In this kickoff episode of my Shopify SEO from Strategy to Action summer series, we start with the most important piece: your mindset.
If you've ever thought:
This episode is for you!
🎯 What you'll learn:
💡 Key takeaway:
SEO is like your most loyal employee — working for you even when you're on vacation.
👉 Grab the $7 SEO Mindset for Shop Owners Guide:
https://simpleandsmartseo.com/mindset
🎧 Listen on your favorite app:
🙌 Ready to take action?
1️⃣ Download the mindset guide.
2️⃣ Take the quiz and shift your beliefs.
3️⃣ DM me your biggest SEO mindset block on Instagram → @simpleandsmartseo2.
💬 About Crystal:
I'm an SEO educator, Shopify seller, and visibility strategist helping creative entrepreneurs grow sustainably and show up confidently — without resenting the work!
Learn about my SEO Squad!
Does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by Crystal GPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.
Ditch the overwhelm and discover what SEO can do for your business! Head to SEOin7days.com (with the number 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.
Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!
Join the SEO Squad
Apply to be my podcast guest! 🎙️ Don't forget to Put your pitch topic in the subject line!
AFFILIATE LINKS:
Start your Shopify Store!
Get SurferSEO!
Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!)
Note:
If you make a purchase using some of my links, I make a little money.
But I only ever share products, people, & offers I trust & use myself!
Join PPC Pro Austin Becker and me in this episode of The Simple and Smart SEO Show.
We’re diving into strategic blogging, PPC attribution, and the underrated power of Pinterest — a must-listen for creative entrepreneurs, Shopify sellers, and busy business owners who want to grow without burnout.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
0:00 – Intro
0:02 – How to use Google to find blog ideas that convert
1:10 – Linking blog posts back to products and monetizing content
2:00 – Pinterest: A goldmine for visual and evergreen traffic
3:20 – Are Pinterest ads worth it? Austin shares results
4:45 – Organic vs paid Pinterest: What drives more ROI
6:00 – Planning and buyer intent on Pinterest
7:00 – How to measure PPC success (or not)
8:00 – Realistic evaluation windows for ad performance
9:00 – Common PPC/SEO mistakes to avoid
10:15 – Who’s a good fit for Becker Marketing’s services
11:30 – Final thoughts
📚 Resources & Mentions:
🙌🏽 Listener Action Steps:
👩🏽💻 About Me:
Hi, I’m Crystal Waddell — SEO educator, Shopify seller, and visibility strategist for creative entrepreneurs. On this channel and podcast, I share practical, empowering tools to help you grow sustainably, show up confidently, an
Does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by Crystal GPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.
Ditch the overwhelm and discover what SEO can do for your business! Head to SEOin7days.com (with the number 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.
Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!
Join the SEO Squad
Apply to be my podcast guest! 🎙️ Don't forget to Put your pitch topic in the subject line!
AFFILIATE LINKS:
Start your Shopify Store!
Get SurferSEO!
Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!)
Note:
If you make a purchase using some of my links, I make a little money.
But I only ever share products, people, & offers I trust & use myself!
In this episode of The Simple and Smart SEO Show, we’re diving into real-world e-commerce strategies to compete with platforms like Amazon, Walmart, and Etsy — without relying solely on Google.
If you’re a Shopify seller or creative entrepreneur, this episode is a must-listen for understanding ad budgets, search impression share, and seasonal sales cycles that actually scale your business sustainably.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
⏱️ Timestamps:
0:00 – Intro: The Google traffic trap
1:16 – Competing with Amazon (without losing your mind or margins)
3:20 – What is Search Impression Share & where to find it
4:33 – Profit-first ad budgeting: ACOS vs ROAS explained
10:31 – The truth about your prices (and why doubling them may save your business)
13:06 – 2025+ trends: Multi-channel selling & YouTube SEO tips
17:37 – Video SEO strategy for higher CTR
18:31 – Collection page tips from Bonobos
📚 Resources & Mentions:
🙌 Listener Action Steps:
👩🏽💻 About Me:
Hi, I’m Crystal Waddell — SEO educator, Shopify seller, and visibility strategist for creative entrepreneurs. On this channel and podcast, I share practical, empowering tools to help you grow sustainably, show up confidently, and build a business that works for you.
Learn more at https://simpleandsmartseo.com
📲 Connect With Me, Crystal Waddell:
Does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by Crystal GPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.
Ditch the overwhelm and discover what SEO can do for your business! Head to SEOin7days.com (with the number 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.
Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!
Join the SEO Squad
Apply to be my podcast guest! 🎙️ Don't forget to Put your pitch topic in the subject line!
AFFILIATE LINKS:
Start your Shopify Store!
Get SurferSEO!
Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!)
Note:
If you make a purchase using some of my links, I make a little money.
But I only ever share products, people, & offers I trust & use myself!
