The Edward Show

E686: What does it really take to close and manage million-dollar SEO deals? In this powerhouse episode, we sit down with Yas Haque, the former Head of SEO at Omnicom. While Yas was at Omnicom, it was the largest publicly traded marketing agency in the world. Its current market cap is nearly $15 billion. Head of SEO at the biggest marketing agency = King of SEO in my book. Yas shares: - How to land and manage seven-figure SEO contracts - What it was like being Head of SEO at the largest publicly traded marketing agency - SEO strategy for high-ticket contracts and enterprise clients - The role of storytelling and presentation design in winning large deals - Real-world SEO case studies, including marketing $500K spaceship rides and branded search optimization - Diagnosing and solving technical SEO issues for large, complex websites - How to communicate SEO clearly to non-technical stakeholders - How somebody starting in SEO can work their way up to Head of SEO -Lessons from the jewelry industry on effective landing pages and emotion-driven marketing - The future of SEO in a world shaped by AI, content saturation, and evolving user behavior - Practical tips for freelancers and agency SEOs on scaling their impact and closing bigger deals Thanks again to Yas for coming on! ⭐️ Yas Haque on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yashaque/ ⭐️ Yas Haque on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yhawke/ 💎 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 00:53 Wedding Planning and Viral Proposal 02:38 SEO for High Ticket Contracts 03:34 Challenges in High-Ticket SEO 05:24 Case Study: $500,000 SEO Project 06:16 Navigating SEO for High-Ticket Items 08:12 Biggest SEO Contract Closed 09:06 SEO in Highly Regulated Industries 11:25 Importance of Internal Buy-In 13:47 SEO Presentation Tips 16:16 SEO's Role in Marketing Funnels 17:25 Navigating Large Organizations 20:50 SEO's Resilience and Evolution 26:02 Global SEO and Market Differences 29:29 Advice for Aspiring SEOs 32:02 Effective SEO Communication 35:00 Niche SEO Content and Growth 36:01 The Importance of Communication 36:28 SEO Challenges and Solutions 37:08 Skills for SEO Success 38:14 Advice for Freelancers and Small Agencies 39:00 Job Hunting Tips for SEO Professionals 40:14 Optimizing Workflow 41:19 Interview Tips for SEO Roles 44:22 Understanding Page Speed 44:53 SEO Tools and Techniques 50:39 The Role of a CMS in SEO 53:01 Opportunities for Small Companies in SEO 54:45 Personal Insights and Experiences 55:38 The Jewelry Buying Experience 01:03:53 Marketing Channels and YouTube 01:07:11 Final SEO Advice 01:08:16 Conclusion and Farewell The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #searchengineoptimization #seohacks #seotips #performancemarketing

Interest in search engine optimization has surged to an all-time high, surprising many. The conversation dives into the reasons behind this spike, particularly since December 2024. AI's role in shaping SEO strategies and product launches is dissected. Key tips include optimizing for transactional keywords and structuring effective hub pages. The significance of backlinks is diminishing, while building topical authority quickly becomes crucial. Plus, there are exciting previews of what to expect from the upcoming Google I/O conference!

Jonathan Berthold, a seasoned executive at SEO powerhouse Moz, shares his insights into whether SEO is still relevant in an AI-driven world. He dives into how AI tools like ChatGPT are reshaping SEO strategies and discusses the evolving landscape of affiliate marketing. Jonathan emphasizes the need for brand investment amidst diminishing trust in AI-generated content. He also highlights effective link-building tactics and the crucial role of email lists in digital marketing. Tune in for surprising trends and practical advice to stay ahead in the search game!

A captivating discussion unfolds about how Google's AI overviews could rewrite entire web pages, potentially stealing traffic from creators. The speakers share personal experiences and industry insights, emphasizing the critical role of targeting transactional keywords. They highlight the challenges faced by platforms like NerdWallet in the evolving SEO landscape. As AI reshapes content visibility, the need for optimizing websites for both informational and transactional search terms becomes increasingly important for maintaining user engagement.

Dive into the essentials of SEO as the hosts tackle listener questions with flair! Discover how to measure and fix pogo sticking—the frustrating trend of users bouncing back to search results. Explore the dilemma of whether to rename your company for better SEO, along with strategies to maintain visibility. Plus, learn how to genuinely assess keyword competitiveness instead of relying solely on standard metrics. It's a treasure trove of SEO wisdom packed into a lively discussion!

Is blog SEO really necessary for building topical authority? Not quite, according to the discussion. Instead, focus on creating one to two monthly blog posts aimed at potential and existing customers. Explore case studies, industry insights, and announcements. Plus, prioritize bottom-of-funnel SEO landing pages for transactional keywords. Don’t forget effective link-building strategies! It’s all about nurturing connections and enhancing your marketing funnel without getting lost in the SEO shuffle.

The recent Google Core Algorithm Update has made significant waves in SEO. Content quality signals have been refined, impacting how different platforms rank. Reddit is surging while Quora sees a decline, and retail sites like Uniqlo are feeling the volatility against giants like Amazon. AI overviews are changing blog click-through rates, emphasizing the importance of bottom-of-funnel SEO. Learn strategies to adapt and build topical authority to improve your rankings in this ever-evolving landscape.

There's a theory that Google might be intentionally lowering search result quality to boost ad clicks. A seasoned Google engineer steps in to refute this idea, stating that poor search results could backfire on user engagement and revenue. The discussion reveals that the search landscape is more nuanced, balancing the need for quality content with the demands of advertising. Excitingly, this situation might actually open up new opportunities for SEO professionals moving forward.

Is Google's disavow tool still relevant in 2025? This discussion highlights how many businesses might be misusing it, with real opinions from the SEO community adding fuel to the debate. The host shares personal insights after years in the industry, emphasizing that focusing on keywords, search intent, and smart link building is often far more effective than worrying about disavowing links. Unless you face a manual penalty, it seems disavowing could be counterproductive!

E677: This is for if you want to stick with something long enough to see results… if you're seeking the 1% daily improvements that compound A TON over time. I share what I've learned from doing this show for 677 days in a row, making short-form videos for 925 consecutive days, and sending out a weekly newsletter without missing a week for nearly two years. I go into: - The truth about consistency and how to keep showing up, even when motivation is low - Shaan Puri's Taste Gap - why your early work feels bad (and why that's actually a good sign) - A powerful excerpt from Paul Graham's essay "How to Do Great Work" - The story behind how one of my lowest-effort videos turned into a viral hit and made me a top affiliate - How small daily actions lead to huge long-term outcomes Whether you're trying to grow on social media, start a business, build a podcast, or just stick with a creative habit, this episode will fuel your fire and remind you of the power of persistence. ⭐️ The Taste Gap: https://shaan.beehiiv.com/p/one-minute-blog-the-taste-gap ⭐️ How to Do Great Work: https://www.paulgraham.com/greatwork.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 Streak Society 01:04 Importance of Consistency 02:11 Shaan Puri's 'The Taste Gap' 05:56 Personal Success Stories 11:32 Paul Graham's 'How to Do Great Work' 14:33 Encouragement The Edward Show. Your daily digital marketing podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #consistency #atomichabits #buildinpublic #exponentialgrowth