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Description
The best SEO podcast for entrepreneurs and creative small business owners who want to build a better website to grow their business!
✨This SEO-focused podcast combines brand strategies mixed with fresh ideas for websites, digital marketing, and customer experience.
✨WHY SEO?
✨SEO is important because it can help a business be found by people searching for what they sell. In 2025, SEO for LLMs and AI-powered search engines will grow in importance. But don't feel overwhelmed: SEO can be simple and elevate your websites visibility with small changes over time.
✨Listen to this podcast every week to learn how you can make your website rank higher without spending thousands of dollars per month!
214 Episodes
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In this episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show, Crystal Waddell (me!) sits down with Andy Crestodina, co-founder of Orbit Media, to explore SEO, AI, and content marketing. Andy shares his insights on how search behavior is shifting, the importance of training AI to recognize and recommend your brand. 🔑 Key Takeaways: AI Search vs. Traditional Search: Traditional search finds options, while AI delivers recommendations—understanding this is key to visibility and conversions.Prompt Rever...
In this episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show, Crystal Waddell (me!) sits down with Jamie Trull for part 2 of our interview to dive deep into the concept of Hidden Profit. Jamie shares her journey of shifting focus from revenue to freedom, explaining how small optimizations can lead to big financial wins. They discuss the importance of aligning business goals with life priorities, overcoming perfectionism, and how data-driven decisions can create sustainable growth—without the ...
Today I welcome financial educator and profit strategist Jamie Trull. We talk about the transformative power of understanding business finances, pricing strategies, and how SEO can drive real results. From doubling prices overnight to lowering ad spend through smarter targeting, Jamie shares tangible strategies and inspirational insights. Plus, a sneak peek into her brand new book, "Hidden Profit" designed to empower small business owners. 🔑 Key Takeaways: Pricing Can Be a Game Ch...
In this powerful continuation of the conversation with Heather Physioc, we explore how AI is reshaping the SEO landscape and why human-centered strategy still matters. Heather shares her framework for applying "Jobs to Be Done" thinking in SEO, especially for small businesses and creators. From empathy maps to AI content sourcing, this episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating modern discoverability. We also dive into how platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity a...
In this episode of The Simple and Smart SEO Show, host Crystal Waddell welcomes Heather Physioc, Chief Discoverability Officer at VML, for a deep dive into the evolving world of search and digital strategy. Heather shares her insights on why Google isn't the only search engine that matters, how AI is reshaping the search journey, and why content needs to serve users at every stage—from discovery to post-purchase. From structured data to customer retention via social media, this ep...
Ross Simmonds breaks down how AI overviews and LLMs are changing search—and what small businesses can do to keep winning. We dig into why brand and owned channels matter more than ever, how to diversify beyond Google, which third-party domains LLMs love to cite, and a simple focus formula for content distribution. Key TakeawaysThe SERP is shifting to answers and transactions; fewer clicks to your site means brand + owned channels are mission-critical. Now is the time to publi...
In this episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show, host Crystal Waddell sits down with Ross Simmonds — founder of Foundation Marketing and distribution.ai, keynote speaker at Brighton SEO, and passionate content strategist. Ross shares how he started out online running a fantasy football blog and now advises global brands. His message: most creators need to stop obsessing over new content and start amplifying what they’ve already made. Learn his “garden analogy” for content p...
In this final installment of the Shopify Series: From Strategy to Action, Crystal Waddell takes you inside one of her favorite tools—Surfer SEO—and shows you exactly how to use it to optimize your Shopify store pages for maximum visibility. From product descriptions to collection pages, homepage copy, and blog posts, you’ll learn step-by-step strategies to integrate Surfer SEO into your workflow. Crystal also shares pro tips, keyword research insights, and how to make your content...
(Shopify From Strategy to Action Series, Episode 4!) In this episode, we're getting real about Shopify page templates — and why they might be quietly holding your SEO back. 😬 From homepage headers to collection and product page tweaks, Crystal shares how to update your templates to help your content rank and convert. 👀 If you’ve ever wondered: “Do I really need to mess with my templates?” The short answer is: YES — but it’s simpler than you think. ✨ What You’ll Learn: Why templat...
Want more organic traffic and faster conversions on your Shopify store? In this episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show, Crystal Waddell breaks down the visual side of SEO with a focus on image optimization. From renaming image files and writing strategic alt text to compressing files and picking the best formats, Crystal walks you through four essential steps to get your images SEO-ready. You’ll also learn how to use ChatGPT to quickly generate descriptive alt text and how to le...
