E750: Are your SEO pages putting your site at risk?

I break down the critical difference between doorway pages (a.k.a. gateway pages) and programmatic SEO - and why confusing the two could lead to a major Google penalty.

You’ll learn: - What Google defines as doorway (gateway) pages - Real examples of businesses hit by Google updates for doorway pages - How to build programmatic SEO pages the right way - The most common mistakes that trigger penalties - and how to avoid them

If you’re serious about sustainable, bottom‑of‑funnel SEO that drives traffic, leads, and customers (without getting penalized), this episode is for you.

⭐️ Google’s Doorway Abuse - https://developers.google.com/search/docs/essentials/spam-policies#doorways

⭐️ Manning Search Marketing’s example and checklist - https://www.manningmarketing.com/articles/what-are-doorwaygateway-pages/

⭐️ Checklist two - https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2015/03/an-update-on-doorway-pages

⭐️ Marc Lou’s Programmatic SEO Guide - https://newsletter.marclou.com/p/how-to-grow-a-micro-startup-with-programmatic-seo

💎 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 Avoiding Google Penalties 00:43 Understanding Gateway Pages 01:55 Examples of Doorway Abuse 03:08 Checklist for Identifying Doorway Pages 05:22 Programmatic SEO 07:24 Differences Between Programmatic SEO and Doorway Pages 09:39 Best Practices 11:29 Final Thoughts

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

#blackhatseo #seohacks #searchengineoptimization

E749: What is the New York Post doing right with SEO - and where are they falling short?

I break down the SEO fundamentals behind one of the internet’s biggest publishers. From page titles and meta descriptions to nofollow links, alt text, and internal linking, we dig into what’s working and what could be improved.

In this episode: - The SEO fundamentals powering 37M+ monthly clicks - How the New York Post uses page titles, meta descriptions, and H1s - Why meta keywords still show up - and what they might be using them for - A look at alt text, internal links, and proper use of nofollow vs. sponsored attributes - What other publishers can learn (and avoid) from their approach - One big growth opportunity the New York Post is missing

Listen in and level up your SEO game.

🎸 RIP Prince of Darkness

💎 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 00:32 New York Post's Traffic and Rankings 00:53 New York Post's SEO Fundamentals 02:26 Meta Keywords and Header Tags 03:07 Alt Text and On-Page Elements 04:21 Nofollow and Dofollow Links 07:11 Citing Sources and Interlinking 08:11 Multimedia Usage 08:57 Opportunities for Improvement

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

#searchengineoptimization #seotips #seotips #digitalmarketing

E748: Google’s June 2025 Core Algorithm Update was supposed to end on July 17 - but many SEOs and site owners are still seeing wild ranking swings, traffic crashes, and unexplained volatility.

In this episode, we break down: - Why many believe the update is still ongoing - Reports of traffic drops as high as 60% - The real impact of AI Overviews on rankings and click-through rates - Why some informational content sites are seeing massive traffic spikes - How one AI-generated news site grew from 300K to 2.2M visits/month in 3 days - What Google's changes mean for internal linking, query parameters, and more - Why your click-through rate might be falling even if your rankings go up - What you should be doing right now to protect your rankings and grow traffic - Tactical SEO advice: above-the-fold content, search intent, backlink profiles, and more

If you're feeling uncertain about where your SEO stands after this update - this episode is for you. Get ahead of the chaos. Here's how to adapt.

💎 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 00:13 Finding Stability in Volatile Times 00:52 Unexpected Volatility Post-Update 01:23 Webmasters' Reactions and Speculations 01:51 Impact on Click-Through Rates and AI Overviews 02:44 Observations on Google's Algorithm Changes 03:41 Mixed Reactions from Publishers 04:59 Success Stories and Traffic Spikes 07:36 Advice for Navigating the Update 09:04 Wrapping

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

#googlecoreupdate #searchengineoptimization #seotips #digitalmarketingnews

E747: This is your step-by-step guide to SEO for authors.

Most authors ignore search engine optimization - or assume it won’t work for their topic or premise. But it's actually one of the most powerful tools you can use to get readers.

I show you how to sell books with search engine optimization, even if your book is ultra-niche.

You’ll learn: - Why SEO is the best long-term channel for authors - Keywords readers are searching for - A full SEO strategy using a historical fiction book as the example - How to build landing pages that convert browsers into buyers - What makes a good SEO hub page (and how to structure one) - Easy backlink strategies authors can do - How to increase your visibility and authority in search results

This is the 20% of SEO that gets 80% of the results - specifically tailored for authors.

💎 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 for Books 00:44 Niche Books 02:23 Keyword Research 03:13 Optimizing Your Book's Web Pages 04:21 Building an SEO Hub Page 06:04 Leveraging Niche Keywords 09:33 Link Building Strategies 09:57 Podcasting and Expert Links 12:23 Final Thoughts on SEO for Books

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

#bookmarketing #searchengineoptimization #seotips

E746: I share some surprising SEO experiments - from FAQ schema to the strategic use of gateway pages and even the infamous .EDU backlink trick. Some of these tactics are creative, some are questionable (black hat), but all of them have one thing in common: they worked.

I break down what made these experiments successful, how you can apply the legit ones, and what to watch out for if you're trying similar approaches. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned SEO, you'll pick up some fresh insights - and maybe a few things not to try.

