Working in search marketing? We'll bring you the few important bits of news and information you need to know about SEO and PPC every week. No fluff, just talking about things you should know to make your life easier.
Jack Chambers-Ward is joined by Dana DiTomaso from Kick Point Playbook to discuss common mistakes seen in GA4 setups in 2025.Jack and Dana get into topics like the importance of proper tag manager setups, dealing with duplicate traffic, and strategies for better data filtering.Dana also shares horror stories from hundreds of GA4 audits and tips on improving GA4 configurations. Don't miss the practical insights and tips to enhance your digital marketing efforts!Follow DanaWebsite: https://kpplaybook.com/New GA4 audit course: https://kpplaybook.com/google-analytics-audit-course/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dditomaso/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kp_playbook/videos Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/danaditomaso.comResourceshttps://kpplaybook.com/resources/how-to-track-traffic-from-aio-featured-snippets-paa-results-ga4/https://kpplaybook.com/resources/how-to-verify-consent-signals-are-being-received-correctly-in-ga4-for-modeling/https://gettingthingsdone.com/00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction00:10 Common GA4 Setup Mistakes00:57 Podcast Introduction and Host Updates02:44 Upcoming Events and Announcements04:49 Conversation with Dana DiTomaso Begins05:45 GA4 Horror Stories and Common Issues09:45 Advanced GA4 Tag Manager Tips15:14 Importance of Proper Traffic Filtering22:32 Tracking AI Traffic and Brand Building34:59 Challenges in Digital Marketing and Analytics41:35 Mike's Report and Learning Habits44:31 The Importance of Annotations in GA456:01 Challenges with GA4 Implementations01:01:30 Using BigQuery with GA401:03:01 Content Marketing Strategies with SparkToro01:05:29 Personal Interests and Recommendations01:13:00 Wrapping Up and Future Plans
Join Jack Chambers-Ward and guest Owain Lloyd-Williams on this week's episode of Search With Candour as they delve into transforming often dry and boring B2B content into fun and engaging material. They discuss the competitive nature of B2B industries, strategies for creating unique content, and the importance of thinking outside the box for impactful SEO. Jack and Owain also share their experiences, ideas, and strategies for working with B2B clients. Links to follow Owain:Website: https://www.owainlloydwilliams.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/owain-lloyd-williams-a8967852/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/owainlloydwilliams.comChapters00:00 Introduction: Making B2B Content Fun and Engaging00:47 Meet the Guest: Owen Lloyd Williams01:35 The Challenge of Dry B2B Content02:33 SEO Strategies for B2B Content03:40 The Importance of Focus and Music05:47 Navigating Regulations and Compliance08:07 Creating Engaging B2B Content20:30 The Role of Case Studies and White Papers34:50 Collaborating Across Teams41:20 Challenges with Small vs. Enterprise Clients41:44 Strategies for Startups Competing with Giants42:37 Leveraging AI and Conversational Content44:53 The Agility Advantage of Small Brands46:04 Building Effective B2B Relationships47:42 Integrating SEO into Content Production49:43 Impact of AI on B2B vs. B2C52:35 Actionable SEO Tips for B2B Brands55:30 Recommended Tools and Software57:38 Personal Recommendations and Podcast Wrap-Up01:13:45 Conclusion and Upcoming Guests
Jack Chambers-Ward gathers an esteemed panel of SEO all-stars: Dawn Anderson, Jono Alderson, Myriam Jessier, and, the birthday boy himself, Chris Green.Together, they discuss the future of search, focusing on key topics such as the impact of AI mode, the evolution of search behaviour, and the transparency of data.Tune in for an insightful discussion from these industry experts about how they are navigating the ever-shifting SEO landscape and what it means for the future of search marketing.Follow Chris:
Jack Chambers-Ward and Mark Williams-Cook explore all the latest updates from Google I/O 2025. There were some HUGE announcements, including AI mode, personalisation in search, and agentic search.The discussion also covers the challenges of tracking traffic from AI Mode, ads in AI Overviews and AI Mode on ad revenue, and the future of content creation for informational websites. Plus, we answer listener questions and discuss reactions from across the SEO industry.Chapters00:00 Introduction00:16 Google IO Highlights and Initial Reactions01:03 AI Mode launches in the US03:34 Challenges and Opportunities with AI Mode06:13 The Future of Rank Tracking and Personalisation09:19 AI Agents coming to Google Search14:54 Ads in AI Mode and AI Overviews19:44 Deep Search and Content Visualisation25:40 Q&A: How are you tracking AI traffic? How are you communicating with clients?31:48 Q&A: Do you think that PAA questions will mirror prompts in the future will alsoasked.com pick these up?33:54 Q&A: How do you think websites whose business model depends on informational content will survive?42:24 Q&A: How can we navigate this time where execs must focus less on falling traffic & conversions?43:46 Q&A: What is happening to our understanding of the user? Will we only need to understand how AI reasons, not humans?50:13 Ashley Segura's reaction to Google I/O51:03 Tamara Novitović's reaction to Google I/O52:36 Sam Torres's reaction to Google I/O54:21 Final Thoughts and Future DiscussionsLinkshttps://youtu.be/bDVpI23q8Zg?si=hWf-BqZOyB46Av_Mhttps://ahrefs.com/blog/google-ai-mode-is-here-but-you-cant-track-it-properly/ https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ashley-segura_googleio-googleio-contentstrategy-activity-7330977072435077120-C5xr https://www.linkedin.com/posts/tamara-novitovic_seo-bazoom-linkbuilding-activity-7330938839110258688-xbRchttps://www.linkedin.com/posts/samantha-torres-seo_googles-announcement-for-ai-mode-as-a-user-activity-7331052950104018944-qhJr
Kobi Omenaka joins Jack Chambers-Ward to explore ways to find keywords for free. They discuss the benefits of using customer conversations, news trends, and various free tools like Google Keyword Planner and Search Console.The episode also delves into the importance of understanding search intent and maximising the impact of small, engaged communities. Tune in for actionable tips and strategies to enhance your keyword research without breaking the bank.Follow KobiKobi's digital marketing: https://kobestarr.io/Kobi's podcasts: https://stripped.media/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kobiomenaka/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/kobestarr.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/kobestarr/00:00 Introduction to Free Keyword Research01:19 Meet the Guest: Kobe Omenaka04:13 Kobe's Digital Marketing and Podcasting Journey07:21 Exploring Free Keyword Research Tools and Strategies20:47 The Importance of Understanding Customer Language33:03 Understanding Your Audience34:16 The Power of Branding36:25 The Importance of Touchpoints40:10 Keyword Research and Content Creation49:53 Community Engagement and SEO54:16 Kobi's recommendations01:03:28 Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes
Join Jack Chambers-Ward for a conversation with Greg Finn, co-founder of Cypress North and co-host of the fantastic Marketing O-Clock and It's New podcasts.The lads discuss what the next five years will look like for PPC Google Ads, SEO, and digital marketing. Greg shares insights on the evolving landscape of AI in search, the growing integration of ads, and the importance of adapting to new trends and technologies. Jack and Greg also discuss how digital marketers should break out of niche silos and pay attention to the broader changes in the industry.We also learn how much Greg loves revenge.Spoiler: It's a lot.Links to follow Greg:
Jack Chambers-Ward is joined by Irina Papuc, co-founder of Galactic Fed, to discuss the intricacies of creating content that ranks well in LLMs and AI search engines.Irina has an extensive background in digital marketing (and even worked at CERN on the Large Hadron Collider!), offers valuable insights into optimising content for AI search and the future landscape of SEO.They discuss topics like the importance of authentic content, brand mentions, and the potential decline of traditional link-building in the evolving digital marketing space. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation packed with expert advice and practical tips for staying ahead in the rapidly changing world of SEO.Links to follow Irina Papuc
