The Edward Show

E969: How digital PR, brand mentions, and earned media are becoming some of the most important drivers of visibility across Google and AI search. Chris Panteli of Linkifi returns to the show! We go deep into how journalists actually source experts, why most HARO and expert quote pitches fail, and how real media coverage influences rankings, reputation, and LLM visibility - even when there is no backlink. Chris also breaks down the systems his agency uses to build relationships with journalists, filter opportunities at scale, and turn a single media placement into long-term coverage across multiple publications. This is a practical conversation focused on what is working right now - not recycled link building advice and not tactics that stopped working years ago. Topics covered: - Why brand mentions are becoming as powerful as backlinks for AI search visibility - How Google, ChatGPT, and Perplexity build trust through consensus and coverage - The difference between SEO digital PR and authority PR - How expert quotes lead to podcast features, op-eds, and major media placements - Mistakes that get HARO pitches ignored or journalists to blacklist sources - Why fake AI personas are creating new verification challenges for journalists - How to build journalist relationships instead of chasing one-off placements - Using CRMs, alerts, and follow-ups to turn one mention into ongoing coverage - Real examples of coverage leading to ChatGPT referrals and organic growth - How agencies use AI to categorize journalist requests and filter opportunities - Why smaller niche publications can be more valuable than high-DR general sites - The role of reputation management in modern SEO and AI visibility - How local businesses can earn press coverage through newsjacking and local expertise - Practical ways to pitch local journalists even if you are not a PR professional Chris also shares how his team uses custom systems to monitor journalist requests, manage outreach without spamming, and maintain quality while scaling expert quote placement. For local businesses, consultants, and founders, the discussion around local media coverage and news-driven outreach offers one of the most overlooked opportunities to build authority, trust, and conversions. If you are trying to understand how visibility works beyond traditional backlinks - especially inside AI systems - this episode provides a clear look at the mechanics behind earned media and authority building. ⭐️ Contact Christopher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-panteli/ ⭐️ Christopher Panteli on 𝕏: https://x.com/Linkifi_ ⭐️ Christopher Panteli's agency: https://www.linkifi.io/ ⭐️ Tier-one media coverage cheat sheet: https://go.linkifi.io/press-coverage-cheat-sheet-page 💎 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 Agency Growth Since HCU 01:06 What Makes Linkifi Different 02:15 Two Core Offerings 05:09 Brand Mentions And AI Visibility 10:26 Reputation Management Demand 13:01 Do Links Move Rankings 15:44 Case Studies And LLM Referrals 16:33 Best Platforms For Expert Quotes 17:32 Stop Using AI Spam Responses 20:57 Deplatforming To Direct Journalist Relationships 22:28 Systematizing Journalist Relationships 25:43 Team Size And Hiring For PR Talent 27:42 Gifting Journalists Ethics And Ideas 31:20 Biggest HARO Mistakes Authenticity 38:57 Read The Query And Match Bias 43:24 Custom GPTs For Client Compliance 44:17 Digital PR Versus Link Building 46:34 Landing Tier One Features Case Study 49:51 Follow Up Cadence And CRM 53:14 AI Filtering And Airtable Workflow 58:16 Reddit And Blacklists For Quality 01:03:52 Hyperlocal PR And Newsjacking 01:15:11 Press Releases And Pitch Quality 01:17:34 Wrap Up And Where To Find Chris The Edward Show. The #1 search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #searchengineoptimization #linkbuilding #backlinks #publicrelations

E968: What it actually looks like to get leads from ChatGPT and other AI platforms as a local business. Blair Witkowski joins the show! Blair has been doing SEO for nearly 20 years and runs multiple agencies focused on home services, including garage doors, gutters, and accessibility remodeling. In this conversation, he walks through the exact process his team is using to increase AI visibility, generate recommendations inside ChatGPT, and turn that visibility into real customers. We go beyond theory and look at real examples, including before-and-after visibility improvements, how FAQ silos are being built, and the role local mentions and indexing play in getting discovered by AI systems. This episode also explores the human side of agency work - communication, onboarding, outreach, and why hands-on relationship building still matters more than automation. Topics covered: - How local businesses are starting to receive leads directly from ChatGPT - Turning AI prompt research into structured FAQ silo pages - Using AI visibility tracking tools to identify gaps and opportunities - Why indexing and AI platform submission may accelerate discovery - The role of internal linking and topical authority in AI recommendations - How FAQ content can strengthen service and location pages - Building local mentions through real partnerships and content swaps - The importance of press releases, citations, and entity signals - Using micro-sites and exact-match domains in competitive markets - Outreach strategies that still work, including cold email and phone calls - How onboarding and communication impact client retention more than rankings - Practical examples of AI prompts leading to business exposure and leads If you work with local businesses, run an agency, or are trying to understand how AI is changing search and discovery, this conversation offers a grounded look at what is working right now. ⭐️ Blair Witkowski's Personal Site - https://blairwitkowski.com/ ⭐️ Blair Witkowski's SEO Agency - https://coastalmarketingstrategies.com/ ⭐️ Blair Witkowski on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@TheGarageDoorPodcast ⭐️ Blair Witkowski on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/blairwitkowski/ ⭐️ Blair Witkowski on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/blairwitkowski/ 💎 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 intro 00:33 Blair's SEO background 01:30 Why AI visibility matters 02:15 Splash Dash overview 04:21 Finding missed prompts 05:38 Turning prompts into FAQs 08:57 Silo and interlink setup 11:16 Indexing and LLM seeding 20:14 Links and press releases 21:35 Testing in Gemini 24:00 Live nonbranded example 25:08 Mini Golf Page proof 26:20 Testing Escape Room prompts 28:21 Perplexity Search Breakdown 29:51 FAQ Linking Strategy 30:46 Interlinking Without Overdoing 32:51 Microsites and Exact Match Domains 34:19 Niche Focus and Client Results 36:08 Onboarding and Client Empathy 38:29 Local Mentions via Realtors 41:02 Cold Outreach That Works 45:17 Phone Calls and Hand Raise Sales 47:12 Wrap Up and Where to Find The Edward Show. The #1 search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #searchengineoptimization #localseo #generativeengineoptimization #answerengineoptimization

