The Edward Show

E710: How do you grow an SEO agency from $0 to 8 figures? James Reynolds, founder of SEO Sherpa, shares just this - exactly how he built his agency from the ground up. We cover: - How James scaled SEO Sherpa from a solo consulting business to an 8-figure agency with a 65-person team - The strategy behind his 21 SEO Experiments article - How to build a scalable agency without getting stuck in client work - How to get your first clients with no money and no network - Using AI to improve agency operations and client retention - How to structure your first deals and avoid common mistakes that cause client churn - The growing importance of video and modern link-building for SEO If you run an agency, work as a freelancer, or do SEO for clients, this conversation will give you practical ideas you can use. ⭐️ James Reynolds on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameshreynolds/ ⭐️ 21 SEO Experiments That Will Change The Way You Think About SEO (Forever) - https://seosherpa.com/seo-experiments/ ⭐️ SEO Sherpa - Home - https://seosherpa.com/ 💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/ 00:00 Introduction and Background 01:10 The Impact of SEO Experiments 03:57 Creating Linkable Assets 11:11 Starting an SEO Agency from Scratch 19:53 Building Client Relationships and Networking 26:20 Mentorship and Scaling Your Business 33:34 Perception in Public Speaking 34:23 Leveraging Speaking Engagements for Marketing 35:31 Business Landscape in Dubai Circa 2010 38:40 Challenges and Strategies in Client Management 44:42 Starting an SEO Business from Scratch 49:25 The Role of AI in Modern Agencies 55:01 Effective Client Acquisition Channels 57:47 The Impact of Short-Form Video Content 01:04:32 Advice for Aspiring SEO Professionals 01:07:46 Growing Your Presence on LinkedIn 01:09:32 Conclusion and Final Thoughts The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #searchengineoptimization #consultingtips #agencytips #digitalmarketing

E709: Google is de-indexing millions of pages - and SEOs around the world are scrambling to figure out why. I explain what’s happening with the recent changes to Google’s indexing, which appear to have started in late May 2025. Topics covered: - Why pages are being removed from Google’s index - How Google’s approach to topical authority may be changing - Whether this is connected to an upcoming Core Update - What you can do if your pages were de-indexed I’ll also share what other SEOs are seeing and how some are recovering lost pages. ⭐️ Paul P on 𝕏 - https://x.com/pavlos1944/status/1932354931392135449 ⭐️ Drop In Google Indexing Less Since Late May 2025? - https://www.seroundtable.com/google-indexing-less-may-39538.html ⭐️ Reminder: Google has been removing indexed pages. Check and resubmit. - https://www.reddit.com/r/SEO/comments/1l3i896/reminder_google_has_been_removing_indexed_pages/ ⭐️ 127 pages crawled not indexed and loss of position - https://www.reddit.com/r/SEO/comments/1l5t5bk/127_pages_crawled_not_indexed_and_loss_of_position/ ⭐️ Link Echoes SEO Experiment - https://seosherpa.com/seo-experiments/ ⭐️ Google On Unrelated Content As A Search Ranking Issue - https://www.seroundtable.com/unrelated-content-google-seo-39574.html 💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/ 00:00 Google's Massive De-Indexing: An Overview 00:11 Reports and Examples of De-Indexing 01:31 Theories Behind Google's De-Indexing 02:19 How to Check and Fix De-Indexed Pages 03:28 Community Insights and Reactions 09:03 Understanding Topical Authority and Link Echoes 13:45 Final Thoughts and Recommendations The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #searchengineoptimization #seotips #seohacks #digitalmarketingnews

E708: LLMs.txt files are going viral in the SEO world. This is a new file type aimed at helping AI tools understand your site better. But is it worth adding? I explain exactly what LLMs.txt is, how it works, and how it fits into the evolving SEO + AI landscape. I also checked some of the biggest SEO and tech sites to see how they’re approaching it - and the results will surprise you. Topics covered: - What LLMs.txt actually does - How AI tools (like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Perplexity) use it - How LLMs.txt differs from robots.txt - How to think about adopting new SEO trends vs proven practices - Practical recommendations for your site today ⭐️ Future proof your site for LLMs - LLMs.txt - https://yoast.com/features/llms-txt/ ⭐️ LLMS.txt isn’t robots.txt: It’s a treasure map for AI - https://searchengineland.com/llms-txt-isnt-robots-txt-its-a-treasure-map-for-ai-456586 ⭐️ How Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) Rewrites the Rules of Search - https://a16z.com/geo-over-seo/ 💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/ 00:00 Introduction to LLMs.txt 00:27 What Are LLMs.txt Files? 00:55 How AI Tools Use LLMs.txt 02:40 Benefits of LLMs.txt 04:05 Current Adoption of LLMs.txt 06:38 Do You Need an LLMs.txt File? 08:50 Final Thoughts The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #llmstxt #generativeengineoptimization #searchengineoptimization #digitalmarketing

