I'm chatting chat with Stephanie Long, AKA "Mrs. SEO," about her groundbreaking new venture, Junction Jack, a vetted SEO marketplace. Stephanie shares her journey of creating a trusted space for businesses to connect with top-notch SEO experts. From addressing the frustrations of businesses burned by unqualified "experts" to her emotional story behind the name Junction Jack, this episode is packed with insights, advice, and inspiration. If you're curious about the future of SEO, voice search, and how empathy-driven practices can reshape the digital landscape, tune in!Key Takeaways:The Problem with Existing SEO Options:Many SEO "experts" on platforms like Fiverr and Upwork lack the vetting needed for consistent, quality results.Stephanie’s marketplace ensures only experienced, honest, and reliable professionals make the cut.Voice Search is the Future:With AI and machine learning on the rise, optimizing for voice search (and natural language processing) is more critical than ever.Businesses should adapt content to match conversational, voice-driven queries.Community is Key:Building Junction Jack took resilience, networking, and leaning on supportive groups—proving that no entrepreneur succeeds alone.Trust the Process:The road to building something worthwhile is never easy, but authenticity and persistence pay off.Memorable Quotes:“Junction Jack is like Nobu to McDonald’s. If you want high-end SEO service, you come to me!” – Stephanie Long“There’s no silver bullet in business. You have to go through it, fail, and learn to succeed.” – Crystal Waddell“Voice search is the new frontier—your Alexa or Siri is about to be your website’s best friend.” – Stephanie LongListener Action Items:Check Out Junction Jack: Visit junctionjack.co to learn more and sign up for updates.Prep for Voice Search: Start optimizing your website’s content for natural, conversational queries.Follow Stephanie: Connect with her on LinkedIn or email her at stephanie@mrsseo.co to stay updated.Send me a text!Support the showWant to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!Join the SEO SquadApply 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!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 reflect on my incredible experience at BrightonSEO 2024 in San Diego. From a first-class upgrade to exciting networking events, unique industry insights, and fun-filled conference highlights, this trip was unforgettable. I share tips for making the most of events like BrightonSEO, why networking can redefine your perspective, and the importance of stepping out of your comfort zone. Whether you're an SEO pro or just curious about what makes conferences like this so special, I hope this episode will leave you inspired and ready for your next big opportunity.Key Takeaways:Networking Pays Off: Events like BrightonSEO offer opportunities to meet industry leaders, forge new connections, and gain valuable insights.Conference Hacks: Joining hotel rewards programs can save time and elevate your travel experience—literally!Be Inspired: The optimism and future-focused ideas from BrightonSEO’s speakers are a reminder to embrace change in SEO and digital marketing.Prepare Strategically: Taking time to plan ahead—whether it’s creating a strategy day or exploring conference apps—can help you maximize value.First-Class Experiences: Sometimes, a little luxury (like an upgraded flight) makes the journey as memorable as the destination.Memorable Quotes:“If it’s valuable to you to be inspired and be around like-minded individuals who are excited about what excites you, BrightonSEO is absolutely worth it.”“I got clarity for 2025. I was already excited, but now I’m excited on purpose!”Listener Action Items:Explore Conferences: Consider attending BrightonSEO or a similar event to level up your knowledge and networking game.Strategize Your Takeaways: After attending a conference, spend a day reflecting and creating actionable strategies for the future.Connect on LinkedIn: Reach out to me to chat about your BrightonSEO experience or ask questions about attending next year.Plan Smart: Join rewards programs and look for auxiliary events like netwalking tours to enhance your next conference experience.p.s. I am not affiliated with BrightonSEO in any way, just a big fan of their conference!Send me a text!Support the showWant to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!Join the SEO SquadApply 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!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) reveal the must-have tools that fuel my entrepreneurial journey and business success. Add these to your Black Friday 2024 deals list!This episode contains affiliate links, which means I could receive payment if you make a purchase after clicking on one of the links. Not all links are affiliate links and these are all products I use and fully recommend! From client management tools like HoneyBook to SEO powerhouses such as Surfer SEO and Dragon Metrics, I walk you through the essential software that streamlines my workflow and fuels my business growth. With insights on AI, website platforms, social media scheduling, and more, this episode is packed with practical tips and exclusive Black Friday deals to elevate your entrepreneurial journey. Don't miss my candid recommendations and reflections as I preps for a fresh focus in 2025!Also - can't believe I left Buzzsprout out of my tech stack but they are great for podcast hosting!Key