In this episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show, Crystal Waddell sits down with e-commerce marketing expert Austin Becker (Part 1 of 3).
We talk about the evolution of Austin’s career, from selling quirky side-hustle products to founding a thriving e-commerce digital marketing agency.
You’ll learn actionable insights on Google Shopping, product feed optimization, Amazon's advertising dominance, the power of Schema for Shopify SEO, and how AI is poised to reshape search and advertising.
If you're an online seller or digital marketer, this episode is packed with tips and tools to upgrade your strategies for 2025 and beyond.
Key Takeaways:
Episode Highlights:
Listener Action Items:
Connect with Austin:
👉🏽 Website
Does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by Crystal GPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.
Ditch the overwhelm and discover what SEO can do for your business! Head to SEOin7days.com (with the number 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.
Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!
Join the SEO Squad
Apply to be my podcast guest! 🎙️ Don't forget to Put your pitch topic in the subject line!
AFFILIATE LINKS:
Start your Shopify Store!
Get SurferSEO!
Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!)
Note:
If you make a purchase using some of my links, I make a little money.
But I only ever share products, people, & offers I trust & use myself!
In part 3 of my interview with Andrew Ansley, we unpack the evolution of SEO from pre-2022 tactics to today's entity-driven, user-focused strategies.
Learn why stuffing keywords is dead, how RankBrain and BERT changed the game, and why helpful, structured content (plus user metrics) is the new key to ranking.
Andrew also demystifies topical authority, shares how to recover if your site’s in the “loser’s bracket,” and offers actionable tips for entrepreneurs and small business owners who want to win with SEO—without burnout.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
📚 Resources & Mentions:
Connect with Andrew Ansley:
🙌🏽 Listener Action Steps:
✨ Episode Highlights (Memorable Quotes):
👩🏽💻 About Me:
Hi, I’m Crystal Waddell — SEO educator, Shopify seller, and visibility strategist for creative entrepreneurs. On this channel and podcast, I share practical, empowering tools to help you grow sustainably, show up confidently, and build a business that works for you.
Learn more at https://simpleandsmartseo.com
📲 Connect With Crystal:
Does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by Crystal GPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.
Ditch the overwhelm and discover what SEO can do for your business! Head to SEOin7days.com (with the number 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.
Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!
Join the SEO Squad
Apply to be my podcast guest! 🎙️ Don't forget to Put your pitch topic in the subject line!
AFFILIATE LINKS:
Start your Shopify Store!
Get SurferSEO!
Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!)
Note:
If you make a purchase using some of my links, I make a little money.
But I only ever share products, people, & offers I trust & use myself!
In this episode of The Simple and Smart SEO Show, Crystal Waddell sits down with AI and SEO expert Andrew Ansley to discuss the intersection of artificial intelligence, SEO strategies, entrepreneurship, and modern parenting.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
📚 Resources & Mentions:
🙌🏽 Listener Action Steps:
✨ Episode Highlights & Quotes:
Hey creative entrepreneur—does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by CrystalGPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.
Crystal GPT walks you through what matters most for your website. Head to SEOin7days.com (with a 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.
Does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by Crystal GPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.
Ditch the overwhelm and discover what SEO can do for your business! Head to SEOin7days.com (with the number 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.
Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!
Join the SEO Squad
Apply to be my podcast guest! 🎙️ Don't forget to Put your pitch topic in the subject line!
AFFILIATE LINKS:
Start your Shopify Store!
Get SurferSEO!
Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!)
Note:
If you make a purchase using some of my links, I make a little money.
But I only ever share products, people, & offers I trust & use myself!
In this conversation on AI-powered SEO workflows, Andrew Ansley joins The Simple and Smart SEO Show to share how smart marketers are using tools like Claude, ChatGPT, and automation platforms to save time and scale without hiring.
From building SOPs in under an hour to organizing AI projects for sharper output, Andrew reveals how today’s marketers can combine soft skills with machine intelligence to stay competitive—without burning out.
Whether you're a creative entrepreneur, solo founder, or agency owner, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you systemize your business and let AI do the heavy lifting.
🧠 Key Takeaways:
💬 Memorable Quotes:
“You don’t need to master hard skills—you need to master how to operate the machine.” — Andrew Ansley
“Abstract prompts like ‘write an SEO strategy’ won’t work unless you define what that means.” — Andrew Ansley
✅ Listener Action Items:
🎧 Listen now for no-fluff advice on using AI to simplify, scale, and sharpen your SEO systems!
Subscribe for weekly insights at SimpleAndSmartSEO.com
Does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by Crystal GPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.
Ditch the overwhelm and discover what SEO can do for your business! Head to SEOin7days.com (with the number 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.
Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!
Join the SEO Squad
Apply to be my podcast guest! 🎙️ Don't forget to Put your pitch topic in the subject line!
