Join me as I recap an eventful summer, blending personal adventures and business breakthroughs. 

Over the last decade, I've struggled with taking time off - this year, I took more time off and made more money than last year.

Let's go SEO!

Key Takeaways:

1. Business Achievements:
   • Launched 2025 photo props, doubling sales from last June.
   • Website traffic nearly doubled, showing successful SEO efforts.
2. New Website Launch:
   • Introduced a dedicated site for the Simple and Smart SEO Show.
   • Joined an SEO bundle and audio summit.
3. Wix Partnership:
   • Became a Wix partner, aligning with new client projects.
   • Launched a new members area for the SEO squad.
4. SEO Bundle and Audio Summit:
   • Contributed to an upcoming FREE SEO Audio Summit starting August 13th.
   • Get my SEO first aid kit in the bundle - or in the SQUAD!
5. Amazon Strategy:
   • Embraced Amazon as a distribution channel, enhancing fulfillment.
   • Plans to update on Amazon's business impact.

Listener Action Items:

• Visit the new Simple and Smart SEO Show website.
• Join the SEO Squad for a free 20-minute brand interview.
• Stay updated on the SEO Audio Summit and SEO Bundle.

Connect with Crystal:

• Website 
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

Subscribe, rate, and review the Simple and Smart SEO Show on your favorite podcast platform!

Send me a text!

Does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by Crystal GPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.

Ditch the overwhelm and discover what SEO can do for your business! Head to SEOin7days.com (with the number 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.

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 SurferSEO!

Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!)

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 talking with veteran SEO expert Erin Sparks, host of the "Edge of the Web" podcast. 

Erin shares insider knowledge on building trust with Google and mastering SEO foundations.

Key Topics:

1. The Evolution of SEO: Discover how SEO has transformed since 2004, emphasizing accountability and digital strategy. Erin explains the shift from traditional marketing to a data-driven approach, highlighting the importance of staying current in the fast-paced digital landscape.
2. Google's Knowledge Graph: Learn how to leverage Google's Knowledge Graph to enhance your online visibility. Erin discusses how businesses can curate detailed information about their services and products to establish authority and trust with Google.
3. Maximizing Multimedia in SEO: Understand the role of podcasts, videos, and structured data in boosting your SEO. Erin highlights the benefits of hosting content on your website and using structured data to make your content more discoverable.

What you can do:

• Targeting Non-Branded Keywords: Learn why focusing on non-branded keywords can attract a broader audience and enhance your site's discoverability.
• Optimizing Internal Links: Find out how to use internal linking to guide users and improve your site's navigability, helping Google understand your content structure.
• Implementing Structured Data: Erin breaks down the process of using structured data to provide search engines with a clear understanding of your site's content, leading to better rankings.

Connect with Erin Sparks:

• Podcast: Edge of the Web
• Company: Site Strategics

Send me a text!

Hey creative entrepreneur—does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by CrystalGPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.

Crystal GPT walks you through what matters most for your website. Head to SEOin7days.com (with a 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.

Does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by Crystal GPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.

Ditch the overwhelm and discover what SEO can do for your business! Head to SEOin7days.com (with the number 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.

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 SurferSEO!

Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!)

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, Crystal Waddell (that's me!) revisits her discussion with Holly Homer and  walks listeners through her process of improving a dedicated page on her e-commerce website for senior athlete posters. 

She shares practical tips on reusing content, internal linking, and leveraging quick SEO wins to create a user-friendly page while managing time constraints. Crystal demonstrates how small, actionable steps can bring big results for your website's SEO strategy.

Key Takeaways:

1. Content Optimization Matters: You can elevate existing content by repurposing images, videos, and text into structured assets.
2. Quick SEO Wins: Highlighting existing customer examples, creating collages, and adding clear CTAs can enhance pages quickly without heavy lifting.
3. The Power of Internal Linking: Linking to specific pages (like “softball posters”) improves navigation and boosts SEO.
4. Reuse and Repurpose: Use tools like Canva for creating visual collages and videos to showcase your product offerings.
5. Give Your Pages a Job: Define the role of every page, button, and piece of content to guide user journeys effectively.

Episode Highlights:

• “Give every page a job: What's the customer's job? What's the page's job? What's the button's job?”
• “I love playing around with ChatGPT—it helps me optimize content with a simple checklist and actionable ideas.”
• “Low effort, high impact content ideas are ideal when you’re time-poor.”

Listener Action Items:

1. Audit Your Website Pages: Identify content that can be optimized or repurposed for better SEO results.
2. Create Quick SEO Wins: Highlight existing examples, add strong CTAs, and make small internal link updates to drive traffic.
3. Brainstorm with AI Tools: Use ChatGPT or similar tools to generate actionable ideas when you're short on time.
4. Repurpose Content: Combine existing visuals and videos into new assets using tools like Canva.
5. Contact Crystal for SEO Help: Visit simpleandsmartseo.com for a strategy that aligns with your budget.

