Optimize

Join Nate Matherson as he sits down with Matthew Kay for the fiftieth episode of the Optimize podcast. Matthew is a seasoned SEO consultant who brings a wealth of experience in technical SEO from his role at an agency focusing on B2B SaaS companies. In our episode today, Nate and Matthew explore essential SEO strategies shaping the industry. They discuss the significance of internal linking, the evolution of SEO practices, and the impact of Google’s algorithm updates on content strategy. Matthew also shares insights into the technical side of SEO, highlighting how small, strategic changes can significantly affect a site’s performance. Listen to Matthew share everything you need to know about effectively aligning SEO with business objectives, especially for B2B SaaS companies. Matthew gets tactical, sharing his approach to SEO audits, reporting, and the significance of creating high-quality, authoritative content. Closing the episode is our popular lightning round of questions!  Learn More About Matthew KayMatthew Kay has been building and scaling things on the internet for well over a decade. He has worked with a variety of fast growing companies over the years as a consultant and SEO agency side. While he is energized by all aspects of growth and marketing, in recent years, his deepest focus has been on technical SEO, analytics/reporting, and programmatic SEO. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewgkay/Twitter: https://twitter.com/matthewgkay?lang=enWebsite: https://matthewgkay.com/

Join Nate Matherson as he sits down with Ray Grieselhuber for the forty-ninth episode of the Optimize podcast. Ray is the CEO of DemandSphere, a Y Combinator-backed data and analytics platform built for e-commerce and programmatic SEO teams, both in-house and agency. With over 17 years of experience in building and scaling SEO solutions, he leads a team of experts in ML, AI, data engineering, and organic marketing In our episode today, Ray shares his insights on the evolving landscape of SERP features and their impact on user behavior, the challenges of Google’s focus on bigger brands in recent algorithm updates, and why he emphasizes the importance of holistic monitoring of the SERP for effective SEO strategies. Ray highlights the importance of SERP analytics in understanding both past and future trends in search. He also touches on the significance of user behavior metrics in Google's rankings and shares his thoughts on Google's evolving algorithm. Closing the episode is our popular lightning round of questions!   Learn More About Ray Grieselhuber Ray Grieselhuber is the CEO of DemandSphere, a Y Combinator-backed data and analytics platform built for ecommerce and programmatic SEO teams, both in-house and agency. With over 17 years experience in building and scaling SEO solutions, he leads a team of experts in ML / AI, data engineering, and organic marketing.Links:https://www.demandsphere.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/raygrieselhuberLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raygrieselhuber/

Join Nate Matherson as he sits down with Dave Rathmanner for the forty-eighth episode of the Optimize podcast. Dave is an experienced SEO consultant known for his deep insights into search engine algorithms and strategies. He is also an entrepreneur who is actively building a portfolio of websites across various niches, including the gambling sector. In today's episode, Nate and Dave explore the latest SEO challenges and updates, focusing particularly on the impact of recent Google algorithm changes on small and content-heavy sites. Dave shares his expertise on the struggles of smaller websites, especially those that rely heavily on organic traffic and monetize through display ads or affiliate links. Dave also touches on the broader implications of Google's shift towards evaluating content on a more granular, page-level basis, which was intended to assess the helpfulness of content more accurately. Despite these changes, Dave expresses skepticism about the effectiveness of this new approach, noting that recovery from penalties remains elusive for many. Throughout the discussion, Nate and Dave analyze various factors that could influence a site's standing with Google, from the nature of its content and its optimization strategies to the balance of ads and affiliate links. Closing the episode is our popular lightning round of questions! Learn More About Dave RathmannerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-rathmanner-23101a7a/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/daverathmanner Odds Assist: https://oddsassist.com/