E967: What 130,000 A/B tests reveal about why websites fail to convert - even when they look polished and professional. Sahil Patel, CEO of Spiralyze, joins the show. We talk through the most common CRO mistakes companies make across SaaS, B2B, and service businesses, including why stock photos reduce conversions, how landing pages lose high-intent buyers, and what small teams can do immediately to improve results without expensive tools. Sahil also explains practical testing frameworks, real case studies, and counterintuitive lessons from years of running experiments on high-traffic websites. If you get traffic but struggle to turn that traffic into demos, leads, or revenue, this conversation focuses on the fundamentals that actually move the needle. Topics covered: - Why stock photos consistently lower conversion rates - The "one-second test" to diagnose weak homepages - Hook → mirror → ladder messaging and how it applies to SEO and ads - Why video often cannibalizes conversions in the hero section - How to design landing pages for high-intent visitors - Email + CTA technique and commitment escalation psychology - The mistake of optimizing for low-intent users - CRO experiments that produced surprising results - Why most companies run tests that are too small to matter - Simple CRO improvements that don't require testing software - Social proof strategies that actually increase trust - Where animation hurts conversion and when it can help - CRO tools startups can use to run experiments themselves We also discuss how sales friction impacts conversion, why buyers don't want to be reminded they're entering a sales process, and how companies unintentionally create barriers for ready-to-buy customers. ⭐️ Sahil Patel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sahilanamipatel/ ⭐️ Sahil Patel's agency, Spiralyze: https://www.spiralyze.com/ ⭐️ Sahil Patel on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-M25FDI8NwI1pj_UxrYzHQ ⭐️ Playlist for CRO Crimes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhH2EfUApERQNovfcPen5zv9H299xthPU&si=nbdNXNrtPtwqViT0 💎 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 CRO Testing Credibility 00:15 Show the Product 01:24 Car Ad Stock Photo Analogy 03:24 Data on Stock Photos 04:30 SEO Landing Page Mistakes 06:38 One Second Test 09:53 Hook Mirror Ladder 14:05 Video Kills Conversions 18:13 VSL Placement Debate 25:54 Email Plus CTA Trick 28:45 Email First Demo CTA 29:34 Nurture Or Remarketing 30:28 Sales Led Vs Product Led 31:43 Stop Forcing Human Calls 34:10 Optimize For High Intent 40:05 Big Swing CRO Testing 44:40 Tools And Low Hanging Fruit 49:11 Service Fusion Case Study 51:45 Social Proof That Works 55:01 Wrap Up The Edward Show. The #1 digital marketing podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #conversionrateoptimization #landingpageoptimization #growthmarketing #digitalmarketing

E966: I sit down with James Owen, an SEO professional with nearly two decades of hands-on experience across some of the most competitive industries on the internet. James shares how he went from learning SEO on online dating websites in the late 2000s to working in iGaming, travel, eCommerce, and eventually building and scaling his own agency. The conversation explores what has changed in SEO over the past 19 years, what tactics no longer work, and the strategies that continue to drive results today. The discussion goes deep into content clustering, link acquisition, AI visibility, listicle strategies, and how agencies operate behind the scenes when managing campaigns in high-competition niches like CBD, casinos, and SaaS. This episode is especially useful for founders, marketers, and SEOs who want a realistic view of modern search - including how AI overviews and large language models are reshaping strategy. Topics covered: - How James accidentally got into SEO and what early search engine optimization looked like in 2007 - Lessons from working in iGaming and other highly competitive verticals - Why content clustering remains one of the most reliable SEO frameworks - How to structure service pages, listicles, and long-form guides for topical authority - The real role of link velocity in competitive niches - Practical blogger outreach advice for people building links without an agency - The decline of tactics like expired domain authority passing and aggressive paid linking - Why self-promotional listicles work right now - and why they may not last - How to increase brand visibility inside AI overviews and large language models - The importance of being cited across listicles, review content, and external sources - Internal navigation, crawl behavior, and insights from log file analysis - What James would do if he had to grow a brand new SaaS from scratch with limited budget James also explains how agencies systematize outreach, manage link quality at scale, and build internal tooling to track AI visibility gaps and competitive positioning. If you are trying to understand what actually moves rankings today - beyond surface-level advice - this conversation offers practical insight from nearly two decades of real-world SEO experience. ⭐️ Click Intelligence UK Website: https://www.clickintelligence.co.uk/ ⭐️ Click Insights Global Website: https://insights.clickintelligence.com/ ⭐️ James Owen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesowenseo/ 💎 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 SEO Origin Story 03:27 Building Click Intelligence Domains 06:08 Merging UK and US Sites 08:09 Winning Competitive Niches 13:15 Content Clustering Explained 16:36 New Pages vs Existing 20:15 Epic Guides and Conversions 22:32 Link Building Playbook 28:25 Blogger Outreach DIY 34:44 Agency Systems and Automation 39:27 Old Tactics That Died 50:38 Expired Domains Today 54:39 Self Promotional Listicles 57:12 Getting Cited by LLMs 01:01:51 SEO Basics and Navigation 01:08:33 Hotels.com SEO Lessons 01:10:46 Six Month SaaS Plan 01:15:41 Wrap Up The Edward Show. The #1 search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #searchengineoptimization #seo #digitalmarketing #searchmarketing