AFFILIATE LINKS:
Start your Shopify Store!
Get SurferSEO!
Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!)
Note:
If you make a purchase using some of my links, I make a little money.
But I only ever share products, people, & offers I trust & use myself!
In Part 2 of our conversation about Local SEO, Darren Shaw of Whitespark returns to The Simple and Smart SEO Show to break down advanced Google Business Profile (GBP) strategies that actually move the needle.
From the controversial truth about citation consistency to actionable tactics for leveraging Google reviews and optimizing your GBP for maximum visibility, Darren shares insider tips you won’t find in a typical SEO blog post.
Whether you're a service provider, e-commerce seller, or local business, this episode is packed with high-impact, no-fluff advice to help you dominate local search results—ethically and effectively.
🗝️ Key Takeaways:
📌 Memorable Quotes:
✅ Listener Action Items:
Does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by Crystal GPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.
Ditch the overwhelm and discover what SEO can do for your business! Head to SEOin7days.com (with the number 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.
Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!
Join the SEO Squad
Apply to be my podcast guest! 🎙️ Don't forget to Put your pitch topic in the subject line!
AFFILIATE LINKS:
Start your Shopify Store!
Get SurferSEO!
Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!)
Note:
If you make a purchase using some of my links, I make a little money.
But I only ever share products, people, & offers I trust & use myself!
In this value-packed episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show, host 💁♀️ Crystal Waddell sits down with local SEO legend Darren Shaw of 🏢 Whitespark.
Discover why your website is the #1 data source for your Google Business Profile, how to optimize for the local 3-pack 📍, and what SEO myths to stop believing 🚫.
Whether you’re a home-based biz, a service provider, or an online shop, these actionable insights will help your brand show up and stand out in local search! 🔍
💡 Key Takeaways:
💬 Memorable Quotes:
🗣️ "Your website is the database for your Google Business Profile."
🚖 "You don’t need fancy tools—just ask five taxi drivers what they’d search."
🟢 "Google likes to rank businesses that are currently open."
- Darren Shaw
✅ Listener Action Items:
Connect With Darren:
Connect With Crystal:
Does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by Crystal GPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.
Ditch the overwhelm and discover what SEO can do for your business! Head to SEOin7days.com (with the number 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.
Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!
Join the SEO Squad
Apply to be my podcast guest! 🎙️ Don't forget to Put your pitch topic in the subject line!
AFFILIATE LINKS:
Start your Shopify Store!
Get SurferSEO!
Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!)
Note:
If you make a purchase using some of my links, I make a little money.
But I only ever share products, people, & offers I trust & use myself!
In this week's episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show, Crystal Waddell sits down with Shreya LaCock from SEO for Hire to pull back the curtain on SEO careers, personal branding, and the future of hiring in a world powered by AI! 🚀
Together, they explore the different roles inside an SEO agency 🏢, the green flags to look for when hiring SEO help ✅, and why personal branding is no longer optional if you want to thrive.
They also dig into how AI is reshaping SEO jobs — and why adaptability is your ultimate superpower. 💪🏼
Grab your coffee ☕ or tea 🍵 and let's dive in!
💬 "There is nothing more important than mastering your personal brand." — Shreya LaCock
💬 "The way we were doing SEO six months ago is completely different than today—and it’ll change again in two months." — Shreya LaCock
💬 "If you want to build a strong company, it really starts with strong leadership." — Crystal Waddell
🔎 Audit your personal brand online
🤖 experiment with an AI tool for SEO, and
🗣️ strengthen your communication skills to build trust and authority.
Connect With Crystal:
✅ Follow Crystal on LinkedIn: Follow Crystal
✅ If you're an entrepreneur or side hustler, join Crystal’s SEO Squad for weekly support! 🎯 Learn More Here
Connect With Shreya:
LinkedIn: Follow Shreya ✨
Does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by Crystal GPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.
Ditch the overwhelm and discover what SEO can do for your business! Head to SEOin7days.com (with the number 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.
Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!
Join the SEO Squad
Apply to be my podcast guest! 🎙️ Don't forget to Put your pitch topic in the subject line!
AFFILIATE LINKS:
Start your Shopify Store!
Get SurferSEO!
Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!)
Note:
If you make a purchase using some of my links, I make a little money.
But I only ever share products, people, & offers I trust & use myself!
Shreya LaCock, marketing specialist at SEO For Hire, shares the inside world of SEO recruitment and agency hiring.
From spotting green flags in potential SEO agencies to navigating gender gaps in job applications, Shreya brings both personal experience and professional wisdom. Y
ou’ll also hear what makes an onboarding process successful, the overlooked “honeymoon phase” of hiring, and how to make sure you’re building the right team for long-term growth.
