Search with Candour - SEO podcast

In this episode of Search With Candour, host Jack Chambers-Ward discusses the evolving value of backlinks in 2025 with guest Tamara Novitovic from Bazoom Group. They explore how link building strategies need to adapt, the impact of AI on SEO, and why backlinks remain crucial. The conversation covers which metrics matter for link-building and future trends that will shape the SEO landscape. Whether you're reconsidering your link-building strategy or curious about the future of SEO, this episode offers invaluable insights for you! Follow Tamara Website: ⁠https://bazoom.com/⁠  LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamara-novitovic/⁠  Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:52 Sponsor: AlsoAsked 03:17 The Value of Links in 2025 04:55 Holistic Approach to Link Building 09:30 Metrics and Relevancy in Link Building 18:48 Content Strategy and Link Building 22:57 Interactive Content and Future Trends 33:08 Balancing Freshness and Relevancy 37:45 The Power of Data in Client Convincing 38:14 Learning from Industry Peers 38:56 The Reality of Working with Clients 39:27 Becoming a Trendsetter in SEO 40:53 The Role of AI in SEO 43:56 Using AI for Data Analysis 48:05 Combining Data Sources for Better Insights 53:46 The Future of AI in SEO 01:05:34 Predictions for Link Building 01:09:11 Conclusion and Future Plans

In the first episode of 2025, host Jack Chambers-Ward is joined by Jamie Indigo, an expert in technical SEO and an overall delightful human being. Jamie guides Jack through the findings from the 2024 Web Almanac's SEO chapter including technical data changes over recent years, offering insights and predictions for the future. Jamie also highlights AI's rising influence, the importance of robots.txt, Core Web Vitals updates, and structured data advancements. Follow Jamie: Website: https://not-a-robot.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-indigo/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/not-a-robot.comRich Snippets: https://trafficthinktank.com/rich-snippets/ Resources Web Almanac 2024 - SEO Chapter: https://almanac.httparchive.org/en/2024/seoPerformance chapter: https://almanac.httparchive.org/en/2024/performanceMaggie Appleton Dark Forest: https://maggieappleton.com/ai-dark-foresthttps://youtu.be/1OvasjokuaA?si=UBNiK07uyWHjd2HX by Jess Sankhavaram-Peck Chapters 00:00 Welcome to 2025: Kicking Off the New Year01:11 Sponsored by SE Ranking https://seranking.com/?sou1=influencers&gr1=podcast&tg1=search_with_candour&kw1=com_first_ad&utm_source=influencers&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=com_first_ad_search_with_candour02:45 Introducing Jamie Indigo: Technical SEO Expert03:56 What is the Web Almanac?04:43 Exploring the Methodology: Data and Analysis13:47 Dynamic Rendering and Robots.txt: Trends and Changes20:44 Meta Robots Directives: New Data Insights29:03 Canonical Tags Explained29:37 Consistency in SEO33:53 JavaScript and SEO Misconceptions34:51 Structured Data Insights39:34 The Role of Knowledge Graphs46:10 Core Web Vitals Update50:05 Wrapping Up and Future Plans

In this special episode of Search With Candour, hosts Jack Chambers-Ward and Mark Williams-Cook sit down with guests Arnout Hellemans, Yagmur Simsek, and Begum Kaya. Recorded in a brand new studio to celebrate the finale of Season 3, the panel discusses SEO industry highlights from 2024, and makes some SEO predictions for 2025. Topics include the rise of AI, shifts in search engine market shares, and the ever-evolving landscape of SEO. The conversation extends to personal branding, the importance of community in SEO, and how the integration of AI could reshape the search experience in the coming years. Follow our guests Follow Arnout Hellemans on LinkedIn and BlueskyFollow Yagmur Simsek on LinkedIn and Search 'n' StuffFollow Begum Kaya on LinkedIn Chapters 00:00 Welcome 00:17 Introducing Our Special Guests 02:38 Highlights of 2024 in SEO 11:53 The Impact of AI on SEO 27:06 Building Trust and Brand in SEO 43:09 The Long-Term Impact of SEO Tips 43:31 The Challenge of Measuring Long-Term SEO Success 44:08 The Human Element in SEO 44:51 The Evolution of SEO Communities 45:51 Conversational Search and AI 47:00 The Future of Search Engines 49:19 The Role of AI in Everyday Tasks 01:03:41 The Impact of AI on Jobs and Society 01:13:01 Predictions for the Future of Search 01:25:58 Closing Thoughts

