
The SEO Mad Scientist
Welcome to The SEO Mad Scientist, where we dive deep into the ever-evolving world of SEO testing to bring you valuable and actionable insights. Join us as we uncover correlations between our latest experiments, algorithm updates, and industry shifts, providing you with the knowledge you need to stay ahead in the digital landscape.
Curious about what we're currently testing? Interested in how our SEO experiments align with recent algorithm updates? Wondering about the implications for your own strategies? Look no further – we've got you covered.
But that's not all. We don't just talk the talk; we walk the walk. Tune in as we candidly discuss our most recent testing results and the strategies that are making waves in the SERPs, helping you navigate the ever-changing SEO landscape with confidence.
Whether you're a seasoned SEO pro or just starting out, if you want to stay on top of the latest developments in the industry, subscribe to "The SEO Mad Scientist" today!
And hey, if you're an SEO aficionado or agency owner with insights to share, we'd love to have you as a guest on the show. Reach out to us – let's collaborate and elevate the conversation together!
Latest episodes

Dec 6, 2023 • 28min
Press & SERP Notes SEO Tests + Product Improvements & More: SEO Vault Episode 217
Highlights From The Episode:
Explore the secrets behind the recent enhancements to our SEO products, promising not just an ascent in rankings but a complete paradigm shift. We also go through our recent SEO tests and the incorporation of Google Notes in SERPs.Exploring the power of Premium X (formerly Twitter), the hosts discussed how it goes beyond a standard social account, offering ad credits and valuable features to boost business exposure.Mike spills the beans on how AI extends beyond words, offering a sneak peek into the transformative potential of AI for images.
SEO Discussion with Mark & Sophie:
0:00 Introduction
01:04 Improvements to our SEO products
05:39 Press SEO test conclusions
06:28 Google Notes - what we’re testing
09:37 Unstructured citations with Notes
13:44 Benefits of Premium X (formerly Twitter)
15:18 Increasing exposure: Business Twitter accounts with ad credits
19:55 The future of the AI world & OpenAI
22:50 How Mike is pushing AI models
25:11 Handy AI image uses
Recent SEO News:
Google Local Photos Results With Heart & Other ReactionsGoogle November 2023 Core Update Finished Rolling Out

Nov 29, 2023 • 27min
Google Notes Live & Indexing + Crawler Changes & Power Of Press: SEO Vault Episode 216
Highlights From The Episode:
In this episode, Mark and Mike unveil the power of Google Notes. Discover how these notes are not only making waves in the SERPs but are also getting indexed, unlocking new possibilities for elevating your website’s visibility and engagement.They break down the recent changes in Google’s Site Crawler, providing valuable insights into the shifts that might impact your SEO strategy.They discuss a recent PR SEO Mad Scientist test showcasing the influence of press services in AI Generative Results. Find out how AP News and Yahoo Finance PRs are taking the lead in the world of AI-driven SEO.
SEO Discussion With Mark:
0:00 Introduction
01:26 St. Jude’s Donation from Black Friday sale
02:32 Create Data-Driven Content with Mark’s new training
04:49 SEO Testing Library on the way
06:45 The power of press services in AI Generative Results
09:48 Google Notes Update: showing in SERPs (& indexing)
11:41 Changes in Google’s Site Crawler
16:15 Google’s Use of Big Data for Predictions
23:14 Revolutionizing your agency’s content creation with our AI content tool
25:04 Closing Remarks
Recent SEO News:
Google notes feature indexable and showing in SERPsGoogle: No Estimate For Completion Of November Core & Reviews UpdatesGoogle Crawl Rate Setting Going Away & Googlebot To Lower Minimum Crawl SpeedGoogle Bard Can Now Understand YouTube Videos

Nov 22, 2023 • 1h 7min
Crucial Components of Campaigns SEOs Often Overlook & Google Notes in SERPs: SEO Vault Episode 215
Mark, Mike, and Sophie announce a Black Friday sale and promotion, upcoming changes in the Web 2.0 Ranker dashboard, and the weaponization of DMCA notices. They also discuss data-driven content in SEO, updates and improvements to dashboard integrations, legal implications of botting, and Google's new SERP feature.