If you’re a small business looking to improve your SEO strategy on a budget, Crystal wou

Send me a text!

Does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by Crystal GPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.

Ditch the overwhelm and discover what SEO can do for your business! Head to SEOin7days.com (with the number 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.

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 SurferSEO!

Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!)

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!

This week I'm interviewing Holly Homer, co-founder of PageWheel and the creative force behind KidsActivities.com.

Episode Highlights:

• Introduction to Holly Homer: Holly shares her remarkable journey from starting one of the first mom blogs to creating a sustainable business that supports her family.
• Streamlining Digital Product Creation: Discover how PageWheel can generate sales pages, thank you pages, delivery emails, and social media content, reducing the time and effort needed for digital marketing.
• SEO Strategies and Opt-in Benefits: Holly explains the critical role of structured content and opt-ins in building and controlling web traffic, enhancing user experience, and improving search engine rankings.
• Editorial Calendar Best Practices: Get practical tips on creating and managing an editorial calendar to ensure your content remains timely, relevant, and engaging.
• Maximizing Email Engagement: Learn Holly's effective strategies for maintaining a highly engaged email list, driving repeat traffic, and maximizing the value of your email subscribers.
• Internal Linking and Content Optimization: Understand the importance of internal linking to improve user navigation and boost SEO performance, along with tips on updating and optimizing old content.

Resources Mentioned:

• PageWheel: Visit PageWheel for a comprehensive tool that streamlines digital product creation.
• KidsActivities.com: Explore Holly’s blog for a plethora of fun and educational activities for kids.

Subscribe & Leave a Review: Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to the podcast and leave a review on your favorite platform. Your feedback helps us deliver more valuable conte

Send me a text!

Hey creative entrepreneur—does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by CrystalGPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.

Crystal GPT walks you through what matters most for your website. Head to SEOin7days.com (with a 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.

Does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by Crystal GPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.

Ditch the overwhelm and discover what SEO can do for your business! Head to SEOin7days.com (with the number 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.

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 SurferSEO!

Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!)

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!

Does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by Crystal GPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.

Ditch the overwhelm and discover what SEO can do for your business! Head to SEOin7days.com (with the number 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.

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 SurferSEO!

Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!)

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, I chat with Edwin Romero, an SEO expert I met at Brighton SEO in San Diego. 

We explore several key aspects of SEO:

• The importance of targeting high-intent, long-tail keywords over high-volume, short-tail ones to boost conversions. 
• The necessity of personalized SEO strategies and a deep understanding of customer needs.

Our discussion extends to the intricacies of website migrations, including:

• meticulous planning, 
• effective redirects, 
• and their impact on SEO. 

Edwin offers valuable insights on various e-commerce platforms like Salesforce Commerce Cloud, Shopify, and Magento, highlighting their unique features and the challenges associated with their migrations.

We also explore Edwin's dual role in managing his independent SEO consultancy alongside his family's import business. He shares how he balances these responsibilities with caring for his growing family and mental health.

Connect With Edwin
Website
Linkedin
Out of Office Chat Podcast


Notable Moments
0:00 Strategic SEO and Business Growth: Lessons and Tips w/ Edwin Romero
00:41 Introduction and Guest Welcome
01:04 Edwin Romero's Background in SEO
01:16 Specialization in Salesforce Commerce Cloud
02:10 Balancing SEO Practice and Family Business
03:45 Understanding Salesforce Commerce Cloud
05:57 Exploring Magento and Website Migrations
08:24 Planning a Successful Website Migration
14:10 Pragmatic SEO Approach
15:56 SEO and Conversion Optimization
17:14 The Out of Office Podcast
17:22 Creative Outlets and Podcasting
17:38 Balanci

Send me a text!

Hey creative entrepreneur—does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by CrystalGPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.

Crystal GPT walks you through what matters most for your website. Head to SEOin7days.com (with a 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.

Does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by Crystal GPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.

Ditch the overwhelm and discover what SEO can do for your business! Head to SEOin7days.com (with the number 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.

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 SurferSEO!

Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!)

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!

Crystal shares insights from installing Clarity on her own websites, using its user experience data to improve customer journeys and increase conversions.

This is the Follow Through Friday Episode For Episode 134 with Celeste Gonzalez.