E965: If you can read the minds of your searchers, SEO becomes much simpler and much more profitable. I break down what it actually means to understand keyword intent - and why most people get it wrong. When you misread intent, you create the wrong type of page, attract the wrong traffic, and wonder why nothing converts. When you understand intent correctly, you: - Create less content - Rank more strategically - Increase click-through rates - Reduce pogo sticking - Build brand trust - Convert more visitors into customers I walk through two real keyword examples and break down exactly how I would approach them. Example 1: "voice notes for dentists" This keyword looks simple, but the intent is highly specific. I explain: - Who is actually searching it - Where they are in the funnel - Why this should NOT be a blog post - What kind of page converts best - How to structure the page above the fold - How SaaS companies, affiliates, and resource sites should approach it Example 2: "best materials for coffee mugs" This keyword is very different. I explain: - Why this is top of funnel - What searchers are worried about - Why this should be educational content - How to structure the post with a strong TLDR - Who should (and shouldn't) target it - How to move readers into your funnel without forcing conversions The goal of this episode is simple: Stop spinning your wheels creating content that will never convert. When you understand whether a keyword requires: - A conversion-focused landing page - A blog post - A product page - A video - Or something else entirely You save time, resources, and effort - and you make more money from the same traffic. If you found this helpful, subscribe for daily SEO breakdowns. 💎 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 Why Intent Matters 01:04 Setup and Examples 01:39 Voice Notes for Dentists 03:18 Building the Right Page 05:34 Who Should Target It 07:10 Best Materials for Coffee Mugs 08:40 Content Strategy and Targeting 10:22 Wrap Up The Edward Show. The #1 search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ Edward Sturm on Grokipedia - https://grokipedia.com/page/Edward_Sturm #searchengineoptimization #seo #digitalmarketing #searchmarketing

E964: How I approach keyword research and why I believe it is one of the most valuable skills in SEO. A lot of people try to automate keyword research or skip the manual work of looking through search results. That is a mistake. When you manually explore keywords and study the SERPs, you learn how people actually search, what language they use, and where real opportunities exist. This focuses on finding low-competition keywords that are closer to the bottom of the funnel - the kinds of searches where people already know what they want and are actively looking for a solution. I explain how I identify under-targeted keywords, how I evaluate search results, and how keyword research helps shape not just content, but also product positioning and messaging. What you'll learn: - How to use competitor rankings to discover relevant keyword opportunities - Why bottom-of-funnel keywords are often easier to rank for and more valuable - What to look for in SERPs to identify weak competition - How missing keywords in page titles and URL slugs signal opportunity - How to use Google Search Console to uncover keywords you are not properly targeting - A simple way to generate starting keyword ideas when you feel stuck - How to evaluate domain authority and relevance when judging ranking difficulty - Why thin content and weak search intent coverage create ranking openings - How keyword research helps you understand customer language and market demand - Why manually reviewing SERPs gives insights that automation misses I also talk about how keyword research can make a niche feel much more attainable than it initially appears, and how consistently targeting smaller, relevant keywords builds the foundation needed to compete for larger terms over 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 Benefits of Keyword Research 01:29 Start With What's Working 02:47 Prioritize Bottom-of-Funnel 03:14 Seed Keywords 04:49 Mine Google Search Console 05:11 The "Diabolical" Move 06:17 SERP Checklist 07:37 Beat Thin & Irrelevant Pages 09:45 Don't Fully Automate 10:33 Wrap-Up The Edward Show. The #1 search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ Edward Sturm on Grokipedia - https://grokipedia.com/page/Edward_Sturm #searchengineoptimization #seo #digitalmarketing #searchmarketing

E963: I sit down with TJ Robertson to discuss how AI search experiences are influencing SEO strategy, content creation, and brand visibility. This conversation looks at how large language models, AI Overviews, and conversational search interfaces are becoming an additional layer of discovery that SEOs and founders need to understand. We break down practical tactics, areas of disagreement, real experiments, and the difference between being cited by AI systems and actually being recommended within responses. The discussion covers both opportunities and limitations, where AI introduces new dynamics, and how teams are adapting workflows. Topics covered: - The difference between ranking in search results and appearing inside AI-generated responses - Whether AI search experiences will complement or change traditional search behavior - Hyper-specific content and how AI systems interpret granular queries - The relationship between classic SEO fundamentals and generative engine optimization - Citation vs recommendation and why that distinction matters for conversions - Bottom-of-funnel content strategies that perform across both search and AI contexts - Parasite properties, secondary sites, and long-term visibility assets - Tracking prompts vs tracking keywords and the current limitations of measurement - Using branded content, FAQs, and reviews to shape how AI systems understand a company - Content templates that tend to get surfaced inside AI responses - Claude workflows and building a structured brand knowledge base for content creation - The role of directories, foundational links, and early authority when starting from zero - Where social platforms influence AI visibility and where they appear to have little impact - Publisher monetization challenges and potential adaptations as AI summaries become more common - Common misconceptions and speculative GEO advice circulating in the industry We also discuss failures, experiments that did not work, and areas where the industry still lacks clarity - including how much training data matters compared to real-time search retrieval. If you work in SEO, content, SaaS, or growth, this episode offers a practical look at what the generative engine optimization landscape looks like as it continues to evolve. If you enjoyed the episode, subscribe and follow the show. New episodes are published daily. ⭐️ TJ Robertson on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tj-robertson-seo/ ⭐️ TJ Robertson on 𝕏 - https://x.com/SeoRobertson/ ⭐️ TJ Robertson on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@TJRobertsonDigital ⭐️ TJ Robertson on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tjrobertsondigital/ ⭐️ TJ Robertson on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@tjrobertson52 ⭐️ TJ Robertson's Agency - https://tjrobertson.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 17 Years in SEO 00:29 Starting an AI-First SEO Agency 01:35 SEO vs GEO 03:20 Ranking in AI 04:54 How Fast to Publish 07:03 180-Day Playbook 09:15 Tracking LLM Visibility 10:09 Biggest LLM Citation Mistake 13:16 Parasite Properties & Second Sites 16:42 Content Templates That Win in LLMs 19:13 Fact Density, Brand Voice, & Brand Ambassadors 32:22 Reviews, Press Releases, and Branded Content 40:19 Branded FAQs 42:08 FAQ Hub Pages to Control the Narrative 44:02 AI SEO Opportunity 44:50 Setting Up Claude as a Brand Ambassador 46:50 Claude AI SEO Content Workflow 49:27 Images That Convert 54:20 Opus 4.6, Claude Cowork, and AI Agents 56:29 Vibe-Coded SaaS Strategy 59:36 The Skill SEOs Need 01:02:05 GEO Hot Takes: Schema Hype, "Post Everywhere," and Citation Obsession 01:05:31 Zero-Click Search 01:08:59 Rebuilding Visibility from Zero 01:13:22 Biggest SEO Failures & GEO Wins 01:19:41 Training Data vs Query Fan-Out 01:21:26 Wrap-Up The Edward Show. The #1 search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #generativeengineoptimization #answerengineoptimization #searchengineoptimization #digitalmarketing