Takeaways:Streamline Business Management: Tools like HoneyBook ensure your client communications and contracts stay organized and professional.Boost SEO Performance: Leverage SurferSEO and Dragon Metrics (Use code WADDELL for 5% off!) for advanced content optimization.Enhance Creativity with AI: ChatGPT supports brainstorming and content creation for efficiency and inspiration.Build Impactful Websites: Platforms like Shopify and Wix cater to eCommerce and customized designs for any business need.Optimize Communication & Podcasting: Tools like Google Meet and Squadcast.fm ensure smooth virtual collaboration and high-quality recordings.Simplify Editing & Marketing: Descript, Metricool, TubeBuddy, and Tailwind streamline content creation, scheduling, and audience engagement.Automate Email Marketing: Klaviyo helps segment your audience and create tailored campaigns with robust analytics.Memorable Quotes:"The right tools aren’t just a convenience—they’re the backbone of a successful business.""Automation and efficiency give you the time and space to focus on what truly matters—growth and creativity."Listener Action Items:Explore the tools mentioned in this episode and consider which ones fit your business needs.Take advantage of exclusive offers, like SurferSEO’s Black Friday deal or Tailwind’s Ghostwriter credits, to save while leveling up your strategySend me a text!Support the showWant to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!Join the SEO SquadApply 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!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!

Lydia Bagarozza and Bridget Sicsko, co-founders of Visibility on Purpose join me to explore the synergy between PR and SEO, sharing actionable tips for small business owners to enhance visibility and credibility. From pitching to publications to leveraging backlinks, learn how these strategies can drive traffic, build authority, and create lasting impact. Perfect for entrepreneurs ready to step into the spotlight!Key Takeaways:PR & SEO Synergy: PR features not only enhance credibility but also boost SEO through high-quality backlinks from reputable publications.Pitching Best Practices: Craft tailored, mindful pitches to grab the attention of writers and editors. Trending topics and unique angles can increase your chances of being featured.Affiliate Marketing Insights: Many online gift guides and articles are affiliate-driven. Understand how to leverage this model to get featured.The Long Game of Visibility: Both PR and SEO are long-term strategies that compound over time, building authority and trust for your brand.PR Tools & Ecosystem: Writers need sources for their articles—position yourself as a go-to expert or brand to support their work.Memorable Quotes:“Your work is the answer to someone’s prayer.” – Briget Sicsko“PR is about borrowing someone else’s audience.” – Lydia Bagarozza“Helpful content builds trust and drives decisions.” – Crystal WaddellListener Action Items:Dedicate 1-2 hours a week to work on your PR strategy, such as pitching to publications or podcasts.Research affiliate models and consider platforms like ShareASale or Skimlinks to support your product visibility.Use tools like Ahrefs to track backlinks and understand the impact of your media features.Identify your business goals and align your PR and SEO strategies to support them.Join PR-focused communities or challenges to refine your pitching skills and gain accountability.Send me a text!Support the showWant to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!Join the SEO SquadApply 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!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 (Crystal Waddell) sit down with personal brand strategist Dianne Wilson to talk about all things branding, storytelling, and SEO. Key Takeaways:Authenticity Sells: Embracing your quirks, imperfections, and real stories resonates with audiences and helps create lasting connections.SEO Loves Stories: Integrating stories into your brand increases discoverability while naturally incorporating SEO-friendly keywords.Target Audience Awareness: Identifying and speaking directly to your ideal audience ensures you attract people who genuinely resonate with your message.Visibility Beyond the Screen: In-person experiences, like events or workshops, can deepen brand loyalty and expand visibility beyond digital platforms.Content Optimization 101: From headers to keywords, learn how to craft technically optimized content that feels true to you.Episode Highlights:"Authenticity isn't just showing your best self—it's sharing your vulnerabilities. That's what builds real connections.""You don't need to serve everyone; define who you want to reach and speak directly to them.""SEO and storytelling are like peanut butter and jelly—they’re best together!"Listener Action Items:Take Stock of Your Story: Identify personal stories that shaped your perspective and find ways to integrate them into your brand.Embrace Vulnerability: Share something personal in your next post or email. Authenticity builds trust and fosters connection.Target Your Ideal Audience: Write down key traits of your ideal audience and use them to shape your content.Optimize Your Content: Use headers, keywords, and descriptive phrases to improve SEO while keeping it true to your voice.Explore Beehive for Newsletters: Consider Beehive’s SEO-friendly platform to expand your newsletter’s reach and visibility.Connect with Dianne:InstagramCrown to Empire Masterclass: Dianne’s free live masterclass designed to help entrepreneurs build standout personal brands. Join to learn her framework for overcoming comparison and posting paralysis, and to create content that aligns with your values.Send me a text!Support the showWant to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!Join the SEO SquadApply 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!