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The Search Session

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Apr 28, 2025 • 46min

Journey Optimization, Not Just Keywords: The Future of Google Search | Cindy Krum

In this episode, Gianluca Fiorelli is joined by none other than Cindy Krum, CEO of MobileMoxie and a longtime thought leader in the SEO space. From mobile-first indexing to “SEO Fraggles,” Cindy’s insights have shaped how we think about search.They dive into the rollout of AI Overviews in Europe, the evolution of search personalization, and why optimizing for search journeys (not just keywords) is the future. Cindy also unpacks a bold theory on Google’s potential move to merge AI Mode.This is the 10th episode of the series: Watch on YouTubeHere's what you'll learn in this episode:(02:00) Is AI Mode the New Default?(07:09) How MUM, Journeys, and Ad Tools Like PMax Support Google’s Monetization Strategy(09:45) The Change From Keyword Optimisation to Journey Optimisation(13:05) The Language-Agnostic Nature of AI Overviews (And Its Economic Reason)(18:18) Visibility Over Rankings in a Personalized Search World(21:35) Is Google Restricting SEO Data Access to Push Users Toward Paid Channels?(27:02) The Role of LLMs like ChatGPT in Search and Google’s Ecosystem(29:14) What’s Left of Classic Search? Exploring the Segmentation of Search Experiences (e.g., the Rise of Short Video Vertical)(32:19) The Rise of AI Influencers and the Uncanny Valley Phenomenon(36:13) New Frontiers of Search: Augmented Reality Search(41:16) Rapid-Fire Personal QuestionsWhere to find Cindy KrumLinkedInX (formerly Twitter)WebsiteWhere to find Gianluca FiorelliLinkedInX (formerly Twitter)BlueskyWebsite🎙️ Made with ❤️ by Advanced Web Ranking, the people behind the world's most accurate and longest-standing rank tracker.Get your free 30-day trial and find your true visibility in organic search for any market.Be sure to subscribe for more actionable marketing and SEO tutorials.
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Apr 22, 2025 • 49min

Your Audience, Your Edge: Unpacking Zero-Click Marketing | Amanda Natividad

In this episode of The Search Session, host Gianluca Fiorelli is joined by Amanda Natividad — VP of Marketing at SparkToro, a standout voice on social media, and the creator of the widely embraced concept of zero-click content.Together, they explore how user behavior is evolving, why platform-native content is more powerful than ever, and how memorability plays a key role in making an impact. Amanda also shares why truly understanding your audience goes beyond building traditional buyer personas.This is the 9th episode in the series: Watch on YouTubeHere's what you'll learn in this episode:00:21 – Meet Our Guest: Amanda Natividad02:41 – Zero-Click Content and Marketing in 202508:50 – Brand Marketing’s Comeback11:40 – Novelty and Memorability in Content Creation16:06 – Copycat Content and the Problem with Blogs22:30 – Audience Research vs. Market Research: A Deep Dive27:20 – Moving Past Buyer Personas: The Audience-Centric Approach32:20 – Leveraging Coopetition and Influencers for Brand Growth40:16 – Creativity vs Risk: Where’s the Line?42:48 – Quick-Fire Round: Amanda’s FavoritesWhere to find Amanda Natividad:LinkedInX (formerly Twitter)WebsiteWhere to find Gianluca Fiorelli:LinkedInX (formerly Twitter)BlueskyWebsite🎧 Made with ❤️ by Advanced Web Ranking, the people behind the world’s most accurate and longest-standing rank tracker.Get your free 30-day trial and find your true visibility in organic search for any market.📺 Subscribe for more SEO and marketing episodes: @advancedwebranking
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Apr 14, 2025 • 37min

