference stages. This episode covers real-world observations from 2025, not theory or tool demos. We talk candidly about AI search, Google's direction, backlinks, topical authority, video, PR, exact match domains, and the growing disconnect between what's being sold and what actually works. Top 10 SEO Predictions for 2026: 1. CMOs will continue to be duped by GEO misinformation campaigns. Results in GEO will come from SEO, more than ever. 2. Google will remain the primary source of truth for AI search, directly or indirectly influencing most large language model results. 3. Video content, especially YouTube and Instagram, will play a larger role in rankings, AI Overviews, and AI-generated answers. 4. Traditional text-based listicles will decline in effectiveness, particularly those without firsthand experience or original insight. 5. Backlinks will function more as a defensive ranking signal, helping sites withstand core updates rather than just drive growth. 6. Topical authority will become more granular, with trust evaluated at topic and subtopic levels instead of entire domains. 7. AI Overviews will continue to reduce informational clicks while increasing brand visibility, mentions, and indirect conversions. 8. Exact match and keyword-aligned domains will quietly regain value as relevance and attribution signals. 9. SEO and digital PR will fully converge, making citations, mentions, and reputation critical ranking inputs. 10. Claims that SEO is dead will persist, but organic search will remain central to discovery, competition, and revenue. Topics covered: - Why SEO and "GEO" are not separate disciplines - How AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity actually rely on search engines - The rise of AI SEO tools and why many are just content scaling platforms - How misinformation around AI search is targeting CMOs and executives - Why backlinks still matter more than most people admit - What the Helpful Content Update really changed (and what it didn't) - Why some sites recovered from HCU and most did not - The problem with listicles, reviews, and fake product testing - Why authority is still largely domain-based and where it may change - How Google's AI Overviews are affecting clicks, impressions, and attribution - Why video and YouTube citations are increasing in AI search results - The role of PR, brand mentions, and reputation in AI visibility - Exact match domains, multi-domain strategies, and when they make sense - Why most "SEO is dead" claims ignore ad revenue and user behavior - What a realistic SEO strategy looks like going into 2026 Platforms and ecosystems discussed: - Google search, AI Overviews, and AI Mode - Reddit and the current spam problem - Quora and declining result quality - HubSpot as a case study in topical drift - YouTube, short-form video, and user-generated content in search Who this episode is for: - SEOs working in-house or agency-side - CMOs and marketing leaders evaluating AI search strategies - Founders and operators relying on organic search for growth - Anyone trying to separate real search changes from marketing noise This is not an episode about shortcuts or trends. It's a grounded discussion about how search actually works today, why Google still matters, and how to avoid strategies that damage long-term visibility. Thanks for listening and watching, and happy holidays. ⭐️ David Quaid on 𝕏 - https://x.com/DavidGQuaid ⭐️ David Quaid on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidquaid/ ⭐️ David Quaid's agency - https://primaryposition.com/ ⭐️ Gagan Ghotra on 𝕏 - https://x.com/gaganghotra_ ⭐️ Gagan Ghotra on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gagan-ghotra/ ⭐️ Gagan Ghotra's website - https://gaganghotra.com/ ⭐️ Harpreet Singh's Personal Site - https://harpsdigital.com ⭐️ Harpreet on X - https://x.com/harpreetchatha_ ⭐️ Harpreet's Newsletter - https://seoespresso.com ⭐️ Harpreet on LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/harpreetsingh8/ ⭐️ Harpreet on TikTok - https://tiktok.com/@seoharp ⭐️ Harpreet on YouTube - https://youtube.com/@harpsdigital 💎 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 and Excitement 00:13 SEO and Digital Marketing Surprises of 2025 00:30 Disinformation Campaigns in SEO 01:53 Generative Engine Optimization vs. Traditional SEO 02:27 Spam and AI Content Detection 03:12 Partnership Requests and AI SEO Tools 04:00 Confusion and Disinformation in SEO 08:43 Impact of AI on SEO Strategies 24:28 Authority and Topical Relevance in SEO 39:50 Video Content and SEO 42:51 SEO Predictions for 2026 43:16 Contextually Relevant Content for Small Businesses 44:22 The Debate on Dwell Time and Content Length 45:30 The Skyscraper Technique and Content Efficiency 46:25 Google's Preference for Long-Form Content 46:51 The Role of Short-Form Content in SEO 47:44 Google's Content Agnosticism and Ranking Factors 53:00 The Impact of AI and LLMs on SEO 01:09:41 The Future of Web Design and User Interaction 01:18:48 The Role of Agents and Memory in AI 01:23:49 AI and SEO: The Changing Landscape 01:24:22 SEO Strategies for 2025 and Beyond 01:25:26 The Role of Marketing Teams in SEO 01:26:55 Exact Match Domains: Pros and Cons 01:36:35 The Importance of Backlinks in Modern SEO 01:43:10 The Impact of Google's Helpful Content Update 01:54:49 Future Predictions for SEO 01:59:24 Concluding Thoughts and Holiday Wishes The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #searchengineoptimization #digitalmarketing #generativeengineoptimization #answerengineoptimization