Nate Matherson chats with Nile Frater on this episode of the Optimize podcast. Nile is the founder and CEO of Masse SEO, an agency which specializes in delivering high-scale content campaigns for fast-growing startups at Series A and beyond. He previously owned NoCode.Tech, which was acquired in 2022 and runs a micro private equity firm, Concrete Capital. Nile has an extensive background in both startups and banking. Today, they discuss the intricacies of building effective SEO programs from the ground up, enhancing content creation processes, and much more.Throughout the episode, Nile shares his insights on leveraging AI tools to overcome writer's block in the content creation process, while emphasizing the importance of human input to add value and insight beyond what AI can generate​​. He also discusses the rapid growth and scaling challenges at Masse SEO, including managing increasing client demands and maintaining content quality with a growing team​​.Nile advocates for a high-volume content strategy, explaining that more content increases the surface area for SEO success and allows for more experimentation and quicker results​​. He also touches on the competitive nature of SEO today, describing strategies for succeeding in high-competition niches by building comprehensive topical authority​​.Closing the episode is our popular lightning round of questions, where Nile provides quick insights into his personal experiences and preferences in SEO and content strategy​​.For more insights from Nile and to learn about MasseSEO, be sure to check out their website and follow Nile on his social platforms. Learn More About Nile FraterTwitter: https://twitter.com/Nile Masse SEO: https://www.masse.marketing/ 

Join Nate Matherson as he sits down with Dwayne Hogan for the forty-sixth episode of the Optimize podcast. Dwayne is a seasoned freelance SEO consultant with over 14 years of experience, including leadership roles with global brands. His Utah-based consultancy offers a deep dive into the evolving SEO landscape. In today's episode, Nate and Dwayne unpack the intricacies of content briefs and SEO strategies, including the complexities of Google's algorithm updates and the push toward generating genuinely helpful content. Dwayne shares his unique perspective on what makes content genuinely beneficial, stressing the importance of real-life examples and genuine expertise over superficial information. Dwayne outlines the steps he takes to craft a content brief that's not only efficient but packed with value, aimed at resonating well with both Google's algorithms and real-world users. The discussion goes beyond the basics, exploring the nuances of user engagement and the tactical use of AI in content creation, reflecting Dwayne's forward-thinking approach to SEO and content strategy. Rounding out the episode, Dwayne and Nate discuss the current trends and future directions of SEO, including the relevance of user engagement metrics and the practical use of AI in crafting content that stands out. Closing the episode is our popular lightning round of questions!Learn More About Dwayne HoganLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dwaynehogan/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/dwaynehogan SEOCopilot: https://seocopilot.io/

Join Nate Matherson as he sits down with Ben Goodey for the 45th episode of the Optimize podcast. Ben is the brain behind Goodey Marketing and the creator of the “How the f*ck” platform for SEO enthusiasts. In this episode, they dive into recent SEO turbulence, discussing algorithm updates, crafting effective bottom-of-funnel content, and the impact of LinkedIn on content marketing. Ben stumbled into the SEO world after initially eyeing a career in finance. He quickly recognized the potency of SEO in driving consistent, quality leads. He shares his journey from his accidental entry into marketing at a startup to developing his own SEO playbook, which he now applies to help SaaS and B2B brands thrive online. Ben stresses the importance of directly addressing user intent and providing clear, actionable insights in content creation. They also tackle the tricky business of navigating competitive SEO landscapes, like creating "best of" lists highlighting a brand’s unique strengths without disparaging competitors. Ben and Nate dissect the ongoing SEO challenges, like the flood of AI-generated content and the need for marketers to prioritize quality to stay ahead. They touch on the struggle for smaller players in an SEO game increasingly dominated by a few dominant websites and the dynamics between Google and platforms like Reddit. Closing the episode is our popular lightning round of questions! Learn More About Ben GoodeyLinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/benjamingoodey Twitter: https://twitter.com/BenGoodey How The F*ck: https://www.thefxck.com/