Join Jack Chambers-Ward in this episode of Search with Candour as he sits down with Tom Winter from SEO Wind to discuss the future of SEO and AI agents.Discover how AI agents can optimise your workflow and solve problems using multiple tools.Tom breaks down the technical aspects and practical applications of AI in SEO, touching on keyword clustering, internal linking, and content creation.Plus, get insights into the latest trends and the future evolution of search and technology.Follow Tom Winter⭐SEO Wind: https://seowind.io/ ⭐Tom on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-winter/ Recommendations⭐Make.com: https://www.make.com/⭐Hunch Tools: https://hunch.tools/ ⭐Crystal Carter - LLM visibility: https://www.wix.com/seo/learn/resource/llm-visibility-vs-seo-kpis Resources⭐https://deepmind.google/technologies/project-mariner/ ⭐https://ai.google.dev/competition/projects/jarvis-ai-2Chapters00:00 Introduction to AI Agents and SEO00:59 Meet Your Host and Guest01:38 Understanding AI Agents04:10 Defining AI Agents and Their Uses06:04 AI Agents vs. Workflows09:21 Human Element in AI Processes15:36 Automating Reporting and Workflows23:25 Content Creation with AI Agents29:39 Overcoming Analysis Paralysis in Content Creation30:49 The Challenge of Internal Linking with AI34:06 Leveraging Google Search Console for SEO37:25 The Future of AI Agents in Search42:44 The Evolution of Search Queries45:54 The Role of AI Agents in Everyday Tasks49:22 Monetisation Challenges for AI Agents51:47 Predictions for the Future of SEO54:19 Recommended Tools and Resources57:10 Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes
In this week's episode of Search with Candour, Jack Chambers-Ward is joined by returning guest Matt Kohli.In his third appearance, Matt details his journey from being a freelancer to starting his own marketing agency, Fortitude Marketing.The conversation covers the challenges of transitioning roles, the importance of building a reliable team, learning to trust others, and not overpromising to clients and focusing on delivering results.Matt's recommendations
Disclaimer: Sorry for the audio quality, technical difficulties meant we had to use our backup audio! Jack tried his best to fix it - we hope you can still enjoy the episode!Search with Candour and The SEO Mindset podcast bring you another amazing podcast event, live from Brighton!Sarah, Tazmin and Jack will be giving actionable tips and advice on authentic personal branding as well as sharing their own experiences. Together, we'll explore strategies to define, communicate, and amplify your unique value. Get ready to unlock your potential and leave with tools to build a brand that truly represents you and your business.Headline sponsor - SISTRIXSISTRIX is the all-in-one SEO toolbox for those who want to succeed on Google, Amazon and Facebook.With SISTRIX's market-leading tools, you can optimise your website according to the latest Google guidelines, track competitors on Amazon and easily generate and perform research across Tiktok, Instagram and YouTube.The SEO Mindset podcastSubscribe on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLn2ul-U03T10Mmp4thdCbQ_M555xelzXhFollow on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7fHOicztfKEL3yElQLpc2w?si=b7390f9a726e4d0a Follow on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-seo-mindset-podcast/id1617543592Search with CandourSubscribe on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8c8k5Yy8FltVNsIsP1iUCSXDfE5cq2pM Follow on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4AILSpWLI74daOhECb8Hm0?si=72a9f68d2c0f40bc Follow on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/search-with-candour-seo-podcast/id1456880812
Jack Chambers-Ward is joined by guest Grace Frohlich, SEO Senior Manager at Brainlabs, to explore how to map user journeys and understand customer paths in search. Grace also shares insights into using AI to create detailed user personas and map motivations behind searches and practical steps for tracking user journeys and keyword tagging to enhance search strategies.Follow GraceBrainlabs: https://www.brainlabsdigital.com/ Follow Grace on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-frohlich/ Grace's article on Wix: https://www.wix.com/seo/learn/resource/user-journey-map-for-seo Grace's Whiteboard Friday: https://moz.com/blog/chatgpt-customer-journey-whiteboard-friday Grace's talk at BrightonSEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4_9Yj9yDUg Chapters00:00 Introduction to User Journeys01:56 Sponsored by AlsoAsked03:21 Introducing Grace Frohlich04:31 Understanding User Journeys07:16 The Importance of Search Intent15:03 Creating Bespoke User Personas20:16 Motivations and Non-Linear Journeys25:49 Search Intent and Motivations30:08 The Evolution of Search in 202530:22 Personalised and Conversational Search32:33 Integrating Social Platforms into Customer Journeys36:42 Milestones and Pain Points in User Journeys46:32 Tracking and Organizing Search Data54:34 Final Thoughts and Future Episodes
Jack Chambers-Ward and Mark Williams-Cook discuss the excitement and preparations for April's BrightonSEO.Mark gives a preview of his talk, the duo pick some of the talks they're looking forward to as well as the live podcast Jack is co-hosting with Sarah and Tazmin from the SEO Mindset podcast.The episode also delves into Dr. Pete Myers' article on the increasing volatility of Google updates, with the delightful pun of 'Google warming,' and how this rapid evolution only makes the SEO landscape more complex.BrightonSEO April 2025 Talk RecommendationsMark's picks:https://brightonseo.com/talks/custom-event-tracking-in-ga4-for-saashttps://brightonseo.com/talks/does-structured-data-markup-influence-eeathttps://brightonseo.com/talks/fake-eeat-until-you-make-eeatJack's picks:https://brightonseo.com/talks/data-driven-seo-a-framework-based-approachhttps://brightonseo.com/talks/query-counting-for-seo-why-you-need-to-be-paying-attentionhttps://brightonseo.com/talks/how-to-fight-giants-seo-secrets-for-challenger-brandsDr Peter Myers - Google Warming https://moz.com/blog/charting-the-google-algorithmChapters00:00 Introduction00:11 BrightonSEO Preparations and Excitement01:40 Diving Adventures in Brighton02:52 A Preview of Mark's BrightonSEO Talk07:37 Upcoming BrightonSEO Talks and Recommendations08:23 Custom Event Tracking in GA4 for SaaS - Bengü Sarıca Dinçer09:13 Data-driven SEO: A Framewor Based Approach - Kazushi Nagayama11:25 Does Structured Data Markup Influence EEAT? - Jarno van Driel12:58 Query Counting for SEO - Daniel Foley Carter14:16 Fake EEAT until you make EEAT - Emma-Elizabeth Byrne18:22 Moderating and Live Podcast Plans19:48 Upcoming Show Floor Interviews and Live Podcast20:21 Google's Frequent and Volatile Updates21:34 Impact of AI on Search and Content25:27 Challenges with AI Accuracy and Reliability28:47 The Future of Personalized Search38:38 Concluding Thoughts and Future Plans
Kaspar Szymanski, a former senior member of the Google Search Quality Team, joins Jack Chambers-Ward to discuss what's important in SEO in 2025.They discuss cutting through the noise to focus on impactful strategies for businesses and cover topics ranging from the hidden value of server logs to a holistic approach to SEO.Links to follow Kaspar:Website: https://www.searchbrothers.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kasparszymanski/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/seozen.com Links/resources:https://searchengineland.com/seo-noise-vs-signals-449671https://searchengineland.com/forget-pagerank-focus-on-ranking-437676https://searchengineland.com/why-server-logs-matter-for-seo-378199https://searchengineland.com/10-reasons-seo-just-like-fitness-260070Chapters00:00 Introduction02:45 Sponsor: AlsoAsked04:10 Welcome Kaspar Szymanski05:38 Navigating Google Updates12:11 The Role of Server Logs in SEO20:28 Branding and SEO: A Crucial Connection35:52 Leveraging Bing and Other Search Engines38:43 Exploring Webmaster Tools and Alternatives40:23 SEO Strategies for Small Businesses42:45 The Risks and Rewards of Backlink Marketplaces49:40 The Importance of a Holistic SEO Approach59:21 Interdisciplinary Nature of SEO01:15:04 Outro and Upcoming Episodes
In this episode of Search With Candour, host Jack Chambers-Ward discusses the impact of AI on content creation with guest Erika Varangouli.They discuss how to stand out in an oversaturated market, the importance of brand consistency across channels, and the role of humour and distinct voice in marketing. The episode also touches on the challenges and opportunities LLMs pose, ethical considerations, and potential future trends.Plus, enjoy some banter about heavy metal gigs and what Erika thinks is the greatest movie sequel ever.
Join host Jack Chambers Ward as he sits down with Sam Torres and Tory Gray of Gray Dot Company.They delve into the intricacies of JavaScript and its impact on website migrations, discussing common issues, best practices, and how to navigate the technical landscape. This episode also touches on the existential dread that comes with the future of AI in search engines, learning JavaScript for SEO, and the importance of brand alignment across digital channels.