Whether you’re an SEO agency, a business owner looking to hire, or a curious marketer wondering what it takes to break into the SEO world—this episode is packed with gems you don’t want to miss. 💎
🧠 Key Takeaways:
📌 Episode Highlights:
“Don’t grow a team for the sake of growing a team. Grow it to scale your business.” – Shreya LaCock
“Even recruiters know what it’s like to lose a job. We’re people too.” – Shreya LaCock
🎯 Listener Action Items:
Connect With Shreya LaCock:
Does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by Crystal GPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.
Ditch the overwhelm and discover what SEO can do for your business! Head to SEOin7days.com (with the number 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.
Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!
Join the SEO Squad
Apply to be my podcast guest! 🎙️ Don't forget to Put your pitch topic in the subject line!
AFFILIATE LINKS:
Start your Shopify Store!
Get SurferSEO!
Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!)
Note:
If you make a purchase using some of my links, I make a little money.
But I only ever share products, people, & offers I trust & use myself!
In this can't-miss episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show, Crystal Waddell reconnects with digital strategist and SEO pro Favour Obasi-ike.
Whether you're podcasting on Wix, exploring RSS feeds, or wondering how to rank better using voice search, this episode is full of insights you can apply today to stay ahead tomorrow.
🔑 Key Takeaways:
✨ Memorable Quotes:
📌 Listener Action Items:
Connect With Favour:
Does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by Crystal GPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.
Ditch the overwhelm and discover what SEO can do for your business! Head to SEOin7days.com (with the number 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.
Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!
Join the SEO Squad
Apply to be my podcast guest! 🎙️ Don't forget to Put your pitch topic in the subject line!
AFFILIATE LINKS:
Start your Shopify Store!
Get SurferSEO!
Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!)
Note:
If you make a purchase using some of my links, I make a little money.
But I only ever share products, people, & offers I trust & use myself!
This episode is a full-circle moment!
Crystal reconnects with the person who first planted the seed that SEO could actually drive traffic—without the middleman of social media.
Meet Favour Obasi-ike: a podcasting pioneer, SEO strategist, and founder of We Don’t Play Podcast.
Together, Crystal and Favour take a nostalgic ride through their Clubhouse days, unpack the magic of Pinterest SEO, explore the future of RSS feeds, and share why your website needs a sitemap.
Like, yesterday!
Whether you're a seasoned business owner or just now dipping your toe into SEO, this episode is packed with heart, tech, and next-level brand-building tips.
🔑 Key Takeaways:
✋🏽 SEO isn’t just for tech bros—it’s for creatives, connectors, and community builders.
✋🏽 Pinterest + SEO = a secret traffic goldmine (especially when you tap into RSS feeds).
✋🏽 Your sitemap is basically your website’s brain—don’t leave it blank!
✋🏽 Clubhouse may have changed, but the relationships (and strategy seeds) planted there still matter.
✋🏽 Repurposing content—like using podcast convos for blogs—is a powerful SEO move.
📌 Episode Highlights:
“Hey, there’s this thing off social media called SEO…”
“If you're not getting traffic, it's probably because you don’t have a sitemap.”
“Pinterest is SEO in disguise—and it’s growing fast.”
“Clubhouse was our digital coffee shop in 2020. And the friendships stuck.”
🎧 Listen Now If You:
📝 Listener Action Items:
✅ Check if your site has an XML sitemap (and fix it if not!).
✅ Connect your blog’s RSS feed to Pinterest to automate pinning - or call Favour for help!
✅ Send this episode to an old friend who inspired your entrepreneurial path.
Connect With Favour:
Does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by Crystal GPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.
Ditch the overwhelm and discover what SEO can do for your business! Head to SEOin7days.com (with the number 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.
Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!
Join the SEO Squad
Apply to be my podcast guest! 🎙️ Don't forget to Put your pitch topic in the subject line!
AFFILIATE LINKS:
Start your Shopify Store!
Get SurferSEO!
Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!)
Note:
If you make a purchase using some of my links, I make a little money.
But I only ever share products, people, & offers I trust & use myself!
In this insightful and refreshingly practical episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show, Crystal sits down with Alyssa Corso—SEO strategist and healthcare content pro—to talk all things content refresh.
Alyssa breaks down her favorite ways to optimize existing content without burning it all down.
Whether you're running a blog in a Your Money or Your Life (YMYL) niche or just wondering if updating the year in your title is enough (spoiler alert: it's not 😅), this episode is packed with real-world tips to make your SEO strategy work smarter, not harder.
💡 Key Takeaways:
🔥 Memorable Quotes:
✅ Listener Action Items:
📬 Connect with Alyssa at alyssacorso.com or drop her a line at alyssa@alyssacorso.com.
Does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by Crystal GPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.
Ditch the overwhelm and discover what SEO can do for your business! Head to SEOin7days.com (with the number 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.
Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!
