The Edward Show

E518: Alexander Mashinksy, the founder and ex-CEO of Celsius Network, pleads guilty to multi-billion dollar fraud scheme, and is sentenced to 30 years in prison. But before Celsius, he was already set for life. Celsius Network wasn’t a risk he had to take. How do I know this? I met him. On multiple occasions, I met him and executives at Celsius. These are my stories from those encounters and then how this relates to digital marketing (the subject of this daily podcast) and to business. This is what we can and should learn from this horrible fail. Mentioned in the episode: Pareto SEO: The 20% of SEO That Matters: https://edwardsturm.com/articles/pareto-seo/ How to Do Great Work by Paul Graham: https://paulgraham.com/greatwork.html Lessons from Jay Penske: https://edwardsturm.com/articles/lessons-from-ryan-reynolds/ Timestamps 00:00 Alex Mashinsky's Fraud and Imprisonment 05:43 Celsius Network and Red Flags 09:04 Lessons from the Crypto Winter 11:03 SEO and Digital Marketing Insights 17:38 Consistency Is the Greatest Shortcut 22:06 Final Thoughts The Edward Show. Your daily digital marketing podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #business #digitalmarketing #marketingstrategy #technology

E517: YouTube Playlist SEO appears to be a powerful way to rank for competitive top-of-funnel keywords that require more depth. The types of high-volume top-of-funnel keywords that require thousands of words to rank for. But these thousand-word articles are time and resource-intensive. An SEO-optimized YouTube playlist is way easier to make and way more engaging. But despite this, YouTube Playlist SEO is an aspect of search engine optimization that very few experts notice or talk about. Could this be the next big thing in digital marketing? 00:00 How I Made This Discovery 01:07 Discovering YouTube Playlists for SEO 01:21 The Decline of Traditional Top-of-Funnel SEO 04:02 Using YouTube Playlists for Hyper-Effective SEO 05:34 How to Create SEO-Optimized YouTube Playlists 08:13 Efficient Video Creation with Descript 13:26 Recommendations 14:16 Wrap-Up and Additional Resources The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #seotips #searchengineoptimization #youtubeseo #marketingstrategy

E516: You have a list of keywords. The search engine results pages are similar for all keywords. But the keywords sound different from each other. When do you target keywords with one page and when do you target keywords with multiple pages? That’s what you’re getting on this action-packed episode of the show. 00:00 Introduction to Keyword Targeting 00:27 Example Keywords and SEO Strategy 01:03 Bottom of Funnel Keywords 01:24 When to Target Multiple Keywords 01:46 Search Intent and Page Titles 02:21 Creating Separate Pages for Different Keywords 04:16 When to Combine Keywords on One Page 06:21 Conclusion The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #seotips #searchengineoptimization #marketingstrategy #digitalmarketing