Jack Chambers-Ward and Mark Williams-Cook follow up on Mark's popular Search Norwich talk about conceptual models for SEO and his recent Google exploit discovery. Mark & Jack explore the details of the fascinating Google exploit, dissect the talk's key points, and answer questions from the community. The duo also preview next week’s big episode featuring three special guests and discuss the revamped format for Search With Candour in their cosier setting. Stay tuned for exclusive insights into Google's data, how Google classifies queries, and what this all means for SEO in 2025. Sponsors ⁠Experience the evolution of SE Ranking⁠⁠Try Optmyzr - Made by PPC people, for PPC people Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Search with Candour 00:15 Studio Updates and Upcoming Guests 01:13 Exploring the Google Exploit 01:29 Sponsor: SE Ranking 02:50 Sponsor: Optmyzr 05:53 Advanced SEO and Conceptual Models 10:13 Understanding SEO Through Video Games 11:25 The Importance of Conceptual Models in SEO 14:53 Google Exploit Data and Its Implications 21:18 Site Quality Score and SERP Features 30:27 Optimising Click-Through Rates 33:25 The Twiddler Framework Explained 35:25 Google's Predicted Click-Through Model 37:53 The Role of Expertise in SEO 43:38 What Protobuf Is and How It Works 48:07 Wrapping Up and Future Plans

Jack Chambers Ward celebrates the near end of the year with a Spotify Wrapped-style recap of the podcast's top episodes from 2024. Jack highlights the top 10 most watched and listened to episodes, along with honourable mentions from throughout season 3. Sponsors ⁠Experience the evolution of SE Ranking⁠⁠Try Optmyzr - Made by PPC people, for PPC people Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:42 Upcoming Episodes 01:19 Sponsors 05:55 Spotify Wrapped Insights 12:36 Top 10 Episodes of 2024 13:02 Number 10 13:57 Number 9 14:55 Number 8 16:59 Number 7 18:27 Number 6 19:53 Number 5 20:56 Number 4 23:43 Number 3 25:27 Number 2 27:49 Honourable Mentions 38:47 Number 1 42:09 Conclusion and thanks

