The Simple and Smart SEO Show

In this episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show, host Crystal Waddell (that's me!) sits down with PPC strategist Charley Brennand to explore the role of storytelling and empathy in digital marketing. 

Charley shares her journey of overcoming underestimation and the valuable lessons she’s learned about making paid advertising accessible, especially for those considered “underdogs.” 

Listen as Charley dives into how she approaches PPC with a balance of technical acumen and creativity, why storytelling can be a game-changer in client communication, and essential steps to ensure a website is ready for PPC investment. 

Key Takeaways:

1. The Power of Storytelling in PPC: Charley emphasizes that storytelling in marketing, especially in technical fields like PPC, can make a significant difference in client communication and results.
2. Recognizing and Overcoming Personal Limiting Beliefs: Charley discusses her own experiences of being underestimated and how she uses those lessons to inspire others to shoot for more in their careers and businesses.
3. Fundamentals of PPC Success: A good website is essential for PPC success. Charley advises fixing issues like slow loading times and poor user experiences before investing in paid ads.
4. Understanding Platform Audiences: Each social platform has unique user behaviors and buyer intent. Charley advises knowing these distinctions to maximize ad spend.
5. Budgeting for Ads with Realistic Expectations: She shares a simple approach to calculating PPC budgets, factoring in search demand, cost-per-click, and average click-through rates.

Episode Highlights:

• “Courage isn’t the absence of fear; it’s pursuing things despite being scared.”
• “If your website’s not user-friendly, don’t waste your money on paid ads—it’s setting yourself up for failure.”

Listener Action Items:

1. Evaluate Your Website for PPC Readiness: Before launching a paid campaign, ensure your website offers a seamless user experience.
2. Identify Your “Why” for Marketing: Clarify the purpose behind your campaigns—whether it’s brand visibility, lead generation, or another goal.
3. Explore Your Customer Journey: Map out the steps your customer typically takes before converting. Use this knowledge to create targeted content and ads across platforms.

Connect with Charle

Send me a text!

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Note:
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In this episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show, Crystal Waddell is joined by Simon Lesser, co-founder and CEO of Dragon Metrics, a powerful all-in-one SEO software platform. 

Simon shares the journey behind Dragon Metrics, and explains how DM competes with larger tools like Ahrefs and SEMrush.

Key Takeaways:

1. Founding Story of Dragon Metrics: Simon Lesser "quit his way to the top" by pivoting from an SEO agency to creating a top-tier SEO tool.
2. SEO Tool Competitiveness: Dragon Metrics competes with major players like SEMrush and Ahrefs by offering a product-focused, cost-effective solution with unparalleled customer support.
3. Changes in SEO Industry: The past 18-24 months have been the most turbulent in SEO history, with shifts in algorithms, AI advancements, and economic factors impacting the industry.
4. The Future of Search: AI is dramatically shaping the future of search and content creation, with new challenges and opportunities for SEO professionals.
5. Actionable Advice for Small Businesses: Play to your strengths by doing what others can't. Focus on offering unique, non-scalable services to build your brand.

Memorable Quotes:

• "I quit my way to the top. Every time I quit, the job kept getting better and better." - Simon Lesser
• "SEO tools are fully complementary to Google Search Console. They fill in the gaps, offering insights Google can't provide." - Simon Lesser
• "You can create the best product in the world, but if you don't tell people about it, you'll fail as a business." - Simon Lesser

Listener Action Items:

1. Explore Dragon Metrics: Sign up for a 30-day free trial of Dragon Metrics to see how it can help improve your SEO strategy.
2. Take a Product Tour: Schedule a demo session to understand how Dragon Metrics can specifically cater to your business needs.
3. Focus on What You Do Best: Identify services or features you can offer that larger competitors can't, and capitalize on those unique strengths.

Connect with Simon Lesser:
Linkedin
Dragon Metrics

Send me a text!

Hey, football fans! Score big this fall with Senior Night Gifts from LoveYourSenior.com. These treasures are just what you need to make your memories last a lifetime. But hurry, these limited edition pieces are as fleeting as those Friday night lights Visit loveyoursenior.com and grab yours before the final whistle blows.

That's loveyoursenior.com.

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Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!