Redefining Conversion in the Multi-Touch Era | Talia Wolf & Ricardo Tayar

In this episode of The Search Session, host Gianluca Fiorelli explores the shifting landscape of Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) with two leading voices in the industry: Talia Wolf, CEO of GetUplift, and Ricardo Tayar, CEO of Flat101.Talia brings her renowned customer-centric, emotionally driven approach to optimization, while Ricardo shares his perspective on blending data and creativity to achieve impactful results. Together, they discuss how AI is changing how CRO professionals work, what it takes to drive meaningful experimentation, and why an obsession with tools might be doing more harm than good.This is the 8th episode of the series:Watch on YouTubeHere’s what you’ll learn in this episode: (00:12) Meet Our Guests: Talia Wolf & Ricardo Tayar (02:19) AI in Our Daily Work: Personal Reflections (11:38) Are Clients Really Asking About AI for CRO? (15:33) Clients’ Illusion of the Perfect Tool (18:56) Breaking the Silo Mentality (27:38) Creative Risks That Paid Off (29:51) Quick-Fire Round: Sounds, Foods, and Favorite BooksWhere to find Talia WolfLinkedIn | X | WebsiteWhere to find Ricardo TayarLinkedIn | X | WebsiteWhere to find Gianluca FiorelliLinkedIn | X | Bluesky | Website🎙️ Made with ❤️ by Advanced Web Ranking, the people behind the world's most accurate and longest-standing rank tracker.Start your free 30-day trial and find your true visibility in organic search for any market.📺 Be sure to subscribe for more actionable marketing and SEO tutorials.
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Apr 7, 2025 • 53min

Human-First Content Strategy in a Machine-First World | Purna Virji

In this episode of The Search Session, host Gianluca Fiorelli sits down with digital marketing powerhouse Purna Virji – Principal Consultant at LinkedIn and former Microsoft leader.Together, they unpack how to create meaningful, human-first content in an AI-driven landscape, why outcomes matter more than outputs, and how to balance authenticity with algorithms. Expect sharp insights, real strategies, and a few fun detours into pizza, Bollywood, and Italian curse words.This is the 7th episode of the series: Watch on YouTubeHere's what you'll learn in this episode: (00:47) Meet Purna Virji (04:16) The Fundamentals of Content Marketing in an AI Era (08:21) Outputs vs. Outcomes: Why Strategy Comes First (13:54) How to balance human-centered content with machine-readability (22:07) Building Memorable Brands in a Personalized, No-Click World (27:31) Brand Identity, Emotion & Consistency Across Channels (31:45) How Purna Virji Leverages AI in Her Daily Workflow (35:15) Reassuring the Next Generation: AI Won’t Take Your Job (40:15) Why Today’s Users Are Harder to Reach Than Ever Before (42:47) Measuring What Matters in a Fragmented Marketing Landscape (47:09) Rapid-Fire Questions: Pizza, Mumbai, Snoring & KaizenWhere to find Purna Virji:LinkedIn | X (Twitter) | WebsiteWhere to find Gianluca Fiorelli:LinkedIn | X (Twitter) | Bluesky | Website🎙️ Made with ❤️ by Advanced Web Ranking, the people behind the world’s most accurate and longest-standing rank tracker.Start your free 30-day trial and discover your true visibility in organic search.📺 Subscribe for more SEO tutorials and insights
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Mar 31, 2025 • 53min

Being an In-House SEO for an Enterprise Business Company | Gus Pelogia

Search Session: Gianluca Fiorelli & Gus Pelogia Search Session: Gianluca Fiorelli & Gus Pelogia In this episode of Search Session, Gianluca Fiorelli sits down with Gus Pelogia, Senior SEO Product Manager at Indeed. With a background in journalism and over a decade of SEO experience across agencies and in-house teams, Gus brings a unique, global perspective to search. This is the 6th episode of: YouTube Playlist What You'll Learn in This Episode: (00:18) Meet Gus Pelogia (02:17) Agency vs. In-House SEO (06:15) Pre-Production and Stakeholder Alignment (08:23) Working with Agencies & Consultants (12:06) Navigating Big Company Bureaucracy: Gus’s Framework for Speed (17:20) Rolling Out Global SEO Features (19:55) Localization & International SEO (21:07) Using OpenAI, Colab, and MVPs to Prototype SEO Ideas (28:52) Learning AI & Python Without a Coding Background (34:24) The Impact of AI Search on Companies Like Indeed (42:06) The Proust Questionnaire Where to Find Gus Pelogia LinkedIn: Gus Pelogia X: @pelogia Website: Indeed Where to Find Gianluca Fiorelli LinkedIn: Gianluca Fiorelli X: @gfiorelli1 Bluesky: @gfiorelli1 Website: ILoveSEO.net Made with ❤️ by Advanced Web Ranking, the people behind the world's most accurate and longest-standing rank tracker. Get your free 30-day trial and find your true visibility in organic search for any market: Advanced Web Ranking Be sure to subscribe for more actionable marketing and SEO tutorials: YouTube Channel
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Mar 17, 2025 • 55min