E707: The top 3 reasons brands are not ranking on Google - explaining the most common SEO mistakes. Lots of people attribute mistake #3 to mistake #1, it’s not. There’s a top mistake and it’s not what SEOs and marketers think. And remember - don’t trust an SEO who blanket diagnoses your issue without going deep into your site, its pages, its marketing, and its links. You wouldn’t trust a doctor who tells you to do a dramatic lifestyle change or surgery based off a cursory inspection - and so you shouldn’t trust a cursory SEO either. This is SEO that works - that gets results - and mistakes to avoid. ⭐️ Search Engine Deoptimization - https://edwardsturm.com/articles/search-engine-deoptimization/ ⭐️ How to Build Backlinks for a New Website (2025 Edition) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4-qtK2VK0s 💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/ 00:00 Introduction to Common SEO Issues 01:34 The Importance of Proper Keyword Targeting 04:00 Building Topical Authority for Better Rankings 06:16 Enhancing Page-Specific Authority 08:10 Conclusion and Further Learning 08:46 Personal Anecdote and Podcast Journey The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #seotips #searchengineoptimization #marketingstrategy #digitalmarketing

E706: The State of Search 2025 report from Datos and SparkToro just came out. I walk through four of the most eye-opening graphs, sharing what they reveal about how search and content are evolving. Topics covered: - The top 10 most-clicked sites in Google Search and what this means for your strategy - How user-generated content - especially video - is shaping search results - Why most marketers ignore the most profitable keywords - and why that’s a mistake - The real numbers behind AI tools vs. traditional search engines ⭐️ State of Search Q1 2025: Behaviors, Trends, and Clicks Across the US & Europe - https://datos.live/report/state-of-search-q1-2025/ ⭐️ SparkToro: https://sparktoro.com/ ⭐️ Rand Fishkin on SEO, AI Overviews, and the Future of Content Marketing - Ep 674 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JQvdLYvGZI ⭐️ The biggest mistake digital marketers will make this year - https://edwardsturm.com/articles/the-biggest-mistake-digital-marketers-will-make-this-year/ ⭐️ Reuse video automation - https://reusevideo.com ⭐️ How Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) Rewrites the Rules of Search - https://a16z.com/geo-over-seo/ 💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/ 00:00 Introduction and Overview 00:40 Top Domains Visited from US Desktop Search Engines 02:51 SEO Tips for Video Creators 04:40 US Desktop Search Intent in Q1 2025 09:13 The Rise of AI Tools in Search 14:18 Final Thoughts The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #digitalmarketing #searchengineoptimization #marketingstrategy #marketingnews

E705: I explain how to choose the right domain name for SEO and what mistakes to avoid. Topics covered: - Which domains can harm your SEO - How to select a name that allows your brand to grow - Whether exact match domains (EMDs) are helpful - TLDs to use and avoid - Why starting with the wrong domain can create long-term problems If you’re launching a new site or considering a domain change, this episode will help you make the right decision. ⭐️ Ep 703 - Crushing SEO as a Small Business with AI & Content Marketing - David Kelly - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cbJIusRQa4 ⭐️ Ep 574 - Exact Match Domains (EMDs) May Not Be What People Think  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCepQi8TsdQ 💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/ 00:00 Importance of Choosing the Right Domain Name 01:31 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing a Domain 04:41 What to Look for in a Domain Name 06:49 The Debate on Exact Match Domains (EMDs) 12:43 Final Tips The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #digitalmarketing #searchengineoptimization #seotips #marketingstrategy

E704: Clicks are going down while impressions rise. Google’s AI Overviews are changing how users interact with search results. I explain what’s happening with “The Great SEO Decoupling,” why many websites are seeing less traffic even when they rank well, and how you can adjust your strategy. Topics covered: - Why clicks no longer follow impressions - How AI Overviews impact search behavior - Why top-of-funnel, informational content is becoming less effective - How to focus on bottom-of-funnel, transactional keywords - Practical examples of SEO pages that continue to perform well ⭐️ Rachamim Kennard observation - https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7336377501679521792/ ⭐️ The Great Decoupling Of Google Search - Clicks vs Impressions - https://www.seroundtable.com/google-search-great-decoupling-39524.html ⭐️ AI Overviews Reduce Clicks by 34.5% - https://ahrefs.com/blog/ai-overviews-reduce-clicks/ ⭐️ Semrush AI Overviews Study: What 2025 SEO Data Tells Us About Google’s Search Shift - https://www.semrush.com/blog/semrush-ai-overviews-study/ ⭐️ Ep 621 - Google’s March Update Broken Down by Founder of Search Engine Roundtable - Barry Schwartz - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIJaCimVeDE ⭐️ Ep 703 - Crushing SEO as a Small Business with AI & Content Marketing - David Kelly - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cbJIusRQa4 💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/ 00:0 The Great Decoupling in SEO 00:49 Impact of AI Overviews on SEO 01:52 Insights from Industry Experts and Studies 03:30 Strategies to Avoid the Great Decoupling 05:19 Transactional Keywords 08:16 Creating Effective SEO Pages 11:13 Using Blogs for Topical Authority 12:28 Final Thoughts The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #aioverviews #searchengineoptimization #digitalmarketing #marketingstrategy