E902: A simple 5-minute SEO hack that can completely change how you build topical authority. David Quaid returns to the show to reveal how to use Google's "People Also Ask" feature to create high-relevance FAQ content - without paid tools, complex keyword research, or unnecessary schema. We also dig into: - How Google actually decides topical authority - Why search demand matters more than schema - When FAQ pages should be standalone vs accordions - How knowledge panels are triggered (and why most people misunderstand them) - A fast, repeatable process for turning PAA questions into ranking pages If you're struggling with keyword research, building authority in a niche, or figuring out what content Google actually wants - this episode gives you a practical shortcut you can use today. ⭐️ David Quaid on 𝕏 - https://x.com/DavidGQuaid ⭐️ David Quaid on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidquaid/ ⭐️ David Quaid's agency - https://primaryposition.com/ 💎 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 Welcome Back, David Quaid! 00:22 SEO Hack: Building Topical Authority 01:18 David's Knowledge Panel Journey 06:51 People Also Ask Hack: A Step-by-Step Guide 11:06 Schema and SEO: Myths and Realities 13:52 Structuring Your FAQ Content for SEO 15:22 Wrapping Up and What's Next The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #searchengineoptimization #seohacks #topicalauthorityseo #linkbuilding

E901: A blog post that ranked for zero keywords was lightly updated to make it look like it had been updated in the future.   No new sections. No URL changes. No internal linking push. No major rewrites. A short time later, the page began ranking for: - 14 keywords   - 5 page-one positions   - Multiple SERP features   Even more interesting: the Google search result itself displayed a future update date. Shaun Chojnacki joins the show to share one of the strangest real-world SEO experiments I've seen! We walk through exactly what was changed, what was not changed, and what this may reveal about how Google interprets freshness, relevance, and on-page signals.  What we cover in this episode - The original state of the blog post and how it wasn't ranking   - The exact changes made before rankings improved   - What "freshness" actually means in practice   - Why this was not a traditional content refresh   - How Google surfaced the future update date in the SERP   - Why topical authority mattered in this case   - The role of a single outbound link update   - What SEOs should not copy from this experiment   - Why most SEO best practices are rarely tested properly  Additional topics we discuss - AI Overviews and why social content is appearing in search results   - Why current AI SEO reporting tools are unreliable   - How YouTube videos, LinkedIn posts, and Reddit threads now rank   - Why generic, AI-written FAQs often hurt pages   - How Search Console data produces better FAQs than AI prompts   - Branded FAQs vs informational FAQs   - Niche-focused SEO agencies vs generalist agencies   - Long-term SEO strategy vs short-term tactics   - Why consistency still beats clever tricks over time   This episode is not a recommendation to manipulate publish dates or mislead users. It's a breakdown of a real test, real data, and real outcomes - and a reminder that Google often responds to signals in ways that are undocumented and unexpected. This is episode 901 of The Edward Show, a daily digital marketing podcast covering SEO, content, AI, and growth - published every day without missing an episode. Subscribe for daily discussions focused on real experiments, real data, and practical SEO insights. ⭐️ Shaun Savvy Wedding Venue Marketing - https://shaunsavvy.com/wedding-venue-marketing-company ⭐️ Shaun Chojnacki on LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/shaunsavvy ⭐️ Shaun's SEO Company in Buffalo, New York - https://shaunsavvy.com/services/buffalo-seo-company ⭐️ Shaun Chojnacki on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/shaunsavvy/  ⭐️ Get a Free Website Audit for Your Staffing Company From Shaun - [email protected] 💎 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 and Welcome 00:10 The Freshness Debate in SEO 00:25 Client Case Study: The Blog Experiment 01:24 Surprising Results 02:27 Technical Details and SEO Strategies 14:40 AI Overviews and Social Media Integration 37:19 Maximizing LinkedIn Impressions 38:25 Cross-Posting Strategies 39:00 Understanding LinkedIn's Algorithm 39:28 Achieving Impressive Growth 39:55 Content Repurposing Techniques 42:07 Building a Strong Team 43:38 Future Business Goals 44:51 SEO and Social Media Insights 51:58 Effective PR and SEO Tactics 01:02:22 Reddit and Alternative SEO Strategies 01:05:41 Long-Term SEO Success 01:09:15 Niche SEO for Wedding Venues 01:10:39 Final Thoughts and Farewell The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #searchengineoptimization #backlinks #seostrategy #generativeengineoptimization

