The Edward Show

E726: How to consistently earn backlinks and attract new clients by building visible credibility - even if you're just getting started and have no existing reputation. The episode breaks down a real example from James Reynolds, the founder of SEO Sherpa, an SEO agency that grew from zero to eight figures in revenue. He used a structured, repeatable process to build perceived authority from the ground up. That credibility made it easier to get speaking opportunities, podcast invites, mentions in articles, and referrals - all of which led to more backlinks and client inquiries. You’ll learn: - Why social proof makes people more likely to link to you or hire you - How to start getting invited to speak at events, even if you're unknown - What to include in your speaker pitch to increase acceptance rates - How to use each small success (like a quote or event) to unlock the next one - A simple method to get included in articles and expert roundups - How podcast appearances can build trust and help with SEO - How to create assets (like research reports) that influencers want to share - How to position yourself as an expert, even if you feel like an imposter - Why “looking credible” matters more than being known in your industry - How to increase your success rate on HARO and similar platforms - What makes people more likely to include your link in their content - How to share your progress and where to do it This isn’t about shortcuts or hype - it’s about using simple steps to gradually build real trust, which leads to long-term growth in backlinks, visibility, and clients. This approach works whether you're a business owner, freelancer, agency owner, or in-house marketer - and whether you’re new to the field or looking to break into a more competitive space. If you enjoy practical, story-driven examples of marketing and SEO strategy, you’ll find a lot of value here. ⭐️ How to Grow an SEO Agency from $0 to 8 Figures (with Lessons from 21 SEO Experiments) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CC5i2M6TYC0 ⭐️ Manufacturing Social Proof to Build an 8-Figure Business - https://edwardsturm.com/articles/manufacturing-social-proof-build-an-8-figure-business/ ⭐️ 21 SEO Experiments - https://seosherpa.com/seo-experiments/ ⭐️ How to Get On Podcasts as a Guest in 2025: The Easy Way - https://edwardsturm.com/articles/get-on-podcasts-as-guest-2025/ 💎 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 Why Social Proof Matters 02:04 Case Study 03:03 Step-by-Step Guide to Building Social Proof 05:40 Leveraging Speaking Engagements for Growth 08:02 The Power of Influencer Collaboration 11:52 Getting Started: Practical Tips and Tools 14:41 Conclusion and Additional Resources The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #linkbuilding #backlinks #socialengineering #searchengineoptimization

Discover the latest insights from a massive survey of SEO pros on link building trends for 2025. Find out why NoFollow links still hold value and explore the impact of unlinked brand mentions on rankings. Dive into the debate over the worth of a $508 backlink and learn effective, low-cost strategies for gaining quality links. The discussion reveals risky practices, the necessity of backlinks, and the potential consequences of using Google's disavow tool. Uncover fascinating statistics that could reshape your approach to SEO.

E724: I walk you through a ridiculously powerful AI + Google Sheets hack that helped us sort through thousands of keywords to find a high-value keyword opportunity - potentially worth $15K/month - in just minutes. Whether you're doing SEO to sell services, SaaS, or any niche, this method will save you hours of manual sorting. Learn: - How to use Google Sheets + AI to filter thousands of keywords instantly - The methodology for what keywords to go after - How to avoid common mistakes when using AI for SEO ⭐️ Workspace Labs Sign Up: https://workspace.google.com/labs-sign-up/ ⭐️ Use the AI function in Google Sheets (Workspace Labs) - https://support.google.com/docs/answer/15820999?hl=en-GB 💎 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 00:07 Basics of Spreadsheets 00:39 A Real-Life Example: Finding Keywords 01:50 Discovering Ninjapromo 03:35 Using Google Sheets for Keyword Sorting 04:57 Filtering and Analyzing Keywords 07:04 Final Thoughts The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #keywordresearch #seotips #seohacks #digitalmarketing

SEO remains a powerhouse in 2025, especially alongside AI and social media. The discussion highlights how SEO knowledge enhances AI optimization and content visibility on platforms like TikTok. It emphasizes the importance of engagement and linkable assets for improving search rankings. Additionally, targeted blogging and bottom-of-funnel strategies prove beneficial for driving conversions. Learn how social media can amplify your SEO efforts, making it a unique free channel for high-intent traffic across various platforms.

Dominick DeJoy, an expert in paid ads for Google and LinkedIn, shares his insights into the 2025 LinkedIn Ads playbook. He reveals effective strategies for amplifying organic content to achieve lower CPMs. Learn why thought leadership campaigns outperform traditional ads and uncover the pitfalls that cause LinkedIn Ads to fail. Dominick also discusses structuring LinkedIn cold and warm audiences, optimizing Google Ads for B2B, and the surprising impact of video marketing. This is a goldmine of information for marketers eager to thrive.