Join the SEO Squad

Apply to be my podcast guest! 🎙️ Don't forget to Put your pitch topic in the subject line!

AFFILIATE LINKS:
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Get Carry (formerly Ocho): the best retirement resources for entrepreneurs!

Note:
If you make a purchase using some of my links, I make a little money.
But I only ever share products, people, & offers I trust & use myself!

In this episode, I (Crystal Waddell) get a chance to talk with analytics expert Dana DiTomaso to discuss Google Analytics 4 (GA4), its use cases and importance for small business owners.

Key Takeaways:

• Set up GA4 immediately: The best time to set up analytics was yesterday, but it's not too late. Prioritize implementation and start gathering valuable data​.
• Execution over analysis paralysis: Don't get bogged down by overthinking your analytics strategy. Focus on taking action and refining it over time​.
• UTM Parameters are essential: Use UTM parameters in your URLs to track traffic sources accurately, especially for channels like Google Business Profiles​​.
• SEO is more accessible now: SEO has evolved from a niche technical field to a more content-driven, accessible discipline​.

Memorable Quotes:

• "The best time to set up [GA4] was at the beginning, but the next best time is right now." — Dana DiTomaso​.
• "SEO has become more grown-up and professional, and that's why it's drawing more women into the field." — Dana DiTomaso​.

Listener Action Items:

1. Set up GA4: If you haven't yet, get started with GA4 to track valuable user data and engagement.
2. Add UTM Parameters: Make sure you're using UTM codes to track where your website visitors are coming from, especially from Google Business Profiles and social media​.
3. Embrace execution: Don’t overanalyze — make incremental improvements and learn from the results​.

Connect with Dana:

Linkedin
Get the Kickpoint Playbook 

• Use code "simpleandsmart" for 20% any courses!

Send me a text!

Hey, football fans! Score big this fall with Senior Night Gifts from LoveYourSenior.com. These treasures are just what you need to make your memories last a lifetime. But hurry, these limited edition pieces are as fleeting as those Friday night lights Visit loveyoursenior.com and grab yours before the final whistle blows.

That's loveyoursenior.com.

Rumi.ai
All-in-one meeting tool with real-time transcription & searchable Meeting Memory™

Support the show

Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!

Join the SEO Squad

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AFFILIATE LINKS:
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Get Carry (formerly Ocho): the best retirement resources for entrepreneurs!

Note:
If you make a purchase using some of my links, I make a little money.
But I only ever share products, people, & offers I trust & use myself!

I'm sharing a personal update, the importance of balancing life and work, and learning when to step back.

Key Takeaways:

• Recognize your limits: It's important to identify when to step back and take time for personal matters.
• Future-proofing the podcast: To ensure the podcast continues, guest hosts may be invited to share their insights in future episodes.
• Resilience in challenges: Even with setbacks, it’s essential to learn and grow from them, focusing on failing differently next time.

Memorable Quotes:

• "As much as we want to come across like we have everything together, there are times we just can't show up as our best selves, and that's okay."
• "I’ve realized it’s not about intentions, but actions that matter."

Listener Action Items:

• Reflect on your own work-life balance and consider whether you need to step back in certain areas.
• If you're interested in being a guest host on the show, pitch your idea to me via LinkedIn or email at [email protected].
• Stay tuned for upcoming guest-hosted episodes for fresh insights on SEO and marketing strategies.

Send me a text!

Support the show

Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!

Join the SEO Squad

Apply to be my podcast guest! 🎙️ Don't forget to Put your pitch topic in the subject line!

AFFILIATE LINKS:
Start your Shopify Store!
Get Carry (formerly Ocho): the best retirement resources for entrepreneurs!

Note:
If you make a purchase using some of my links, I make a little money.
But I only ever share products, people, & offers I trust & use myself!

In this Follow Through Friday episode, I revisit episode 136 with SEO expert Edwin Romero. I review his approach to strategic SEO and his "guided selling" method, and apply his advice to optimizing collections, blogs, and deleting affiliate links.

Additionally, I introduce the Brand Resume Visibility Audit, a resource to enhance your omnichannel presence.