Join Jack Chambers-Ward as he discusses storytelling, copywriting, and content strategy with Will Slater, the creative content specialist at 43 Clicks North. Will uses his experience as a writer and photographer to explain how even bad ideas lead to great ones, the importance of curiosity, and the intricacies of creating content that resonates emotionally with your audience. Jack & Will explore how storytelling principles from novels, comics, and even music can enhance your marketing efforts. Plus, learn valuable tips for structuring your content, engaging specific audiences, and mastering the art of concise and impactful writing. This episode is packed with insights to help you create better content in 2024 and beyond. Sponsors Experience the evolution of SE RankingTry Optmyzr - Made by PPC people, for PPC people Follow Will LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cleanslatewillWebsite: https://43clicksnorth.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cleanslatewill/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carparkshull/ Chapters 00:00 Intro trailer 00:57 Introduction to Search with Candour 02:01 Sponsorship Acknowledgements 06:34 Welcome Will Slater 08:40 The Power of Storytelling in Copywriting 09:50 Creating Emotional Connections 11:25 The Role of Flaws in Storytelling 14:51 The Art of Concise Copywriting 17:42 The Process of Generating Ideas 22:53 Understanding Your Audience 32:11 The Influence of Music on Storytelling 40:33 The Power of Brand Recognition 40:58 Engaging the Senses in Writing 41:32 Show, Don't Tell: Writing Techniques 44:40 The Art of Comic Book Storytelling 48:44 Structuring Content for Impact 57:27 The Hero's Journey in Modern Writing 01:00:46 Concise Storytelling: Less is More 01:04:29 Understanding Your Audience 01:13:12 The Importance of Curiosity in Marketing 01:18:49 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this week's episode of Search with Candour, Jack Chambers-Ward is joined by Tomek Rudzki from ZipTie.dev to discuss AI overviews and their impact on SEO. Tomek shares insights on how AI overviews have risen in recent months, how AI overviews incorporate sources as well as the differences between traditional search results and AI overviews. Jack and Tomek also discuss Google’s approach to user-generated content and ensuring high-quality search outcomes, especially for YMYL queries. Tomek also shares strategies for optimising content for AI overviews. 00:00 Trailer 00:55 Introduction 02:25 Sponsors 06:49 Welcome Tomek Rudzki 08:18 The Evolution of Ziptie.dev 10:15 The Rise of AI Overviews 16:36 Tracking AI Overviews 25:41 Comparing AI Overviews and Featured Snippets 33:55 Addressing Low-Quality Search Results 34:28 Trust and Authority in Online Content 36:23 Google's Approach to User-Generated Content 37:02 Manipulation and Spam in Search Results 38:56 Google's AI and Ranking Systems 43:16 Challenges with AI Overviews 58:48 Optimising for AI Overviews 01:07:13 Conclusion Resources 1. https://dashboard.ziptie.dev/aio-monitor 2. https://ziptie.dev/blog/how-ai-overviews-will-affect-ymyl-queries/ 3. https://thecollegeinvestor.com/47758/google-ai-misleads-in-43-of-finance-related-searches/ 4. https://ziptie.dev/blog/ziptie-vs-semrush-17x-more-ai-overviews/ Sponsors: 1. Experience the evolution of SE Ranking: https://seranking.com/?sou1=influencers&gr1=podcast&tg1=search_with_candour&kw1=com_first_ad&utm_source=influencers&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=com_first_ad_search_with_candour 2. Try Optmyzr - Made by PPC people, for PPC people https://www.optmyzr.com/?utm_source=sponsorship&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=candour Links to follow Tomek: 1. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomekrudzki/ 2. Ziptie: https://ziptie.dev/ 3. Tomek’s website: https://tomekseo.com/ 4. Onely: https://www.onely.com/ 5. Google Search Console Mastery Course: https://gscmastery.com/

Join host Jack Chambers Ward and special guest Amanda King as they delve into the intricacies of content hierarchy and content consolidation in this insightful episode of Search With Candour. Amanda and Jack finally meet to discuss the importance of getting content structure right, common mistakes to avoid, and the nuances of SEO best practices in 2024 and beyond. This episode is packed with expert advice, real-life examples, and tips for performing effective content audits. Sponsors Experience the evolution of SE RankingTry Optmyzr - Made by PPC people, for PPC people Follow Amanda: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandaecking/ Website: https://floq.co/ Engage: On Enterprise SEO: https://floq.co/resources/podcast/Amanda on The SEO Mindset Podcast: https://theseomindset.co.uk/episode/picking-battles-in-the-workplace-amanda-kingAmanda's articles for SEL: https://searchengineland.com/author/amanda-kingProfanity-based stationery and apparel: https://fourletterfancies.com Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:28 Sponsors 05:52 Amanda King's Background and SEO Experience 08:22 Content Hierarchy 11:32 SEO Strategies and Best Practices 17:46 Content Authenticity and User Experience 26:49 Content Consolidation 35:34 The Importance of Content Consumption 35:54 Balancing Content Creation and Consolidation 36:23 Fragmentation in Media Spaces 37:07 Google's Role in Content Structuring 38:02 Evolving Best Practices in Content Creation 39:37 Building Knowledge Hubs and Linking Strategies 40:18 The Necessity of Content Audits 40:53 Challenges in Content Consolidation 41:38 The Impact of AI on Content Management 45:15 Client Communication and Content Strategy 46:32 International Content Management 48:45 Annual Reviews and Technical Audits 50:26 Addressing Cannibalisation Issues 56:00 The Future of Content Structures 59:04 Business and Market-Led Content 01:02:48 Conclusion