Topics covered: - Niche FAQ schema that boost snippet visibility - Ranking with "no volume" purchase-intent keywords - Theme refreshes and topical authority bumps - Emoji meta hacks (do they work?) - .EDU scholarship backlinks (and when it gets dark) - Local gateway pages done right - Future-proofing with date-based SEO content

⭐️ The Reddit Thread - https://www.reddit.com/r/SEO/comments/1eflymf/whats_the_most_surprising_seo_tactic_that_worked/

⭐️ The SEO Trick That Skyrocketed My Page from #50 to #1! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSAp9rFXNLw

⭐️ Apple Crushed Their Ads So They Learned SEO and Hit $10M ARR - https://youtu.be/MNHCwj5O4HI

💎 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 00:36 Unconventional SEO Tactics 01:55 Changing Themes and Code 04:35 Low Search Volume Keywords 06:16 The Emoji Meta Description Debate 07:16 Scholarship Offers for Backlinks 10:03 Gateway Pages for Local SEO 11:31 Future-Proofing with Existing Keywords 13:09 Wrapping

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

#searchengineoptimization #seotips #seohacks #linkbuilding

E745: I tackle a question straight from Reddit: “Is it okay to use your main keyword in every headline of a blog post?”

Sounds simple, but the real answer says a lot about how SEO works today - especially in a world of constant Google updates and AI Overviews stealing clicks.

In this episode: - The truth about keyword placement in blog posts - What Google’s algorithm actually looks for (and punishes) - Why most blog SEO is still stuck in the past - How to structure your posts to keep both readers and rankings happy - A better path forward if you actually want results from content

If you’re writing blog posts “for SEO,” you might be making this exact mistake - and it could be holding you back.

⭐️ The Reddit Question: https://www.reddit.com/r/SEO/comments/1kd9wun/is_it_ok_to_use_my_main_keyword_in_every_headline/

💎 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 Blog SEO 01:14 The Keyword Dilemma 04:49 Effective Headline Strategies 06:51 Engagement and Readability 10:33 Effective Keyword Placement 11:53 Making Keywords Sound Natural 15:16 Bottom of Funnel SEO

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

#searchengineoptimization #seotips #blogseo #digitalmarketing

744: I share the exact routine that helps me consistently hit 7+ hours of focused work a day - without burning out. This method powers everything from SEO landing page output to editing, keyword research, and deep digital work.

Here’s what you’ll learn: - The exact 4x25 work session structure I swear by - Why short breaks away from screens are the key to flow state - How this method helps me avoid burnout and do hard work without procrastination - Real examples of how this routine saved hours and improved quality - How I used it to build Compact Keywords and publish 3 - 5 SEO pages per week - How you can apply it to any type of deep work - not just SEO

If you’re trying to get more done, stay in flow, and stop getting stuck, this might be the work method you’ve been looking for.

💎 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 00:54 The Insane Power of My Method 02:06 Step-by-Step Guide to the Technique 03:57 Benefits of Taking Breaks 05:36 Maximizing Productivity with Focused Work 08:12 Achieving High Output with the Technique 09:18 Wrapping

The Edward Show. Your daily digital marketing podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/

#searchengineoptimization #productivity #productivityhacks #pomodorotechnique

E743: One of the darkest corners of SEO: DMCA abuse as a weapon for negative SEO. Happening right now: fake law firms, AI-generated takedowns, and zero oversight from Google are leading to legit businesses being deindexed overnight, sometimes at the worst possible moments (think: product launches, holidays, game days).

I break down: - How DMCA takedowns are being weaponized - Real examples from SEO expert Charles Floate - Why Google isn’t fixing it - and might not want to - What you can do if it happens to you

This is a must-listen for anyone in SEO, digital marketing, or running a business in a competitive niche.

Listen now to learn how to protect yourself.

⚠️ Disclaimer: Nothing in this episode is legal advice. I am not a lawyer.

⭐️ Charles Floate first post: https://x.com/Charles_SEO/status/1944743525381296394

⭐️ Charles Floate second post: https://x.com/Charles_SEO/status/1945552845308047846

💎 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 Dark SEO Tactic 00:07 Negative SEO 00:56 DMCA Abuse in SEO 03:18 Real-World Examples of DMCA Abuse 04:32 Community Reactions and Insights 05:01 Silver Linings and Countermeasures 08:21 Final Thoughts

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

#blackhatseo #negativeseo #seohacks #searchengineoptimization

E742: Are content sites finally rising from the ashes?

I break down the chatter in the SEO world about a surprising comeback for content-driven websites in 2025 - and what it might mean for you.

We’ll cover: - What a content site is (and how they work) - The spike in traffic bloggers and site owners are seeing - Real examples and Google Search Console data - Whether Google’s June Core Update is reviving these sites - or just teasing them - My honest take: Should you invest in a content site right now?

💎 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 The Resurgence of Content Sites 00:28 What is a Content Site? 01:16 Community Insights on Google's Algorithm Update 03:24 Case Studies: Real-World Examples 07:09 AI-Generated Content’s Massive Spike 11:05 Should You Invest in a Content Site? 13:00 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

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

#searchengineoptimization #seotips #helpfulcontentupdate #digitalmarketing

E741: Reddit has rolled out a new generative AI feature called Reddit Answers - and it’s already being targeted by SEOs looking to game the system.

I share how Reddit Answers works, and why it’s quickly becoming a hub for Parasite SEO tactics.

In this episode: - What Reddit Answers is and how it generates content from Reddit threads - How Parasite SEOs are hijacking comments and subreddits to rank on Google - Real examples of fake posts, upvote manipulation, and GPT-written replies - Why Reddit Answers might amplify this behavior (and how AI plays into it)

If you're in SEO, content marketing, or just want to understand how platforms and AI are being gamed, this one’s for you.

💎 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 Reddit Answers and Parasite SEO 00:18 How Parasite SEO Works on Reddit 01:00 Reddit Answers: A New Tool for SEOs 01:22 Personal Experience with Reddit Answers 02:27 Gaming Reddit Answers: A Case Study 05:38 Ethical Considerations and Final Thoughts 06:51 Conclusion

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

#parasiteseo #blackhatseo #generativeengineoptimization #searchengineoptimization