Join Nate Matherson as he sits down with Mordy Oberstein for the forty-fourth episode of the Optimize podcast. Mordy is currently the Head of SEO Brand at Wix and concurrently serves as a communications advisor for Semrush. He hosts the SERP's Up Podcast and the SEO Rant Podcast and co-hosts the Edge of Web's news podcast. Mordy speaks at SEO events worldwide and contributes to various SEO publications. During the episode, Mordy and Nate break down the March algorithm updates and provide insight into how to recover if your site was impacted. Mordy highlighted the importance of not sitting idle while the updates are settling out and getting ahead of any impacts by reviewing your site for potential weak points and addressing them. In this week’s deep dive, Mordy and Nate discuss the importance of transparency and originality in content in shaping the overall user experience for your visitors and demonstrating E-E-A-T. Mordy gives our listeners a robust dissection of his ideas for Google to release updates to improve the SERPs. The pair discuss the hypothetical implementation of an “originality score” and the potential benefits of cementing content with the highest authority into the top-ranking spots for six months to encourage content teams to write better content on topics with long tail keywords versus focusing solely on head terms. Rounding out the episode, Mordy shares his requirements for creating fantastic content, the power of the SEO community, and his frustrations with traditional publishers substituting a rigorous content strategy with affiliate marketing. Closing the episode is our popular lightning round of questions! For more information, please visit www.positional.com or email us at podcast@positional.com.Resources:Start a Free Trial of Positional Here: www.positional.comCheck-in with Nate on LinkedIn & TwitterCheck-in with Mordy on LinkedIn & Twitter or visit Wix's WebsiteImportant Links:Barry Schwartz SEO Memes Website

Join Nate Matherson as he sits down with Jack Chambers-Ward for the forty-third episode of the Optimize podcast. Jack is the Marketing and Partnerships Manager at UK-based digital agency Candour and hosts the Search With Candour podcast. In his career, Jack has worked primarily on the agency side in SEO and has been hosting and producing podcasts for more than 13 years, including the acclaimed movie podcast Sequelisers. During the episode, Jack and Nate dive into SEO hot takes and industry trends. The pair share their thoughts on various topics, from ranking factors to author bios and E-E-A-T to tasks that simply waste time. Jack gives our listeners controversial opinions and laughs as he shares tactical examples to succeed in 2024. In this week’s deep dive, Jack and Nate discuss the importance of conversion through content and how the results vary throughout the marketing funnel. Jack emphasizes offering diverse content formats like video, podcasts, and newsletters to cater to different audience preferences and enhance engagement. As a bonus, Jack and Nate share examples of opportunities for conversion and developing brand recognition throughout the funnel. Rounding out the episode, Jack shares his experience with podcasting as a channel (including monetization), SERP optimization strategies, and generating content that aligns with your audience’s needs and interests across content formats. Closing the episode is our popular lightning round of questions! For more information, please visit www.positional.com or email us at podcast@positional.com.Resources:Join Positional’s Private Beta Here: www.positional.comCheck-in with Nate on LinkedIn & TwitterCheck-in with Jack on LinkedIn & Twitter or visit the Candour WebsiteImportant Links:Subscribe to the Core Updates NewsletterListen to the Search with Candour Podcast Listen to Nate’s Episode of the Search with Candour PodcastListen to the Sequalizers Podcast

Join Nate Matherson as he sits down with Vince Nero for the forty-second episode of the Optimize podcast. Vince is the Director of Content Marketing at Buzzstream. He thinks content marketers should solve for users, not just Google. His previous work includes Siege Media, Homebuyer.com, and The Grit Group. During the episode, Vince and Nate discuss the importance of backlinks, how to craft a backlink campaign, and what strategies yield the best results in 2024. Vince gives our listeners tactical examples of developing strategic content for guest posting and reveals his tips for guest posting. In this week’s deep dive, Vince shares his views on backlink quality vs. quantity and where the SEO industry gets things wrong. Vince advocates for link-building activities that provide value to the user, and he emulates Google’s E-E-A-T process for evaluating which websites could be the best fit for your website to generate a link from. Listen to why the quantity of backlinks isn’t a KPI you should focus on. Rounding out the episode, Vince and Nate cover topics like the risks of buying backlinks, how organically created links diversify and de-risk your backlink profile, and how utilizing your own unique data to develop ‘Link Bait’ will outcompete AI-generated content in the SERPs. Closing the episode is our popular lightning round of questions! For more information, please visit www.positional.com or email us at podcast@positional.com.Resources:Join Positional’s Private Beta Here: www.positional.comCheck-in with Nate on LinkedIn & TwitterCheck-in with Vince on LinkedIn or visit the BuzzStream Website