In this week's episode of Search With Candour, Jack Chambers Ward & Mordy Oberstein from Unify Brand Marketing cover how brands can set themselves apart in an increasingly noisy digital landscape.They discuss how brands can effectively manage their SERPs and audience perceptions. The episode explores the significance of brand mentions, scepticism in digital content, and why solid brand identity is crucial moving forward.It's quite a wide-ranging conversation that touches on everything from performance marketing to pro wrestling and baseball, rounding off with Mordy's expert predictions on the future of branding and SEO.Follow Mordy
In this episode of Search with Candour, Jack Chambers-Ward and Mark Williams-Cook discuss best practices for SEO pagination, a Google patent that targets spam tactics and a theory by Tabby Farrar about gaining links via citations in LLMs.Links
Join host Jack Chambers-Ward as he sits down with SEO consultant and trainer Dani Leitner to discuss the complex world of building topical authority in the eyes of Google.Dani & Jack explore how Google might measure topical authority in the future, discuss the importance of recognising and addressing your audience's education level, and break down strategic ways to demonstrate your authority in the eyes of users and search engines.Dani highlights key parts of her strategy for building topical authority through guest posts, podcast appearances, speaking at conferences and more.Sponsored by Serpzilla
In this episode of the Search with Candour podcast, Jack Chambers-Ward is joined by special guest, @ItamarBlauer , Host of SEO Unplugged and Senior SEO Director at StudioHawk. They delve into the evolving landscape of search, focusing on Google's recent challenges and the rise of AI-driven search platforms. Amidst the rapid advancements and shifting user behaviours, they explore the critical role of personalisation and the potential paths Google must take to regain trust and market share. The conversation also touches on the practical uses of AI as a productivity tool, the implications of LLMs in our daily lives, and how SEO professionals should adapt to these changes. Follow Itamar
In this episode of the Search With Candour podcast, host Jack Chambers-Ward and guest Stephen Schneider cover the importance of strong site structure, internal links, and conversion rate optimisation (CRO). They also discuss the role of user experience (UX) and how to leverage tools like Google Analytics 4 (GA4) and AI to enhance your content marketing efforts. Additionally, Jack and Stephen explore the integration of SEO with other marketing channels and the power of authentic branding and personal connections in today's digital landscape. Whether you're a seasoned marketer or just getting started, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you drive high-intent organic traffic and boost conversions. Follow Steven
In this week's episode of Search with Candour, hosts Jack Chambers-Ward and Mark Williams-Cook share insights and initiate debates surrounding critical SEO topics. The dynamic duo discusses the role of consensus in SEO, particularly scrutinising how its interpretation affects how much users trust search engines. They delve into the value of technical SEO, especially for small businesses, and question the efficacy of a one-size-fits-all approach. Jack and Mark further explore the concept of traffic depreciation when SEO efforts stop. Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Search with Candour 01:23 Sponsor: PPC Chat Roundup 06:05 Consensus in SEO: Clearing Misunderstandings 19:00 The Value of Tech SEO for Small Businesses 25:33 SEO Strategy: The Importance of Early Publishing 25:58 The Flaws of One-Size-Fits-All SEO Packages 26:32 Tailoring SEO to Client Needs 28:33 Technical SEO and Crawling Issues 31:49 The Impact of SEO on Long-Term Traffic 37:57 Maintaining SEO Success and Competitor Analysis 40:35 The Importance of Continuous SEO Efforts 43:50 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Jack Chambers-Ward and Anu Adegbola, an international PPC consultant and paid media editor at Search Engine Land discuss the significance of SEO and PPC team communication and collaboration. They explore strategies for sharing insights, tools, and data, as well as aligning goals to navigate Google updates and improve overall digital marketing results. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:37 Sponsored by AlsoAsked 04:02 Anu Adegbola's Background 04:41 SEO and PPC Collaboration 07:17 The Importance of Fresh Perspectives 16:50 Leveraging Customer Insights 20:23 SEO and PPC Best Practices 31:12 Testing and Adapting Strategies 35:08 The Importance of Flexibility in PPC 35:48 The Power of Brand Consistency 37:19 Navigating Attribution Challenges 38:43 Aligning Marketing Channels 41:28 Building Trust and Communication 43:38 Understanding Marketing Goals 51:41 The Role of PPC in SEO 54:09 The Future of PPC and SEO Collaboration 59:18 Where to Follow Anu 01:04:39 Upcoming Guests and Future Topics Links to follow Anu: Website: https://www.themarketinganu.com/ PPC Live: https://ppc.live/ / https://www.youtube.com/@ppclive LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themarketinganu/ Bluesky: themarketinganu.bsky.social Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/themarketinganu Listen to the PPCChat Roundup Your grandma ever look confused when you tried to explain to her what you do. Just send her one of the PPCChat Roundup episodes instead. https://linktr.ee/ppcchat_roundup
In this episode of Search With Candour, host Jack Chambers-Ward discusses the evolving value of backlinks in 2025 with guest Tamara Novitovic from Bazoom Group. They explore how link building strategies need to adapt, the impact of AI on SEO, and why backlinks remain crucial. The conversation covers which metrics matter for link-building and future trends that will shape the SEO landscape. Whether you're reconsidering your link-building strategy or curious about the future of SEO, this episode offers invaluable insights for you! Follow Tamara Website: https://bazoom.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamara-novitovic/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:52 Sponsor: AlsoAsked 03:17 The Value of Links in 2025 04:55 Holistic Approach to Link Building 09:30 Metrics and Relevancy in Link Building 18:48 Content Strategy and Link Building 22:57 Interactive Content and Future Trends 33:08 Balancing Freshness and Relevancy 37:45 The Power of Data in Client Convincing 38:14 Learning from Industry Peers 38:56 The Reality of Working with Clients 39:27 Becoming a Trendsetter in SEO 40:53 The Role of AI in SEO 43:56 Using AI for Data Analysis 48:05 Combining Data Sources for Better Insights 53:46 The Future of AI in SEO 01:05:34 Predictions for Link Building 01:09:11 Conclusion and Future Plans
In the first episode of 2025, host Jack Chambers-Ward is joined by Jamie Indigo, an expert in technical SEO and an overall delightful human being. Jamie guides Jack through the findings from the 2024 Web Almanac's SEO chapter including technical data changes over recent years, offering insights and predictions for the future. Jamie also highlights AI's rising influence, the importance of robots.txt, Core Web Vitals updates, and structured data advancements. Follow Jamie: Website: https://not-a-robot.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-indigo/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/not-a-robot.com Rich Snippets: https://trafficthinktank.com/rich-snippets/ Resources Web Almanac 2024 - SEO Chapter: https://almanac.httparchive.org/en/2024/seo Performance chapter: https://almanac.httparchive.org/en/2024/performance Maggie Appleton Dark Forest: https://maggieappleton.com/ai-dark-forest https://youtu.be/1OvasjokuaA?si=UBNiK07uyWHjd2HX by Jess Sankhavaram-Peck Chapters 00:00 Welcome to 2025: Kicking Off the New Year 01:11 Sponsored by SE Ranking https://seranking.com/?sou1=influencers&gr1=podcast&tg1=search_with_candour&kw1=com_first_ad&utm_source=influencers&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=com_first_ad_search_with_candour 02:45 Introducing Jamie Indigo: Technical SEO Expert 03:56 What is the Web Almanac? 04:43 Exploring the Methodology: Data and Analysis 13:47 Dynamic Rendering and Robots.txt: Trends and Changes 20:44 Meta Robots Directives: New Data Insights 29:03 Canonical Tags Explained 29:37 Consistency in SEO 33:53 JavaScript and SEO Misconceptions 34:51 Structured Data Insights 39:34 The Role of Knowledge Graphs 46:10 Core Web Vitals Update 50:05 Wrapping Up and Future Plans