E703: How Hawaiian South Shore, a 30-year-old local surf shop in Honolulu, has built an SEO strategy that helps them rank at the top of Google for hundreds of valuable purchase-intent keywords. David Kelly, the founder of Hawaiian South Shore, joins the show and shares how his team uses AI and content marketing to drive consistent search traffic and sales without relying on paid advertising. Topics covered in this episode include: - How to structure product and collection pages for SEO - Using AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude to create effective content - Simple newsletter tactics that build customer loyalty - Scaling SEO and content production with a small team - Common mistakes and lessons learned from 30 years in business - How traditional marketing methods still have a place today This is a practical conversation for small business owners, marketers, and anyone looking to improve their SEO and content marketing efforts. Thank you again to David Kelly! ⭐️ Hawaiian South Shore - https://www.hawaiiansouthshore.com/ ⭐️ Hawaiian South Shore on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hwnsouthshore/ ⭐️ Hawaiian South Shore on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/hawaiiansouthshore 💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/ 00:00 David Kelly's Success 02:24 SEO Epiphanies and Lessons 03:42 Content Creation and AI Tools 10:30 Human Review and AI Content 17:39 Marketing Tactics and Customer Engagement 32:50 YouTube and Blog Integration 34:38 Monthly Newsletter Insights 34:58 The Pitfalls of Blog SEO 35:26 Effective Blog Content Strategies 36:58 Team Dynamics and SEO Efforts 37:24 Optimizing Blog Posts 38:30 Scaling Up and Using AI 41:53 Image Optimization Techniques 42:34 Controlling Your Online Narrative 46:46 Marketing Failures and Tweaks 47:59 One-Word Subject Lines Hack 51:38 Building Personal Connections in Business 55:33 YouTube and Video Content Strategies 59:49 Final Advice for New Entrepreneurs The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #LocalSeo #AICopywriting #SearchEngineOptimization #DigitalMarketing

E702: In this episode, I share how SEO can be used to make negative news harder to find. Using parasite SEO and strategic social media publishing, individuals and companies can control what appears at the top of Google. I explain how this works, why it matters, and what it reveals about the current state of search and online reputation. Topics covered include: - How targeted content can suppress search visibility of legal issues - The role of user-generated platforms in search rankings - How video and social posts often outrank traditional websites - The fine line between smart strategy and manipulation ⭐️ The source content from Cyrus Shepard - https://zyppy.com/list/ftx-sues-neil-patel/ 💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/ 00:00 Introduction to SEO Reputation Management 00:30 Neil’s Controversial Lawsuit 01:21 Details of the FTX Lawsuit 05:19 Neil's Response 07:56 Understanding Parasite SEO 12:07 Using Social Media for SEO 13:36 Final Thoughts The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #reputationmanagement #parasiteseo #publicrelations #searchengineoptimization

E701: Google is penalizing sites for mass AI-generated content. In this follow-up to episode 699, I answer listener questions about Google's scaled content policy, manual penalties, and how to stay safe if you're using AI to create tons of pages. We cover: - Why “noindex” is your friend - The difference between AI spam and programmatic SEO - Why targeting transactional keywords still works - How the SEO and digital marketing community feels about this - What "scaled content abuse" means - The AI update to Google’s Quality Rater Guidelines Whether you're building an app, growing an SEO site, or experimenting with AI, this episode breaks down what Google wants - and how not to get burned. ⭐️ Ep 699 - Google’s AI Crackdown: What It Means & How to Stay Safe - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pqk0dD1PQgQ ⭐️ Ep 596 - Seeing if my SEO pages work with Grok 3 DeepSearch - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDJZlU7DWxQ ⭐️ The Penalties: https://x.com/gaganghotra_/status/1929457305982321029 ⭐️ Google quality raters now assess whether content is AI-generated: https://searchengineland.com/google-quality-raters-content-ai-generated-454161 ⭐️ Google On Scaled Content: “It’s Going To Be An Issue”: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-on-scaled-content-its-going-to-be-an-issue/543308/ ⭐️ How to Humanize ChatGPT Content: https://edwardsturm.com/articles/humanize-chatgpt-content/ 💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/ 00:00 Introduction 00:32 Addressing Concerns on AI-Generated Content 01:43 Google's Scaled Content Abuse Policy 05:34 Google's Historical Battle with Scaled Content 07:16 Gradual Content Generation Strategy 08:34 Programmatic SEO vs. AI-Generated Content 11:45 Targeting Transactional Keywords 13:49 The Em Dash Dilemma in AI Content 16:32 Final Thoughts The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #SEOhacks #AICopywriting #SearchEngineOptimization #DigitalMarketing