Key Takeaways:

• Microsoft Clarity Setup: Crystal installed Microsoft Clarity on both her Wix and Shopify websites, noting differences in ease of integration.
• Behavioral Insights: Clarity's screen recordings and heatmaps revealed user interactions, helping to optimize links and reduce customer frustration.
• Pop-up Optimization: Observations from Clarity data prompted Crystal to revise her pop-ups, aiming for a more user-friendly experience to prevent high bounce rates.
• Rage Clicks & Dead Clicks: Addressing rage clicks and dead clicks helped improve site navigation, enhancing user satisfaction and potential affiliate conversions.
• Weekly Reports: Regular reports from Clarity allowed Crystal to monitor ongoing site performance and adjust based on user behavior patterns.

Listener Action Items:

1. Install Microsoft Clarity on your website and begin analyzing user behavior through heatmaps and session recordings.
2. Adjust your pop-ups based on user interaction data to improve engagement and reduce bounce rates.
3. Monitor rage clicks and dead clicks, ensuring that clickable elements lead to relevant pages or actions.

Send me a text!

Does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by Crystal GPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.

Ditch the overwhelm and discover what SEO can do for your business! Head to SEOin7days.com (with the number 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.

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 SurferSEO!

Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!)

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!

This episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show features Crystal Waddell and special guest Celeste Gonzalez of Rickety Roo discussing the importance of user experience in SEO and the benefits of using Microsoft Clarity. 

*takes breath*

We talk about so many SEO-adjacent topics:

• strategies for boosting conversions, 
• the significance of focusing on the user, 
• and the utilization of tools like heat maps and session recordings to analyze and improve website performance. 

Key takeaways include: 

• understanding scroll depth, 
• identifying dead clicks and rage clicks, 
• and integrating user behavior data to optimize content and technical SEO. 

The episode offers actionable insights for business owners, SEO enthusiasts, and solo entrepreneurs looking to enhance their website's performance effectively and efficiently.

00:00 Introduction to SEO and User Experience
00:39 Welcome to the Simple and Smart SEO Show
00:58 Meet Celeste Gonzalez
01:36 Celeste's Journey into SEO
02:14 The Story Behind Rickety Roo
03:01 Celeste's Role at Rickety Roo
05:29 Women in Tech SEO Community
07:42 Importance of Mobile Optimization
11:07 Microsoft Clarity and SEO Adjacency
18:10 Using Heat Maps and Session Recordings
18:32 Optimal Data Collection Periods
19:29 Seasonality and Data Relevance
20:16 Limitations and Features of Microsoft Clarity
22:43 Key Metrics for Solo Entrepreneurs
24:30 Understanding User Behavior with Heat Maps
26:04 Enhancing User Journeys with Content Insights
28:47 E-commerce Insights and Smart Events
35:29 Tracking Changes and User Experience

Connect With Celeste:
Linkedin
X

Send me a text!

Hey creative entrepreneur—does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by CrystalGPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.

Crystal GPT walks you through what matters most for your website. Head to SEOin7days.com (with a 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.

Does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by Crystal GPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.

Ditch the overwhelm and discover what SEO can do for your business! Head to SEOin7days.com (with the number 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.

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 SurferSEO!

Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!)

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 Follow Through Fridays on the Simple and Smart SEO Show, I review actionable SEO and blogging strategies shared in the podcast with Steven Schneider of Trio SEO. 

I discuss my experiences applying these tips on my new Wix website and Shopify store to enhance user experience and optimization. 

My key takeaways are:

• simplifying navigation, 
• optimizing for search intent, 
• using professional photography, 
• and boosting user trust with reviews and detailed "about" sections. 

I also cover social SEO, optimizing owned assets, and creating bottom-of-funnel content.

Join my SEO Squad for weekly SEO implementation, accountability and feedback!

Send me a text!

Does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by Crystal GPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.

Ditch the overwhelm and discover what SEO can do for your business! Head to SEOin7days.com (with the number 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.

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 SurferSEO!

Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!)

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, I chat with Steven Schneider from TrioSEO, an agency that specializes in organic SEO services. 

We discuss the importance of understanding the power of SEO and the transformation it can bring to a brand. 

Steven shares his journey into SEO, starting from blogging in college to building a successful SEO agency. 

Key points include:

1. The evolution of affiliate marketing and its current challenges.
2. The importance of high-quality, human-written content.
3. How AI tools can assist but not replace humans in SEO. 
4. Practical strategies for small businesses to enhance their SEO. 

We also explore the differences between top, middle, and bottom funnel content, and the significance of user experience and search intent. 

Want to connect with Steven?
Find him on LinkedIn.

Send me a text!

Hey creative entrepreneur—does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by CrystalGPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.

Crystal GPT walks you through what matters most for your website. Head to SEOin7days.com (with a 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.

Does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by Crystal GPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.

Ditch the overwhelm and discover what SEO can do for your business! Head to SEOin7days.com (with the number 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.

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 SurferSEO!

Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!)

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!