The Simple and Smart SEO Show

In this episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show, Crystal Waddell (that's me!) welcomes back Ashley from Deviation to dive deep into the evolving world of search. We break down digital silos across marketing teams, explore the power of unified metrics, and discuss why brand search and intent-rich content are key to dominating the search-everywhere era. From creating demand via social media to optimizing for long-tail keywords and leveraging data-driven strategy visuals, this conversation is packed with tactical and strategic gold for business owners, content creators, and SEOs alike.🔑 Key Takeaways:Monthly Search Volume Isn’t King: Start with intent research, then validate with search volume—don't let metrics dictate strategy prematurely.Break Digital Silos: Align KPIs across search, brand, and social teams to create unified, impactful digital strategies.Brand + Awareness Terms Are the Future: Think "Your Brand + Topic You Want to Own" to drive searches and become synonymous with your niche.Organic and Paid Should Work Together: Use organic performance data to inform paid ad strategy and amplify proven content.Optimize for Intent, Not Volume: Long-tail, niche-specific PLPs and PDPs outperform high-volume generic terms in the age of AI search.Spider Graph Strategy Visualization: A revolutionary tool for mapping brand presence across platforms and identifying strategic content gaps.AI Agents in SEO: Breakthrough potential when backed by trusted tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs—be cautious of generic wrappers.💬 Memorable Quotes:"You might be better creating long-tail, intent-focused PLPs with 30 searches a mText me your questions or comments!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 showBook a Shopify Store Strategy Call With Crystal! Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast! AFFILIATE LINKS:Start your Shopify Store!Get SurferSEO! Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!) Grid and Pixel 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 Black Friday-themed episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show, Crystal Waddell welcomes John Hogan, co-founder of Grid and Pixel. We dive deep into how e-commerce businesses, especially those on Shopify, can use personalized and fully automated email flows to drive more revenue. Learn the secrets to converting visitors with targeted popups, the importance of various email flows (including abandoned cart, product browse, and post-purchase), and how Grid and Pixel streamlines everything with AI. Whether you're a seasoned email marketer or just starting out, this episode is packed with practical tips for boosting Black Friday and year-round sales.Key Takeaways:Automated Email Wins: Grid and Pixel helps brands automate both email campaigns and flows for increased sales and reduced workload.Email Flows Matter: Key flows like welcome series, abandoned cart, and post-purchase emails can significantly boost revenue.Personalization Drives Conversions: Tailored product recommendations and content outperform generic blasts.Shopify Email vs Klaviyo: Shopify email works for automations but struggles with high bounce rates in campaigns—Klaviyo or Omnisend are stronger choices.Time-Saving AI: Grid and Pixel acts like an AI-powered marketing assistant, reducing the need for costly agencies.Episode Highlights:"We realized quickly that store owners didn’t want to implement email marketing themselves. They either didn’t have time or didn’t want to learn." – John Hogan"A product browse email can drive as much revenue as abandoned checkout emails over time." – John Hogan"Shopify email has a bounce problem—it’s great for automations, but campaigns can get shut down due to high bounce rates." – John HoganListener Action Items:Audit Your Email Flows: Review whether you’ve set up all the essential flows—welcome series, abandonments, post-purchase, win-backs, etc.Test New Opt-in Offers: Swap out tired 10% discoText me your questions or comments!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 showBook a Shopify Store Strategy Call With Crystal! Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast! AFFILIATE LINKS:Start your Shopify Store!Get SurferSEO! Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!) Grid and Pixel 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'm stitting down with Ashley Liddell, co-founder of Deviation, to explore the concept of “Search Everywhere® .” From Sephora’s “Black Beauty Is Beauty” campaign to understanding the evolution of search across platforms like TikTok, Pinterest, and Reddit, Ashley shares his journey to building a unique SEO agency. We discuss the fragmentation of the customer journey, optimizing across platforms, and why traditional SEO alone is no longer enough.Key Takeaways:Search Everywhere®  Philosophy: SEO now means being discoverable on every platform where your audience is already spending time—not just Google.Brand Discovery vs. Intent Search: Ashley explains the difference between interruptive discovery (social platforms) vs. intentional problem-solving (search engines).Customer Journey Mapping: Understanding platform intent and audience behavior is essential to building omnichannel search strategies.Sephora’s Case Study: A missed opportunity to capitalize on a 