Key Takeaways:

1. Guided Selling Approach: Actively guide customers through the buying journey by presenting curated options to simplify decisions.
2. Optimizing Categories and Collections: Break down categories into digestible, smaller sections to make the customer experience more focused.
3. Visibility Audit: The brand resume audit helps establish omnichannel optimization, critical for SEO in today's GPT-driven search environments.
4. Updating Blogs and Links: Regularly reviewing and optimizing content, including affiliate links and image sizes, can greatly improve website performance.
5. Omnichannel Optimization: Be present across platforms, consistently reinforcing your brand identity for improved visibility.

Listener Action Items:

1. Implement Guided Selling: Begin using the guided selling approach by presenting curated, clear choices to customers.
2. Optimize Your Collections: Break down business offers into more specific, targeted categories.
3. Visibility Audit: Conduct an omnichannel audit of your brand to ensure consistency across platforms.
4. Test Website Redirects: Ensure smooth URL transitions using tools like Screaming Frog and optimize redirects for seamless user experiences.

Send me a text!

Support the show

Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!

Join the SEO Squad

Apply to be my podcast guest! 🎙️ Don't forget to Put your pitch topic in the subject line!

AFFILIATE LINKS:
Start your Shopify Store!
Get Carry (formerly Ocho): the best retirement resources for entrepreneurs!

Note:
If you make a purchase using some of my links, I make a little money.
But I only ever share products, people, & offers I trust & use myself!

In this episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show, Crystal Waddell is joined by Amanda Jordan, Director of Digital Strategy at Rickety Roo, to dive deep into the world of local SEO. 

Whether you're a local business owner or part of a franchise, Amanda's insights will help you refine your SEO tactics and strategies for better visibility and results.

Key Takeaways:

1. Local SEO Is All-Encompassing: Local SEO isn't limited to Google Business Profiles or maps. It involves your entire website and how you rank in a specific geography.
2. The Power of Internal Linking: Proper internal linking between service and location pages is one of the most effective ways to improve local rankings and increase traffic.
3. Content Clustering for Local Search: Tailoring content to reflect local search behaviors is crucial for SEO success. Understand how people search in your city and focus on that.
4. Combatting Duplicate Content in Local SEO: Customize location-specific pages by including unique aspects like user-generated content, reviews, and local awards to avoid content duplication.
5. Non-Branded Traffic is Essential: Relying on branded traffic limits your reach. Developing non-branded content will help you attract more diverse visitors.

Listener Action Items:

1. Audit your current internal linking strategy to ensure your key service and location pages are well-connected.
2. Develop location-specific service pages that speak directly to the needs and search habits of your audience.
3. Explore content opportunities that reflect local search terms and behaviors in your market.
4. Utilize tools like Google Trends to understand keyword trends in your region, helping you make data-driven SEO decisions.

Send me a text!

Hey, football fans! Score big this fall with Senior Night Gifts from LoveYourSenior.com. These treasures are just what you need to make your memories last a lifetime. But hurry, these limited edition pieces are as fleeting as those Friday night lights Visit loveyoursenior.com and grab yours before the final whistle blows.

That's loveyoursenior.com.

Rumi.ai
All-in-one meeting tool with real-time transcription & searchable Meeting Memory™

Support the show

Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!

Join the SEO Squad

Apply to be my podcast guest! 🎙️ Don't forget to Put your pitch topic in the subject line!

AFFILIATE LINKS:
Start your Shopify Store!
Get Carry (formerly Ocho): the best retirement resources for entrepreneurs!

Note:
If you make a purchase using some of my links, I make a little money.
But I only ever share products, people, & offers I trust & use myself!

I interview Nathan Hirsch, founder of ECom Balance to discuss the importance of standard operating procedures (SOPs), effective hiring practices, and leveraging SEO for business growth. 

Key Takeaways:

• SOPs are essential for scalability: Nathan emphasizes the importance of creating detailed SOPs for every part of the business and regularly updating them to maintain efficiency.
• Hiring the right people is critical: Nathan shares his strategy for hiring A-players and the importance of setting clear expectations and processes during onboarding.
• Market validation before investment: Before fully launching a business, ensure there is a market for it by testing ideas with potential clients and proving your ability to retain them.
• Balancing automation and human touch: Nathan explains how automation can help, but emphasizes the importance of keeping a personal touch in customer interactions, especially in SEO and customer service.