Join the SEO Squad
Apply to be my podcast guest! 🎙️ Don't forget to Put your pitch topic in the subject line!
AFFILIATE LINKS:
Start your Shopify Store!
Get SurferSEO!
Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!)
Note:
If you make a purchase using some of my links, I make a little money.
But I only ever share products, people, & offers I trust & use myself!
In this episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show, Crystal Waddell chats with SEO consultant and BrightonSEO speaker Alyssa Corso about a topic every content creator should understand—SEO content decay.
Alyssa shares how content naturally loses visibility over time and outlines a strategic process for updating content to improve performance and generate real business results.
From identifying "money keywords" to understanding the phases of content decay, this episode is packed with insights on how to make your existing content work harder for your business.
Whether you're a startup with limited resources or a seasoned marketer, Alyssa’s practical strategies will help you tie your content efforts to revenue—and avoid wasting valuable time.
🔑 Key Takeaways:
🔦 Episode Highlights:
"Does this piece of content bring revenue to the business—or does it have another type of value to reach your goals?"
– Alyssa Corso"
There’s more opportunity on the other side of trying than not trying at all."
– Crystal Waddell
✅ Listener Action Items:
Connect wi
Does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by Crystal GPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.
Ditch the overwhelm and discover what SEO can do for your business! Head to SEOin7days.com (with the number 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.
Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!
Join the SEO Squad
Apply to be my podcast guest! 🎙️ Don't forget to Put your pitch topic in the subject line!
AFFILIATE LINKS:
Start your Shopify Store!
Get SurferSEO!
Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!)
Note:
If you make a purchase using some of my links, I make a little money.
But I only ever share products, people, & offers I trust & use myself!
In this jam-packed Part 2 episode, I continue my insightful chat with David Green, founder of Devslove.com.
We dive deep into Google Ads, strategic ad spend, and the realities of running paid campaigns for small businesses.
David shares expert insights on choosing the right platform, retargeting strategies, and why SEO and AI-driven search are shaping the future of digital marketing.
Plus, we discuss pricing, profitability, and setting the right goals to make digital marketing actually work for your business.
If you're an entrepreneur looking for a clear strategy to maximize your online presence, this is an episode you don’t want to miss!
🔥 Key Takeaways:
✅ Choosing the Right Platform – Should you start with Google Ads, Facebook, or LinkedIn?
✅ Retargeting 101 – The power of keeping your brand top of mind for potential customers.
✅ Ad Spend Strategy – The 90-day rule for testing ad profitability.
✅ Pricing and Profitability – Why underpricing can ruin your ability to run ads effectively.
✅ SEO vs. Paid Search – How they work together for long-term growth.
✅ AI & Search Trends – What’s changing in 2025 and why SEO is still critical.
✨ Memorable Quotes:
💡 “Google Search is one of the best proxies for demand that you can find.” – David Green
💡 “If you're not converting high-intent visitors, something is wrong with your website—not your ads.” – David Green
💡 “Ads don’t work if your pricing isn’t built for profitability.” – Crystal Waddell
💡 “SEO is about more than just traffic—it’s about making that traffic meaningful for your business.” – Crystal Waddell
🎯 Listener Action Items:
✔️ Do a quick Google keyword check before diving
Hey creative entrepreneur—does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by CrystalGPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.
Crystal GPT walks you through what matters most for your website. Head to SEOin7days.com (with a 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.
Does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by Crystal GPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.
Ditch the overwhelm and discover what SEO can do for your business! Head to SEOin7days.com (with the number 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.
Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!
Join the SEO Squad
Apply to be my podcast guest! 🎙️ Don't forget to Put your pitch topic in the subject line!
AFFILIATE LINKS:
Start your Shopify Store!
Get SurferSEO!
Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!)
Note:
If you make a purchase using some of my links, I make a little money.
But I only ever share products, people, & offers I trust & use myself!
In this episode of The Simple and Smart SEO Show, I'm sitting down with David Green, founder of Devs Love, to talk about the major shifts happening in digital marketing!
Fresh after BrightonSEO, David shared insights from his strategic planning retreat, where AI disruption was front and center.
We discuss how AI levels the playing field for small agencies, the shift in Google Search, and why omni-channel marketing is no longer optional.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
💡 AI’s Role in Leveling the Playing Field – How small businesses can leverage AI to compete with big agencies.
🔍 Google Search vs. Perplexity AI – Why experts say Google Search is in trouble.
📈 YouTube Ads & Brand Growth – How tracking search impressions can prove ad impact.
🧠 Strategic Planning for 2025 – What small businesses need to focus on in the age of AI.
🙌 The Human Factor in Marketing – Why staying close to your customers is more critical than ever.