Join Nate Matherson as he sits down with Brett Pharis for the forty-first episode of the Optimize podcast. Brett Pharis is a content and SEO expert with over 15 years of digital marketing experience across numerous niche consumer comparison websites. Brett is the Co-founder & CEO of Vital Brands, a digital media business focused on the health and wellness industry. Currently, Vital Brands is building GymBird.com, a fitness-focused brand determined to assist folks in taking the next step in their fitness journey. During the episode, Brett and Nate discuss the importance of developing a content strategy focused on your user and how to build content with first-hand user experience. Brett dissects one of his top-performing articles (linked below), demonstrating user value. In this week’s deep dive, Brett shares the importance of building a content strategy correctly from the start, addressing common pitfalls in the content production process while stressing the need for commitment and focus to build the depth required to generate user value. Brett outlines why efficiency is critical for content creation and emphasizes the importance of operational efficiency in content creation processes through streamlining workflows and leveraging automation tools where possible. Rounding out the episode, Brett and Nate cover topics like recovering from algorithm updates, indexing challenges, building multiple teams for various properties at once, and media industry dynamics. Closing the episode is our popular lightning round of questions! For more information, please visit www.positional.com or email us at podcast@positional.com.Resources:Join Positional’s Private Beta Here: www.positional.comCheck-in with Nate on LinkedIn & TwitterCheck-in with Brett on LinkedIn or visit the GymBird Website or Vital Brands Website Important Links:Orange Theory Review ArticleFollow Dwayne Hogan on LinkedIn

Join Nate Matherson as he sits down with Jesse McFarland for the fortieth episode of the Optimize podcast. Jesse is currently the CEO and Founder of SpearPoint Marketing and the Brands & Brews podcast host. Jesse is an SEO & Marketing leader with 15+ years of B2B, B2C, Legal, SaaS, Healthcare, & more. During the episode, Jesse and Nate break down various SEO strategies that are working and ones that should be avoided. Jesse shares the importance of aligning brand purpose, product, and audience with your SEO and content strategy and how this order of operations informs the content you should produce – not just blindly selecting keywords. In this week’s deep dive, listen to Jesse shares his experience of ‘humanizing’ AI-generated content and why you should value human-generated content before adding AI as a tool. As part of this conversation, Jesse outlines his workflows and editorial processes to take AI content and generate an E-E-A-T abiding ‘humanized’ version ready to publish. Rounding out the episode, Jesse and Nate cover topics like Technical SEO, site audits, link-building strategies that work (and don’t), and using LinkedIn to test or repurpose content. Closing the episode is our popular lightning round of questions! For more information, please visit www.positional.com or email us at podcast@positional.com.Resources:Join Positional’s Private Beta Here: www.positional.comCheck-in with Nate on LinkedIn & TwitterCheck-in with Jesse on LinkedIn or Twitter or His Website Important Links:SpearPoint AgencyBrands & Brews PodcastGreat Divide Brewing

Join Nate Matherson as he sits down with Alex Ross for the thirty-ninth episode of the Optimize podcast. Alex is currently the CEO of Inventing the Future of Humans Living with Plants at Greg, an app that helps people grow healthy plants at home and in the garden. Think AI--but for plant care. He was the former director of engineering at Tinder and the co-founder/COO of Enplug (acquired). During the episode, Alex discusses the importance of setting the bar for content high with the ability to put a smile on the reader’s face, how unique graphics and images enhance the content experience for the audience while boosting UX metrics, and Greg’s strategy to meet the customer where they’re most likely to convert. In this week’s deep dive, listen to Alex talk about Greg’s programmatic SEO, emphasizing the importance of having a database of original information. He shares insights into how Gregg leverages its plant database and user-generated content to enhance its SEO strategy and how they’re actively creating a content ‘moat’ to outcompete their competitors. Rounding out the episode, Alex and Nate cover topics like how Greg manages internal linking for 30k+ pages efficiently, the impact emojis can have within title tags on CTR, and why the complex reasoning in ChatGPT4 gets Alex excited about ramping up Greg’s programmatic SEO strategy. Closing the episode is our popular lightning round of questions! For more information, please visit www.positional.com or email us at podcast@positional.com. For more information, please visit www.positional.com or email us at podcast@positional.com.Resources:Join Positional’s Private Beta Here: www.positional.comCheck-in with Nate on LinkedIn & TwitterCheck-in with Alex on LinkedIn or Twitter or visit Greg at their Website 