7,000% search lift after a viral campaign highlights the need for integrated internal comms between marketing and SEO teams.Platform-Specific Optimization: Brands must tailor content (video, visual, text) based on platform expectations and user intent.Memorable Quotes:“Search Everywhere®  is about engineering brand discovery where your audience actually hangs out.” – Ashley Liddell“We’ve always conformed to Google’s expectations—but what if your audience doesn’t?” – Ashley Liddell“That 7,000% spike in brand search was completely missed because of internal silos.” – Ashley LiddellListener Action Items:Reevaluate Your Search Strategy: Consider where your audience spends time—beyond Google—and start optimizing there.Audit Internal Communication: Ensure your marketing, social, and SEO teams are aligned and sharing data.Review Campaign Metrics Holistically: Don’t just track social performance—look at how it influences branded search and on-site behavior.Connect with AshText me your questions or comments!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 showBook a Shopify Store Strategy Call With Crystal! Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast! AFFILIATE LINKS:Start your Shopify Store!Get SurferSEO! Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!) Grid and Pixel 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, Crystal continues her conversation with Deonnah Carolus, the founder of E-Commerce Savvy, diving deeper into launching and scaling Shopify stores with the help of AI tools. Deonnah shares practical insights on using Shopify’s built-in features versus third-party themes, optimizing SEO for long-term visibility, setting realistic timelines for launching a store, and the mindset shifts needed to succeed in e-commerce. Whether you’re transitioning from Etsy or building your first digital storefront, this episode provides actionable advice to help you go from idea to income—without the overwhelm.🔑 Key Takeaways:Launch Imperfectly, Learn Quickly: Start with one product and iterate. Perfectionism delays progress.AI Can Accelerate Design, But Requires Human Input: Shopify's AI tools can speed up store creation but need customization to avoid generic results.Free Shopify Themes Are Powerful: Themes like Horizon and Dawn are flexible, optimized for speed, and ideal for beginners.Mindset Over Comparison: Focusing on your own vision helps avoid “comparisonitis” and analysis paralysis.Know When to Upgrade Plans: Shopify Plus is best for stores doing $1M+ annually and needing advanced customization.SEO is Non-Negotiable: Foundational SEO is critical to long-term growth and lower ad costs.Schema is the Future: As Google evolves, structured data will be key to visibility—Yoast can help.🧠 Listener Action Items:Launch Now: Choose one product and go live—don’t wait for perfection.Use Free Themes: Start with Shopify’s Horizon to keep costs low and performance high.Prioritize SEO: Set meta tags and use schema tools to improve discoverability.Invest in Learning: Consider Deonnah’s Idea to Income course to build your Shopify store in 30 days.Follow for More: Stay inspired and educated by following @ecommercesavvy on Instagram and TikTok.Connect with Deonnah Carolus: WebsiteText me your questions or comments!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 showBook a Shopify Store Strategy Call With Crystal! Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast! AFFILIATE LINKS:Start your Shopify Store!Get SurferSEO! Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!) Grid and Pixel 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 (That's me!) is joined by Shopify expert and founder of e-Commerce Savvy, Deonnah Carolus. They dive into the recent changes at Shopify, talk AI integration, theme changes like Horizon, and practical insights for e-commerce sellers. Whether you're new to Shopify or an experienced seller looking to stay ahead, this episode is packed with actionable strategies and future-focused predictions.Key Takeaways:Shopify Evolution: Deonnah outlines how Shopify has transitioned from Debut to Dawn, and now to the new Horizon theme, offering more flexibility and AI-powered tools.AI Integration: Both the theme builder and theme generator now feature AI capabilities—but success still depends on the quality of your prompts.Theme Migration Tips: Migrating from Dawn to Horizon requires rebuilding custom templates. Early adoption helps avoid rushed transitions later.SEO in Social Media: SEO isn’t just for websites—Deonnah explains how it intersects with social media marketing.Pricing Services: Deonnah shares her method of pricing services based on the client’s business scale and goals, not a one-size-fits-all approach.Memorable Quotes:“Google’s confused for the first time since 1996.” – Deonnah Carolus“Everyone’s trying to figure out how to get AI integrated into everything.” – Deonnah CarolusListener Action Items:Evaluate Your Shopify Theme: If you’re still using Dawn or Debut, start testing Horizon now to prepare for the future.Play with AI Tools: Begin experimenting with Shopify’s AI builder and theme generator to familiarize yourself with their capabilities.Document Your Custom Pages: Before migrating, inventory your custom product and collection pages to simplify rebuilding them in Horizon.Audit Your Pricing Strategy: If you’re a service provider, consider revisiting your pricing model to reflect client diversity like Deonnah suggests.Follow the Trend: Stay informed on Shopify’s updates and the role of AI in e-commerce to future-proofText me your questions or comments!