In this special episode of Search With Candour, hosts Jack Chambers-Ward and Mark Williams-Cook sit down with guests Arnout Hellemans, Yagmur Simsek, and Begum Kaya. Recorded in a brand new studio to celebrate the finale of Season 3, the panel discusses SEO industry highlights from 2024, and makes some SEO predictions for 2025. Topics include the rise of AI, shifts in search engine market shares, and the ever-evolving landscape of SEO. The conversation extends to personal branding, the importance of community in SEO, and how the integration of AI could reshape the search experience in the coming years. Follow our guests Follow Arnout Hellemans on LinkedIn and Bluesky Follow Yagmur Simsek on LinkedIn and Search 'n' Stuff Follow Begum Kaya on LinkedIn Chapters 00:00 Welcome 00:17 Introducing Our Special Guests 02:38 Highlights of 2024 in SEO 11:53 The Impact of AI on SEO 27:06 Building Trust and Brand in SEO 43:09 The Long-Term Impact of SEO Tips 43:31 The Challenge of Measuring Long-Term SEO Success 44:08 The Human Element in SEO 44:51 The Evolution of SEO Communities 45:51 Conversational Search and AI 47:00 The Future of Search Engines 49:19 The Role of AI in Everyday Tasks 01:03:41 The Impact of AI on Jobs and Society 01:13:01 Predictions for the Future of Search 01:25:58 Closing Thoughts
Jack Chambers-Ward and Mark Williams-Cook follow up on Mark's popular Search Norwich talk about conceptual models for SEO and his recent Google exploit discovery. Mark & Jack explore the details of the fascinating Google exploit, dissect the talk's key points, and answer questions from the community. The duo also preview next week's big episode featuring three special guests and discuss the revamped format for Search With Candour in their cosier setting. Stay tuned for exclusive insights into Google's data, how Google classifies queries, and what this all means for SEO in 2025. Sponsors Experience the evolution of SE Ranking Try Optmyzr - Made by PPC people, for PPC people Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Search with Candour 00:15 Studio Updates and Upcoming Guests 01:13 Exploring the Google Exploit 01:29 Sponsor: SE Ranking 02:50 Sponsor: Optmyzr 05:53 Advanced SEO and Conceptual Models 10:13 Understanding SEO Through Video Games 11:25 The Importance of Conceptual Models in SEO 14:53 Google Exploit Data and Its Implications 21:18 Site Quality Score and SERP Features 30:27 Optimising Click-Through Rates 33:25 The Twiddler Framework Explained 35:25 Google's Predicted Click-Through Model 37:53 The Role of Expertise in SEO 43:38 What Protobuf Is and How It Works 48:07 Wrapping Up and Future Plans
Jack Chambers Ward celebrates the near end of the year with a Spotify Wrapped-style recap of the podcast's top episodes from 2024. Jack highlights the top 10 most watched and listened to episodes, along with honourable mentions from throughout season 3. 00:00 Introduction 00:42 Upcoming Episodes 01:19 Sponsors 05:55 Spotify Wrapped Insights 12:36 Top 10 Episodes of 2024 13:02 Number 10 13:57 Number 9 14:55 Number 8 16:59 Number 7 18:27 Number 6 19:53 Number 5 20:56 Number 4 23:43 Number 3 25:27 Number 2 27:49 Honourable Mentions 38:47 Number 1 42:09 Conclusion and thanks
Join Jack Chambers-Ward as he discusses storytelling, copywriting, and content strategy with Will Slater, the creative content specialist at 43 Clicks North. Will uses his experience as a writer and photographer to explain how even bad ideas lead to great ones, the importance of curiosity, and the intricacies of creating content that resonates emotionally with your audience. Jack & Will explore how storytelling principles from novels, comics, and even music can enhance your marketing efforts. Plus, learn valuable tips for structuring your content, engaging specific audiences, and mastering the art of concise and impactful writing. This episode is packed with insights to help you create better content in 2024 and beyond. Sponsors Experience the evolution of SE Ranking Try Optmyzr - Made by PPC people, for PPC people Follow Will LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cleanslatewill Website: https://43clicksnorth.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cleanslatewill/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carparkshull/ Chapters 00:00 Intro trailer 00:57 Introduction to Search with Candour 02:01 Sponsorship Acknowledgements 06:34 Welcome Will Slater 08:40 The Power of Storytelling in Copywriting 09:50 Creating Emotional Connections 11:25 The Role of Flaws in Storytelling 14:51 The Art of Concise Copywriting 17:42 The Process of Generating Ideas 22:53 Understanding Your Audience 32:11 The Influence of Music on Storytelling 40:33 The Power of Brand Recognition 40:58 Engaging the Senses in Writing 41:32 Show, Don't Tell: Writing Techniques 44:40 The Art of Comic Book Storytelling 48:44 Structuring Content for Impact 57:27 The Hero's Journey in Modern Writing 01:00:46 Concise Storytelling: Less is More 01:04:29 Understanding Your Audience 01:13:12 The Importance of Curiosity in Marketing 01:18:49 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
In this week's episode of Search with Candour, Jack Chambers-Ward is joined by Tomek Rudzki from ZipTie.dev to discuss AI overviews and their impact on SEO. Tomek shares insights on how AI overviews have risen in recent months, how AI overviews incorporate sources as well as the differences between traditional search results and AI overviews. Jack and Tomek also discuss Google's approach to user-generated content and ensuring high-quality search outcomes, especially for YMYL queries. Tomek also shares strategies for optimising content for AI overviews. 00:00 Trailer 00:55 Introduction 02:25 Sponsors 06:49 Welcome Tomek Rudzki 08:18 The Evolution of Ziptie.dev 10:15 The Rise of AI Overviews 16:36 Tracking AI Overviews 25:41 Comparing AI Overviews and Featured Snippets 33:55 Addressing Low-Quality Search Results 34:28 Trust and Authority in Online Content 36:23 Google's Approach to User-Generated Content 37:02 Manipulation and Spam in Search Results 38:56 Google's AI and Ranking Systems 43:16 Challenges with AI Overviews 58:48 Optimising for AI Overviews 01:07:13 Conclusion Resources 1. https://dashboard.ziptie.dev/aio-monitor 2. https://ziptie.dev/blog/how-ai-overviews-will-affect-ymyl-queries/ 3. https://thecollegeinvestor.com/47758/google-ai-misleads-in-43-of-finance-related-searches/ 4. https://ziptie.dev/blog/ziptie-vs-semrush-17x-more-ai-overviews/ Sponsors: 1. Experience the evolution of SE Ranking: https://seranking.com/?sou1=influencers&gr1=podcast&tg1=search_with_candour&kw1=com_first_ad&utm_source=influencers&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=com_first_ad_search_with_candour 2. Try Optmyzr - Made by PPC people, for PPC people https://www.optmyzr.com/?utm_source=sponsorship&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=candour Links to follow Tomek: 1. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomekrudzki/ 2. Ziptie: https://ziptie.dev/ 3. Tomek's website: https://tomekseo.com/ 4. Onely: https://www.onely.com/ 5. Google Search Console Mastery Course: https://gscmastery.com/
Join host Jack Chambers Ward and special guest Amanda King as they delve into the intricacies of content hierarchy and content consolidation in this insightful episode of Search With Candour. Amanda and Jack finally meet to discuss the importance of getting content structure right, common mistakes to avoid, and the nuances of SEO best practices in 2024 and beyond. This episode is packed with expert advice, real-life examples, and tips for performing effective content audits. Sponsors Experience the evolution of SE Ranking Try Optmyzr - Made by PPC people, for PPC people Follow Amanda: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandaecking/ Website: https://floq.co/ Engage: On Enterprise SEO: https://floq.co/resources/podcast/ Amanda on The SEO Mindset Podcast: https://theseomindset.co.uk/episode/picking-battles-in-the-workplace-amanda-king Amanda's articles for SEL: https://searchengineland.com/author/amanda-king Profanity-based stationery and apparel: https://fourletterfancies.com Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:28 Sponsors 05:52 Amanda King's Background and SEO Experience 08:22 Content Hierarchy 11:32 SEO Strategies and Best Practices 17:46 Content Authenticity and User Experience 26:49 Content Consolidation 35:34 The Importance of Content Consumption 35:54 Balancing Content Creation and Consolidation 36:23 Fragmentation in Media Spaces 37:07 Google's Role in Content Structuring 38:02 Evolving Best Practices in Content Creation 39:37 Building Knowledge Hubs and Linking Strategies 40:18 The Necessity of Content Audits 40:53 Challenges in Content Consolidation 41:38 The Impact of AI on Content Management 45:15 Client Communication and Content Strategy 46:32 International Content Management 48:45 Annual Reviews and Technical Audits 50:26 Addressing Cannibalisation Issues 56:00 The Future of Content Structures 59:04 Business and Market-Led Content 01:02:48 Conclusion
In this bonus episode Search With Candour, Jack is joined by Steve Paine, the English-language marketing manager at SISTRIX to discuss breaking news on site reputation abuse and recent data insights. Steve & Jack explore the November core update from Google and its impact on website rankings with examples of affected websites such as Reddit, Forbes, The Guardian and more. Steve and Jack also explore manual versus algorithmic enforcement of Google's policies and share their findings on recent shifts in SERPs and site visibility. Follow Steve Paine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevechippy/ Follow SISTRIX: https://www.sistrix.com/blog/google-core-update-november-2024/ Follow Lily Ray: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lily-ray-44755615/ Follow Glenn Gabe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/glenngabe/ Follow Barry Schwartz: https://www.seroundtable.com/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:44 Site Reputation Abuse 01:42 November Core Update Insights 04:01 Impact on Major Websites 08:32 Manual Actions and Algorithmic Changes 11:47 Future of Content Creation 13:34 Conclusion and Sign Off