Nov 15, 2023 • 52min
Ranking Impact of Press Releases SEO Test, How to Find Authority Press & More: SEO Vault Episode 214
Highlights From The Episode:
The hosts delve deep into the intricacies of a press release strategy that not only boosted rankings but fundamentally transformed website traffic.Join the conversation as the hosts discuss Mark's expert tips on crafting content that goes beyond engagement. Learn how to claim digital dominance and elevate your content strategy to stand out in the crowded digital landscape.The hosts explore the impact of our new AI content tool, on accessibility and usability, providing a game-changing tool for your digital arsenal.
SEO Discussion with Mark and Sophie:
0:00 Introduction to the SEO Vault
01:18 Details on the updates on our Press Release Services
03:18 SEO testing using our updated press services
10:25 Mark’s new upcoming training on content planning training and its uniqueness
16:50 The dynamics of free and paid content
21:17 How to unlock the free content tool for the Agency Partnership Program (APP) program
38:47 The progress and features of the revamped Link Rec tool
42:56 The early bird offer of our upcoming Black Friday Sale
45:02 The November core update and its volatility.
50:20 Noting instances where authoritative sites don't provide helpful content.
51:55 Conclusion
Recent SEO News:
Google November 2023 Core Update Is Super Volatile & Super FastGoogle November 2023 Reviews Update Rolling Out

Nov 8, 2023 • 1h 13min
AI Writing v. Human Content + Custom Signals SEO Test Update: SEO Vault Episode 213
Highlights From The Episode
Mark, Mike and Sophie delved into AI content tools, AI-generated rap, and the role of AI in different marketing strategies.They open up about client acquisition, SEO testing updates, and the latest SEO trends. Gain invaluable insights into transparent client engagement and effective SEO strategies.
SEO Discussion with Mark and Sophie
0:00 Introduction to the SEO Vault
02:21 How to Unlock the NEW Tools Suite from Web 2.0 Ranker
07:07 Relaunching our Agency Partnership Program
18:23 Agency Accelerator with Mark (+ More BF Deals)
30:32 The importance of product positioning and sales systems
31:56 Impact of Custom Signal building: SEO Mad Scientist test update
40:23 Using GPT-4 and open-source LLMs
42:00 Increase efficiency with custom instructions in ChatGPT
45:32 Writing styles and the balance between storytelling and matter-of-fact content
55:36 Role of AI in different types of marketing
57:28 November core update (& other recent updates)
01:05:53 How AI will impact structured data and data-driven answers (Google's helpful content update)
01:09:17 AI's role in data-driven versus experiential content

Nov 1, 2023 • 47min
How To Best Leverage AI Content In All Aspects of Your Agency: SEO Vault Episode 212
Highlights From The Episode:
Mark and Mike explored how AI is revolutionizing marketing, with a focus on creating captivating content and eye-catching images using tools like Web 20 AI content tool.The hosts dissected the intricate world of SEO, covering core algorithm updates, the importance of CTR testing, and the complexities of international SEO.Mark and Mike offered a glimpse into the future of AI in design and marketing, highlighting AI's role in copywriting, the power of enthusiasm in sales, and the blending lines between AI and human-generated content.
SEO Discussion with Mark:
0:00 Introduction
01:17 Meet the Web 20 AI Content Tool build for agencies
06:07 Dashboard and Core Algorithm Update
12:58 CTR Testing and Content-Length
24:29 Strategies to best use AI for content and emails
25:53 Internationalization and multilingual sites
27:25 Challenges in the SEO industry
35:47 Creating AI-enhanced content
40:31 The use of AI, particularly DALL-E, for creating images and graphics for various purposes
43:06 Future of AI in design and marketing
Recent SEO News
Google October 2023 Core Update Finished Rolling OutGoogle testing user generated images for product resultsGoogle About This Image Now Live With Recency Of Image, AI Details & More