E962: Keyword stuffing in Google Business Profile names is one of the most common - and frustrating - competitive tactics in local search. Claudia Tomina, founder of ReputationArm and a Google Product Expert, joins the show to answer a listener question about what business owners can realistically do when a competitor continues using a spammy business name despite edits, reports, and forum escalation. A listener named Arthur shares his experience dealing with a competitor that repeatedly reverts suggested edits, sees little movement through forum discussions, and appears to gain an advantage from a keyword-stuffed listing. Claudia explains what is actually allowed within Google's guidelines, why these situations are often more difficult to resolve than expected, and when it makes sense to stop fighting the listing and focus on strengthening your own positioning. The discussion also expands into broader Google Business Profile spam tactics, review strategy mistakes, suspension risks, and practical ways to build stronger long-term ranking signals without relying on short-term tactics. Topics covered: - When keyword stuffing is technically allowed due to DBAs and legal business names - Why suggested edits often get reverted and what signals Google looks at - The real effectiveness of the redress form and why escalation in the forum matters - Data from thousands of spam reports and what outcomes are most common - How repeated spam reporting can reduce trust in your own profile - The reality of fighting a single competitor versus a larger brand or franchise network - Common Google Business Profile spam issues business owners misunderstand - Suspension risks tied to false "business does not exist" reports - What documentation helps recover suspended listings faster - The driving directions ranking tactic and why it can hurt long term performance - How review velocity changes can negatively impact rankings - The importance of aligning services, menu items, categories, and reviews - A real example showing how a menu keyword change impacted rankings immediately - Frequent optimization mistakes including incorrect categories and inactive profile management - Why business name and category are still the strongest starting points - Review generation mistakes that trigger filtering or temporary blocks - Risks associated with QR code review campaigns and on-premise review spikes - How Google evaluates engagement before allowing reviews to stick - Practical ways to earn meaningful reviews without creating unnatural patterns Claudia also explains how local rankings are increasingly query-based, why top-layer profile signals matter more than review keywords alone, and how business owners should think about reputation management as part of their overall local search strategy. If you have a question you want answered on a future episode, reach out and it may be featured in an upcoming discussion. ⭐️ Claudia Tomina on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudia-tomina/ ⭐️ Claudia Tomina on 𝕏 - https://x.com/ClaudiaTomina ⭐️ ReputationArm - https://reputationarm.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 Countering Spammy Google Business Profile Tactics 00:10 Claudia Tomina's Background 00:51 Keyword-Stuffed Business Names That Keep Reverting 01:54 DBAs & Why Google Could Allow Spam 03:07 Redress Form vs Forum Escalation + Success Stats 04:58 When to Stop Fighting 07:24 Common GBP Spam Trends 11:51 Reputation Signals That Rank 15:43 Frequent GBP Mistakes + Quick Wins 17:12 Review Strategy 20:40 Getting More Meaningful Reviews 21:56 Wrap-Up The Edward Show. The #1 search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #localseo #googlebusinessprofile #searchengineoptimization #localmarketing

E961: I sit down with Mark Williams-Cook to break down what actually drives rankings today and what most of the industry gets wrong. We talk about real SEO experiments, insights from Google leaks and exploit data, how large language models affect search, and why brand signals, links, and user behavior matter more than most tactical checklists. Mark shares lessons from more than two decades in SEO, including agency work, affiliate sites, SaaS tools, and running ongoing experiments to test assumptions that are often repeated without evidence. This conversation covers both practical strategy and deeper search engine behavior, including how Google evaluates site quality, how ranking layers work, and why many commonly recommended tasks deliver little impact. Topics covered: - The difference between fast SEO tactics and long-term brand-driven SEO - Why link acquisition still moves rankings and how digital PR creates compounding authority - The concept of site quality score and how branded searches influence eligibility for SERP features - What Google exploit data revealed about ranking stages, query classification, and post-ranking adjustments - Why many SEO activities waste time, including excessive focus on meta descriptions and low-impact technical tasks - The role of user signals and how engagement data influences long-term visibility - AI content realities, including when generative AI helps and when it damages trust and performance - Programmatic SEO - what works, what fails, and how originality affects sustainability - Practical digital PR examples that generated large authority gains and traffic growth - How to approach SEO experiments without falling into confirmation bias - The relationship between backlinks, brand awareness, and search performance in the AI search era - Niche selection, competitive SERPs, and where opportunities still exist today - How Mark uses AI operationally for migrations, content workflows, and reactive PR monitoring - People Also Ask data and how it can be used to map search intent and improve topical coverage We also discuss SEO misconceptions around schema, LLM optimization, click-through rate manipulation, indexing behavior, and how Google's language differs from how SEOs interpret ranking factors. If you care about building durable search visibility rather than chasing short-lived tactics, this episode provides a grounded look at how search actually behaves in practice. And if you enjoyed this, consider subscribing and sharing it with someone working in SEO or growth. ⭐️ Mark Williams-Cook on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/markseo/ ⭐️ Mark Williams-Cook's agency - https://withcandour.co.uk/ ⭐️ AlsoAsked - https://alsoasked.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 Mark Williams-Cook's SEO Origin Story 04:16 Why Mark Runs SEO Experiments 08:21 LLMs, Common Crawl & LLMs.txt 12:32 Meta Descriptions, Enterprise SEO & What Moves the Needle 15:55 Links, PageRank & the Google Exploit 21:03 Site Quality Score Explained 24:22 Link Building That Scales 28:24 First 90/180 Days SEO Plan 37:29 Underrated SEO Signals 46:40 Programmatic SEO Done Right 51:39 How Mark Uses AI in SEO 57:04 AI Content, Accuracy & the 'AI Ick' 01:03:16 Picking Easy vs Hard Niches 01:11:29 Inside the Google Exploit 01:21:34 UX Signals & Core Web Vitals 01:24:57 More Crazy SEO Experiments 01:32:43 AlsoAsked Demo 01:39:00 Wrap-Up The Edward Show. The #1 search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ Edward Sturm on Grokipedia - https://grokipedia.com/page/Edward_Sturm #searchengineoptimization #seo #digitalmarketing #searchmarketing

