E900: Most SEO agencies aren't just outdated - many knowingly sell tactics that no longer move rankings, traffic, or revenue.

I'm joined by Jake Hundley, who has spent years testing SEO tactics in real-world environments and publishing findings that directly contradict common agency practices - including a large-scale study showing that geo-tagging photos does not meaningfully impact rankings.

We break down why these myths persist, how agencies justify billing for low-impact work, and what actually drives results in modern SEO.

This conversation focuses on applied SEO for local and service-based businesses, backed by observation, testing, and long-term performance - not theory or trend-chasing.

What we cover
- Why geo-tagging images and EXIF data don't meaningfully affect rankings
- How and why agencies continue selling ineffective SEO tasks
- The 80/20 rule of SEO and how most effort is misallocated
- How doorway pages still "work" - and why they create long-term risk
- How project-based pages outperform fake location pages
- What Google actually responds to in local search
- Why SEO fundamentals beat technical busywork
- How brand demand and offline marketing influence organic visibility
- Why most SEO case studies mislead more than they inform
- How to build SEO assets that hold up over time

Key takeaways
- Many SEO services exist to justify retainers, not results
- Clear structure and intent alignment outperform volume and automation
- Long-term rankings come from serving demand, not manufacturing it

Who this episode is for
- SEO professionals tired of selling or defending low-value work
- Agency owners who want sustainable client results
- Local service businesses investing in organic growth
- Anyone questioning widely accepted SEO "best practices"

If you care about results that compound over time - not checklists, gimmicks, or shortcuts - this episode will resonate.

⭐️ Jake's Agency Discord - https://discord.gg/uvHRRRFVRD
⭐️ Jake's Podcast - The Agency Growth Podcast: https://everbrospodcast.com/
⭐️ r/agency Subreddit - https://www.reddit.com/r/agency/
⭐️ Jake Hundley on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jake.hundley.1
⭐️ Jake Hundley on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-hundley/
⭐️ Jake Hundley's agency - https://evergrowmarketing.com/

💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/

00:00 Welcome and Introduction
00:05 Debunking SEO Myths
01:47 The Impact of Basic SEO Practices
05:57 Avoiding Doorway Pages
10:30 Effective Use of Project Pages
13:47 Challenges in the Lawn Care Industry
14:54 The Role of AI in SEO
15:56 SEO Business Models and Client Acquisition
18:58 Long-Term SEO Strategies
33:50 Case Studies and Real-World Examples
41:53 The 80/20 Rule in SEO
43:20 Understanding H1 and H2 Structure
45:37 SEO Best Practices for Local Services
46:40 The Importance of Geo-Targeting in SEO
47:56 Personal Journey into SEO
51:53 SEO Strategies for Franchise Businesses
53:55 The Power of Branding in Marketing
01:07:42 Debunking SEO Myths and Misconceptions
01:24:58 Contemplating a Break and Team Expansion
01:25:10 Challenges of Hiring and Editing
01:25:46 Evolution of Podcast Production
01:26:54 Engagement and Content Strategy
01:27:50 Podcast Format and Audience Interaction
01:31:04 Team Dynamics and Remote Engagement
01:35:52 Podcast Purpose and Growth
01:39:59 Content Creation and Community Feedback
01:57:18 The Role of Teasers and Clips
02:00:21 AI in Marketing and Agency Operations
02:04:41 Spam and AI: A Personal Stance
02:05:51 The Value of Brand Equity
02:06:30 Short-Term Gains vs. Long-Term Success
02:07:43 The Influence of Social Media and Peer Pressure
02:10:34 Creating and Selling Courses: Challenges and Strategies
02:18:46 The Importance of Personal Branding
02:20:43 Podcasting: Building Connections and Authority
02:25:38 Balancing Time and Value in Consulting
02:31:09 Guest Vetting and Podcast Integrity
02:37:17 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/

#searchengineoptimization #localseo #agencygrowth #linkbuilding