In this episode, Crystal breaks down the must-have SEO tech stack for Shopify sellers who want to show up in search results, build authority, and grow sustainably without feeling overwhelmed. You’ll learn about the core apps that make SEO easier, free tools to track and audit your progress, and optional power tools if you’re ready to take things to the next level. Whether you’re just getting started with Shopify or looking to improve your existing SEO strategy, this episode will help you focu...
In this kickoff episode of my Shopify SEO from Strategy to Action summer series, we start with the most important piece: your mindset. If you've ever thought: "SEO is just for techies!""Shopify isn't good for SEO.""I don't even know where to start."This episode is for you! 🎯 What you'll learn: Why your mindset is the #1 SEO success factorThe top myths keeping shop owners stuck (and how to bust them)A fun visibility readiness quiz to check if you're truly ready to be found💡 Key takeaway: SEO ...
Join PPC Pro Austin Becker and me in this episode of The Simple and Smart SEO Show. We’re diving into strategic blogging, PPC attribution, and the underrated power of Pinterest — a must-listen for creative entrepreneurs, Shopify sellers, and busy business owners who want to grow without burnout. Here’s what you’ll learn: How to use Google's "People Also Ask" to create blog content that drives trafficWhen and how Pinterest ads actually work for e-commerceWhy attribution is murky — and how to t...
In this episode of The Simple and Smart SEO Show, we’re diving into real-world e-commerce strategies to compete with platforms like Amazon, Walmart, and Etsy — without relying solely on Google. If you’re a Shopify seller or creative entrepreneur, this episode is a must-listen for understanding ad budgets, search impression share, and seasonal sales cycles that actually scale your business sustainably. Here’s what you’ll learn: How to drive traffic without depending on Google (hint: emai...
In this episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show, Crystal Waddell sits down with e-commerce marketing expert Austin Becker (Part 1 of 3). We talk about the evolution of Austin’s career, from selling quirky side-hustle products to founding a thriving e-commerce digital marketing agency. You’ll learn actionable insights on Google Shopping, product feed optimization, Amazon's advertising dominance, the power of Schema for Shopify SEO, and how AI is poised to reshape search and advertising....
In part 3 of my interview with Andrew Ansley, we unpack the evolution of SEO from pre-2022 tactics to today's entity-driven, user-focused strategies. Learn why stuffing keywords is dead, how RankBrain and BERT changed the game, and why helpful, structured content (plus user metrics) is the new key to ranking. Andrew also demystifies topical authority, shares how to recover if your site’s in the “loser’s bracket,” and offers actionable tips for entrepreneurs and small business owne...
In this episode of The Simple and Smart SEO Show, Crystal Waddell sits down with AI and SEO expert Andrew Ansley to discuss the intersection of artificial intelligence, SEO strategies, entrepreneurship, and modern parenting. Here’s what you’ll learn: How to leverage AI tools (like ChatGPT and Claude) to organize your business and creative projects.The critical skills kids need for the future—and how parents and educators can support them using AI.Why traditional education is broken and ...
In this conversation on AI-powered SEO workflows, Andrew Ansley joins The Simple and Smart SEO Show to share how smart marketers are using tools like Claude, ChatGPT, and automation platforms to save time and scale without hiring. From building SOPs in under an hour to organizing AI projects for sharper output, Andrew reveals how today’s marketers can combine soft skills with machine intelligence to stay competitive—without burning out. Whether you're a creative entrepreneur, solo founder, or...
In Part 2 of our conversation about Local SEO, Darren Shaw of Whitespark returns to The Simple and Smart SEO Show to break down advanced Google Business Profile (GBP) strategies that actually move the needle. From the controversial truth about citation consistency to actionable tactics for leveraging Google reviews and optimizing your GBP for maximum visibility, Darren shares insider tips you won’t find in a typical SEO blog post. Whether you're a service provider, e-commerce sell...
In this value-packed episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show, host 💁♀️ Crystal Waddell sits down with local SEO legend Darren Shaw of 🏢 Whitespark. Discover why your website is the #1 data source for your Google Business Profile, how to optimize for the local 3-pack 📍, and what SEO myths to stop believing 🚫. Whether you’re a home-based biz, a service provider, or an online shop, these actionable insights will help your brand show up and stand out in local search! 🔍 💡 Key Takea...
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