E960: Brett Farmiloe returns to share his screen, breaking down a new AI feature from Featured and Help A Reporter Out (HARO) that helps you find and pitch the exact journalists who are most likely to cover your story. Instead of blasting press releases to massive media lists or relying on expensive distribution platforms, this tool analyzes journalist data, past articles, and active queries to help you identify the right reporter for your specific angle. We go deep into how it works, when it works best, and how to actually use it without damaging your credibility. What we cover: - How the AI matches your story or press release with relevant journalists - How Featured leverages the Help A Reporter Out (HARO) network of 33,000+ journalists - How to search for reporters based on specific perspectives or coverage angles - How to paste in a press release URL (or raw text) and get targeted pitch recommendations - Why most PR efforts fail because they prioritize volume over quality - The 2-3 hour HARO response window and whether being first actually matters - When being the last response can work in your favor - How journalists use AI detection and filtering tools to evaluate submissions - Why you should never copy-paste AI-generated pitches without editing - How to build long-term media relationships instead of spraying mass emails We also discuss: - Whether this is more effective than traditional press release distribution services like PR Newswire - How journalists filter AI-written responses - What the algorithm looks for when surfacing expert sources - How to think about credentials vs. relevance when responding to media requests - Why better targeting leads to better backlinks If you care about backlinks, earned media, and getting covered without wasting time, this episode breaks down a practical workflow you can implement immediately. Brett is the founder of Featured and owner of Help A Reporter Out. We discuss how the journalist directory works, how open queries are surfaced, and how AI is being used on both the PR and journalist side of the equation. This is a tactical episode focused on execution, not theory. ⭐️ Try it - https://featured.com/ ⭐️ Brett Farmiloe on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettfarmiloe/ 💎 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 Brett Featured Founder & HARO Owner 00:39 What "Find Journalists" Does 02:10 Live Demo: Pulling Journalists & Recent Articles 03:36 Finding Reporters by a Specific Point of View 05:45 Auto-Generated Pitch Emails 09:44 Super Effective Press Release Distribution 12:10 Stop Spraying Pitches 13:57 Finding Open & Past HARO Queries 16:25 Timing & Tactics 18:52 AI Sorting, AI-Detection Filters, One-Click Replies 20:44 What Gets Picked by Journalists 23:03 What's Next + Closing The Edward Show. The #1 search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ Edward Sturm on Grokipedia - https://grokipedia.com/page/Edward_Sturm #searchengineoptimization #linkbuilding #publicrelations #backlinks

E959: When traffic dips or stalls, should you refresh old content or publish something new? The answer isn't simple - and the SEO community is divided. I walk through real discussions, controversial takes, and practical examples from my own sites, including a case where republishing nearly identical content led to a number one ranking in under two weeks. We cover: - How to use Google Search Console to find keywords already ranking in positions 3-20 - Why optimizing existing content can drive faster gains than publishing new posts - The argument that "freshness" is often misunderstood in SEO - How topical authority affects pages that never ranked - When republishing under a new URL makes sense - Why internal linking structure matters more than total page count - How authority flows through a site - What pogo-sticking is and how it impacts rankings - How to reduce pogo-sticking by satisfying search intent faster - How to improve headings and keyword placement - How to add missing sections based on ranking data - How to improve click-through rate from the SERP - How to strengthen internal links to priority pages - How to improve readability and page experience I also share: - A real example of improving a competitive page over time until it ranked number one - A framework for deciding when to refresh versus when to create new content - How to think about ranking durability over years instead of short-term spikes If you've been publishing consistently but not seeing growth - or if you're unsure whether to update old posts or build new content - this episode gives you a structured way to decide based on data, authority, and search intent. ⭐️ Content refresh vs new content? - https://www.reddit.com/r/bigseo/comments/1qov6gy/content_refresh_vs_new_content/ ⭐️ Please STOP publishing new blog posts. - https://www.reddit.com/r/SEO_Digital_Marketing/comments/1i38rcm/please_stop_publishing_new_blog_posts/ ⭐️ Content Refreshes in SEO: How to Double Your Traffic Fast  - https://edwardsturm.com/articles/content-refreshes-seo-double-traffic-fast/ ⭐️ Edward Sturm on Grokipedia - https://grokipedia.com/page/Edward_Sturm 💎 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 Refresh vs New Content 00:32 Publish Consistently + Audit Underperformers 00:58 Quick Wins via Search Console 02:34 Query Deserves Freshness 04:01 Republish with a New Slug 05:46 Low-Authority Site Playbook 07:31 Is There a Ranking Ceiling? 09:05 Pogo-Sticking & CTR 10:33 Content Refresh Checklist 11:35 My Rule of Thumb 12:12 Wrap-Up The Edward Show. The #1 search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #searchengineoptimization #contentrefresh #blogseo #seo

E958: I break down four backlink opportunities that are working right now in 2026. These are practical, repeatable strategies you can use whether you're building a niche site, growing an ecommerce brand, or scaling a personal brand. The first strategy is a forgotten image link building tactic that's becoming even more effective in the age of AI-generated content. Then I walk through three profile and authority-based backlink opportunities, including one that gives you a dofollow link and another that helps you shape topical authority. If you're serious about building links without relying entirely on cold outreach, this episode will give you clear next steps. What we cover: - Image link building using original photos and stock platforms - How to seed backlinks at scale without outreach - How to find and reclaim image credits using reverse image search - Favikon.com and how to get a dofollow profile backlink - Featured.com for journalist quotes and topical authority - How to use nofollow links strategically - Grokipedia and how to secure a dofollow reference link - How indexing affects the value of authority profile pages - The risks of paid indexing services - When engineered backlink systems outperform one-off tactics ⭐️ Charles Floate's post - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/charlesfloate_here-is-an-image-link-building-technique-activity-7427599592042643459-A_V-/ ⭐️ Edward Sturm on Grokipedia - https://grokipedia.com/page/Edward_Sturm 💎 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 4 Backlink Opportunities 00:24 Image Link Building via Stock Sites 02:52 Real-World Results 03:26 Favicon.com Creator Profile 05:10 Featured.com Profile + Journalist Quotes 06:38 Grokipedia Entries 07:51 Recap of All 4 Tactics 09:48 Wrap-Up The Edward Show. The #1 search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #linkbuilding #backlinks #searchengineoptimization #digitalmarketing

