In this episode, Carl Holden joins Jeff Mains to dive deep into the evolution of SEO, its marriage with AI, and the realities of scaling a SaaS business honestly in a world awash with hype and misinformation. Carl Holden shares his journey from running a leading agency to launching RankBot, an AI-powered tool that automates SEO backlinks for businesses and agencies.

Together, they discuss the myths and challenges in transitioning from services to SaaS, the role of human expertise alongside automation, and why authenticity and steady results still win over quick fame. Tune in for actionable insights, candid leadership lessons, and advice on building products and companies that last.

Key Takeaways

00:00 SEO vs AI Search Trends

04:38 "Zero-Click Search Impact"

09:25 "AI-Coded Rank Bot Success"

12:39 Automated Link-Building Solution

15:12 "Importance of Links in SEO"

18:05 Automated Link-Building Solution

21:07 "Bots for Targeted SEO Tasks"

27:55 Risks of Automated Content Control

28:50 AI Marketing Red Flags & Promises

35:07 "Scaling Automation for Market Adjustments"

39:31 Future Where Witnesses Are Needed

41:26 Start, Fail, Improve, Repeat

44:25 Easy Connections via Networking Platforms

Tweetable Quotes

“Everybody can make a nice website, but who else out there on the Internet is talking about your nice website? That’s where links come in.” — Carl Holden

“AI is starting to take certain tasks, and if you do anything regularly with patterns, AI will help—or do that in the future.” — Carl Holden

“Organic traffic is not going away at this time. The way we get traffic may shift, but people still need it.” — Carl Holden

“If money is all that matters, there are plenty of dishonest ways to get rich. But when you’re dead, you don’t get to keep it.” — Carl Holden

“You want people to do business with you because you’re good, not because you’re popular.” — Carl Holden

“Consistent authenticity—being out there telling people what you do and having a good product—will win over time.” — Carl Holden

SaaS Leadership Lessons

Embrace Change, Don’t Run From It

When you see an industry shifting (like with AI), lean into change and make yourself indispensable by creating value within the new paradigm.

Balance Optimism and Caution with New Tech

Don’t blindly trust automation or AI—always validate and maintain oversight. The best results come from combining human judgment with smart tools.

Build in Public, Iterate Quickly

Launch your MVP, gather feedback, and improve over time. Perfection is the enemy of progress.

Results Over Hype

Focus on delivering genuine results; honest, consistent effort leads to sustainable success more than chasing trends or flashy viral tactics.

Be Authentically Honest in Marketing & Product

Resist the urge to oversell or stretch the truth—long-term, authenticity and integrity win client loyalty and positive reputation.

Stay on Top of Industry Shifts

In dynamic markets like SEO, regular learning and adaptation are critical. Monitor changes, test new strategies, and never get complacent.

Guest Resources

carl@rankbotai.com

rankbot.ai

https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlholdenmarketing/

Episode Sponsor

The Captain's Keys

Small Fish, Big Pond – https://smallfishbigpond.com/ Use the promo code ‘SaaSFuel’

Champion Leadership Group – https://championleadership.com/

SaaS Fuel Resources

Website - https://championleadership.com/

Jeff Mains on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffkmains/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/jeffkmains

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thesaasguy/

Instagram - https://instagram.com/jeffkmains