Voices of Search // A Search Engine Optimization (SEO) & Content Marketing Podcast
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When SEO budgets are tight, resource allocation becomes critical. Jade Pruett, founder of Hello SEO, shares insights on balancing investments between AI content tools and human editorial resources. She emphasizes the importance of prioritizing technical SEO fundamentals before content quality upgrades, highlighting how even luxury brands can fail when basic technical elements like robots.txt configurations are overlooked. Pruett recommends establishing a solid technical foundation first, as content improvements deliver minimal value when pages aren't properly indexed. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
AI search evolution demands new tracking and research tools. Jade Pruett, founder of Hello SEO, predicts increased AI adaptation and specialized tools emerging through year-end. She advocates for LLM webmaster tools and more nuanced keyword research capabilities, with Bing potentially gaining competitive advantage by being first to market with these features. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Is using AI to generate meta descriptions at scale effective? Jade Pruett, founder of Hello SEO, weighs in on this emerging practice. She recommends providing keywords and references when using AI for meta description generation rather than using generic prompts. Both Pruett and host Tyson Stockton agree this represents a low-risk entry point for organizations hesitant about implementing AI in their content creation workflow. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Enterprise SEO leaders face mounting pressure to develop AI search strategies. Jade Pruett, founder of Hello SEO, shares her approach for navigating this evolving landscape. She recommends starting with immediate data collection through tools like Scrunch AI to establish baseline performance, then adopting a deliberately reactive stance while the AI search ecosystem matures before building more comprehensive strategies. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Schema markup is gaining importance for search visibility. Jade Pruett, founder of Hello SEO, explains why structured data provides critical advantages in an AI-driven search landscape. She discusses how schema creates efficiency for large language models and serves as a controllable optimization technique that SEOs can implement to improve content interpretation and performance. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
AI is transforming SEO—for better or worse. Jade Pruett, CEO of Hello SEO, shares her optimistic perspective on navigating this evolution. She explains how AI search is creating new opportunities for smaller businesses to compete against established brands, why schema markup is making a comeback, and how diversifying optimization strategies across multiple LLMs can drive measurable results. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Is backlinking still relevant in AI search? Travis Tallent from Brainlabs discusses the evolving role of link building in modern SEO. He explains why brand mentions may become more valuable than traditional backlinks as AI technology improves at understanding context and sentiment. Tallent advocates for digital PR strategies that focus on meaningful brand references rather than simply accumulating links. Show Notes https://voicesofsearch.com/episode/how-ai-is-transforming-search/ CONNECT WITH: __ __ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Winning executive buy-in as a new SEO director is challenging. Travis Tallent, SEO expert from Brainlabs, shares his strategic approach for the critical first 90 days. He recommends diagnosing problems through CRO testing for quick wins, focusing on systems rather than individual silos, and creating a clear roadmap with specific timelines for audits, reporting, and results that align with business objectives. Show Notes https://voicesofsearch.com/episode/how-ai-is-transforming-search/ CONNECT WITH: __ __ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Reporting the right SEO metrics to executives is crucial. Travis Tallent, Director at Brainlabs, shares the three essential KPIs every SEO team should track and report. He emphasizes revenue/conversions as the primary metric, followed by comprehensive search share of voice (including organic, paid, and AI visibility), and brand search trends as indicators of overall performance. These metrics effectively communicate SEO value to senior leadership in language that resonates in board meetings and investor presentations. Show Notes https://voicesofsearch.com/episode/how-ai-is-transforming-search/ CONNECT WITH: __ __ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Should SEO teams embrace CRO as part of their core function? Travis Tallent from Brainlabs makes the case for fully integrating conversion rate optimization into SEO strategy. He advocates for incorporating CRO principles into every roadmap and initiative, from content topic selection to blending UX research with keyword mapping strategies. Tallent emphasizes that SEO inherently overlaps with multiple disciplines, making CRO integration a natural extension of effective search optimization work. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