E515: Relating Daniel Kahneman's 8 questions to expose cognitive traps to digital marketing. Your brain is trying to trick you. These 8 questions will prevent you from making costly long-term mistakes. Question 1: Am I thinking fast or slow? Kahneman's not impressed by your lightning-fast decisions. Why? Because your brain has two systems: • Fast: Intuitive, emotional, unconscious • Slow: Analytical, logical, conscious Guess which one Kahneman trusts for big decisions? Think about it: You're offered a new job. Exciting, right? Fast thinking says: "Take it! More money!" Slow thinking asks: "How does this align with my long-term goals?" This question is your brake pedal in a world of snap judgments. Question 2: Am I too stressed to think clearly? Stress is kryptonite for your decision-making superpowers. This question is your stress detector. Why it matters: • Stress narrows your focus (hello, tunnel vision) • It amplifies negative emotions • It makes you more likely to take unnecessary risks So before a big decision, check your stress levels. Heart racing? Palms sweaty? Mind spinning? Pause. This question is like a mental health check for your choices. It's the difference between a panic move & a power move. Question 3: Is this a reversible decision? Kahneman wants you to know your exit strategy before you even enter. This question is your decision flexibility test. Some choices are set in stone. Others are written in pencil. Knowing which is which changes everything. Buying a house? Pretty irreversible. Trying a new hairstyle? Totally reversible. This question helps you: • Allocate the right amount of mental energy • Take calculated risks • Avoid decision paralysis It's like having a safety net for your choices. Question 4: What would you think about this if it were someone else's decision? This isn't just a thought experiment. It's a superpower. Here's why Kahneman loves this question... Our brains are wired with an "inside view" - we're too close to our own choices. But imagine your best friend facing the same dilemma. Suddenly, you're a genius of objectivity. For example: You're considering quitting your job to start a business. Risky, right? Now imagine your friend wants to do the same. You'd probably ask about their savings, market research, and backup plan. See the difference? This question turns your emotional decision into a logical analysis. It's like having a personal board of directors in your head. Question 5: What would I think about this a year from now? Kahneman knows our brains are time-traveling fools. We overvalue the present and underestimate the future. This question is your time machine. Think about it: Remember that "urgent" work crisis from last year? Yeah, neither does anyone else. But that small investment you made? It's grown into something beautiful. This question helps you see the forest, not just the trees. It's your shield against short-term thinking and knee-jerk reactions. Question 6: What would I advise a friend to do in this situation? Kahneman knows you're smarter than you think... when it comes to other people's problems. This question taps into that hidden wisdom. Why? 1. You're emotionally detached 2. You want the best for your friends 3. You see their blind spots Imagine your friend is considering a major career change. What advice would you give? Now apply that sage wisdom to yourself. Boom. You just became your own best advisor. Question 7: What's the quality of the evidence? Kahneman doesn't trust your "trustworthy" sources. He wants you to put on your detective hat and investigate. Ask yourself: 1. Where did this information come from? 2. Is it peer-reviewed or just someone's opinion? 3. Are there conflicting studies or viewpoints? For example: You read a headline: "Coffee cures cancer!" Before you start chugging espresso, dig deeper. Is it a single study or a meta-analysis? Who funded the research? What do other experts say? This question turns you from an information consumer into a critical thinker. It's your BS detector in a world of misinformation. Question 8: What are the opposing arguments? Kahneman knows your brain loves to play favorites. This question forces you to consider the other side. Why it matters: 1. It challenges your assumptions 2. It prepares you for potential pitfalls 3. It might change your mind (gasp) Try this: Before your next big decision, play devil's advocate. List all the reasons why it might be a terrible idea. You'll either strengthen your resolve or avoid a costly mistake. Win-win. Remember: Your brain is trying to trick you. These questions are your secret weapon. Use them wisely. Source: https://x.com/itsolelehmann/status/1821144546694271297 00:00 Introduction to Daniel Kahneman's Lessons 00:33 Understanding Fast and Slow Thinking 01:21 SEO and the Long Game 03:15 Stress and Decision Making 04:09 Reversible vs. Irreversible Decisions 05:46 Objectivity in Decision Making 06:50 Long-Term Implications 07:24 Advising a Friend and Evaluating Evidence 09:45 Challenging Assumptions and Opposing Arguments 11:06 Conclusion The Edward Show. Your daily digital marketing podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #digitalmarketing #marketingstrategy #searchengineoptimization #danielkahneman

E514: How going after low domain authority sites can actually increase rankings on Google! A user on the SEO subreddit had a client with only elite websites linking to them. The client needed a natural backlink profile - only high domain authority sites is not natural. The SEO contractor built links from a ton of low domain authority “mom blogs.” The keyword was in the 90th percentile of difficulty. Did the low domain authority link building increase rankings on Google? You’ll have to watch to find out! From: https://www.reddit.com/r/SEO/comments/12ihay2/link_building_in_2023_strategies_that_have_worked/ 00:00 Importance of an Authentic Backlink Variety 00:58 Case Study: Appliance Company 02:47 Marketing Strategy: Targeting Smaller Blogs 04:04 Building a Natural Backlink Profile 05:19 Outreach Techniques 06:58 Conclusion The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #seotips #searchengineoptimization #marketingstrategy #digitalmarketing