Jack Chambers Ward sits down with web data analyst Marco Giordano to discuss how to get the most out of your web data. Together, they delve into the intricacies of web analytics, covering topics such as incorporating crawl data, understanding GA4, leveraging BigQuery, and effectively communicating data insights to clients. Jack and Marco also discuss the importance of combining technical SEO expertise with business acumen and provide valuable tips for anyone looking to maximise the impact of their web data. Sponsors AlsoAsked - Track search intent shift over time using the Timeline feature SE Ranking - Track AI Overviews for your clients using SE Ranking Links to follow Marco: Follow Marco on LinkedIn Check out SEOTistics Subscribe to Marco's newsletter Links to resources/articles: Free Google Cloud BigQuery training Analytics for SEO course Analytics for SEO ebook The Gray Dot keyword matrix template Chapters 00:00 Highlight reel 00:36 Welcome to Search with Candour 00:56 Introducing Marco Giordano 01:55 Sponsors 04:49 Marco Giordano's Insights on Web Data 06:12 Common Mistakes in Web Data Management 10:22 Balancing Hard and Soft Skills in SEO 19:00 Importance of Storing and Analysing Web Data 29:46 Combining Data Sources for Better Insights 37:17 Global Marketing Differences 39:26 The Role of Crawl Data and Log Files 42:05 Integrating Technical and Content Strategies 49:16 The Importance of Hybrid Skills in SEO 52:49 Evolving Job Titles and Industry Roles 54:27 Combining SEO with Other Channels 01:03:15 The Future of SEO and Analytics 01:09:17 Conclusion and Future Episodes
Jack Chambers-Ward is joined by SEO veteran Noah Lerner for an in-depth discussion on the importance of critical thinking in SEO. Noah and Jack champion the structured, evidence-based approach to decision-making as well as discussing the challenges and pitfalls of problem-solving, and the essential skills needed to excel in SEO. Noah also brings real examples from over 20 years of experience, such as the transition from UA to GA4 at Sterling Sky, building data pipelines and even how to communicate important data to clients. Sponsors Experience the evolution of SE Ranking Try Optmyzr - Made by PPC people, for PPC people Follow Noah Follow Noah on LinkedIn Sterling Sky Join the SEO community Chapters 00:00 Trailer introduction 00:58 Introduction 02:18 Sponsors: SE Ranking & Optmyzr 06:42 Welcome Noah Learner 09:44 Defining Critical Thinking Skills 11:42 Challenges in Problem Solving 15:32 Importance of Structured Problem Definition 23:31 Data-Driven Decision Making 40:52 Aligning SEO Metrics with Business Goals 45:29 The Importance of Call Tracking 46:50 Understanding Attribution and Data Constraints 50:01 Prioritizing Tasks for Maximum Impact 51:47 Efficiency Through Automation 54:52 The Role of AI in Problem Solving 01:05:09 Critical Thinking in SEO 01:11:38 Building a Supportive SEO Community 01:15:17 Conclusion and Future Episodes
Join hosts Jack Chambers-Ward and Mark Williams-Cook as they tackle the latest SEO news and industry trends. In this episode, we'll cover the growing influence of AI in search, Google introducing AI-organised search results, personalised Google Shopping feeds, and the pitfalls of AI Overviews for finance queries and restaurant reviews. We also explore how Redditors are manipulating search results and whether we can trust online reviews anymore. Don't miss it! Resources Google's AI-Organised search results Google Shopping's personalised feed The Verge's article on personalised Google Shopping feed Redditors disrupt AI Overviews with fake restaurant reviews Sponsors Experience the evolution of SE Ranking Try Optmyzr - Made by PPC people, for PPC people Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:10 Conference Season and Travel 01:40 Sponsor: SE Ranking 03:12 Sponsor: Optmyzr 06:01 AI in Search 2024 06:21 AI Organized Search Results 14:03 Personalized Shopping Feeds 26:55 Financial Advice Inaccuracies 28:52 Financial Advice Regulations in the UK 29:08 US State Laws vs Federal Laws 30:12 AI Overviews and Legal Nuances 31:00 Disclaimers and User Trust 33:39 Accuracy of AI-Generated Content 39:56 Reddit's Influence on Search Results 46:12 User-Generated Content: Pros and Cons 49:25 Conclusion and Upcoming Content
Join hosts Jack Chambers-Ward and Search With Candour Scream Queens, Myriam Jessier, and Stéphanie Walter, in this Halloween-themed episode packed with spooky surprises and valuable marketing insights. From e-commerce strategies and UX design to SEO tips and digital PR trends, you'll discover the scariest messages from your boss and the history of Halloween itself. Sponsors Experience the evolution of SE Ranking Try Optmyzr - Made by PPC people, for PPC people Chapters 00:00 Spooky Introduction and Halloween Special
Join host Jack Chambers-Ward and special guest Darren Shaw, founder of Whitespark, as they dive into the latest in local SEO and Google Business Profile optimisation. Discover key updates expected in 2025, innovative methods to enhance rankings, the impact of custom service entries, strategic use of Google Posts, and the importance of robust Q&A sections. From optimising menu items for restaurants to leveraging photos and videos effectively, this episode is packed with expert insights and practical tips essential for SEO professionals and business owners. Links to follow Darren Darren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenshawwhitespark/ Whitespark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/whitespark/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@darrenshawseo Website: https://whitespark.ca/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WhitesparkCa Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@darrenshawseo Resources Local SEO ranking factors 2023 edition - https://whitespark.ca/local-search-ranking-factors Do Services in Google Business Profiles Impact Ranking? - Sterling Sky Inc Are Opening Hours a Local Ranking Factor? - BrightLocal Report: Menu items, busier businesses may be Google local ranking signals Google Vision AI: https://cloud.google.com/vision Website Title Tags and GMB Snippets Enter…the stuff zone: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/darrenshawwhitespark_perfect-title-tags-for-local-seo-activity-7065345429235781632-xGo1/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:20 Sponsorship Shoutout: SE Ranking 03:54 Sponsorship Shoutout: Also Asked 05:19 Darren Shaw's Journey in SEO 06:31 Local Search Ranking Factors Update 09:43 Optimising Google Business Profile Services 18:23 Impact of Business Hours on Rankings 23:47 Menu Items and Local SEO 29:03 Multilingual Business Names for Local SEO 31:34 Mastering Google Posts: Common Mistakes and Best Practices 37:19 The Power of Videos and Photos in Google Business Profiles 44:53 Optimising Your Google Business Profile Q&A 50:18 The Controversy of Keyword Stuffing in Title Tags 57:07 Outro
Join Jack Chambers-Ward from Search With Candour and Sarah and Tazmin from The SEO Mindset podcast in this special live episode from Brighton as they tackle career planning without the overwhelm. Recorded in front of a packed audience at in The Globe Room at Projects The Lanes, this episode discusses personal experiences in career development, strategies like ikigai and ISA, and the importance of setting achievable goals. Sponsors SE Ranking AlsoAsked SISTRIX Majestic Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:34 Sponsors: SE Ranking & AlsoAsked 00:04:28 Live Podcast Begins 00:05:08 Career Planning Discussion 00:05:27 Introducing the SEO Mindset Podcast 00:06:18 Introducing Search With Candour 00:07:21 Why This Live Podcast is Important 00:08:13 Finding Your Ikigai 00:09:59 Live Podcast Sponsors: SISTRIX & Majestic 00:13:40 Career Planning Experiences 00:20:05 Overcoming Career Planning Challenges 00:27:36 Strategies for Effective Career Planning 00:49:59 The Simple Joy of Cleaning Kitchens 00:50:44 Exploring the Nine Lives Exercise 00:51:34 Taking Action Towards Your Dreams 00:53:44 The ISA Strategy: Intention, Strategy, Action 00:58:00 Collecting Data for Career Success 01:04:38 Building a Personal Brand and Networking 01:09:15 Audience Q&A 01:11:34 Dealing with Comparisons and Self-Perception 01:20:29 The Importance of Certifications and Continuous Learning 01:33:40 Outro
Giulia Panozzo joins Search With Candour to discuss the neuroscience behind negativity bias. Giulia combines her knowledge of neuroscience and marketing to bring some fascinating neuromarketing insights to the podcast! Why do negative headlines get more clicks than positive ones? How does negativity bias affect the way we search? Why does one piece of negative feedback standout against positive feedback? Resources and studies: Neuroscience of Search: What does brain science tell us about the user?