Join Nate Matherson as he sits down with Charles Floate for the thirty-eighth episode of the Optimize podcast. Charles is an SEO expert, entrepreneur, and investor from the United Kingdom. He’s behind The God of SEO blog and runs a successful link-building agency. Charles is known for his somewhat controversial SEO strategies, tutorials, case studies, and talks. In our episode today, Nate and Charles explore topics we have yet to discuss on the Optimize podcast, including a mix of white hat, grey hat*, and black hat tactics*. During the episode, Charles discusses niche sites' challenges and opportunities, including decreased exit opportunities, algorithm updates, economic conditions, etc. Charles also speaks to applying AI content strategies within SEO (ex., Programmatic SEO), expressing concerns about the quality and potential risks of bulk-generated content for your blog. Listen to hear why he suggests new domains to mitigate client risks. In this week’s deep dive, listen to Charles share everything you need to know about Parasite SEO in 2024. Charles gets tactical, sharing multiple case studies on how it works, why it works, and what results have been achieved with these tactics. Rounding out the episode, Charles and Nate cover topics like the future value of backlinks, Google’s use and transition away from quality raters, and how AI-generated content affects competition in SEO and content marketing. Closing the episode is our popular lightning round of questions!  For more information, please visit www.positional.com or email us at podcast@positional.com.*Disclaimer from Positional: Google has published guidelines for acceptable practices for SEO. We recommend you review Google’s Search Essentials Guide to understand those guidelines before implementing some of the tactics discussed in this episode.Resources:Join Positional’s Private Beta Here: www.positional.comCheck-in with Nate on LinkedIn & TwitterCheck-in with Charles on LinkedIn or Twitter or his Website or Training Website

Join Nate Matherson as he sits down with Jeannie Assimos for the thirty-seventh episode of the Optimize podcast. Jeannie is currently the Head of Content/Communications for Way.com. She is a content marketing expert with 20+ years of experience leading teams as the VP of Content for eHarmony (perfect for our Valentine's Day episode!) and the Managing Editor of Entertainment Tonight. In our episode today, Nate and Jeannie talk about the elements that go into crafting great content that performs well in the SERPs and collects backlinks organically or through content syndication. During the episode, Jeannie and Nate emphasize the importance of authenticity in content creation, highlighting the unique value of human-generated content and how it can boost your conversion rate. This tactic was especially beneficial for Jeannie at eHarmony, where she built a team of freelancers with genuine lived experiences to write dating content from various points of view. In this week’s deep dive, listen to Jeannie share how she’s taken Way.com from 40k monthly visitors to over 1.6 million monthly visitors! She shares how she’s scaled her team, how they conduct keyword research, the content motion required to publish 300 - 400 blogs per month consistently, and how her team leverages data to drive the overall content strategy. Rounding out the episode, Jeannie and Nate cover topics like repurposing content, the role of graphics/visuals/videos, and the comparison of News SEO with Traditional SEO. Closing the episode is our popular lightning round of questions! For more information, please visit www.positional.com or email us at podcast@positional.com.Resources:Join Positional’s Private Beta Here: www.positional.comCheck-in with Nate on LinkedIn & TwitterCheck-in with Jeannie on LinkedIn or Website