E900: Most SEO agencies aren't just outdated - many knowingly sell tactics that no longer move rankings, traffic, or revenue. I'm joined by Jake Hundley, who has spent years testing SEO tactics in real-world environments and publishing findings that directly contradict common agency practices - including a large-scale study showing that geo-tagging photos does not meaningfully impact rankings. We break down why these myths persist, how agencies justify billing for low-impact work, and what actually drives results in modern SEO. This conversation focuses on applied SEO for local and service-based businesses, backed by observation, testing, and long-term performance - not theory or trend-chasing. What we cover - Why geo-tagging images and EXIF data don't meaningfully affect rankings - How and why agencies continue selling ineffective SEO tasks - The 80/20 rule of SEO and how most effort is misallocated - How doorway pages still "work" - and why they create long-term risk - How project-based pages outperform fake location pages - What Google actually responds to in local search - Why SEO fundamentals beat technical busywork - How brand demand and offline marketing influence organic visibility - Why most SEO case studies mislead more than they inform - How to build SEO assets that hold up over time Key takeaways - Many SEO services exist to justify retainers, not results - Clear structure and intent alignment outperform volume and automation - Long-term rankings come from serving demand, not manufacturing it Who this episode is for - SEO professionals tired of selling or defending low-value work - Agency owners who want sustainable client results - Local service businesses investing in organic growth - Anyone questioning widely accepted SEO "best practices" If you care about results that compound over time - not checklists, gimmicks, or shortcuts - this episode will resonate. ⭐️ Jake's Agency Discord - https://discord.gg/uvHRRRFVRD ⭐️ Jake's Podcast - The Agency Growth Podcast: https://everbrospodcast.com/ ⭐️ r/agency Subreddit - https://www.reddit.com/r/agency/ ⭐️ Jake Hundley on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jake.hundley.1 ⭐️ Jake Hundley on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-hundley/ ⭐️ Jake Hundley's agency - https://evergrowmarketing.com/ 💎 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 Welcome and Introduction 00:05 Debunking SEO Myths 01:47 The Impact of Basic SEO Practices 05:57 Avoiding Doorway Pages 10:30 Effective Use of Project Pages 13:47 Challenges in the Lawn Care Industry 14:54 The Role of AI in SEO 15:56 SEO Business Models and Client Acquisition 18:58 Long-Term SEO Strategies 33:50 Case Studies and Real-World Examples 41:53 The 80/20 Rule in SEO 43:20 Understanding H1 and H2 Structure 45:37 SEO Best Practices for Local Services 46:40 The Importance of Geo-Targeting in SEO 47:56 Personal Journey into SEO 51:53 SEO Strategies for Franchise Businesses 53:55 The Power of Branding in Marketing 01:07:42 Debunking SEO Myths and Misconceptions 01:24:58 Contemplating a Break and Team Expansion 01:25:10 Challenges of Hiring and Editing 01:25:46 Evolution of Podcast Production 01:26:54 Engagement and Content Strategy 01:27:50 Podcast Format and Audience Interaction 01:31:04 Team Dynamics and Remote Engagement 01:35:52 Podcast Purpose and Growth 01:39:59 Content Creation and Community Feedback 01:57:18 The Role of Teasers and Clips 02:00:21 AI in Marketing and Agency Operations 02:04:41 Spam and AI: A Personal Stance 02:05:51 The Value of Brand Equity 02:06:30 Short-Term Gains vs. Long-Term Success 02:07:43 The Influence of Social Media and Peer Pressure 02:10:34 Creating and Selling Courses: Challenges and Strategies 02:18:46 The Importance of Personal Branding 02:20:43 Podcasting: Building Connections and Authority 02:25:38 Balancing Time and Value in Consulting 02:31:09 Guest Vetting and Podcast Integrity 02:37:17 Conclusion and Final Thoughts The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #searchengineoptimization #localseo #agencygrowth #linkbuilding