In this bonus episode Search With Candour, Jack is joined by Steve Paine, the English-language marketing manager at SISTRIX to discuss breaking news on site reputation abuse and recent data insights. Steve & Jack explore the November core update from Google and its impact on website rankings with examples of affected websites such as Reddit, Forbes, The Guardian and more. Steve and Jack also explore manual versus algorithmic enforcement of Google's policies and share their findings on recent shifts in SERPs and site visibility. Follow Steve Paine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevechippy/ Follow SISTRIX: https://www.sistrix.com/blog/google-core-update-november-2024/ Follow Lily Ray: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lily-ray-44755615/ Follow Glenn Gabe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/glenngabe/ Follow Barry Schwartz: https://www.seroundtable.com/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Welcome00:44 Site Reputation Abuse01:42 November Core Update Insights04:01 Impact on Major Websites08:32 Manual Actions and Algorithmic Changes11:47 Future of Content Creation13:34 Conclusion and Sign Off

Jack Chambers Ward sits down with web data analyst Marco Giordano to discuss how to get the most out of your web data. Together, they delve into the intricacies of web analytics, covering topics such as incorporating crawl data, understanding GA4, leveraging BigQuery, and effectively communicating data insights to clients. Jack and Marco also discuss the importance of combining technical SEO expertise with business acumen and provide valuable tips for anyone looking to maximise the impact of their web data. Sponsors AlsoAsked - Track search intent shift over time using the Timeline featureSE Ranking - Track AI Overviews for your clients using SE Ranking Links to follow Marco: Follow Marco on LinkedInCheck out SEOTistics Subscribe to Marco's newsletter Links to resources/articles: ⁠Free Google Cloud BigQuery training⁠ Analytics for SEO course⁠Analytics for SEO ebookThe Gray Dot keyword matrix template Chapters 00:00 Highlight reel 00:36 Welcome to Search with Candour 00:56 Introducing Marco Giordano 01:55 Sponsors 04:49 Marco Giordano's Insights on Web Data 06:12 Common Mistakes in Web Data Management 10:22 Balancing Hard and Soft Skills in SEO 19:00 Importance of Storing and Analysing Web Data 29:46 Combining Data Sources for Better Insights 37:17 Global Marketing Differences 39:26 The Role of Crawl Data and Log Files 42:05 Integrating Technical and Content Strategies 49:16 The Importance of Hybrid Skills in SEO 52:49 Evolving Job Titles and Industry Roles 54:27 Combining SEO with Other Channels 01:03:15 The Future of SEO and Analytics 01:09:17 Conclusion and Future Episodes

Jack Chambers-Ward is joined by SEO veteran Noah Lerner for an in-depth discussion on the importance of critical thinking in SEO. Noah and Jack champion the structured, evidence-based approach to decision-making as well as discussing the challenges and pitfalls of problem-solving, and the essential skills needed to excel in SEO. Noah also brings real examples from over 20 years of experience, such as the transition from UA to GA4 at Sterling Sky, building data pipelines and even how to communicate important data to clients. Sponsors Experience the evolution of SE Ranking Try Optmyzr - Made by PPC people, for PPC people Follow Noah ⁠Follow Noah on LinkedIn⁠⁠Sterling Sky⁠⁠Join the SEO community⁠ Chapters 00:00 Trailer introduction00:58 Introduction02:18 Sponsors: SE Ranking & Optmyzr06:42 Welcome Noah Learner09:44 Defining Critical Thinking Skills11:42 Challenges in Problem Solving15:32 Importance of Structured Problem Definition23:31 Data-Driven Decision Making40:52 Aligning SEO Metrics with Business Goals45:29 The Importance of Call Tracking46:50 Understanding Attribution and Data Constraints50:01 Prioritizing Tasks for Maximum Impact51:47 Efficiency Through Automation54:52 The Role of AI in Problem Solving01:05:09 Critical Thinking in SEO01:11:38 Building a Supportive SEO Community01:15:17 Conclusion and Future Episodes