Oct 25, 2023 • 55min
Are SEO Tools Price Gouging? + Relevancy v Links SEO Test, AI Images & More - SEO Vault Episode 211
Highlights From The Episode:
Mike and Mark delved into the transformative potential of AI-powered content creation, highlighting its ability to save time and generate high-quality, audience-focused content.The conversation turned to the intriguing world of AI-generated art, where Mike and Mark discussed its impact on artistic expression and creativity.The hosts provided insights into topical relevance testing, revealing its results and how it can help target audiences with precision.
SEO Discussion with Mark:
0:00 Introduction
0:42 Halloween sale details
3:04 Details about our new AI content tool
9:21 Rebranding and Changing AI Landscape
10:37 The importance of value-added features in AI tools
12:36 Topical relevance testing and its results
20:22 Ahrefs and their pricing model
29:06 Conversations about legacy accounts, pricing changes, and the importance of treating legacy customers with care
31:12 AI in image creation
47:20 Thoughts on the value of AI-generated art and its impact on artistic expression
Recent SEO News
Google October 2023 Core Update Finished Rolling OutGoogle Local Pack Tests Card Design For Reviews, Menu & MoreGoogle Places 'Shop All Deals' Banner In The Search ResultsGoogle October 2023 Spam Update Finished Rolling Out

Oct 18, 2023 • 51min
Uncover Success Secrets In Branding, SEO Testing, And Podcasting With SEO Vault 210
Highlights From The Episode:
Mark, Mike, and Sophie take you on an exciting journey through the realms of SEO, branding, and podcasting.The trio emphasized the importance of transparency in SEO practices, illustrating how it can build trust with clients, attract more business, and nurture lasting client relationships.
SEO Discussion With Mark Luckenbaugh & Sophie Allen
0:00 Introduction
01:49 Halloween sale discussion
03:52 Q4 Webinar Recap
07:04 Discussion on the impact of digital brand building on rankings.
13:09 SEO Mad Scientist Update: Ongoing topical relevance testing for content.
16:15 Content Generation tools
18:35 New PR tests and the effectiveness of press releases for SEO.
34:30 Emphasis on the importance of SEO testing for insights into effective strategies.
35:35 Discussion on the benefits of transparent SEO practices for building client trust.
36:12 Importance of effective sales strategies and providing clients with clear roadmaps.
36:43 Challenges in maintaining client relationships, including changing account managers.
49: 47 Failing Forward in SEO
Recent SEO News
Check your business attributes – there are reports of Google auto-updating theseAd serving and spending bugs reported recently, so check your ad accounts!

Oct 11, 2023 • 59min
Unlocking The Power Of AI: Revolutionizing Content Creation And Strategies In SEO Vault 209
In this episode of the SEO vault, we dive deep into the world of AI-powered content creation with Mike, Mark, and Sophie. Join us as we discuss the impact of AI content tools, their potential in SEO, and their role in affiliate marketing. Discover how AI-generated content is changing the game and explore the ethical considerations surrounding its use. Plus, stay tuned for a fascinating discussion on the rise of deepfake audio technology.
If you're curious about the future of content creation and the influence of AI content tools, this episode is a must-watch! Don't miss out on the insights and predictions from industry professionals.

Oct 4, 2023 • 51min
How to Streamline Content Creation & Leverage AI for SEO with AI Content Tools: SEO Vault 208
In this insightful podcast episode, join us for a deep dive into the world of AI content tools and their game-changing impact on SEO. Our experts Mark, Mike, and Nate discuss everything from the rarity of major Google updates to the evolution of AI content tools beyond mere novelty. They reveal how these tools can revolutionize your content strategy, streamline content creation, and supercharge your SEO campaigns.
Discover why a comprehensive content plan is crucial, and how AI can help you generate diverse content types, from blog posts to press releases, efficiently. The conversation also touches on the pricing pitfalls of some AI tools and the need for fairness in this dynamic space.
If you're an SEO enthusiast, content creator, or marketing professional, this podcast episode is a must-listen