The Increasing Importance of Local Search | Greg Gifford

How is AI changing the game for local SEO?In this episode of The Search Session, Gianluca Fiorelli chats with Greg Gifford, local SEO expert and movie enthusiast. They dive into the latest trends, AI’s impact, and how businesses can stay ahead - plus some fun movie talk!This is the 5th episode of: The Search Session - PodcastHere's what you'll learn in this episode:(00:22) Meet the Local SEO Nerd: Greg Gifford(03:18) Is Local Search Still Untouched by AI, or Have We Just Not Noticed?(04:51) How Younger Generations are Changing Search Habits(10:40) Will Google’s AI Mode Mark the True Beginning of AI-Powered Search?(15:53) Local Search for Enterprise. What are the challenges?(21:56) AI Levels the Playing Field, Helping Small Brands(27:13) The Power of Reviews & User-Generated Content(32:25) AI-Powered Sentiment & Topic Analysis for Local Businesses(38:50) How to Stay Relevant in an AI-Powered Search World(44:52) The Importance of Understanding “Why” in SEO(48:30) Rapid-Fire Movie Q&AWhere to find Greg GiffordLinkedInX (Twitter)WebsiteWhere to find Gianluca FiorelliLinkedInX (Twitter)BlueskyWebsiteMade with ❤️ by Advanced Web Ranking, the people behind the world's most accurate and longest-standing rank tracker.Get your free 30-day trial and find your true visibility in organic search for any market.Be sure to subscribe for more actionable marketing and SEO tutorials: @advancedwebranking
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Mar 10, 2025 • 1h 1min

New Challenges for Digital Agencies | Heather Physioc & Kevin Gibbons

AI is transforming how agencies operate - but what does that mean for SEO professionals? In this episode of The Search Session, host Gianluca Fiorelli is joined by Heather Physioc (Chief Discoverability Officer, VML) and Kevin Gibbons (Founder, Re:signal) to break it all down.This is the 4th episode of: • The Search Session - Podcast Here's what you'll learn in this episode:(00:24) Meet Our Guests: Heather Physioc & Kevin Gibbons(02:20) AI - Challenge or Opportunity for Agencies?(13:54) How Clients are Reacting to AI in Search(27:00) How Agencies Are Adapting to AI Without Losing Their Edge(31:42) AI vs. Human Creativity: Finding the Right Balance(36:00) The Future of Search: Personalization, Branding, and the Next Big Shift(41:28) COVID’s Impact on Digital Agencies(49:44) Retaining Excellence in Agencies(56:14) The Proust Questionnaire▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬Where to find Heather PhysiocLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherphysioc/X: https://x.com/HeatherPhysiocWebsite: http://www.vml.comWhere to find Kevin GibbonsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevingibbonsX: https://x.com/kevgibboWebsite: https://resignal.comWhere to find Gianluca Fiorelli Linkedin: / gianlucafiorelli X: https://x.com/gfiorelli1Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/gfiorelli1.b...Website: https://iloveseo.net/▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬Made with ❤️by Advanced Web Ranking, the people behind the world's most accurate and longest-standing rank tracker.Get your free 30-day trial and find your true visibility in organic search for any market: https://www.advancedwebranking.com/Be sure to subscribe for more actionable marketing and SEO tutorials: / @advancedwebranking
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Feb 27, 2025 • 58min