Episode Highlights:

• “Prove that there’s an actual market for it. Prove that you can get clients for it and prove that you can keep clients for it.”
• "We always want clients to feel like they’re one step away from talking to me."

Listener Action Items:

1. Create or refine your SOPs: Start documenting your key business processes, and schedule quarterly reviews to ensure they stay updated.
2. Review your hiring process: Focus on communication, attitude, and red flags during interviews to ensure you hire the right people for your team.
3. Test your business ideas: Before investing significant time or money, run tests to ensure your product or service has a viable market.
4. Optimize customer service: Balance automation with personal touches to ensure clients feel valued and heard.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

• Free SOPs for SEO: TrioSEO.com/SOP
• EcomBalance (E-commerce bookkeeping): EcomBalance.com
• Nathan Hirsch: Linked In

Send me a text!

Hey, football fans! Score big this fall with Senior Night Gifts from LoveYourSenior.com. These treasures are just what you need to make your memories last a lifetime. But hurry, these limited edition pieces are as fleeting as those Friday night lights Visit loveyoursenior.com and grab yours before the final whistle blows.

That's loveyoursenior.com.

Support the show

Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!

Join the SEO Squad

Apply to be my podcast guest! 🎙️ Don't forget to Put your pitch topic in the subject line!

AFFILIATE LINKS:
Start your Shopify Store!
Get Carry (formerly Ocho): the best retirement resources for entrepreneurs!

Note:
If you make a purchase using some of my links, I make a little money.
But I only ever share products, people, & offers I trust & use myself!

⚠️ SMART, advanced episode! 🤓

In this episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show, Crystal Waddell welcomes back Crystal Carter, Head of SEO Communications at Wix, to dive deep into the concept of entities and their impact on SEO.

Takeways:

• Consistency is Key: Your digital presence and how you describe your business should remain consistent across all platforms. Inconsistent messaging can confuse search engines and users.
• Entities are Everywhere: Anything from people to concepts can be an entity. Understanding how entities like Beyoncé or Barbie are connected can help improve your content and digital presence.
• Tools for Entity Management: Tools like TextRazor and SEMrush can help extract and optimize entities in your content. 
• Schema Markup Matters: Using schema markup to describe your organization, services, and products improves your site’s connection to the knowledge graph.
• Leverage Knowledge Panels: Strengthen your brand's online identity by ensuring you are represented on platforms like LinkedIn and Google My Business to feed accurate data into Google's knowledge graph.

Memorable Quotes:

• “Entities are essentially nouns—people, places, things, and even concepts that search engines recognize.” – Crystal Carter
• You have to be consistent. Even if you're doing a hundred things, you need to summarize it in a way that’s clear to both users and search engines.” – Crystal Carter

Listener Action Items:

1. Audit Your Digital Presence: Ensure your website, social profiles, and Google Business Profile present a consistent message about your brand.
2. Implement Schema Markup: Use tools like ChatGPT or schema.org to generate JSON-LD schema for your site to enhance its connection with search engines.
3. Leverage Free Tools: Use TextRazor, SEMrush, or other NLP tools to identify and optimize entities.

Carl’s tool: https://audits.com/tools/knowledge-graph-search/

Gus article: https://www.wix.com/seo/learn/resource/get-a-google-knowledge-panel

InLinks: https://inlinks.com/knowledge-graph-explained/

Connect with Crystal:

Send me a text!

Hey, football fans! Score big this fall with Senior Night Gifts from LoveYourSenior.com. These treasures are just what you need to make your memories last a lifetime. But hurry, these limited edition pieces are as fleeting as those Friday night lights Visit loveyoursenior.com and grab yours before the final whistle blows.

That's loveyoursenior.com.

Support the show

Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!

Join the SEO Squad

Apply to be my podcast guest! 🎙️ Don't forget to Put your pitch topic in the subject line!

AFFILIATE LINKS:
Start your Shopify Store!
Get Carry (formerly Ocho): the best retirement resources for entrepreneurs!

Note:
If you make a purchase using some of my links, I make a little money.
But I only ever share products, people, & offers I trust & use myself!

In this episode, I sit down with Nicolas Garfinkel to explore the future of SEO through the lens of predictive models and machine learning. 