Maria Scheibengraf joins Jack Chambers-Ward to explain why localization is so important for your international SEO strategy. Direct translation just doesn't work for SEO. You need to take culture and nuance into account when it comes to your international SEO strategies. Maria explains the common problems that many agencies and SEOs face with multilingual SEO and how to get SEO localization right. Follow Maria Scheibengraf Follow Maria on LinkedIn Follow Crisol Translations Resources Maria's companion blog post Book recommendation: The Culture Map by Erin Meyer The Nike 'Am I a Bad Person? ad Sponsors Experience the evolution of SE Ranking Start your 14-day free trial of Optmyzr Book your personalised Optmyzr demo Chapters 00:00 Start 00:00:34 Intro 00:01:37 Sponsor: SE Ranking 00:03:45 Sponsor: Optmyzr 00:06:39 Welcome to the show Maria Scheibengraf 00:08:06 Why is SEO localisation so important? 00:11:00 The flawed workflow of SEO translation 00:15:10 Direct translation doesn't work 00:16:21 Localisation is so much more than language 00:20:33 Book recommendation: The Culture Map by Erin Meyer 00:20:53 High context vs low context communication 00:22:06 British humour vs American humor 00:24:00 The importance of technical SEO in localisation 00:27:25 Understand what devices your audience are using 00:30:00 Common problems with SEO localisation 00:36:35 Linguists should learn SEO skills 00:40:30 When should SEO localisation be involved in the process? 00:41:09 The ideal international SEO workflow 00:44:35 How NOT to convince Germans to buy your products 00:47:45 How to budget for SEO localisation 00:49:20 Reuse resources to save time and money 00:51:45 Reframe your unique selling points to different cultures 00:54:05 Understanding cultural-coding 00:55:32 Be mindful of your messaging in different cultures 00:57:10 Marketing is still about evoking emotions in your audience 00:58:00 Even emotions are culturally coded 00:58:37 ‘Am I a bad person?' Nike ad 01:00:34 Individualistic vs collectivist cultures 01:02:58 Search behaviour is becoming more conversational in English 01:05:05 AI is not trained on minority languages 01:06:58 Adapt your language to cultural standards 01:08:12 Even small changes in language can make a big difference 01:09:12 Don't say ‘please' in your Spanish content! 01:10:51 How language changes through generations 01:11:35 “De nada” means “it's nothing” not “you're welcome” 01:13:49 Tiny errors can really change your messaging 01:14:08 How to build trust with your audience 01:15:40 Where to follow Maria Scheibengraf 01:16:36 Outro
Eric Hoover joins the Search With Candour podcast this week to discuss how to use AI for SEO. Yes, we're finally talking about AI tools in detail and how to integrate AI into your SEO workflow. Eric has recommendations for using AI and LLMs for keyword research, competitor analysis, content creation, ecommerce optimisation and if SearchGPT can ever dethrone Google as the primary search engine. Sponsors Experience the evolution of SE Ranking Get your tickets for the live Brighton podcast Links to follow Eric: Follow Eric on LinkedIn Eric's Website Links to resources/articles Unmasking AI by Dr Joy Buolamwini AI in SEO, Treat it like a New Team Member Human-AI Collaboration FeedGen AI Ranch style SEO vs skyscraper style content Most people can't identify AI-generated content Chapters 00:00:00 How to do SEO in an AI world 00:00:28 Intro 00:01:37 Sponsor: SE Ranking 00:03:45 Live brightonSEO podcast 2 Oct 2024 00:05:44 Welcome to the show Eric Hoover 00:06:01 Let's talk about cats (briefly) 00:08:16 SEO in an AI world 00:10:49 Book recommendation: Unmasking AI by Dr Joy Buolawmini 00:12:25 Working with AI as an assistant 00:14:37 You should learn to use AI in your workflow 00:15:20 How to use AI in keyword research 00:18:10 How to use AI in competitor analysis 00:19:35 Use AI to automate tasks and save your brain bandwidth 00:23:10 How to use AI for ecommerce optimisation 00:29:34 How to use AI to create content briefs 00:32:06 How to use AI to brainstorm new ideas 00:36:30 The common pitfalls of AI content 00:39:00 Can readers recognise AI-generated content? 00:41:36 How AI is integrated into the rest of our lives 00:44:50 Ranch-style SEO strategy works for AI-powered search 00:52:20 Content strategy for AI Overviews 00:54:20 Waiting for SearchGPT 00:56:50 Will there be a Google killer? 00:59:25 How search behaviour is shifting away from Google 01:02:50 Where to follow Eric Hoover 01:03:50 Outro and thanks
Jack Chambers-Ward and Mark Williams-Cook reunite in the Candour studio to discuss the early reactions to SearchGPT, the helpful content update might not be what you think and how robots.txt can interact with redirects to cause indexing confusion. Links and resources SE Ranking SearchGPT research Combined SearchGPT analysis on SEJ The helpful content update isn't what you think it is When robots.txt gets stuck in the middle of your redirects Sponsors Start your 14-day free trial of Optmyzr Book your personalised Optmyzr demo Get your free ticket for the live podcast in Brighton Chapters 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:12 - Sponsor: Optmyzr 00:04:02 - Live podcast in Brighton on 2 Oct 2024 00:06:01 - Early reactions to SearchGPT 00:26:26 - The helpful content update was not what you think 00:37:03 - What happens when redirect URLs are blocked by robots.txt? 00:43:00 - SEO is heading towards a big change 00:45:17 - Outro
Ashley Liddell joins Jack on this week's Search With Candour to discuss how social media is infiltrating SEO and Google. With the recent increase in UGC on the SERPs, aligning your social media and search strategies has never been more important. Sponsors SE Ranking is the intuitive SEO platform trusted by over a million SEO professionals - start your free trial today. Free live podcast in Brighton on 2 October 2024. Links to follow Ashley Follow Ashley on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-liddell-seo/ Deviation - https://www.wearedeviation.co.uk/ Links to resources/articles: Deviation article about social SEO: https://www.wearedeviation.co.uk/insights/an-introduction-to-social-seo Relevant previous episode with Ray Saddiq - https://youtu.be/nD97J0on2cI?si=o5SNytZqAYYeS2Cu TikTok as a search engine with Annie-Mai Hodge: https://withcandour.co.uk/blog/tiktok-as-a-search-engine-with-annie-mai-hodge Chapters 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:32 Sponsored by SE Ranking 00:03:11 Live podcast on 2nd October 2024 00:05:10 Welcome Ashley Liddell 00:06:07 The crossover of social media and search 00:09:01 How the relationship between SEO and social media has changed in the last year 00:12:34 The democratisation of content creation 00:14:55 People want authenticity in content 00:17:10 Google Perspectives replaced by Google Forums 00:21:30 How search behaviour has changed for Gen Z 00:23:55 Create content 00:27:03 The growth of long-form and short-form content 00:31:45 How Tiktok leads the short-form video industry 00:33:11 How old marketing tactics become relevant again on new platforms 00:33:50 Tiktok Shop tips 00:34:40 The customer journey for Tiktok content 00:36:08 Is Tiktok shop the future of ecommerce? 00:38:02 Selling products on Tiktok Live is the QVC of 2024 00:41:12 Brands need to embrace long-term commitment to authentic content 00:42:30 What will happen when Boohoo, Primark and Shein start using Tiktok shop? 00:46:35 Will big brands help to “legitimatise” Tiktok shop? 00:51:03 The two way relationship between organic search and social media 00:54:20 Integrating social media into keyword research (h/t tp Ray Saddiq) 00:55:24 Improving user experience by stealing ideas from social media 00:56:42 Search everywhere strategies 01:02:10 How social media can help with link building 01:06:43 Get your digital teams to work together or get left behind 01:08:30 Where to follow Ashley Lidell and Deviation 01:09:43 Thanks and outro