E957: We break down Bing Webmaster Tools' new AI Performance report and explain how to use grounding query data to increase your visibility in large language models (LLMs). Bing is now showing citation data from Copilot, Bing AI summaries, and select AI partners, possibly ChatGPT. This includes grounding queries - the sub-searches LLMs generate when they break a prompt into multiple web lookups. We walk through what grounding queries are, how they differ from prompts, and how this data reveals a new layer of keyword behavior that traditional SEO tools don't show. One key takeaway: LLM citations are often driven by specific language patterns inside query fan-outs. If you understand those patterns, you can create content that aligns with them. David Quaid joins the show once again! We cover: - What grounding queries are and how they work
- The difference between prompts and query fan-outs
- Why one site with minimal traffic generated 33,000+ AI citations
- How GEO tools are generating brand evaluation reports
- Why words like "evaluate" are triggering large volumes of LLM citations
- How to identify language drift inside grounding queries
- When to create a new page vs. expanding an existing page
- How to use AI Performance as a new keyword research layer
- The overlap between GEO and traditional SEO
- How to influence LLM brand evaluations responsibly We also discuss: - Whether GEO is actually different from SEO
- How LLMs rely on search engines for grounding
- How to reverse engineer query patterns
- Risks around narrative control and reputation manipulation
- How this data may expose weaknesses in some GEO tools If you're an SEO, SaaS founder, marketer, or content strategist, this episode shows how to use Bing's AI Performance data to uncover new search patterns and improve your visibility across AI systems. ⭐️ 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/ 📈 My write up: How to Use Bing's New AI Performance Report to Increase AI Visibility & LLM Citations - https://edwardsturm.com/articles/bing-webmaster-tools-ai-performance-report-grounding-queries-get-more-llm-citations/ 💎 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/ 🧑‍💻 More Edward Sturm - Edward Sturm on Grokipedia - https://grokipedia.com/page/Edward_Sturm 00:00 Bing's New AI Performance Dashboard 00:32 Why Social Media Links Don't Build SEO Backlinks 01:23 ChatGPT, Bing, and Copilot Data 02:33 Perplexity Example 03:26 75 Bing Clicks vs 31K+ AI Citations 05:50 Grounding Queries Explained 08:18 Why 'Evaluate' Triggers Citations 12:45 On-Screen Pages 14:08 Negative LLM-SEO Risk 17:26 Using Grounding Query Data For LLM Citations 19:55 GEO vs SEO 22:35 Practical Tactics 37:12 Should You Use GEO Tools? 38:56 Wrap-Up The Edward Show. The #1 search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #searchengineoptimization #answerengineoptimization #generativeengineoptimization #digitalmarketing

E956: Do large language models actually use schema the way SEOs think they do? A recent test by Mark Williams-Cook set out to answer that question. He created a fictional company and added completely fabricated schema types to the page - things like "FlockName," "WaddleStyle," and "MigrationPattern." None of it was valid structured data. When ChatGPT and Perplexity were asked for the company's address, they returned the made-up data from the schema anyway. What does that mean? It means that LLMs are not interpreting structured data in the way many "generative engine optimization" advocates claim. Instead, they treat schema like any other text in the HTML. In this episode, I cover: - The full breakdown of the Duck Yeah T-Shirts schema experiment - Why invalid schema was still surfaced by ChatGPT - Whether LLMs are parsing structured data in real time - Why body content appears to matter more than tags or markup - Charles Floate's take on schema and entity reinforcement - How "sameAs" schema actually works in practice - When schema still makes sense for traditional Google search - What John Mueller has publicly said about structured data and rankings - Whether schema can influence AI citations - The risks of trying to "hide" text in schema for LLM visibility We also discuss: - Consensus schema in competitive SERPs - Entity trust and validation signals - YMYL niches and domain-level trust - Why click-through rate may be the only indirect ranking benefit of structured data If you care about SEO, AI search visibility, or understanding how LLMs actually process web pages, this episode walks through the logic step by step. ⭐️ Mark Williams-Cook's experiment - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/markseo_seo-share-7424067359088455680-vNFv/ ⭐️ John Mueller's schema comment - https://bsky.app/profile/johnmu.com/post/3lmoenzsfwc2c 💎 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/ 👨‍💻 Edward Sturm on Grokipedia - https://grokipedia.com/page/Edward_Sturm 00:00 Do LLMs Use Schema? 00:25 Mark Williams-Cook's "Fake Schema" Experiment 02:23 The Shocking Results 02:47 Schema Treated Like Regular HTML Text 03:12 Charles Floate's Take: What Schema Is Really For 04:47 "SameAs" Schema For Entity Linking & Trust 07:29 Entity Trust, YMYL, and Why SameAs Can Be a Growth Hack 08:14 When Schema Helps (SERP Features & CTR) 09:27 John Mueller: Structured Data Doesn't Boost Rankings 10:11 Final Verdict: Schema Won't Boost LLM Presence (and Hidden Text Risks) 10:58 Wrap-Up The Edward Show. The #1 search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #searchengineoptimization #answerengineoptimization #generativeengineoptimization #seoschema