Memorable Quotes:
🗣️ "AI is disrupting marketing at the same level as when smartphones changed how people buy." – David Green
🗣️ "ChatGPT writes really good code—just tell it what you want!" – David Green
🗣️ "Omni-channel marketing isn’t the future—it’s the now." – Crystal Waddell
🗣️ "Tech companies that ignore their core users? That’s how they lose them." – Crystal Waddell
Listener Action Items:
✅ Experiment with AI tools like ChatGPT to automate and optimize marketing.
✅ Diversify your traffic sources—don’t rely solely on Google.
✅ Re-evaluate your ad strategies with a long-term view.
✅ Stay engaged with your customers to understand their needs in real-time.
✅ Tune in for Part 2, where David dives deep into Google Ads for small businesses!
📌 Stay Connected:
🎙️ Listen & Subscribe: podcast.simpleandsmartseo.com
💬 Follow Crystal: SimpleandSmartSEO.com
👥 Connect with David Green: DevsLove.com LinkedIn
Don’t miss Part 2, where we unlock the secrets of Google Ads for small businesses! 🎧
Does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by Crystal GPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.
Ditch the overwhelm and discover what SEO can do for your business! Head to SEOin7days.com (with the number 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.
Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!
Join the SEO Squad
Apply to be my podcast guest! 🎙️ Don't forget to Put your pitch topic in the subject line!
AFFILIATE LINKS:
Start your Shopify Store!
Get SurferSEO!
Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!)
Note:
If you make a purchase using some of my links, I make a little money.
But I only ever share products, people, & offers I trust & use myself!
Welcome back to another Follow Through Friday on the Simple and Smart SEO Show! 🚀
If you caught my conversation with Katie Stone, SEO lead at Lead Hub, you know we went deep on local SEO, Google Search Console Insights, and keyword strategy.
(Missed it? No worries! Listen Here!)
Ready to make your SEO work for you?
👇🏽 Let’s dive in. 👇🏽
💎 Key Takeaways:
1️⃣ Google Search Console = Your SEO Goldmine
🔍 Google Search Console (GSC) isn’t just a data hub—it’s your secret weapon for seeing exactly how people find your website. But did you know you can unlock even deeper insights with the Enhanced Analytics Chrome Extension? 😱
🚀 Pro Tip: Install the GSC Enhanced Analytics extension (Chrome-only!) to unlock advanced data views
💥 Action Step: Check your top-performing pages and compare their performance over time. Do any need a content update? 🤔
2️⃣ Keyword Research: Smarter, Not Harder
Instead of chasing broad, generic keywords (water heater 🔥😴), think action-based—like water heater installation (boom! 💥).
Why? These show intent to purchase. 🛍️
💥 Action Step: Use GSC filters to find high-intent keywords.
3️⃣ Competitor Research = Your Shortcut to SEO Wins
💡 Ever wonder what keywords your competitors are ranking for that you’re not? That’s where Keyword Gap Analysis comes in.
🔥 Crystal’s Favorite Tool: Dragon Metrics (but Semrush & Ahrefs work too!)
📊 How it works:
1️⃣ Run a Keyword Gap Analysis to see what your competitors rank for that you don’t.
2️⃣ Identify "easy win" topics
3️⃣ Create new blog posts, landing pages, or optimize existing pages
🎯 Your Follow-Through Challenge 🚀
Pick just one of these action steps and implement it this week:
✅ Install the GSC Enhanced Analytics Extension & analyze your top pages
✅ Use intent-based keyword filte
Does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by Crystal GPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.
Ditch the overwhelm and discover what SEO can do for your business! Head to SEOin7days.com (with the number 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.
Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!
Join the SEO Squad
Apply to be my podcast guest! 🎙️ Don't forget to Put your pitch topic in the subject line!
AFFILIATE LINKS:
Start your Shopify Store!
Get SurferSEO!
Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!)
Note:
If you make a purchase using some of my links, I make a little money.
But I only ever share products, people, & offers I trust & use myself!
In this special solo episode of The Simple and Smart SEO Show, host Crystal Waddell reflects on her conversation with branding expert Mordy Oberstein.
She shares key insights on defining your brand identity, optimizing SEO for conversions, and making smart business decisions that foster growth.
Crystal also provides real-world examples of how she applied these lessons to her e-commerce business, proving that when branding and SEO work together, magic happens.
If you’ve ever struggled with niching down, pricing your products right, or making your website more engaging, this episode is packed with actionable tips!
Key Takeaways:
✅ Know Your Brand Identity – If you're not something, you're nothing. Be clear about who you serve and who you don’t.
✅ Focus on Niche Markets – Trying to sell to everyone leads to confusion. Pick a market and dominate it.
✅ Pricing for Profit – Charging too little means working for free. Stand firm on prices that sustain your business.
✅ SEO + Branding = Conversions – Ranking high isn't enough; you must connect emotionally to turn visitors into buyers.
✅ Smart Business Growth – Expanding isn't about offering more—it’s about offering better and creating repeat customers.