The Old and the New of Content Marketing and PR | Lexi Mills & Ross Simmonds

How is content marketing evolving in the age of AI? What’s the new role of PR in SEO? And how are brands adapting to changing search behaviors?In this episode of The Search Session, host Gianluca Fiorelli dives into these pressing questions with two industry leaders:- Lexi Mills – CEO of Shift6 Studios- Ross Simmonds – CEO of Foundation Marketing & Head of Growth at Distribution.ai From the decline of traditional SERP clicks to the rise of AI-driven discovery, we’ll explore the biggest shifts in content consumption, PR strategies, and brand visibility.This is the 3rd episode of: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_sm3ydVBxdAJ84k2qsH1LkTDbtbdNrGh  Here's what you'll learn in this episode: (00:26) Welcome and Introduction(01:44) The Shift in SERP Clicks and Content Consumption(08:28) How Businesses Are Adapting to New Search and Discovery Trends(14:15) AI’s Impact on Content Strategy: Human vs. Machine Collaboration(22:00) The importance of not mimicking competitors but owning your own voice as a brand(31:40) Using AI for Media Engagement and Thought Leadership(38:07) Preparing for the Future of Cont ent Distribution and Engagement(43:12) Learning from Failures in Content Creation and Marketing(48:29) The Fun Questionnaire▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬Where to find Lexi Mills Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leximills/X: https://x.com/leximillsWebsite: https://leximills.net/Where to find Ross Simmonds Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosssimmonds/X: https://x.com/TheCoolestCoolWebsite:https://rosssimmonds.com/Where to find Gianluca Fiorelli Linkedin:   / gianlucafiorelli  X: https://x.com/gfiorelli1Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/gfiorelli1.b...Website: https://iloveseo.net/▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬Made with ❤️by Advanced Web Ranking, the people behind the world's most accurate and longest-standing rank tracker.Get your free 30-day trial and find your true visibility in organic search for any market: https://www.advancedwebranking.com/Be sure to subscribe for more actionable marketing and SEO tutorials:    / @advancedwebranking 
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Feb 20, 2025 • 56min

Evolution of Search Behavior | Giulia Panozzo & Garrett Sussman

In this episode, we’re exploring the fast-changing world of search behavior - how people are searching, how platforms like Google, OpenAI, and Perplexity are evolving, and what it means for brands and SEO professionals.Joining us are two fantastic guests: Julia Panozzo, founder of Neuroscientive, a neuroscientist turned marketer who specializes in helping brands make smarter data-driven decisions. Garrett Sussman, Director of Marketing at iPullRank, host of Rankable, and an expert in SEO trends, content, and user behavior.We’ll explore how cognitive biases shape search, the role of brand familiarity, and why understanding user intent is more crucial than ever. Plus, we’ll discuss how brands can stay visible in a search landscape that’s shifting from traditional queries to conversational AI, visual search, and beyond. (00:33) - Welcome to The Search Session (00:48) - Meet Our Guests: Giulia Panozzo & Garrett Sussman (02:36) - The Evolution of Search Behavior (08:13) - The “Messy Middle” in Search (12:37) - Authority Bias & Trust in Search Results (16:42) - Biases in SEO Testing (24:55) - The Power of Brand Familiarity (36:03) - SEO & Holistic Marketing Strategies (46:56) - The Fun QuestionnaireWhere to find Giulia Panozzo LinkedIn: /giulia-panozzo X: @SequinsNsearch Website: Neuroscientive.comWhere to find Garrett Sussman LinkedIn: /garrettsussman X: @garrettsussman Website: iPullRank.comWhere to find Gianluca Fiorelli LinkedIn: /gianlucafiorelli X: @gfiorelli1 Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/gfiorelli1.b... Website: iloveseo.netMade with ❤️ by Advanced Web Ranking, the people behind the world's most accurate and longest-standing rank tracker.Get your free 30-day trial and find your true visibility in organic search for any market: Advanced Web Ranking
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Feb 13, 2025 • 48min

Navigating Agentic AI in the World of SEO | Andrea Volpini

Join Andrea Volpini, CEO of WordLift and a pioneer in semantic search, as he delves into the evolution of SEO from basic content management systems to today's AI-driven strategies. He discusses his work with the Italian parliament, which fueled his passion for machine-readable content. Andrea also explores the innovative LLMs.TXT protocol and emphasizes why structured data remains vital in the AI era. Plus, enjoy some light-hearted moments as he shares his favorite and least favorite words, revealing his creative aspirations!

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