AI is fundamentally simplifying how people search online. Travis Tallent from Brainlabs shares his expert perspective on the transformative impact of AI on search behavior over the next 12 months. The discussion explores how AI is streamlining user search experiences, reducing complexity in search interactions, and creating more direct pathways to information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Reframing SEO as a business revenue driver remains a major challenge. Travis Tallent, Managing Director at Brainlabs and specialist in integrated SEO strategy, details methods for aligning SEO with stakeholder KPIs, incorporating conversion rate optimization and UX into SEO roadmaps, and building implementation frameworks that focus on measurable business impact. Hear actionable approaches for breaking down team silos and forecasting SEO-driven revenue outcomes. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
AI summaries threaten organic traffic in search results. Mike Walrath, CEO of Yext, explains why brands should focus on maintaining awareness rather than traffic metrics. He advocates for making structured data widely available to AI systems, enabling direct customer connections without traditional website visits. Walrath suggests measuring success through conversions rather than traffic volume, as efficient customer acquisition without clicks can be more valuable. how Notes https://voicesofsearch.com/episode/ai-powered-search-disruptive-risk-or-strategic-advantage/ CONNECT WITH: __ __ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Zero-click search presents both challenges and opportunities for SEO professionals. Mike Walrath from Yext explores how these seemingly traffic-less interactions might evolve into valuable engagement points. He examines the growing role of voice search in zero-click experiences and predicts how brands may still deliver content directly to users despite the changing search landscape. how Notes https://voicesofsearch.com/episode/ai-powered-search-disruptive-risk-or-strategic-advantage/ CONNECT WITH: __ __ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In e-commerce search, AI is reshaping the shopping experience. Mike Walrath, CEO of Yext, predicts the emergence of single-click shopping experiences through AI search engines this holiday season. He explains how conversational AI will enable personalized product recommendations based on user preferences and price constraints, creating a more intelligent discovery process than traditional search results. Show Notes https://voicesofsearch.com/episode/ai-powered-search-disruptive-risk-or-strategic-advantage/ CONNECT WITH: __ __ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this episode, Mike Walrath of Yext tackles the strategic dilemma of optimizing for Google AI Overviews versus alternative search environments. He argues that optimizing for Google's AI search already leverages existing SEO practices, while diversifying to other platforms creates additional visibility opportunities. Walrath predicts established search players will continue gaining market share, highlighting how younger demographics' search behaviors are reshaping discovery patterns and reducing Google's dominance. Show Notes https://voicesofsearch.com/episode/ai-powered-search-disruptive-risk-or-strategic-advantage/ CONNECT WITH: __ __ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
AI is rapidly transforming local search results. Mike Walrath, CEO of Yext, explains how AI assistants now provide direct answers to local queries instead of deferring to search engines. He explores why businesses must adapt their strategies to become the answer within AI-generated results, emphasizing the accelerating pace of this fundamental shift in local search visibility. Show Notes https://voicesofsearch.com/episode/ai-powered-search-disruptive-risk-or-strategic-advantage/ CONNECT WITH: __ __ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
AI is reshaping search discoverability and business visibility. Mike Walrath, CEO of Yext, explains how Google's monetization model faces disruption from emerging AI search competitors. He details how businesses must structure data for machine consumption rather than humans, identifies opportunities in local search fragmentation, and demonstrates how granular competitive intelligence can pinpoint exactly where digital presence improvements are needed. Show Notes https://voicesofsearch.com/episode/ai-powered-search-disruptive-risk-or-strategic-advantage/ CONNECT WITH: __ __ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this episode, Elliot Tsai, Senior Growth Manager of SEO and ASO at TextNow, predicts which marketing channels will most overlap with SEO in the coming year. He identifies YouTube as the primary convergence point, followed by App Store and Google Store Optimization, noting how these platforms increasingly appear in search results. Elliot explains why AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini, while complementary to search, serve different user intents and won't replace traditional search behavior. Show Notes https://voicesofsearch.com/episode/how-to-create-a-holistic-land-and-expand-seo-strategy/ CONNECT WITH: __ __ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Is YouTube SEO just like traditional SEO from five years ago? Elliot Tsai, Senior Growth Manager of SEO and ASO at TextNow, debunks this oversimplification while highlighting the strategic overlap. He explains how YouTube's visual nature and engagement metrics create an 80/20 similarity ratio with traditional SEO, emphasizing how subscriber signals function as topic authority indicators. Tsai recommends leveraging YouTube's filtering capabilities to identify trending content patterns that can enhance traditional SEO briefs. Show Notes https://voicesofsearch.com/episode/how-to-create-a-holistic-land-and-expand-seo-strategy/ CONNECT WITH: __ __ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In the quest for effective SEO partnerships, data teams emerge as the critical ally. Elliot Tsai, Senior Growth Manager of SEO and ASO at TextNow, explains why data teams should be every SEO professional's first choice for collaboration. He