Jack Chambers-Ward discusses the latest SEO news you need to know about. This includes Google's controversial overhaul of their SEO video documentation, how to create your own AI expert with Gemini and is Android changing its default search engine? Chapters 00:00:00 Intro 00:02:06 Win one year's subscription to AlsoAsked Pro 00:04:22 Live podcast - 2 October 2024 in Brighton 00:06:20 SEO news you need to know 00:07:40 Google overhauls video SEO documentation 00:17:26 Google may now use your OG title 00:22:35 Gemini's Gems 00:29:15 Android default search engine selector via Natalia Witczyk 00:34:35 You can include/exclude dimensions in line charts in GA4 via Kyle Rushton McGregor 00:36:34 Links won't save you from the HCU via Glenn Gabe 00:39:44 Outro and thanks Get your tickets for the live podcast in Brighton: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/career-planning-without-overwhelming-yourself-live-podcast-free-pizza-tickets-989270774517 Get a free one year subscription to AlsoAsked Pro: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/markseo_you-can-win-a-free-year-of-alsoasked-pro-activity-7235244350148890624-XC1c Links and resources: Google overhauls SEO video documentation: https://www.seroundtable.com/google-overhauls-video-seo-documentation-37966.html Google may now us your OG title: https://searchengineland.com/google-search-may-now-use-og-title-for-title-links-446023 Gemini's new Gems https://blog.google/products/gemini/google-gemini-update-august-2024/ Android default search engine selector: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7234503443929829376/ You can include/exclude dimensions in line charts in GA4: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-7234851311261814784-UHFo Links won't save you from the HCU: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/glenngabe_google-seo-activity-7235271222450614272-w6LI
Sarah McDowell and Tazmin Suleman, host of The SEO Mindset podcast, return to Search With Candour to discuss career planning and the announcement of our upcoming live podcast event on 2nd October 2024. Get your tickets for the live podcast https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/989270774517?aff=oddtdtcreator Sponsors: SE Ranking is the intuitive SEO platform trusted by over a million SEO professionals - start your free trial today. Keep up to date with the important SEO news with Core Updates Chapters 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:32 - Sponsor: SE Ranking 00:03:16 - How is the weather in Worcester, Milton Keynes and Norwich? 00:04:52 - Live podcast announcement 00:08:40 - What is the live podcast event? 00:12:29 - What's special about the live podcast? 00:15:35 - Providing solutions to topics 00:19:36 - Sponsor: Core Updates 00:20:47 - Career planning without overwhelming yourself 00:22:20 - Sarah McDowell: Butterfly Lady 00:23:40 - Saying yes to things 00:26:13 - Learning to set goals and plan your career 00:28:50 - Give yourself the same advice you would give others 00:30:21 - How to deal with overwhelm 00:32:18 - Planning ahead helps can help reduce stress in the future 00:34:12 - You can get overwhelmed if you don't plan 00:37:47 - Join us on Wednesday 2nd October 2024 00:40:09 - The event will be live streamed and available on Youtube 00:42:52 - Outro Follow The SEO Mindset Podcast: The SEO Mindset podcast Follow Sarah McDowell Follow Tazmin Suleman
Mark & Jack are back in the studio to discuss the latest SEO news including Google's recent legal loss, recommendations coming to Google Search Console and the recent SERP volatility. Sponsors: Find the questions people also ask about your content with AlsoAsked - https://alsoasked.com/?utm=swcpodcast Get your free tickets for HIVE MCR on 29 August 2024 - https://hive-mcr.co.uk/?utm=swcpodcast Links & resources: Google is declared a monopoly by a federal judge https://www.likemind.media/judges-anti-trust-ruling-impact-googles-monopoly/ Marie Haynes breakdown of the Google documents https://x.com/Marie_Haynes/status/1820557751145074977 All 286 pages of the Google trial document https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25032745-045110819896 The Verge's coverage of the Google antitrust trial https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/11/24216760/google-trial-monopoly-remedies-rivals Google Search Console recommendations https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2024/08/search-console-recommendations A lot of SERP volatility suggests a Google update is coming soon https://www.seroundtable.com/google-search-ranking-volatility-weekend-37878.html Chapters 00:00:00 - Intro 00:00:31 - Sponsor: AlsoAsked 00:02:17 - Sponsor: HIVE MCR 00:04:01 - Google is declared a monopoly by a federal judge 00:25:34 - Google Search Console recommendations 00:33:01 - High SERP volatility could mean a Google Core Update is coming soon
Jo Juliana Turnbull AKA SEO Jo Blogs joins Jack to discuss the importance of events and community in the SEO industry. This episode includes advice for creating and growing your event as well as recommendations for communities and events for you to join. Sponsors: SE Ranking is the intuitive SEO platform trusted by over a million SEO professionals - start your free trial today. Understand your users with live “People Also Asked” data and intent clustering by Google. Links to follow Jo: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/j-turnbull X/Twitter: https://x.com/SEOJoBlogs Search London: https://searchldn.com/ Search Barcelona: https://searchldn.com/barcelona/ Links to resources/articles: Great article by Helen Pollitt - https://www.searchenginejournal.com/ask-an-seo-what-are-the-best-resources-to-learn-seo-and-who-are-the-best-people-to-follow-online-for-good-advice/520158/ https://www.womenintechseo.com/ https://webcertain.com/international-search-summit/barcelona/ https://www.goodsignals.com/seo-office-hours/ https://searchnstuff.co.uk/ Chapters 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:18 - Sponsor: SE Ranking 00:02:26 - Sponsor: AlsoAsked 00:04:43 - Welcome SEO Jo Blogs 00:05:39 - SearchLondon 00:06:43 - Why are events so important in the SEO industry? 00:09:06 - The importance of being part of the SEO community 00:10:20 - There are so many incredible events around the world 00:10:53 - How and why Jo started running SearchLondon 00:12:41 - How to make the most of attending an event 00:13:59 - Events help us feel less alone 00:15:10 - The benefits of smaller events 00:18:17 - How to grow your event 00:20:50 - Have a focus for your event 00:22:05 - Booking and visiting the venue 00:23:24 - Prove that your city is worth visiting 00:24:55 - The events happening in Barcelona 00:26:50 - Finding your gap in the market 00:28:54 - How to stand out from other events 00:32:33 - SEO Office Hours 00:35:00 - Online events are important for people who can't attend in-person events 00:36:13 - Search Africon 00:39:24 - How to turn your events into a community 00:43:40 - Pay it forward to other events and creators 00:48:00 - How to build a returning audience for your events 00:55:05 - How to follow SEO Jo Blogs and Search London 00:56:59 - Outro
Patrick Hathaway makes his triumphant return to the show to discuss the Sitebulb JavaScript SEO Report. This episode delves into the internet's growing reliance on Javascript, the importance of understanding Google's indexing & rendering processes and the growth of technical skills gaps in the SEO industry. Sitebulb JavaScript SEO Report https://sitebulb.com/javascript-seo/report/ Follow Patrick & Sitebulb: Patrick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickhathaway/ Sitebulb on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sitebulb/ Patrick on Twitter: https://x.com/HathawayP Sitebulb on Twitter: https://x.com/sitebulb Website: https://sitebulb.com/ Sponsors This week's episode is sponsored by AlsoAsked - the best way to access People Also Ask data at scale. Keep up with the latest SEO news and tips by subscribing to CoreUpdates. Chapters: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:02:40 - Sponsor: AlsoAsked 00:04:25 - Sponsor: Core Updates 00:05:43 - Welcome back, Patrick Hathaway 00:07:17 - What was the inspiration for this JavaScript SEO study? 00:10:07 - A two part study combining the survey & Sitebulb data 00:11:12 - The JavaScript skills gap in SEO 00:12:48 - The evolution of JavaScript and the internet 00:14:55 - Why JavaScript is popular for new developers 00:16:32 - Google's JavaScript documentation 00:18:04 - The anti-JavaScript movement in SEO 00:20:03 - The opacity of fixing JavaScript problems 00:20:30 - Google has improved their JavaScript rendering 00:22:00 - How important is it to understand JavaScript for SEOs? 00:23:45 - Why SEOs should learn how to use DevTools 00:27:05 - Communicating with developers 00:28:32 - Don't be afraid to ask developers questions 00:30:35 - Be honest if you don't know 00:31:15 - A third of SEOs don't feel comfortable investigating JavaScript issues 00:33:07 - How to communicate the value of technical SEO fixes 00:36:28 - How to reduce the JavaScript SEO skills gap 00:39:57 - We should communicate more interdisciplinarily 00:42:40 - Understand when key elements are being changed by JavaScript 00:46:37 - Sitebulb's hints and resources are great 00:48:43 - A JavaScript horror story with Squarespace 00:50:00 - More people are using Sitebulb's Chrome crawler than ever before 00:51:30 - The problem with plugins 00:53:10 - Where to follow Patrick & Sitebulb 00:55:16 - Outro 00:57:03 - Next week's guest is SEOJoBlogs AKA Jo Juliana Turnbull!