E513: This is the best way to be a terrible marketer and to get the worst results. From the legendary Rand Fishkin: https://moz.com/blog/the-best-way-to-suck-at-marketing-whiteboard-friday And mentioned at the end of the episode: What I Learned About Networking Going to NYC Tech & Business Events Every Night for Three Years - https://edwardsturm.com/articles/three-year-networking-experiment/ Things I’ve Learned About Networking to Sell a Service - https://edwardsturm.com/articles/things-ive-learned-about-networking-to-sell-a-service/ 00:00 Introduction to Whiteboard Friday and Rand Fishkin 01:17 The Best Way to Suck at Marketing 03:05 Transactional vs. Relationship-Oriented Marketing 05:24 Building Authentic Relationships 06:45 The Decline of Moz 12:31 Personal Networking Experiences 15:06 My Thank You The Edward Show. Your daily digital marketing podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #digitalmarketing #marketingstrategy #searchengineoptimization #organicmarketing

E513: In 5 minutes, I made a video in a café about a product I love. The product has an affiliate program, so I used my affiliate link, masked with a catchy domain I purchased. The video is going viral. Now, every couple of minutes, I get a notification of a new customer from my affiliate link. The product is software with recurring monthly fees. I get 25% of those recurring monthly fees… for life. This is why that video is going viral. 00:00 Recording Videos in Public 00:16 A Day in Lithuania: The Cafe Story 01:07 Podcast Matching Tools 02:52 Engaging Video Hooks 05:49 Promoting Products with Affiliate Links 08:43 Future Plans 10:56 Final Thoughts The Edward Show. Your daily digital marketing podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #tiktokmarketing #instagrammarketing #affiliatemarketing #saasmarketing

E511: A combination of silly gameplay and TikTok virality has resulted in 20 million downloads in October alone for “The Screaming Chicken Game.” These mechanics are brilliant and can be copied across products. The game was the most downloaded game in October 2024 due to its viral mechanics made explicitly for TikTok and Instagram Reels. It also invited tons of copycats exploiting the game’s lack of ASO (app store optimization) knowledge to rank above the game for its own keywords! Wild digital marketing story here. Shared on the show: https://www.indiehackers.com/post/tech/the-screaming-chicken-game-uses-tiktok-to-top-the-game-download-leaderboards-I5QnJacIiUcdqrmnjCHm 00:00 Nostalgic Green Screen Setup 00:22 Introduction to The Screaming Chicken Game 01:27 Virality and Monetization 03:16 TikTok and Instagram Reels Impact 04:25 Marketing Insights and Competitor Analysis 10:28 Podcast Outro The Edward Show. Your daily digital marketing podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #tiktokmarketing #instagrammarketing #saasmarketing #socialmediamarketing

E510: Answering whether you can and if it’s a smart investment buying the backlink and link building services offered on Fiverr. Then giving my #1 platform for link building and obtaining reputable backlinks. Here's what all SEOs need to know. 00:00 Introduction 00:31 The Reality of Fiverr Backlinks 01:27 Semrush's Local Tool 02:10 Risks and Realities 03:41 Long-Term SEO Strategy 08:31 Alternative Link Building Platform 10:54 Outro #seo #linkbuilding #searchengineoptimization #digitalmarketing

E509: How I run SEO experiments and why every digital marketer should be doing this. The SEO change log I keep and some of the experiments I’m running now. This is one of the most insightful things you can do in SEO. 00:00 Introduction 00:34 Bottom of Funnel SEO for Service Businesses 01:39 Challenges and Experiments with SEO Keywords 02:55 Best Practices for Services’ Bottom of Funnel SEO Pages 04:13 Recent Changes and Testing Strategies 06:26 Importance of SEO Change Logs 07:13 Additional SEO Tips 11:21 Final Thoughts The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #seotips #searchengineoptimization #marketingstrategy #digitalmarketing