E899: Breaking down how earned media actually works - and how brands, founders, and creators can get press, podcast interviews, and brand mentions without paying influencers or agencies thousands of dollars. I'm joined by Bridget Sicsko and Lydia Bagarozza from Visibility on Purpose. We go deep into what journalists, podcast hosts, and writers are really looking for, why most pitches fail, and how to position yourself so third parties want to talk about your brand. This is a practical conversation focused on execution, not theory. What we cover in this episode: - What earned media is and why it compounds across SEO, branding, and conversions - How to pitch journalists and podcast hosts the right way - The biggest mistakes people make when trying to get press coverage - Why press releases are often misunderstood - and when they actually make sense - Cold outreach vs inbound media opportunities - How to follow up without annoying writers or hosts - How to write better email subject lines for media pitches - Why relevance matters more than credentials - How to research writers before pitching them - When to use press releases vs direct outreach - How journalists really use platforms like HARO-style requests - The role of niche publications in building authority - How to use brand mentions to get more brand mentions - Turning one media win into long-term credibility - How podcasts fit into an earned media strategy - How AI tools can help with editing and clarity (without replacing human judgment) About Visibility on Purpose, Bridget & Lydia's PR firm: Visibility on Purpose is a PR consulting studio helping small business owners get seen, featured, and remembered. Founded in 2023 by Publicist Lydia Bagarozza and Speaker Bridget Aileen Sicsko, the studio bridges the gap between DIY PR and expensive agencies - giving founders the strategy they need to confidently manage their own visibility. Together, they're improving modern PR by giving brands industry tools and publicist-level insights to tell their own stories and attract meaningful press. ⭐️ Bridget & Lydia's free Get Featured Class - https://www.visibilityonpurpose.com/getfeatured ⭐️ Visibility on Purpose - https://www.visibilityonpurpose.com/ ⭐️ Visibility on Purpose on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/visibilityonpurpose/ ⭐️ Visibility on Purpose on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/visibilityonpurpose ⭐️ Visibility on Purpose on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@visibilityonpurpose ⭐️ Visibility on Purpose on Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/visibilityonpurpose 💎 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 Earned Media 00:53 Meet the Experts: Bridget and Lydia 04:59 Common Mistakes in PR Outreach 10:53 Effective PR Tools and AI Integration 14:35 Press Release Best Practices 22:01 Exploring PR Distribution Services 24:19 Success Stories with PR Newswire 27:14 Strategies for Effective Media Outreach 29:06 Leveraging Brand Mentions for Growth 31:41 Building Relationships with Journalists 35:12 Creative PR Tactics and Social Proof 42:38 Final Thoughts The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #publicrelations #earnedmedia101 #linkbuilding #backlinks

E898: I sit down with Derek, founder of NapLab, to break down how he built one of the strongest authority sites in a hyper-competitive affiliate niche - without gray-hat tactics, automation spam, or short-term SEO plays. NapLab ranks for over 103,000 keywords, earns hundreds of thousands of organic clicks per month, and consistently wins Google core updates in a space where most sites get wiped out. This is a deep, tactical conversation about long-term SEO, brand trust, content systems, information architecture, and link building that actually holds up over time. Topics covered: - How NapLab grew from early traction to dominating mattress SERPs - Why most affiliate review sites fail after Google updates - The exact content system NapLab uses (data-driven testing, long-form reviews, reuse loops) - How information architecture and subfolders were planned from day one - Why "best of" pages became NapLab's strongest traffic drivers - How NapLab approaches internal linking at scale - What changed after the March Google Core Algorithm Update - How brand searches and trust factor into modern rankings - Link building strategies that still work (and what NapLab avoids entirely) - Why disavowing bad links was the right call in one specific case - How NapLab thinks about LLMs, AI search, and future visibility - The role of transparency, disclosures, and user trust in SEO - Why slow, brick-by-brick SEO compounds while shortcuts collapse Who this episode is for: - SEO professionals building authority sites - Affiliate SEOs tired of volatility and churn-and-burn tactics - Founders who want durable organic traffic, not spikes - Anyone trying to survive (and win) Google core updates ⭐️ Derek Hales on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dhales/ ⭐️ NapLab - https://naplab.com/ ⭐️ NapLab's Best Mattress List - https://naplab.com/best-mattress/ ⭐️ NapLab's Mattress Finder Quiz - https://naplab.com/mattress-quiz/ (answer a few questions, get a personalized recommendation back within 24 hours) ⭐️ NapLab's Mattress Comparison Tool - https://naplab.com/mattress-comparisons/ (filter, sort, and compare all mattresses they've tested to date in a single place) 💎 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 NapLab's Insane SEO Success 01:08 Derek's Journey into SEO 03:04 Founding and Growing NapLab 06:20 SEO Strategies and Success 08:49 Challenges and Setbacks 11:06 NapLab's Content and Testing Process 25:47 Monetization and Transparency 31:22 Information Architecture and Best Practices 41:18 Ahrefs and Keyword Strategies 42:42 WordPress Plugins and Custom Code 45:21 The Importance of the Mattress Quiz 46:08 Team Growth and Roles 47:37 Social Media and Content Strategy 54:52 Link Building and SEO Tactics 01:14:42 AI and Automation in Content Creation 01:16:11 Conclusion and Final Thoughts The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #searchengineoptimization #affiliateseo #blogging #marketingsuccess