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 showBook a Shopify Store Strategy Call With Crystal! Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast! AFFILIATE LINKS:Start your Shopify Store!Get SurferSEO! Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!) Grid and Pixel 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 must-listen follow-up episode, Crystal Waddell is joined again by Marketing Director Garrett Sussman to unpack the fast-evolving world of SEO, GEO (Generative Engine Optimization), and the iPull Rank conception of "Relevance Engineering." From the power of Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) to how AI is rewriting what it means to be "searchable," this episode dives deep into the shifts that matter most for small businesses and marketers. Discover how to test AI’s understanding of your brand, stay competitive in fractured discovery environments, and leverage “happy accidents” for product innovation.🔑 Key Takeaways:GEO vs SEO: Why Generative Engine Optimization may not replace SEO—but instead become a specialized subset.Relevance Engineering: A new framework to ensure brand visibility across all platforms, from TikTok to Google.The Rise of RAG: How Retrieval-Augmented Generation changes how AI answers questions and includes your content.AI's Hallucinations: Why small businesses must audit AI outputs and the potential hidden product ideas they reveal.Testing for Visibility: How to explore how AI models “see” your brand—despite increasing personalization.🔥 Episode Highlights:"GEO is kind of a subset of SEO... but it’s also a different discipline because LLMs don't behave like traditional search engines." — Garrett Sussman"Don’t try to be everything to everyone. Know your ideal customer. Make content for them." — Garrett Sussman✅ Listener Action Items:Audit AI Search Results: Ask ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Claude what they know about your business.Review Your Visibility: Explore how your content performs across platforms, not just on Google.Track Referrals from AI: Start noting AI tools in your referral sources or “How did you hear about us?” forms.Experiment with Product Ideas: Pay attention to fictional features AI suggests—they might be your next big seller!Check Out the AI Search Manual: Linked by Garrett for deeper insights into the future of search.Connect With Garrett Sussman:Text me your questions or comments!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 showBook a Shopify Store Strategy Call With Crystal! Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast! AFFILIATE LINKS:Start your Shopify Store!Get SurferSEO! Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!) Grid and Pixel 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 Garrett Sussman, Director of Marketing at iPullRank, to unpack how AI is transforming SEO, e-commerce, and online visibility. From the recently announced Shopify + OpenAI partnership to the rise of product recommendations in ChatGPT, this conversation explores what business owners need to know to stay competitive online. Learn why traditional keyword-focused strategies are losing relevance and how to adapt using topical content, brand authority, and omnichannel visibility. Key Takeaways:AI is Reshaping E-commerce Search: ChatGPT and Shopify's partnership hints at future product recommendation features, and small businesses can already submit merchant feeds to get listed.Keyword Optimization is Changing: Focus on topics and customer intent over traditional keyword volume.Visibility Requires Omnichannel Strategy: Your brand needs to show up across platforms like Google, Reddit, Amazon, and listicles to be included in AI-generated outputs.Google is Still King: Optimizing for Google often benefits visibility in other AI platforms too.Listener Action Items:Submit Your Merchant Feed: If you’re on Shopify, fill out the early access form for LLM/AI product recommendations.Diversify Content Presence: Create short, specific articles around key topics instead of just long-form content.Build a Brand Resume: Ensure yourText me your questions or comments!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 showBook a Shopify Store Strategy Call With Crystal! Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast! AFFILIATE LINKS:Start your Shopify Store!Get SurferSEO! Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!) Grid and Pixel 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 Part 2 of this conversation, Ana de la Cruz, SEO Lead at Chartis, returns to The Simple and Smart SEO Show with Crystal Waddell for a deep dive into the human side of AI.Ana unpacks how experimenting with chatbots taught her the inner workings of LLMs, what semantic triples really mean for SEO, and how the Japanese philosophy of Ikigai helps her balance learning, creativity, and life.Crystal connects it all back to entrepreneurship — discussing the “never-ending to-do list,” living an optimized life, and how technology can make us more human when we use it with intention.You’ll learn:What SEOs can learn from experimenting with AI and codingWhy understanding semantic triples and language structure mattersHow to use Ikigai to prioritize time and energyHow to optimize life, not just websiteHelpful Links:🎧 Podcast Hub → https://simpleandsmartseo.com/best-seo-podcast📘 SEO Starter Course → https://SEOin7Steps.com💼 Guest: Ana de la Cruz → LinkedIn ProfileConnect With Crystal → Linkedin ProfileChapters / Timestamps: 00:00 – Experimenting with AI and LLMs 01:00 – Presenting a Chatbot Project at Work 02:00 – What Are Semantic Triples? 