Join hosts Jack Chambers-Ward and Mark Williams-Cook as they tackle the latest SEO news and industry trends. In this episode, we'll cover the growing influence of AI in search, Google introducing AI-organised search results, personalised Google Shopping feeds, and the pitfalls of AI Overviews for finance queries and restaurant reviews. We also explore how Redditors are manipulating search results and whether we can trust online reviews anymore. Don't miss it! Resources Google’s AI-Organised search resultsGoogle Shopping’s personalised feedThe Verge’s article on personalised Google Shopping feedRedditors disrupt AI Overviews with fake restaurant reviews Sponsors Experience the evolution of SE Ranking Try Optmyzr - Made by PPC people, for PPC people Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:10 Conference Season and Travel 01:40 Sponsor: SE Ranking 03:12 Sponsor: Optmyzr 06:01 AI in Search 2024 06:21 AI Organized Search Results 14:03 Personalized Shopping Feeds 26:55 Financial Advice Inaccuracies 28:52 Financial Advice Regulations in the UK 29:08 US State Laws vs Federal Laws 30:12 AI Overviews and Legal Nuances 31:00 Disclaimers and User Trust 33:39 Accuracy of AI-Generated Content 39:56 Reddit's Influence on Search Results 46:12 User-Generated Content: Pros and Cons 49:25 Conclusion and Upcoming Content

Join hosts Jack Chambers-Ward and Search With Candour Scream Queens, Myriam Jessier, and Stéphanie Walter, in this Halloween-themed episode packed with spooky surprises and valuable marketing insights. From e-commerce strategies and UX design to SEO tips and digital PR trends, you'll discover the scariest messages from your boss and the history of Halloween itself. Sponsors Experience the evolution of SE RankingTry Optmyzr - Made by PPC people, for PPC people Chapters 00:00 Spooky Introduction and Halloween Special 🎃01:28 Sponsor - SE Ranking Overview03:00 Sponsor - Optmyzr: The Ultimate PPC Management Tool05:51 👻 Halloween Tips and Spooky Conversations 👻08:54 🎃 The History and Evolution of Halloween 🎃15:59 🧛‍♂️ Halloween Costumes and Cognitive Biases 🧛‍♂️38:23 Halloween Trends Analysis39:00 Comparing Halloween Popularity Over the Years40:58 Marketing Strategies and Cognitive Biases44:53 Corporate Messages That Will Chill Your Spine56:53 SEO and UX: The Future of E-commerce01:03:36 Closing Thoughts Follow Myriam Follow Myriam on LinkedInNeurospicy AgencyPragm Follow Stéphanie Follow Stef on LinkedInStéphanie's websiteStéphanie's UX templates

Join host Jack Chambers-Ward and special guest Darren Shaw, founder of Whitespark, as they dive into the latest in local SEO and Google Business Profile optimisation. Discover key updates expected in 2025, innovative methods to enhance rankings, the impact of custom service entries, strategic use of Google Posts, and the importance of robust Q&A sections. From optimising menu items for restaurants to leveraging photos and videos effectively, this episode is packed with expert insights and practical tips essential for SEO professionals and business owners. Links to follow Darren Darren on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenshawwhitespark/⁠ Whitespark on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/whitespark/⁠ Threads: ⁠https://www.threads.net/@darrenshawseo⁠ Website: ⁠https://whitespark.ca/⁠ YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@WhitesparkCa⁠ Tiktok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@darrenshawseo⁠ Resources Local SEO ranking factors 2023 edition - ⁠https://whitespark.ca/local-search-ranking-factors⁠⁠Do Services in Google Business Profiles Impact Ranking? - Sterling Sky Inc⁠⁠Are Opening Hours a Local Ranking Factor? - BrightLocal⁠⁠Report: Menu items, busier businesses may be Google local ranking signals⁠Google Vision AI: ⁠https://cloud.google.com/vision⁠ ⁠Website Title Tags and GMB Snippets⁠Enter…the stuff zone: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/posts/darrenshawwhitespark_perfect-title-tags-for-local-seo-activity-7065345429235781632-xGo1/⁠ Chapters 00:00 Introduction02:20 Sponsorship Shoutout: SE Ranking03:54 Sponsorship Shoutout: Also Asked05:19 Darren Shaw's Journey in SEO06:31 Local Search Ranking Factors Update09:43 Optimising Google Business Profile Services18:23 Impact of Business Hours on Rankings23:47 Menu Items and Local SEO29:03 Multilingual Business Names for Local SEO31:34 Mastering Google Posts: Common Mistakes and Best Practices37:19 The Power of Videos and Photos in Google Business Profiles44:53 Optimising Your Google Business Profile Q&A50:18 The Controversy of Keyword Stuffing in Title Tags57:07 Outro