E955: For years, SEO advice has repeated the same idea: publish more content, rank for more keywords, get more traffic. That model is breaking. I sit down with Harpreet Singh to explain what's happening right now in search - including why large sites with thousands of "best" listicles and AI-assisted blog posts are seeing dramatic traffic declines. We walk through Shopify's collapse and look at what happens when organic pages increase by thousands while traffic trends downward. The takeaway isn't that AI is bad. It's that scale without control will become a liability. If you run a business that depends on organic traffic, this conversation matters. We cover: - Why "more pages = more traffic" is no longer reliable - What Google appears to be targeting in recent updates - The risk of scaling listicles and "best of" content - Patterns that make AI-generated content easy to detect - Why domain authority can delay penalties - but not prevent them - How algorithm hits impact SEO, AI Overviews, and ChatGPT visibility - The long-term cost of aggressive content scaling - Why small businesses get hurt faster than large brands - Whether "best" pages can still work - and under what conditions - How to think about SEO if you plan to be in business for 10–20 years We also discuss: - Signs of low-effort AI content - How overpublishing can dilute site quality - Why ranking for fewer high-converting terms can outperform ranking for thousands - The difference between short-term traffic spikes and long-term search stability This is not a "don't use AI" episode. It's a conversation about control, intent, and strategy. ⭐️ 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 Google Is Nuking Low‑Effort AI Content 01:12 What Google's Targeting: Massive Page Volume + "/best/" Listicles 03:27 What "Low‑Effort AI" Looks Like 04:10 Using Wikipedia's "Signs of AI Writing" to Improve Prompts 07:37 Shopify: Pages Up, Traffic & AI Visibility Down 09:23 Why "More Pages = Better SEO" Is a Myth (Local Example) 11:44 Live Teardown: The 'Motivational Quotes' Page and Zero Business Value 13:12 Inside Shopify's "Best" Pages: Affiliate Program Listicle Format 16:20 Why Some 'Best' Articles Still Rank 19:10 HubSpot, Asana & AI‑Content Sites Getting Crushed 22:19 Manual Actions, Recovery Timelines, and Domain Damage 23:29 Wrap‑Up The Edward Show. The #1 search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #searchengineoptimization #seo #generativeengineoptimization #digitalmarketing

E954: We may be in the middle of another Google algorithm update - and for some sites, the impact has been severe. From February 5th to February 7th, one of my top-of-funnel sites lost 50% of its organic traffic. Then, just a few days later, traffic rebounded completely. At the same time, my bottom-of-funnel pages remained stable. In this episode, I break down what's happening, what the SEO community is reporting, and why certain types of sites are getting hit harder than others. We cover: - The recent spike in Google search ranking volatility - Reports from the SEO community and data from tracking tools - How Google has not confirmed this update - The connection (and non-connection) to the February 2026 Google Discover Core update - Why informational and top-of-funnel content appears to be more volatile - Why bottom-of-funnel SEO pages are remaining stable - The risks of depending on Google Discover and pure ad revenue - A practical strategy to shift from traffic-focused SEO to conversion-focused SEO I also share: - Real examples of volatility from WebmasterWorld and industry chatter - My experience recovering from a 50% traffic drop - How to identify overlooked purchase-intent keywords - How to use competitor rankings to uncover under-optimized bottom-of-funnel opportunities - Why "best X for Y" keywords are not the real opportunity - How to create products, tools, or affiliate plays that reduce algorithm risk If your strategy relies heavily on informational traffic, news content, or ad monetization, this episode will help you rethink your keyword targeting. The core takeaway: volatility tends to hit broad, informational queries much harder than narrowly targeted purchase-intent queries. There are still large gaps in Google's results for specific bottom-of-funnel searches - and those gaps are where stability and revenue are being built. ⭐️ Google Search Ranking Volatility Gets Heated Again February 10th - https://www.seroundtable.com/google-search-ranking-volatility-february-10-40910.html ⭐️ Google Is Firing Shots: Self-Promotional Listicles Are Getting Wiped Out - https://youtu.be/5cwyFAElmw0 ⭐️ Google Just Cut News Traffic in Half (51% → 27%) - Now What? - https://youtu.be/r6f9wS_SVcM ⭐️ Vibe Coding for SEO: Building Rankable Apps, Tools, and Revenue in Minutes - https://youtu.be/-Cn03azU0GY 💎 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 Google Algorithm Update 00:33 SEO Community Reactions and Insights 01:50 Personal Experiences and Observations 03:41 Strategies for Navigating Algorithm Changes 05:54 Keyword Targeting Recommendations 07:59 Creating and Selling Products 09:36 Conclusion and Final Thoughts The Edward Show. The #1 search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #searchengineoptimization #googlealgorithmupdate #seonews #digitalmarketing

E953: I break down a very common mistake I see when people use my SEO page title formula - and why it quietly hurts conversions. You can write a great page title. 
You can include your keyword. 
You can add the benefit. And still lose the conversion. The problem isn't the title. It's what happens after someone clicks. When your page title promises a specific benefit but your page doesn't immediately deliver on that benefit, visitors feel the disconnect. They were primed to get something specific - and instead they get generic content. That gap reduces trust, increases bounce, and lowers conversions. In this episode: - The page title formula I use (Keyword | Benefit | Brand) - Why including a benefit changes how searchers behave - Why Google is more likely to use your titles when they stand out - The mistake almost everyone makes after rewriting their titles - How to align your above-the-fold copy with search intent - Why adding a simple summary (like a TL;DR) can increase conversions - The difference between optimizing for clicks vs. optimizing for conversions - How this applies differently to informational keywords vs. purchase-intent keywords If you're targeting SEO traffic but not seeing conversions, this episode will show you what's missing. I also reference a case study from the SEO subreddit where simply adding short summaries increased conversions by 33%, and explain why that works from a user behavior standpoint. If you want to see the full page templates I use for conversion-focused SEO landing pages, you can learn more about my course here: https://compactkeywords.com And new episodes every day until I collapse. ⭐️ How Adding TL;DR Boosted My Conversions by 33% - https://www.reddit.com/r/SEO/comments/1h3qstq/how_adding_tldr_boosted_my_conversions_by_33/ 💎 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 Page Title Formula 00:29 Common Mistake with Page Title Formula 00:38 Detailed Breakdown of the Formula 01:22 Importance of Brand Name in Page Titles 02:11 The Critical Mistake: Ignoring the Benefit in Copy 03:27 Case Study: TLDR Boosting Conversions 04:51 Optimizing Pages for SEO 06:43 Conclusion and Personal Note The Edward Show. The #1 search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #searchengineoptimization #onpageseo #seocopywriting #digitalmarketing