Join Nate Matherson as he sits down with Cyrus Shepard for the thirty-sixth episode of the Optimize podcast. Cyrus works as an SEO and online marketer. As an early and long-time employee of Moz, he built his reputation by studying Google’s algorithm, researching and publishing scientific SEO studies, helping brands and businesses improve online visibility, and continually teaching new SEO best practices to others. Today, he runs Zyppy, an SEO software company that makes expert techniques available to everyone. In our episode today, Nate and Cyrus dive into Google’s Antitrust lawsuit and the hidden insights our audience should consider to improve their SEO and content marketing efforts. Listen to Cyrus speak on how user engagement data drives a house of cards (Google’s algorithm). During the episode, Cyrus and Nate discuss the process of becoming a Google Quality Rater and why mobile optimization is critical. As a bonus for our listeners, Cyrus shares his results from applying what he’s learned to his site and his optimization priority for 2024. In this week’s deep dive, Cyrus and Nate visit one of our more popular topics: internal linking strategies. Cyrus references his research and gives our audience critical insights into the results of what’s working and how to craft the perfect internal links strategy to succeed in 2024. Rounding out the episode, Cyrus covers ranking factors, domain authority, user interaction signals, and his predictions for 2024, including the upcoming surge in AI-generated content. Closing the episode is our popular lightning round of questions! For more information, please visit www.positional.com or email us at podcast@positional.com.Resources:Join Positional’s Private Beta Here: www.positional.comCheck-in with Nate on LinkedIn & TwitterCheck-in with Cyrus on LinkedIn & Twitter & WebsiteImportant Links:Internal Link Case StudySelective Link Priority Study

Join Nate Matherson as he sits down with Noah Kagan for the thirty-fifth episode of the Optimize podcast. Noah likely needs no introduction, but know that Noah is the CEO of AppSumo, one of the earliest members of the Facebook go-to-market team, the fourth employee at Mint, and the author of a new book, Million Dollar Weekend. In our episode today, Noah and Nate discuss the importance of knowing when to take your product to market, how to iterate and validate ideas quickly, and the process of building habits that lead to great results. During the episode, Nate and Noah review AppSumo’s journey from a $12 sale on a weekend to over $80M in revenue in 2023. The pair also reflect on how Noah’s career journey led him to shift from an employee mindset to an entrepreneurial one. In this week’s deep dive, Noah and Nate use Positional as a case study for transforming your product from a hands-on beta phase into a self-serve product. Listen to hear insightful tips on how Nate knows it’s the right time and how you can evaluate transitioning your business from beta to public, too. Rounding out the episode, Noah covers the challenges and strategies in creating products and companies that people want to engage with. He shares some of the early warning signs he’s experienced and the pitfalls of following processes that contradict your company’s best interests. Closing the episode is our popular lightning round of questions! For more information, please visit www.positional.com or email us at podcast@positional.com.Resources:Join Positional’s Private Beta Here: www.positional.comCheck-in with Nate on LinkedIn & TwitterCheck-in with Noah on LinkedIn & Twitter & YouTube & WebsiteImportant Links:Buy Million Dollar Weekend Here

Join Nate Matherson as he sits down with Jeremy Galante for the thirty-fourth episode of the Optimize podcast. Jeremy is currently the SEO Lead at ClickUp, where he applies his passion for optimization to both organic search and project workflows. Since joining as the first full-time SEO hire in 2020, ClickUp has grown search traffic by over 2 million monthly visitors. With ten years in the industry, Jeremy‘s previous experiences span from agency director to adjunct marketing instructor. In our episode today, Jeremy and Nate discuss content strategy and optimization, including crafting the perfect listicle, managing in-context internal linking, creating quality content, optimizing content, and more! During the episode, Nate and Jeremy review ClickUp’s journey to over 2 million monthly visitors, revealing strategies you can utilize on your sites. In this week’s deep dive, Jeremy and Nate break down content formats, including listicles and roundups like best-of lists, product/service alternatives, and comparison pages. Listen to Jeremy’s “Surround Sound” strategy for building backlinks, influencing LLMs, developing brand authority, and expanding your audience. Rounding out the episode, Jeremy covers the challenges and strategies in scaling content channels, emphasizing the need for a solid workflow with checks to ensure quality control. Closing out the episode is our popular lightning round of questions! For more information, please visit www.positional.com or email us at podcast@positional.com.Resources:Join Positional’s Private Beta Here: www.positional.comCheck-in with Nate on LinkedIn & TwitterCheck-in with Jeremy on LinkedIn & Twitter & ClickUp's Website & Jeremy's Website