E897: Barry Schwartz (Search Engine Roundtable, Search Engine Land) and David Quaid join the show! We break down what SEO is turning into as we head toward 2026. We zero in on how Google search is changing with AI Mode and AI Overviews, why Reddit became such a dominant surface in the SERPs, what's happening with links and updates, and which fundamentals still hold up when attribution and visibility are getting harder to measure. This is a practical discussion about what's actually shifting, what's mostly noise, and what SEOs should stop chasing. Topics we cover - SEO in 2026 and how the job is changing - Google updates and why fewer are being confirmed - How updates are evaluated today versus earlier algorithm eras - Link spam in 2026 and how Google handles it now - Manual actions versus links simply not being counted - Why buying links can feel "safe" until it isn't - Why Reddit rose so quickly in search results - How parasite SEO cycles repeat across platforms - Whether Reddit can remain an SEO powerhouse through 2026 - The impact of low-moderation communities and automation - Writing for people versus writing for AI systems - When AI-friendly formatting conflicts with conversion - GEO versus SEO and where the confusion is coming from - Why SEO may remain the umbrella category - Measurement problems in AI-driven search - Why prompt data is unlikely to be fully visible - How reporting changes when clicks no longer match visibility - Whether AI Mode becomes the default Google experience - What this all means for small and new websites - Why bottom-of-funnel queries matter more than ever - HubSpot's traffic decline and the role of topical authority - Whether topical authority still matters in 2026 - Skills SEOs should focus on to stay relevant - Why critical thinking matters more than tactics - How to communicate SEO value with weaker attribution Key takeaways - Short-term SEO tactics tied to platform advantages repeat in cycles and eventually break. - Most "AI optimization" still depends on traditional search discovery and ranking. - Links may matter differently, but there is still no durable replacement signal. - The hardest part of SEO in 2026 may be measurement and explanation, not ranking. Guests - Barry Schwartz, Search Engine Roundtable and Search Engine Land - David Quaid, Primary Position ⭐️ Read Search Engine Roundtable: https://www.seroundtable.com/ ⭐️ Barry Schwartz on 𝕏: https://x.com/rustybrick ⭐️ Barry Schwartz on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rustybrick/ ⭐️ Barry Schwartz on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@rustybrick ⭐️ Barry Schwartz's agency: https://www.rustybrick.com/ ⭐️ David Quaid on 𝕏 - https://x.com/DavidGQuaid ⭐️ David Quaid on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidquaid/ ⭐️ David Quaid's agency - https://primaryposition.com/ 💎 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 the Guests 00:40 Barry Schwartz on Google Updates 02:24 David Quaid's Insights on SEO Trends 10:51 Reddit's Role in SEO 20:15 Writing for AI vs. Humans 32:21 Improving Video Production 32:38 Challenges with YouTube Growth 33:11 SEO Strategies and Video Content 36:26 AI's Impact on SEO 52:03 HubSpot's Organic Traffic Decline 54:34 Skills for Future SEOs 56:52 Predictions for 2026 01:02:13 Conclusion and Farewell The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #searchengineoptimization #digitalmarketing #linkbuilding #generativeengineoptimization

E896: I break down five practical moves that will make you a better marketer. These are things I personally do and use across my own sites, emails, and social channels. No theory. No motivation talk. Just tactics that actually move the needle. This is especially useful if you work in SEO, digital marketing, ecommerce, or content, but everything here applies broadly to anyone trying to grow traffic, trust, and conversions. What you'll learn: 🔥 The informational regex: ^(who|what|where|when|why|how|was|did|do|is|are|aren't|won't|does|if)[" "] 🔥 The ecommerce regex: ^(buy|order|purchase|get|best price|cheap|discount|deal|promo|offer|sale|where to buy|how much|cost of|price of)[" "] - How to use Google Search Console to find informational keywords your site is already showing up for - How to identify keywords ranking in positions 4 - 20 and turn them into traffic with simple on-page changes - When to expand an existing page vs creating a brand new page for a keyword - How adding a phone number