E721: Google CEO Sundar Pichai recently appeared on the Lex Fridman podcast and addressed growing concerns about AI search, SEO, and the future of the human-created web. I break down the key takeaways and what they mean for content creators, marketers, and site owners. What’s Covered: - How Google’s AI Overviews and AI Mode are impacting search behavior - Whether Google is still committed to sending traffic to human-created websites - Why clicks from Google Search are dropping - and who’s affected most - What Sundar Pichai says about journalism, publishers, and the open web - The future of advertising in AI-powered search - Why bottom-of-funnel, transactional content is more important than ever - Practical SEO advice for staying visible in an AI-first search landscape If you’re serious about adapting to where search is going, this one’s for you. ⭐️ Source - https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-ceo-sundar-pichai-discusses-fate-of-the-human-created-web/548936/ ⭐️ Watch Sundar on Lex Fridman - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9V6tWC4CdFQ 💎 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: Sundar Pichai on the Lex Fridman Podcast 00:53 Google's Commitment to the Human-Created Web 02:09 AI Mode and AI Overviews 03:17 The Future of SEO and Content Marketing 08:26 Advertising in AI Mode 12:06 Will AI Mode Replace Everything? 13:05 Final Takeaways The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #searchengineoptimization #seotips #digitalmarketing #performancemarketing

E720: What can we learn from how Ancient Rome mastered public perception? Historian Gregory S. Aldrete joins the show to break down the surprising sophistication of Roman branding, influence, and propaganda - and what modern marketers can learn from it. From Caesar’s third-person dispatches to Augustus’ image management masterclass, this episode explores the tools Rome used to dominate the narrative - across architecture, coins, rumors, and gladiator games. If you're building a business, crafting a personal brand, or trying to stay top-of-mind in a noisy world, Rome’s playbook still applies. In this episode, we cover: • “Dignitas”: Rome’s original personal branding system • How Augustus ruled with power and humility - and avoided assassination • Viral scandals, propaganda, and the ancient version of going public • Rome’s use of architecture, symbols, and story to win hearts and minds • What Julius Caesar’s dispatches can teach you about Twitter/X • How gladiator games doubled as political theater and emotional influence • Rome’s version of top-of-mind awareness - and how they kept it • How gossip, graffiti, and chants spread ideas like memes • The Roman obsession with status - and how it shaped public image • Lessons from Cicero on emotional persuasion and audience control • How delivery and gesture amplified speeches in the Roman Republic • Why statues, coins, and temples were part of a unified content strategy • What Livy’s heroic myths reveal about Roman values and identity marketing • How Rome used fear, loyalty, and shared identity to build trust and power • The Roman military as a brand conversion machine for conquered people • Why Augustus’ autobiography (Res Gestae) is a masterclass in subtle marketing • What Rome’s failure moments teach us about bad PR and overreaching • How Nero’s golden palace backfired - and what came after • Parallels between ancient and modern “media ecosystems” • What marketers, creators, and leaders today can learn from ancient influence strategy Our guest, Gregory S. Aldrete, is a Professor Emeritus of History and Humanities at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, an award-winning educator, and the author of several acclaimed books on ancient Rome, including Gestures and Acclamations in Ancient Rome and The Encyclopedia of Daily Life in the Ancient World. He’s also the creator of multiple popular video lecture series with The Great Courses, where he brings ancient history to life for learners around the world. ⭐️ Gregory Aldrete’s Personal Website - https://gregorysaldrete.com/ ⭐️ Greg’s CV - https://gregorysaldrete.com/hompage/aldrete-cv-page/ ⭐️ The Great Courses - Gregory Aldrete’s Courses - https://www.amazon.com/History-Ancient-World-Global-Perspective/dp/B008QQ6FKY ⭐️ Wikipedia – Gregory S. Aldrete - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregory_S._Aldrete 💎 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 00:31 Sophistication of Roman Public Perception 01:47 Dignitas: The Roman Quest for Public Image 07:21 Scandals and Viral Antics in Ancient Rome 09:42 Roman Cultural Identity and Historical Narratives 16:21 Rome's Symbolic Dominance and Imperialism 19:41 Incorporation of Conquered Peoples 26:17 Augustus: Master of Personal Branding 43:31 Public Appearances and Legitimacy in Rome 49:26 Graffiti as a Political Tool in Ancient Rome 50:58 Public Opinion and Political Missteps 51:41 Nero's Golden House and the Colosseum 55:58 The Emotional Power of Roman Spectacles 57:55 The Art of Roman Oratory and Gestures 01:06:51 Virgil's Aeneid: Rome's Epic Origin Story 01:15:38 Lessons from Roman Influence and Branding 01:21:35 Julius Caesar's Propaganda Techniques 01:27:56 Augustus' Sophisticated Political Strategy 01:29:40 Where to Binge The Edward Show. Your daily digital marketing podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #marketing #ancientrome #influence #business