Join Nate Matherson as he sits down with Jason Hennessey for the thirty-third episode of the Optimize podcast. Jason is a multifaceted entrepreneur, renowned SEO expert, author, podcast host, U.S.A.F. Veteran, and dynamic speaker known for reverse-engineering the Google algorithm since 2001. As the CEO of Hennessey Digital since 2015, he has grown the agency into a multi-million-dollar enterprise, recognized on the Inc. 5000 list for five years, including 2023. He is also an acclaimed author of two Amazon bestsellers, including “Legal SEO” and "Honest SEO." In our episode today, Jason and Nate discuss a new topic for the Optimize Podcast, Legal SEO, but don’t skip this episode, as the tips and strategies he shares apply to all industries. During the episode, Nate and Jason break down the evolution of organic search from the 2000s to the present, algorithm updates, backlink strategies, agency building, communication, and more! In this week’s deep dive, Jason shares his experience with Legal SEO, offering insights into the competitive and heavily regulated industry. Listen to his strategies for building backlinks and executing content strategies, developing brand identity, and the importance of maintaining your company’s or law firm’s reputation. Rounding out the episode, Jason and Nate discuss building an agency from the ground up, hiring A-players, and managing communication and expectations in client-agency relationships. Closing out the episode is our popular lightning round of questions! For more information, please visit www.positional.com or email us at podcast@positional.com.Resources:Join Positional’s Private Beta Here: www.positional.comCheck-in with Nate on LinkedIn & TwitterCheck-in with Jason on LinkedIn & Twitter & Agency WebsiteBuy Jason's Books: Honest SEO & Legal SEO

Join Nate Matherson as he sits down with Ann Smarty for the thirty-second episode of the Optimize podcast. Ann is an SEO expert with industry experience since 2005 and is the founder of Smarty Marketing, a client-first boutique SEO agency based in New York. She was the former editor-in-chief of Search Engine Journal, a frequent contributor to prominent search and social blogs like Small Business Trends and Mashable, and a speaker at Pubcon and other digital marketing events. In our episode today, Ann and I discuss organic search and AI predictions for 2024, her recent report, The State of The Link Building Industry 2023, helpful content, algorithm updates, and more! During the episode, Ann shares her experience with Google’s algorithm evolution over the years and how user experience metrics signal Google that your website’s content is valuable to the readers and should rank highly. In this week’s deep dive, Ann shares her thoughts on the challenges agencies face in acquiring clients and the problems clients face when choosing an agency. Listen to her thoughts on the importance of experience and longevity when selecting an SEO agency, why you should educate yourself before your first meeting, and how shortcuts and hype can backfire. Rounding out the episode, Ann and Nate discuss link-building strategies, topical authority, creating link bait, and reputation management. Closing out the episode is our popular lightning round of questions! For more information, please visit www.positional.com or email us at podcast@positional.com.Resources:Join Positional’s Private Beta Here: www.positional.comCheck-in with Nate on LinkedIn & TwitterCheck-in with Ann on LinkedIn & Twitter & Agency WebsiteThe State of The Link Building Industry 2023 Report

Join Nate Matherson as he sits down with Ty Magnin for the thirty-first episode of the Optimize podcast. Ty is the CEO of Animalz, a content marketing agency for enterprise companies, startups, and VC firms. He previously led marketing teams at Emotive, UiPath, and Appcues. In our episode today, Ty and Nate review a turbulent 2023 for content marketing agencies and envision what’s ahead for the industry in 2024. During the episode, Ty shares his experience experimenting with AI-generated content, the results, and his lingering skepticism of the efficacy of AI-generated content in SEO channels in 2024. In this week’s deep dive, Ty shares his thoughts on the importance of ROI tracking and how diversifying content channels, content adaptability, and distribution play a crucial role in performance metrics. Rounding out the episode, Ty and Nate discuss SGE, user search behavior, and other predictions for content marketing in 2024. Closing out the episode is our popular lightning round of questions! For more information, please visit www.positional.com or email us at podcast@positional.com.Resources:Join Positional’s Private Beta Here: www.positional.comCheck-in with Nate on LinkedIn & TwitterCheck-in with Ty on LinkedIn & Twitter