Join Jack Chambers-Ward from Search With Candour and Sarah and Tazmin from The SEO Mindset podcast in this special live episode from Brighton as they tackle career planning without the overwhelm. Recorded in front of a packed audience at in The Globe Room at Projects The Lanes, this episode discusses personal experiences in career development, strategies like ikigai and ISA, and the importance of setting achievable goals. Sponsors ⁠SE Ranking⁠⁠AlsoAsked⁠⁠SISTRIX⁠⁠Majestic⁠ Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction00:01:34 Sponsors: SE Ranking & AlsoAsked00:04:28 Live Podcast Begins00:05:08 Career Planning Discussion00:05:27 Introducing the SEO Mindset Podcast00:06:18 Introducing Search With Candour00:07:21 Why This Live Podcast is Important00:08:13 Finding Your Ikigai00:09:59 Live Podcast Sponsors: SISTRIX & Majestic00:13:40 Career Planning Experiences00:20:05 Overcoming Career Planning Challenges00:27:36 Strategies for Effective Career Planning00:49:59 The Simple Joy of Cleaning Kitchens00:50:44 Exploring the Nine Lives Exercise00:51:34 Taking Action Towards Your Dreams00:53:44 The ISA Strategy: Intention, Strategy, Action00:58:00 Collecting Data for Career Success01:04:38 Building a Personal Brand and Networking01:09:15 Audience Q&A01:11:34 Dealing with Comparisons and Self-Perception01:20:29 The Importance of Certifications and Continuous Learning01:33:40 Outro