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 sit down with e-commerce SEO expert Freddie Chatt. Freddie shares valuable insights from his journey into SEO, emphasizing key strategies for e-commerce success, including optimizing collection pages, managing conversion rates, and strategic link building. Key TakeawaysCollection Pages Drive Commercial Traffic: Freddie explains that optimizing collection pages is crucial for e-commerce sites.Navigating Seasonality in E-Commerce: Freddie discusses how planning inventory and budgeting based on seasonality allows businesses to capitalize on peak sales periods effectively.Product-Led Link Building: Using gift guides and product-specific outreach as link-building strategies can secure high-quality backlinks from reputable publications.Optimizing Conversion Rates by Page Type: Freddie suggests tracking conversion rates for specific page types.Leveraging Keyword Clustering Tools for SEO: Freddie recommends tools like Keyword Insights to streamline keyword clustering.Listener Action ItemsEvaluate Collection Page SEO: If you run an e-commerce site, assess the SEO on your collection pages, making sure they include targeted keywords for your products.Use Keyword Clustering Tools: Try a keyword clustering tool like Keyword Insights to organize your keywords by intent, minimizing risk of keyword cannibalization.Plan Seasonally: For seasonal businesses, consider Freddie’s approach of adjusting budgets, running sales, and optimizing site performance during off-peak times.Focus on Link Building Opportunities: Seek out niche-specific gift guides and reach out to the authors to feature your products, potentially boosting your site's domain authority.Guest and Resource LinksFreddie Chatt on LinkedIn: Freddie Chatt LinkedInFreddie’s E-commerce SEO Boot Camp: Freddie’s E-commerce CourseAhrefsKeyword InsightsSend me a text!Support the showWant to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!Join the SEO SquadApply 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!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, 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: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.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.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.Understanding Platform Audiences: Each social platform has unique user behaviors and buyer intent. Charley advises knowing these distinctions to maximize ad spend.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:Evaluate Your Website for PPC Readiness: Before launching a paid campaign, ensure your website offers a seamless user experience.Identify Your “Why” for Marketing: Clarify the purpose behind your campaigns—whether it’s brand visibility, lead generation, or another goal.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 Charley BrennandLinkedInInstagramSend me a text!Support the showWant to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!Join the SEO SquadApply 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!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 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: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.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.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.The Future of Search: AI is dramatically shaping the future of search and content creation, with new challenges and opportunities for SEO professionals.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 LesserListener Action Items:Explore Dragon Metrics: Sign up for a 30-day free trial of Dragon Metrics to see how it can help improve your SEO strategy.Take a Product Tour: Schedule a demo session to understand how Dragon Metrics can specifically cater to your business needs.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:LinkedinDragon MetricsSend me a text!Support the showWant to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!Join the SEO SquadApply 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!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:Set up GA4: If you haven't yet, get started with GA4 to track valuable user data and engagement.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​.Embrace execution: Don’t overanalyze — make incremental improvements and learn from the results​.Connect with Dana:LinkedinGet the Kickpoint Playbook Use code "simpleandsmart" for 20% any courses!Send me a text!Support the showWant to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!Join the SEO SquadApply 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!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 hello@simpleandsmartseo.com.Stay tuned for upcoming guest-hosted episodes for fresh insights on SEO and marketing strategies.Send me a text!Support the showWant to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!Join the SEO SquadApply 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!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!