Vince Nero (Director of Content Marketing at Buzzstream) joins Jack on this week's episode to discuss why digital PR is the future of link building. Sponsors: SEO Testing - Begin your exclusive extended free trial today Search 'n' Stuff - Use code CANDOUR20 for 20% off your tickets Follow Vince & Buzzstream Vince on LinkedIn Follow Vince on Twitter Check out Buzzstream Buzzstream podcast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWuoOU-8n6fOpQVCszF1JFWEAyTtXhUpb Time stamps 00:00:04 - Intro 00:00:56 - Sponsor: SEO Testing 00:03:47 - Sponsor: Search ‘n' Stuff 00:06:16 - Welcome to the show, Vince Nero 00:08:15 - The shift towards digital PR in link building 00:11:47 - The benefits of digital PR 00:12:50 - How digital PR relates to AI Overviews 00:13:33 - What we can learn from the Google API leak 00:16:45 - Why digital PR is called ‘earned media' 00:20:38 - Using Ahrefs to find your competitors' best links 00:22:54 - The price of a quality links in 2024 00:25:22 - The links that money can't buy (in theory) 00:26:20 - Journalists are underpaid and overworked 00:28:30 - How to stand out against AI-generated content 00:31:10 - Align your content to your audience 00:31:50 - Google is looking for fresh, new content 00:35:45 - Freshness can help get your content featured in AI Overviews 00:36:35 - Vince's blueprint for success (patent pending) 00:39:35 - Make the journalists job as easy as possible 00:41:29 - Is your pitch enough to write an article? 00:44:40 - The click-through rate of big publications vs niche publications 00:45:35 - How to build positive relationships with publications 00:46:34 - The crossover of traditional PR and digital PR 00:48:30 - Proving yourself as an expert 00:50:00 - There's a publication or forum or subreddit for every niche 00:51:40 - Focus on the metrics that matter 00:51:51 - Find your tribe (Seth Godin's advice) 00:54:48 - Find the balance between thinking outside the box and find your audience 00:58:12 - Digital PR for SEO vs brand growth 01:01:02 - Are unlinked mentions still valuable? 01:04:30 - Your site design can affect if people link to you! 01:06:26 - The big sites are overtaken by bad layouts and ads 01:08:15 - Where to follow Vince and Buzzstream 01:09:25 - Outro - I've hosted more episodes than Mark! 01:10:41 - Next week guest announcement
Sponsors: SEO Testing - Begin your exclusive extended free trial today Search 'n' Stuff - Use code CANDOUR20 for 20% off your tickets Mark and Jack reunite in the Candour studio to say goodbye to Universal Analytics and Google's continuous scroll, discuss why Bing's index is more important than you think and why AI Overviews are now showing for fewer than 7% of queries. Time stamps: 00:00:11 - Intro 00:01:14 - Sponsor: SEO Testing 00:05:00 - Sponsor: Search ‘n' Stuff 00:07:30 - In loving memory… 00:08:18 - RIP to Google's continuous scroll 00:14:09 - RIP to Universal Analytics 00:16:06 - Prompt injection leads to demotion on Bing 00:22:34 - The Bing index powers a lot of LLMs 00:34:02 - AI Overviews only show for 7% of queries 00:43:30 - Outro Links and resources Previous episode about GA4 key events and attribution Previous episode about GA4 with Krista Seiden & Simo Ahava RIP Universal Analytics: https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/11583528?hl=en Prompt injection with Bing: https://www.seroundtable.com/prompt-injection-bing-webmaster-guidelines-37650.html Bing's index is more important than you think: https://x.com/jes_scholz/status/1812693442558087653 AI Overviews only showing for 7% of queries: https://searchengineland.com/google-ai-overviews-visibility-new-low-444048
Sponsor: This week's episode is sponsored by Majestic. Go to majestic.com/offers/swc to get exclusive free Lite access to Site Explorer for any one website that you control. Nikki Pilkington joins Jack Chambers-Ward to discuss why SEO education is really important. There needs to be less gatekeeping in SEO and more of us should share our knowledge with peers, clients and even web designers. Follow Nikki Follow Nikki on LinkedIn Follow Nikki on Twitter The Non-wanky SEO Course Time stamps 00:00:04 - Intro 00:01:05 - Majestic ad 00:06:12 - Interview with Nikki Pilkington 00:07:04 - Why is education important in SEO? 00:10:40 - Avoid using jargon, this won't attract new clients 00:14:45 - Don't be afraid to share tips and advice on social media 00:16:46 - Nikki's experiences in the early days of SEO 00:18:35 - Don't gatekeep information 00:20:15 - Testing and experimenting is a great way to learn 00:21:45 - Educate web designers to add Google Search Console from day one 00:25:45 - SEOs can learn a lot from developers and designers too 00:27:25 - PPC and SEO teams should work together 00:31:36 - Recurring clients 00:33:23 - Educating clients about SEO 00:35:55 - Explain why SEO things matter, rather than just telling 00:37:00 - Use plain English not jargon 00:41:00 - SEO isn't a dark art! 00:43:53 - The Google API leak 00:51:27 - AI is useful but it's not the be all and end all 00:52:35 - Vanity metics vs what actually matters 00:54:32 - The power of word of mouth 00:57:18 - Google's tagline - Don't be evil 00:58:45 - Who to learn SEO from and who to follow 01:01:05 - Even small details can lead to new discoveries 01:06:42 - Other SEOs to follow on Twitter 01:08:25 - Where to follow Nikki 01:09:22 - Outro
Josephine Rudolf is a Junior SEO Manager at Barfer's, will be graduating from the International University of Applied Sciences soon and is the newest member of the Women in Tech SEO team. She has been an SEO mentor and mentee, all before the age of 23. Time stamps 00:00:04 - Intro 00:01:17 - AlsoAsked 00:03:03 - Wix Studio 00:04:48 - Interview with Josephine Rudolf 00:05:30 - Networking for introverts 00:06:57 - What networking is like early in your career 00:07:42 - Joining Women in Tech SEO 00:10:40 - What is an introvert? 00:13:26 - Common myths of introverts and extroverts 00:14:28 - What is social anxiety? 00:16:45 - How Josephine has dealt with social anxiety 00:19:34 - Tips and techniques to help reduce social anxiety 00:20:08 - Rituals and preparations 00:23:57 - Meeting up with friends before the event 00:26:58 - One-to-One meetings 00:28:01 - The Alter Ego Effect 00:32:43 - Having a physical item or drink is good to reduce social anxiety 00:34:33 - Self affirmations to reassure yourself 00:37:12 - Pacing yourself 00:39:15 - The peak-end theory 00:44:15 - The importance of aftercare 00:49:00 - Take notes - journaling, audio memos and photos 00:52:13 - The pressure of social media 00:55:10 - The positives of digital networking 01:00:56 - SEO Office Hours live chat 01:01:48 - How to start networking through social media 01:03:23 - The power of one-to-one networking 01:06:03 - Be authentic when you're networking 01:09:53 - People will often remember the silly off-topic things about your conversations 01:11:22 - Cowboy cat hat 01:12:14 - Where to follow Josephine 01:13:43 - Outro Follow Josephine on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephine-rudolf/ Josephine's Cowboy cat - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/josephine-rudolf_a-little-monday-motivation-for-everyone-activity-7213524119403835393-izqw Sponsors: This week's podcast is sponsored by Wix Studio - the web platform built for agencies and enterprises. This week's episode is also sponsored by AlsoAsked - the best way to access People Also Ask data at scale.
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