Giulia Panozzo joins Search With Candour to discuss the neuroscience behind negativity bias. Giulia combines her knowledge of neuroscience and marketing to bring some fascinating neuromarketing insights to the podcast! Why do negative headlines get more clicks than positive ones? How does negativity bias affect the way we search? Why does one piece of negative feedback standout against positive feedback? Resources and studies: Neuroscience of Search: What does brain science tell us about the user? 🧠 Negativity drives online news consumption | Nature Human Behaviour Consuming Negative News Can Make You Less Effective at Work How to leverage anthropomorphism for chatbot service interfaces: The interplay of communication style and personification - ScienceDirect Martin E.P. Seligman | Positive Psychology CenterUsing Neuroplasticity for Personal Growth with Giulia Panozzo - The SEO Mindset Podcast Follow Giulia Follow Giulia on LinkedInCheck out Neuroscientive Chapters 00:00 Users are more aware of marketing tactics00:31 Welcome to Search with Candour00:42 Introducing Giulia Panozzo and Neuromarketing01:50 Sponsors04:53 Giulia Panozzo's Background and Achievements05:53 What is Negativity Bias?10:55 The Neuroscience Behind Negativity Bias17:06 Marketing's Impact on User Behaviour25:27 User Scepticism and Authenticity in Reviews36:08 Confirmation Bias and Negativity Bias37:26 Questioning Beliefs and Seeking Honest Reviews38:43 Critical Thinking and Bias in Academia41:26 Negativity Bias in Career and Workplace45:25 Impact of Negative Feedback and Learned Helplessness48:58 Two-Way Feedback and Work Culture57:15 Good Daily Habits for Fighting Negativity Bias59:29 Reframing Failures and Neuroplasticity01:03:33 Future of Search and Marketing01:05:00 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Maria Scheibengraf joins Jack Chambers-Ward to explain why localization is so important for your international SEO strategy. Direct translation just doesn’t work for SEO. You need to take culture and nuance into account when it comes to your international SEO strategies. Maria explains the common problems that many agencies and SEOs face with multilingual SEO and how to get SEO localization right. Follow Maria Scheibengraf Follow Maria on LinkedInFollow Crisol Translations Resources Maria's companion blog postBook recommendation: The Culture Map by Erin MeyerThe Nike 'Am I a Bad Person? ad Sponsors Experience the evolution of SE RankingStart your 14-day free trial of OptmyzrBook your personalised Optmyzr demo Chapters 00:00 Start00:00:34 Intro00:01:37 Sponsor: SE Ranking00:03:45 Sponsor: Optmyzr00:06:39 Welcome to the show Maria Scheibengraf00:08:06 Why is SEO localisation so important?00:11:00 The flawed workflow of SEO translation00:15:10 Direct translation doesn’t work00:16:21 Localisation is so much more than language00:20:33 Book recommendation: The Culture Map by Erin Meyer00:20:53 High context vs low context communication00:22:06 British humour vs American humor00:24:00 The importance of technical SEO in localisation00:27:25 Understand what devices your audience are using00:30:00 Common problems with SEO localisation00:36:35 Linguists should learn SEO skills00:40:30 When should SEO localisation be involved in the process?00:41:09 The ideal international SEO workflow00:44:35 How NOT to convince Germans to buy your products00:47:45 How to budget for SEO localisation00:49:20 Reuse resources to save time and money00:51:45 Reframe your unique selling points to different cultures00:54:05 Understanding cultural-coding00:55:32 Be mindful of your messaging in different cultures00:57:10 Marketing is still about evoking emotions in your audience00:58:00 Even emotions are culturally coded00:58:37 ‘Am I a bad person?’ Nike ad01:00:34 Individualistic vs collectivist cultures01:02:58 Search behaviour is becoming more conversational in English01:05:05 AI is not trained on minority languages01:06:58 Adapt your language to cultural standards01:08:12 Even small changes in language can make a big difference01:09:12 Don’t say ‘please’ in your Spanish content!01:10:51 How language changes through generations01:11:35 “De nada” means “it’s nothing” not “you’re welcome”01:13:49 Tiny errors can really change your messaging01:14:08 How to build trust with your audience01:15:40 Where to follow Maria Scheibengraf01:16:36 Outro

Eric Hoover joins the Search With Candour podcast this week to discuss how to use AI for SEO. Yes, we’re finally talking about AI tools in detail and how to integrate AI into your SEO workflow. Eric has recommendations for using AI and LLMs for keyword research, competitor analysis, content creation, ecommerce optimisation and if SearchGPT can ever dethrone Google as the primary search engine. Sponsors Experience the evolution of SE RankingGet your tickets for the live Brighton podcast Links to follow Eric: Follow Eric on LinkedInEric's Website Links to resources/articles Unmasking AI by Dr Joy BuolamwiniAI in SEO, Treat it like a New Team MemberHuman-AI CollaborationFeedGen AIRanch style SEO vs skyscraper style contentMost people can’t identify AI-generated content Chapters 00:00:00 How to do SEO in an AI world00:00:28 Intro00:01:37 Sponsor: SE Ranking00:03:45 Live brightonSEO podcast 2 Oct 202400:05:44 Welcome to the show Eric Hoover00:06:01 Let’s talk about cats (briefly)00:08:16 SEO in an AI world00:10:49 Book recommendation: Unmasking AI by Dr Joy Buolawmini00:12:25 Working with AI as an assistant00:14:37 You should learn to use AI in your workflow00:15:20 How to use AI in keyword research00:18:10 How to use AI in competitor analysis00:19:35 Use AI to automate tasks and save your brain bandwidth00:23:10 How to use AI for ecommerce optimisation00:29:34 How to use AI to create content briefs00:32:06 How to use AI to brainstorm new ideas00:36:30 The common pitfalls of AI content00:39:00 Can readers recognise AI-generated content?00:41:36 How AI is integrated into the rest of our lives00:44:50 Ranch-style SEO strategy works for AI-powered search00:52:20 Content strategy for AI Overviews00:54:20 Waiting for SearchGPT00:56:50 Will there be a Google killer?00:59:25 How search behaviour is shifting away from Google01:02:50 Where to follow Eric Hoover01:03:50 Outro and thanks

