The Edward Show

Explore the wild world of SEO myths, from the ridiculous belief that adding emojis boosts rankings to the persistence of the 'SEO is dead' myth. Discover whether backlinks still pack a punch and why content isn't the reigning king anymore. Page speed and AI-generated content are evolving factors that matter more than ever. The discussion tackles humorous misconceptions while providing real insights into effective strategies for 2025, ensuring you're equipped to navigate the SEO landscape.

A significant drop in Google's indexed pages has left many SEOs puzzled. The rise of user-generated content from platforms like TikTok and YouTube is changing the search landscape. Short-form videos are becoming more prominent in search rankings, prompting a shift in SEO strategies. Listeners learn how to optimize their content for future visibility and quickly create engaging videos. The discussion dives into the importance of keyword targeting and the benefits of leveraging cross-platform video content to enhance traffic.

Join James Reynolds, founder of the 8-figure SEO agency SEO Sherpa, as he reveals secrets to scaling an agency from scratch. He discusses actionable strategies for client acquisition without upfront costs, shares insights on groundbreaking SEO experiments, and emphasizes the use of AI for operational efficiency. Discover the growing importance of video content for SEO and innovative techniques like the 'compact keywords' approach. James also highlights the value of networking and mentorship in navigating the industry's challenges.

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