03:20 – Why Meaning and Context Matter in SEO 04:24 – The Good, Bad, and Ugly of AI 05:00 – Embracing the Learning Process 06:10 – How to Balance Learning and Earning 07:09 – The Ikigai Framework Explained 10:00 – The “Never-Ending To-Do List” GPT Idea 12:05 – Energy, Emotions, and Productivity 13:34 – Optimizing Life with Technology 15:59 – Rapid-Fire Q&A: SEO, AI, and the Future 17:30 – Where to Connect with AnaText me your questions or comments!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 showBook a Shopify Store Strategy Call With Crystal! Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast! AFFILIATE LINKS:Start your Shopify Store!Get SurferSEO! Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!) Grid and Pixel 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 sits down with Ana de la Cruz, SEO Lead at Chartis, to explore her journey from Univision Radio to leading SEO strategy at a global media agency. Ana shares how curiosity, reinvention, and kindness shaped her path — and introduces us to the emerging concept of “Vibe Coding,” where AI and human creativity meet.Here’s what you’ll learn:How Ana transitioned from traditional media to SEO strategyWhy kindness and collaboration are underrated superpowers in the agency worldWhat “vibe coding” really means — and how SEOs can use it to automate and innovateWhy AI expands opportunity instead of replacing humans⏱️ Timestamps:0:00 – Welcome & Guest Intro 0:31 – Ana’s journey from media to marketing 2:00 – Landing at Publicis and Omnicom 4:00 – What Chartis does (and why she loves it) 5:20 – How AI opens new opportunities for SEOs 8:35 – What is “vibe coding”? 12:19 – Ana’s first experiments with ChatGPT and code 18:45 – Curiosity, courage, and building new skills📚 Resources & Mentions:🎧 Podcast Hub: https://simpleandsmartseo.com/best-seo-podcast💼 Connect with Ana: LinkedIn – Ana de la Cruz🙌🏽 Listener Action Steps:Reflect on one skill you could “vibe code” or automate this month.Follow Ana on LinkedIn to keep learning about AI + SEO.Subscribe to the show for weekly SEO clarity and creative inspiration!👩🏽‍💻 About Me: Hi, I’m Crystal Waddell — SEO educator, Shopify seller, and visibility strategist for creative entrepreneurs. I help you grow sustainably, show up confidently, and build a business that works for you.📲 Connect With Me:Instagram → @simpleandsmartseo2Website → https://simpleandsmartseo.comSpotify → Listen on SpotifyApple Podcasts → Text me your questions or comments!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 showBook a Shopify Store Strategy Call With Crystal! Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast! AFFILIATE LINKS:Start your Shopify Store!Get SurferSEO! Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!) Grid and Pixel 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 Part 2 of this engaging conversation with content marketing expert Andy Crestodina, we dive deeper into the evolving world of SEO, AI's growing role in content creation, and the power of collaboration. Andy shares insights on balancing human judgment with AI tools like Surfer SEO, creating successful local events, and leveraging original research to differentiate your brand. Whether you're a solo marketer, business owner, or content strategist, this episode is packed with actionable wisdom and fresh perspectives.🧠 Key Takeaways:SEO as a Strategy, Not a Rulebook: SEO Tools offer suggestions, but human content strategy still rules.Original Research Wins: Brands should publish new, unique data yearly to stand out and build authority.AI in Moderation: Over-reliance on AI for full article generation often leads to lower performance; balance is key.Full Funnel Focus: SEO brings traffic, but converting that traffic requires UX, strategy, and storytelling.🔥 Episode Highlights:"SEO is like a sailboat—AI and tools are the wind, but you decide where to go." – Andy Crestodina🎯 Listener Action Items:Incorporate Original Research: Publish one unique study or stat annually to elevate your brand authority.Use AI as a Collaborator, Not a Crutch: Let SEO tools inform—not dictate—your strategy.Host Micro-Events or Meetups: Start small, specific, and curated events to build your professional community.Audit Your Content for Novelty: Avoid duplicating mainstream ideas; create content that adds something new.Focus on UX & Funnel Completion: Don't just optimize for clicks—optimize for conversion and memorability.Connect With Andy:LinkedinOrbit Media BlogText me your questions or comments!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 showBook a Shopify Store Strategy Call With Crystal! Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast! AFFILIATE LINKS:Start your Shopify Store!Get SurferSEO! Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!) Grid and Pixel 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!