to your site increases trust and conversions - How to add a phone number without exposing your real number or dealing with spam - Where to place a phone number on your site depending on your business model - How to find ecommerce and buyer-intent keywords using the same Google Search Console method - How to spot purchase-focused searches your site is already ranking for - How to improve Gmail open rates with a simple profile change almost no one is using - How to use a moving profile image or animated logo in Gmail - Why posting consistently on LinkedIn is one of the highest leverage marketing habits right now - How LinkedIn posts can rank on Google and drive compounding visibility - Why cross-posting the same content to LinkedIn, 𝕏, Facebook, and Threads works - Real examples of how fast impressions grow with consistent posting This is episode 896 of my daily digital marketing podcast. I've published an episode every single day for over two years, and everything I share here comes directly from what I'm testing and using in real time. 💎 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: 5 Tips to Become a Better Marketer 00:03 Tip 1: Google Search Console for Informational Keywords 02:18 Tip 2: Using Phone Numbers to Boost Customer Trust and Engagement 05:32 Tip 3: Finding and Targeting E-commerce Keywords 06:35 Tip 4: Increasing Gmail Open Rates with Animated Icons 09:21 Tip 5: Growing Your Presence on LinkedIn 12:01 Conclusion and Bonus Tip Number 6 The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #searchengineoptimization #digitalmarketing #ecommerce #marketingtactics

E895: Most people do blog SEO wrong. I walk you through the exact process I use doing traditional blog SEO with ChatGPT - step by step - and why you have to be careful if you don't want to damage your brand, your voice, or your credibility. I also explain why I personally focus on bottom-of-funnel SEO instead, and when blog SEO actually makes sense. What I cover in this: - How to reverse-engineer the top 3 ranking posts - A real example keyword for blog SEO - How to build a better outline using H2s and H3s - How to write a page title that stands out in search results - Where your keyword should appear (title, URL, H1, first sentence) - How to use ChatGPT to fill in the outline without publishing generic content - How to humanize AI writing and remove common AI tells - Why real photos matter and why AI images hurt trust - How to add your own experience so your content feels authentic - Why I don't run AI blog SEO on my own site - When blog SEO is fine and when it's a waste of time - Why bottom-of-funnel SEO is usually a better strategy 💎 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 Blog SEO 00:16 Choosing and Researching Keywords 00:37 Creating an Effective Outline 02:06 Humanizing AI-Generated Content 02:34 Editing and Finalizing Your Blog Post 03:49 Internal Linking Strategies 04:14 What I Focus On Instead 05:35 Wrapping The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #searchengineoptimization #digitalmarketing #backlinks #contentmarketing

E894: Click-through rate is now widely understood to be a ranking factor, but most people still underestimate how much it influences search results and how it actually works in practice. I break down real CTR experiments from Rand Fishkin, explain what they revealed about Google's ranking systems, and share why titles, branding, and user behavior matter far more than most SEOs are willing to admit. This is not theory. These are documented experiments, real outcomes, and practical takeaways you can apply to your own SEO efforts. What this covers: - Why Google measures and uses anything that improves search quality - Rand Fishkin's click-through rate experiments and what actually happened - How fast rankings can change when click behavior changes - Why Google publicly downplayed CTR for years - The role of page titles in competing for clicks in the SERPs - How brand familiarity increases trust and click probability - Why viral moments and brand searches can influence rankings - The risks of relying on shortcuts Google says "don't matter" - How thinking like Google makes you better at SEO Key takeaways: - Click-through rate is not optional if you want to compete in search - Titles are one of the highest-leverage SEO actions you control - Brand awareness directly impacts organic performance - User behavior data is too valuable for Google to ignore ⭐️ 21 SEO Experiments That Will Change The Way You Think About SEO (Forever) - https://seosherpa.com/seo-experiments/ ⭐️ My Exact Social Media Posting Strategy - https://edwardsturm.com/articles/social-media-posting-strategy/ 💎 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 Click-Through Rate Experiments 00:30 Google's Stance on Click-Through Rate 01:54 Rand Fishkin's First Experiment 04:19 Rand Fishkin's Second Experiment 05:34 Key Takeaways 06:41 Wrapping The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #searchengineoptimization #digitalmarketing #backlinks #performancemarketing