Jack Chambers-Ward and Mark Williams-Cook reunite in the Candour studio to discuss the early reactions to SearchGPT, the helpful content update might not be what you think and how robots.txt can interact with redirects to cause indexing confusion. Links and resources SE Ranking SearchGPT researchCombined SearchGPT analysis on SEJThe helpful content update isn't what you think it isWhen robots.txt gets stuck in the middle of your redirects Sponsors Start your 14-day free trial of OptmyzrBook your personalised Optmyzr demoGet your free ticket for the live podcast in Brighton Chapters 00:00:00 - Intro00:01:12 - Sponsor: Optmyzr00:04:02 - Live podcast in Brighton on 2 Oct 202400:06:01 - Early reactions to SearchGPT00:26:26 - The helpful content update was not what you think00:37:03 - What happens when redirect URLs are blocked by robots.txt?00:43:00 - SEO is heading towards a big change00:45:17 - Outro

Ashley Liddell joins Jack on this week's Search With Candour to discuss how social media is infiltrating SEO and Google. With the recent increase in UGC on the SERPs, aligning your social media and search strategies has never been more important. Sponsors SE Ranking is the intuitive SEO platform trusted by over a million SEO professionals - start your free trial today.⁠Free live podcast in Brighton on 2 October 2024. Links to follow Ashley Follow Ashley on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-liddell-seo/Deviation - https://www.wearedeviation.co.uk/  Links to resources/articles: Deviation article about social SEO: https://www.wearedeviation.co.uk/insights/an-introduction-to-social-seoRelevant previous episode with Ray Saddiq - https://youtu.be/nD97J0on2cI?si=o5SNytZqAYYeS2CuTikTok as a search engine with Annie-Mai Hodge: https://withcandour.co.uk/blog/tiktok-as-a-search-engine-with-annie-mai-hodge Chapters 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:32 Sponsored by SE Ranking 00:03:11 Live podcast on 2nd October 2024 00:05:10 Welcome Ashley Liddell 00:06:07 The crossover of social media and search 00:09:01 How the relationship between SEO and social media has changed in the last year 00:12:34 The democratisation of content creation 00:14:55 People want authenticity in content 00:17:10 Google Perspectives replaced by Google Forums 00:21:30 How search behaviour has changed for Gen Z 00:23:55 Create content 00:27:03 The growth of long-form and short-form content 00:31:45 How Tiktok leads the short-form video industry 00:33:11 How old marketing tactics become relevant again on new platforms 00:33:50 Tiktok Shop tips 00:34:40 The customer journey for Tiktok content 00:36:08 Is Tiktok shop the future of ecommerce? 00:38:02 Selling products on Tiktok Live is the QVC of 2024 00:41:12 Brands need to embrace long-term commitment to authentic content 00:42:30 What will happen when Boohoo, Primark and Shein start using Tiktok shop? 00:46:35 Will big brands help to “legitimatise” Tiktok shop? 00:51:03 The two way relationship between organic search and social media 00:54:20 Integrating social media into keyword research (h/t tp Ray Saddiq) 00:55:24 Improving user experience by stealing ideas from social media 00:56:42 Search everywhere strategies 01:02:10 How social media can help with link building 01:06:43 Get your digital teams to work together or get left behind 01:08:30 Where to follow Ashley Lidell and Deviation 01:09:43 Thanks and outro