E719: Google just dropped support for 7 niche schema types - including Book Actions, Course Info, Estimated Salary, and more. In this episode, I break down exactly what that means for your SEO strategy, why most structured data is a waste of time, and the truth about LLMs.txt. You’ll learn: - Why niche schema doesn't move the needle - What Google actually says about structured data - Whether schema helps with AI visibility - Whether LLMs.txt helps with AI visibility like the TikTok SEO experts say - The SEO community’s real take on all of this (including Barry Schwartz & John Mueller) If you're spending time on technical SEO that sounds smart but doesn’t impact your rankings, this episode is your wake-up call. ⭐️ Google Structured Data Policies - https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/structured-data/sd-policies ⭐️ Barry Schwartz LinkedIn Post on Schema Types Dropped - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rustybrick_google-seo-googleseo-activity-7339255572279570434-jCea/ ⭐️ Barry Schwartz on this podcast - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIJaCimVeDE ⭐️ SEOs Are Recommending Structured Data For AI Search… Why? - https://www.searchenginejournal.com/seos-are-recommending-structured-data-for-ai-search-why/537959/ ⭐️ John Mueller / Google on LLMs.txt - https://www.seroundtable.com/google-ai-llms-txt-39607.html ⭐️ Reddit Discussion on LLMs.txt - https://www.reddit.com/r/SEO/comments/1lh8gua/llmstxt_file_generator_for_customers_who_obsessed/ ⭐️ Episode 708 - LLMs.txt: What It Is and Do You Need One? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOo6YC6n2hE 💎 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 00:07 Understanding Schema and Its Relevance 00:49 The Reality of Implementing Schema 01:59 Google's Update on Niche Schema 03:02 Structured Data for AI Search 04:48 Introduction to LLMs.txt 06:18 Debate on the Usefulness of LLMs.txt 10:25 Final Thoughts The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #technicalseo #searchengineoptimization #seotips #digitalmarketing

E718: Image SEO is one of the most ignored parts of search optimization - even by people who’ve been in the game for years. And yet, it affects everything from how your pages rank to how your brand shows up in Google Images, AI tools like ChatGPT, and social media platforms. In this episode, I break down the basic image SEO tactics most people skip - and how fixing them can lead to more traffic, better rankings, and increased visibility for your brand. You'll learn: - Why image SEO is still widely overlooked - and why that’s a mistake - How poor image optimization can hurt even solid SEO strategies - What properly named image files and alt text actually do for rankings - How optimized images improve e-commerce performance and AI discoverability - The simple naming convention I use for every image on my site - How image context, file structure, and alt attributes signal quality to Google - Lessons from real SEO experiments related to this Most SEOs are still missing this. After this episode, you won’t be one of them. ⭐️ 21 SEO Experiments That Will Change The Way You Think About SEO (Forever) - https://seosherpa.com/seo-experiments/ ⭐️ Ep 624 - Making SEO Viral - Matt Diamante - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QF8VnXdSjnA ⭐️ Ep 693 - The SHOCKING Truth About Shared Hosting & SEO Rankings (Real Experiment Results) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WobMZRSJwQs 💎 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 Image SEO 00:47 Importance of Image SEO in E-commerce 01:44 Real-life Examples of Image SEO 05:05 Optimizing Your Images: Best Practices 08:23 Final Thoughts The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #imageseo #searchengineoptimization #seotips #digitalmarketing

E717: Everyone's saying SEO is dead. Pages are getting de-indexed en masse, AI Overviews are stealing clicks, and AI content is getting penalized. So… is the SEO world collapsing? You’ll learn: - Why so many pages are getting removed from Google’s index - How AI Overviews are changing click patterns - What kind of content Google is still rewarding - Why transactional keywords are your best friend - How to adapt without panicking If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the changes - this episode is for you. ⭐️ State of Search Q1 2025: Behaviors, Trends, and Clicks Across the US & Europe - https://datos.live/report/state-of-search-q1-2025/ 💎 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/ 00:19 Deindexing Crisis: Pages Removed from Google's Index 00:43 AI's Impact on Clicks and Impressions 02:41 The Rise of Transactional Keywords 04:31 Google's Crackdown on Mass AI Content 06:32 Debunking the 'Google is Dead' Myth 10:18 The Best SEO Practices Remain Unchanged 11:00 Final Thoughts The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #searchengineoptimization #seotips #digitalmarketing #marketingstrategy