Memorable Quotes:
💡 “SEO isn’t just about being found; it’s about being remembered.” – Crystal Waddell
💡 “No risk it, no biscuit!” – Mordy Oberstein
Listener Action Items:
🚀 Reflect on your brand identity. Who are you truly serving?
🚀 Review your website. Does it resonate with your audience, or is it just optimized for traffic?
🚀 Re-evaluate your pricing strategy. Are you charging what you're worth?
🚀 Consider business expansion wisely—does it align with your core audience?
🚀 Take a step toward improving your branding and SEO integration today!
Resources & Links:
📌 Listen to the original episode with Mordy Oberstein –
📌 Visit Crystal’s business, Collage and Wood
📌 Get in touch with Crystal – SimpleAndSmartSEO.com
Does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by Crystal GPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.
Ditch the overwhelm and discover what SEO can do for your business! Head to SEOin7days.com (with the number 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.
Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!
Join the SEO Squad
Apply to be my podcast guest! 🎙️ Don't forget to Put your pitch topic in the subject line!
AFFILIATE LINKS:
Start your Shopify Store!
Get SurferSEO!
Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!)
Note:
If you make a purchase using some of my links, I make a little money.
But I only ever share products, people, & offers I trust & use myself!
In this guest-hosted episode of The Simple and Smart SEO Show, Celeste Gonzalez (Director of Roo Labs at Rickety Roo) and Melissa Popp (Content Strategy Director at Rickety Roo) dive deep into local SEO strategies.
They explore the power of problem-solving content for small businesses and how local companies can stand out against larger competitors. The discussion covers how to identify local pain points, create community-driven content, and balance SEO with engagement-focused strategies.
Key Takeaways:
✅ Problem-solving content builds trust: Addressing real-life local issues makes your brand more credible and relevant to your community.
✅ Go beyond keyword research: Your own team, customer inquiries, and community forums are valuable content sources.
✅ Multi-location businesses must localize content: Even national brands need to engage with community-specific challenges.
✅ Community engagement fosters long-term brand awareness: Covering local issues—even those indirectly related to your business—helps position you as a trusted resource.
✅ Diversify beyond SEO: Businesses that rely solely on organic traffic risk losing visibility. Multi-channel marketing is essential.
Episode Highlights & Memorable Quotes:
📊 On balancing SEO and branding:
"Too many businesses focus only on SEO content. But content should build trust first and rank second."
💡 On social media’s role in local SEO:
"Why are SEOs suddenly ‘discovering’ branding? Multi-channel marketing has always been vital—businesses need to go where their customers are."
Listener Action Items:
✅ Audit your content strategy:
Hey creative entrepreneur—does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by CrystalGPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.
Crystal GPT walks you through what matters most for your website. Head to SEOin7days.com (with a 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.
Does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by Crystal GPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.
Ditch the overwhelm and discover what SEO can do for your business! Head to SEOin7days.com (with the number 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.
Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!
Join the SEO Squad
Apply to be my podcast guest! 🎙️ Don't forget to Put your pitch topic in the subject line!
AFFILIATE LINKS:
Start your Shopify Store!
Get SurferSEO!
Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!)
Note:
If you make a purchase using some of my links, I make a little money.
But I only ever share products, people, & offers I trust & use myself!
In this episode of The Simple and Smart SEO Show, host Crystal Waddell sits down with Katie Stone, SEO Lead at LeadHub, to discuss local SEO strategies, keyword research, and essential SEO tools.
Katie shares her insights from Brighton SEO, her journey in the industry, and practical tips for leveraging Google Search Console, Screaming Frog, and keyword gap analysis to gain a competitive edge.
Key Takeaways:
Memorable Quotes:
Hey creative entrepreneur—does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by CrystalGPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.
Crystal GPT walks you through what matters most for your website. Head to SEOin7days.com (with a 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.
Does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by Crystal GPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.
Ditch the overwhelm and discover what SEO can do for your business! Head to SEOin7days.com (with the number 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.
Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!
Join the SEO Squad
Apply to be my podcast guest! 🎙️ Don't forget to Put your pitch topic in the subject line!
AFFILIATE LINKS:
Start your Shopify Store!
Get SurferSEO!
Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!)
Note:
If you make a purchase using some of my links, I make a little money.
But I only ever share products, people, & offers I trust & use myself!
In this episode of Simple and Smart SEO, Crystal Waddell sits down with the one and only Mordy Oberstein—Head of Brand at Wix, founder of Unify Brand Marketing, and self-proclaimed SEO contrarian (with a soft spot for brutal honesty).
If you think SEO is just about keywords and backlinks, Mordy is here to obliterate that notion faster than an algorithm update can tank your rankings.
They dive into how businesses should stop trying to be everything (because newsflash: that means you’re nothing), and why SEOs should stop acting like lone wolves and start sitting with the comms team.