emphasizes how understanding data implementation logic prevents misalignment between analytics and strategy, while highlighting that data expertise enables SEOs to validate information rather than blindly accepting what's provided. Show Notes https://voicesofsearch.com/episode/how-to-create-a-holistic-land-and-expand-seo-strategy/ CONNECT WITH: __ __ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Partnering with CRM teams requires strategic alignment. Elliot Tsai, Senior Growth Manager of SEO and ASO at TextNow, shares his approach to cross-functional collaboration. He emphasizes understanding CRM user journeys and templates first, then identifying content gaps where SEO articles can enhance customer communications, ultimately creating a more cohesive user experience across touchpoints. Show Notes https://voicesofsearch.com/episode/how-to-create-a-holistic-land-and-expand-seo-strategy/ CONNECT WITH: __ __ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In this episode, Elliot Tsai, Senior Growth Manager of SEO and ASO at TextNow, challenges the notion that paid search should be SEO's primary partner channel. Tsai argues that all marketing channels deserve equal partnership as they each represent different parts of the user funnel. He explains that paid search often receives preferential treatment simply because it delivers faster results, while SEO's value manifests more gradually but with similar impact. Show Notes https://voicesofsearch.com/episode/how-to-create-a-holistic-land-and-expand-seo-strategy/ CONNECT WITH: __ __ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Marketing channels often operate in silos, limiting SEO success. Elliot Tsai, Senior Growth Manager of SEO and ASO at TextNow, shares his cross-channel expertise from his background in paid search and influencer marketing. He demonstrates how to operate SEO like a paid channel with revenue-driven forecasting, partner strategically with data teams to establish unified measurement frameworks, and leverage social media's trend detection capabilities to identify emerging opportunities before they appear in search data. Show Notes https://voicesofsearch.com/episode/how-to-create-a-holistic-land-and-expand-seo-strategy/ CONNECT WITH: __ __ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Can AI fully diagnose SEO traffic drops? Sam Torres from Gray Dot Co examines the limitations of AI in technical SEO diagnostics. She explains why AI can identify traffic declines but struggles to pinpoint fundamental issues, emphasizing that most SEO problems stem from multiple factors rather than single causes. Torres highlights the importance of human experience in comprehensive troubleshooting and avoiding the "one solution" trap that both AI and junior SEOs often fall into. Show Notes https://voicesofsearch.com/episode/how-to-approach-traffic-drops/ CONNECT WITH: __ __ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
When a core algorithm update causes a 40% traffic drop, swift action is required. Sam Torres from Gray Dot Co shares her approach to diagnosing content quality and relevancy issues that impact top-of-funnel performance. She emphasizes the importance of transparent communication with leadership, backing claims with comprehensive data analysis, and gathering insights from community platforms like Reddit and YouTube to identify content gaps. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
When do traffic drops signal technical issues versus content problems? Sam Torres from Gray Dot Co examines the distinct patterns behind sudden versus gradual SEO declines. She explains how technical issues typically cause abrupt two-week traffic drops, while content problems lead to slower, more business-impacting declines, and reveals how website migrations often trigger Google to reevaluate a site's relevance. Show Notes https://voicesofsearch.com/episode/how-to-approach-traffic-drops/ CONNECT WITH: __ __ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Google's algorithm update patterns are evolving rapidly. Sam Torres, SEO expert from Gray Dot Co, examines whether distinguishable core updates will continue or if search is moving toward a constant state of change. Torres predicts distinguishable updates will remain for the next 12-18 months before transitioning to more continuous evolution, similar to what happened after the introduction of RankBrain. Show Notes https://voicesofsearch.com/episode/how-to-approach-traffic-drops/ CONNECT WITH: __ __ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Core updates are becoming more frequent in Google's algorithm ecosystem. Sam Torres from Gray Dot Co predicts 2025 will see more official core updates than any previous year. This lightning round discussion examines the increasing pace of Google's algorithm changes and what SEO professionals should anticipate as these updates become a more regular part of the search landscape. Show Notes https://voicesofsearch.com/episode/how-to-approach-traffic-drops/ CONNECT WITH: __ __ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Traffic drops require a systematic diagnostic approach. Sam Torres, Chief Digital Officer at Gray Dot Co, shares her framework for identifying the true source of organic search performance declines. She outlines a three-step process: validating the business impact of traffic changes, isolating patterns through data analysis, and determining whether issues stem from technical problems, content relevance, or external factors. Torres also demonstrates how to effectively communicate findings to executives using data-backed forecasts and resource-based scenarios. Show Notes https://voicesofsearch.com/episode/how-to-approach-traffic-drops/ CONNECT WITH: __ __ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