E952: I break down how to create research report linkable assets that journalists want to share - without needing proprietary data, expensive surveys, or massive resources. This approach has produced dozens, and in some cases hundreds, of high-quality backlinks by using existing studies, a clear point of view, and very targeted outreach. The work itself is not complicated. Most people fail because they take the wrong approach. What this covers: - What a "research report linkable asset" is and why it works - How articles like SEO Sherpa's 21 SEO Experiments article earned over 200 backlinks using other people's data - Why niche targeting consistently outperforms mass outreach - How to use ChatGPT agent mode to find studies, reports, and before/after data responsibly - How to turn multiple studies into a single, compelling research narrative - Why writing in a real human voice matters more than people think - How tone and respect influence whether someone shares your content - A simple way to aggregate findings into a strong headline hook - How to rate and structure studies so the article feels original - The difference between pitching the wrong journalist and the right one - How to find journalists who already agree with the perspective you're presenting - Why most link building emails get ignored or deleted - Examples of pitches that fail vs pitches that get shared - How this strategy builds links, topical authority, and long-term trust at the same time Who this is for - SEOs and marketers who want links from real publications - Founders and site owners who don't have original research data - Anyone tired of generic link building tactics that don't work - People who want to earn links by being useful, not annoying Key takeaway You don't need original data to earn high-quality links. You need a clear perspective, solid sourcing, respect for the people you cite, and outreach that is actually targeted. When those pieces line up, the results compound. 💎 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 Creating Research Report Linkable Assets 00:35 The Power of a Niche Targeted Approach 01:18 Using ChatGPT for Research 01:49 Crafting Shareable Content 03:30 Targeted Outreach Strategies 05:08 The Importance of a Unique Perspective 07:51 Wrapping The Edward Show. The #1 search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #searchengineoptimization #linkbuilding #linkableassets #backlinks

E951: I break down one of the most frustrating messages in Google Search Console: "Crawled, currently not indexed." Your page was crawled. There were no errors. No noindex tags. No robots.txt issues. And yet Google still refuses to index it. I explain what this status means, why it happens, and one common cause almost nobody talks about - along with a simple fix you can apply immediately. What you'll learn: - What "crawled, currently not indexed" really means inside Google Search Console. - Why this status is not caused by 404s, noindex tags, blocked resources, or server errors. - The difference between crawling and indexing in Google's systems. - The most common reasons pages get crawled but declined for indexing. - Why authority, competition, and topical relevance matter. - An overlooked reason Google may skip indexing your page entirely. The key insight: Google doesn't just ask "Can we index this?"
 It asks "Does this page add distinct value compared to what we already have?" One of the strongest signals for that decision is your page title. I walk through: - Why generic or near-duplicate page titles can prevent indexing. - How page titles signal value and differentiation to Google. - A simple page title formula you can use on any site. - Real examples across informational and bottom-of-funnel keywords. - How better titles can improve click-through rate and user patience. The page title formula covered: - Target keyword - Clear benefit or searcher goal - Brand name - Separated cleanly for clarity and intent I also show how this approach helps: - Differentiate your content in crowded SERPs. - Protect your pages from future competition. - Improve user engagement after the click. - Increase the chances your page gets indexed in the first place. If you're tired of publishing content that Google crawls but never shows in search results, this episode will help you understand what's happening and what to change. ⭐️ The Reddit post - https://www.reddit.com/r/SEO/comments/1qzt59k/understanding_crawled_not_indexed_in_gsc_an/ 💎 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 Crawled, Currently Not Indexed 00:18 Understanding 'Crawled, Currently Not Indexed' 01:43 Common Causes and Solutions 02:08 The Importance of Unique Page Titles 03:02 Examples and Practical Tips 07:35 Using ChatGPT for Page Titles 08:15 Conclusion The Edward Show. The #1 search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #searchengineoptimization #googlesearchconsole #digitalmarketing #seo

E950: David Quaid returns to the podcast to show how simple SEO can be. Instead of chasing competitive keywords, buying tools, or following complex frameworks, David invents a brand-new term - 'Funfluencer' - publishes a two-sentence blog post, and gets it indexed, ranked, and cited by both Google and AI systems like Perplexity. The result: a made-up term treated as a real concept, complete with definitions, explanations, and citations generated by AI - all without backlinks, schema, or long-form content. We break down exactly what happened, why it worked, and what it proves about modern SEO and AI retrieval. What's covered: - How inventing a term can be easier than competing for existing keywords - Why low or zero search volume keywords are often ignored - and exploitable - How Google indexed and ranked a two-sentence blog post - Why "thin content" isn't defined the way most people think it is - How AI tools like Perplexity infer meaning and expand on minimal source material - How internal links, backlinks, and schema were not required in this example - How authority is passed from existing pages without clear or visible metrics - The disconnect between common SEO advice and what actually works - How to practice SEO safely without tools, subscriptions, or risk - A repeatable approach anyone can test on their own site This is a practical demonstration, not a theory.
No tools.
No research software.
No backlinks.
No long content. Just clear intent, basic on-page structure, and understanding how search and AI systems work. If you've ever struggled with indexing, ranking, or felt overwhelmed by SEO advice, this episode is meant to reset the conversation and show what's possible with a much simpler approach. ⭐️ 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 and Welcome 00:09 Inventing and Ranking a New SEO Term 01:30 Defining 'Funfluencer' 03:03 SEO Strategies and Internal Linking 04:38 Debunking SEO Myths 11:55 Practical SEO Tips and Examples 17:38 Conclusion and Farewell The Edward Show. The #1 search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #searchengineoptimization #answerengineoptimization #generativeengineoptimization #digitalmarketing