Key Takeaways:

1. The Importance of Data in SEO: Nicolas emphasizes the need for data-driven approaches in SEO, highlighting how relying on intuition alone isn't enough in today's rapidly changing environment.
2. Predictive SEO Models: Nicolas introduces Kixley, the first predictive SEO tool that uses machine learning to forecast the impact of SEO strategies on rankings and traffic.
3. SEO Strategy for Different Scales: The episode discusses how SEO strategies differ for small businesses compared to large enterprises, particularly in leveraging data and statistical models for decision-making.
4. Local SEO Optimization: Practical tips on optimizing local SEO, including the importance of Google Business profiles, customer reviews, and addressing schema markup.
5. Future of SEO: Insights into the future of SEO, where machine learning and predictive models will play a crucial role in optimizing and prioritizing SEO tasks.

Listener Action Items:

1. Optimize Local SEO: Update your Google Business profile, encourage customer reviews, and ensure your website includes your physical address to boost local SEO efforts.
2. Incorporate Data-Driven SEO: Begin integrating more data and analytics into your SEO strategies to prioritize efforts that will have the most significant impact.

Connect with Nicolas Garfinkel:

• Kixely
• Linkedin

Send me a text!

Hey, football fans! Score big this fall with Senior Night Gifts from LoveYourSenior.com. These treasures are just what you need to make your memories last a lifetime. But hurry, these limited edition pieces are as fleeting as those Friday night lights Visit loveyoursenior.com and grab yours before the final whistle blows.

That's loveyoursenior.com.

Support the show

Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!

Join the SEO Squad

Apply to be my podcast guest! 🎙️ Don't forget to Put your pitch topic in the subject line!

AFFILIATE LINKS:
Start your Shopify Store!
Get Carry (formerly Ocho): the best retirement resources for entrepreneurs!

Note:
If you make a purchase using some of my links, I make a little money.
But I only ever share products, people, & offers I trust & use myself!

Episode Summary: In this episode, I sit down with Keshia Taylor to uncover how local SEO can drive business success without relying on social media. 

Key Takeaways:

1. Introduction to Kechia Taylor:
   • Kechia is a permanent makeup artist, educator, and franchisor with over 20 years in the beauty industry.
   • She discusses her journey from being a brow expert to becoming a successful business owner and franchisor.
2. Thriving Without Social Media:
   • Kechia explains why she stepped away from social media and how local SEO has become her primary strategy for attracting clients.
   • She emphasizes that local SEO can be more effective than social media for reaching targeted audiences.
3. Local SEO Strategies:
   • Kechia shares her tips for optimizing Google Business Profile, including the importance of consistent information and using geotagged photos.
   • She highlights the power of platforms like Apple Maps and Yelp for local businesses.
4. Leveraging Pinterest for Local Businesses:
   • Kechia reveals how she uses Pinterest as a powerful tool for local SEO, creating boards that showcase her work and connect with local audiences.
   • She explains how Pinterest’s search ranking can outperform other social media platforms like Instagram, making it a valuable asset for brick-and-mortar businesses.
5. Handling Negative Reviews and Building a Positive Online Presence:
   • Kechia provides insights on responding to negative reviews.
   • She advises on how to maintain a positive online reputation by actively managing and responding to reviews on platforms like Google.

Connect with Kechia Taylor:

• Website: SEO For The Beauty Pro
• LinkedIn
• Brows and Co. Podcast

Send me a text!

Hey, football fans! Score big this fall with Senior Night Gifts from LoveYourSenior.com. These treasures are just what you need to make your memories last a lifetime. But hurry, these limited edition pieces are as fleeting as those Friday night lights Visit loveyoursenior.com and grab yours before the final whistle blows.

That's loveyoursenior.com.

Rumi.ai
All-in-one meeting tool with real-time transcription & searchable Meeting Memory™

Support the show

Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!

Join the SEO Squad

Apply to be my podcast guest! 🎙️ Don't forget to Put your pitch topic in the subject line!

AFFILIATE LINKS:
Start your Shopify Store!
Get Carry (formerly Ocho): the best retirement resources for entrepreneurs!

Note:
If you make a purchase using some of my links, I make a little money.
But I only ever share products, people, & offers I trust & use myself!