💡 Key Takeaways:
🔥 Memorable Quotes:
“If you aren’t something, then you’re nothing. And if you’re something, then you’re fo
Hey creative entrepreneur—does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by CrystalGPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.
Crystal GPT walks you through what matters most for your website. Head to SEOin7days.com (with a 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.
Does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by Crystal GPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.
Ditch the overwhelm and discover what SEO can do for your business! Head to SEOin7days.com (with the number 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.
Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!
Join the SEO Squad
Apply to be my podcast guest! 🎙️ Don't forget to Put your pitch topic in the subject line!
AFFILIATE LINKS:
Start your Shopify Store!
Get SurferSEO!
Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!)
Note:
If you make a purchase using some of my links, I make a little money.
But I only ever share products, people, & offers I trust & use myself!
In this Follow Through Friday episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show, Crystal Waddell reflects on her marketing strategies and shares three key action items to optimize marketing efforts without extra workload.
She dives into integrating marketing channels, dedicating time for learning, and repurposing content efficiently.
If you're looking for smart ways to strengthen your marketing strategy, this episode is packed with practical tips!
Key Takeaways:
Episode Highlights:
Listener Action Items:
✅ Audit your marketing channels – Are they effectively driving traffic to your email list and products?
✅ Block 30 minutes this week to learn something new about SEO or marketing.
✅ Repurpose one high-performing piece of content into a different format.
Resources & Links:
📌 Download the Content Repurposing Spreadsheet
📌 Follow Crystal on Instagram: @simpleandsmartseo
📌 Need personalized SEO coaching? Visit: simpleandsmartseo.com
Support & Connect:
📩 Email: hello@simpleandsmartseo.com
⭐ If you loved this episode, leave a review & subscribe—it helps more entrepreneurs find these SEO insights!
Does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by Crystal GPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.
Ditch the overwhelm and discover what SEO can do for your business! Head to SEOin7days.com (with the number 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.
Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!
Join the SEO Squad
Apply to be my podcast guest! 🎙️ Don't forget to Put your pitch topic in the subject line!
AFFILIATE LINKS:
Start your Shopify Store!
Get SurferSEO!
Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!)
Note:
If you make a purchase using some of my links, I make a little money.
But I only ever share products, people, & offers I trust & use myself!
In this episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show, I sit down with marketing strategist and agency owner Raycheal Proctor from Unlimited Mixed Marketing.
We chat the transformative power of omni-channel marketing, discussing how different channels can work cohesively to elevate visibility and results.
Raycheal shares her journey from classical musician to marketing maven and offers invaluable advice on leveraging SEO, paid media, and account-based marketing to create efficient, holistic strategies.
Packed with real-life case studies and actionable tips, this episode is perfect for entrepreneurs and marketers looking to optimize their brand’s presence across platforms.
Key Takeaways:
Memorable Quotes:
Hey creative entrepreneur—does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by CrystalGPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.
Crystal GPT walks you through what matters most for your website. Head to SEOin7days.com (with a 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.
Does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by Crystal GPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.
Ditch the overwhelm and discover what SEO can do for your business! Head to SEOin7days.com (with the number 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.
Digital Disruption with Geoff NielsonListen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!
Join the SEO Squad
Apply to be my podcast guest! 🎙️ Don't forget to Put your pitch topic in the subject line!
AFFILIATE LINKS:
Start your Shopify Store!
Get SurferSEO!
Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!)
Note:
If you make a purchase using some of my links, I make a little money.
But I only ever share products, people, & offers I trust & use myself!
In part two of these special guest-hosted episodes of The Simple and Smart SEO Show, Sara Jensen and Shea Karssing explore how AI is reshaping SEO, the importance of human creativity in marketing, and the long-term value of offline brand-building.
Dive into practical tips for 2025, such as creating quality content, embracing conversational tones, and leveraging AI as a tool, not a replacement.
Learn how brand awareness impacts SEO and why genuine human connection still reigns supreme in the digital world.
🎧 Key Takeaways:
✨ Memorable Quotes:
Hey creative entrepreneur—does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by CrystalGPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.
Crystal GPT walks you through what matters most for your website. Head to SEOin7days.com (with a 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.
Does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by Crystal GPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.
Ditch the overwhelm and discover what SEO can do for your business! Head to SEOin7days.com (with the number 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.
Want to follow up on what you've heard? Search the podcast!
Join the SEO Squad
Apply to be my podcast guest! 🎙️ Don't forget to Put your pitch topic in the subject line!
AFFILIATE LINKS:
Start your Shopify Store!
Get SurferSEO!
Metricool (to be everywhere online, you NEED a social media scheduler!)
Note:
If you make a purchase using some of my links, I make a little money.
But I only ever share products, people, & offers I trust & use myself!