In this episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show, host Crystal Waddell chats with marketing consultant RJ Licata, founder of Me First Marketing. RJ shares his journey from corporate marketing roles to entrepreneurship, diving deep into the importance of prioritization, strategy, and betting on yourself in today's fast-paced business environment. Whether you're navigating the world of SEO, building a brand, or just trying to focus your resources as a small business owner, this conversation is pac...
Jan 08, 2025•40 min•Season 4Ep. 140
I'm chatting chat with Stephanie Long, AKA "Mrs. SEO," about her groundbreaking new venture, Junction Jack , a vetted SEO marketplace. Stephanie shares her journey of creating a trusted space for businesses to connect with top-notch SEO experts. From addressing the frustrations of businesses burned by unqualified "experts" to her emotional story behind the name Junction Jack, this episode is packed with insights, advice, and inspiration. If you're curious about the future of SEO, voice search, a...
Dec 11, 2024•25 min•Season 3Ep. 158
In this episode, I reflect on my incredible experience at BrightonSEO 2024 in San Diego. From a first-class upgrade to exciting networking events, unique industry insights, and fun-filled conference highlights, this trip was unforgettable. I share tips for making the most of events like BrightonSEO, why networking can redefine your perspective, and the importance of stepping out of your comfort zone. Whether you're an SEO pro or just curious about what makes conferences like this so special, I h...
Dec 05, 2024•23 min•Season 3Ep. 157
In this episode, I (Crystal Waddell) reveal the must-have tools that fuel my entrepreneurial journey and business success. Add these to your Black Friday 2024 deals list! This episode contains affiliate links, which means I could receive payment if you make a purchase after clicking on one of the links. Not all links are affiliate links and these are all products I use and fully recommend! From client management tools like HoneyBook to SEO powerhouses such as Surfer SEO and Dragon Metrics, I wal...
Nov 27, 2024•11 min•Season 3Ep. 156
Lydia Bagarozza and Bridget Sicsko, co-founders of Visibility on Purpose join me to explore the synergy between PR and SEO, sharing actionable tips for small business owners to enhance visibility and credibility. From pitching to publications to leveraging backlinks, learn how these strategies can drive traffic, build authority, and create lasting impact. Perfect for entrepreneurs ready to step into the spotlight! Key Takeaways: PR & SEO Synergy : PR features not only enhance credibility but...
Nov 20, 2024•47 min•Season 3Ep. 155
In this episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show, I (Crystal Waddell) sit down with personal brand strategist Dianne Wilson to talk about all things branding, storytelling, and SEO. Key Takeaways : Authenticity Sells : Embracing your quirks, imperfections, and real stories resonates with audiences and helps create lasting connections. SEO Loves Stories : Integrating stories into your brand increases discoverability while naturally incorporating SEO-friendly keywords. Target Audience Awareness : ...
Nov 13, 2024•41 min•Season 3Ep. 154
In this episode of The Simple and Smart SEO Show , I sit down with e-commerce SEO expert Freddie Chatt. Freddie shares valuable insights from his journey into SEO, emphasizing key strategies for e-commerce success, including optimizing collection pages, managing conversion rates, and strategic link building. Key Takeaways Collection Pages Drive Commercial Traffic: Freddie explains that optimizing collection pages is crucial for e-commerce sites. Navigating Seasonality in E-Commerce: Freddie disc...
Nov 06, 2024•43 min•Season 3Ep. 153
In this episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show, host Crystal Waddell (that's me!) sits down with PPC strategist Charley Brennand to explore the role of storytelling and empathy in digital marketing. Charley shares her journey of overcoming underestimation and the valuable lessons she’s learned about making paid advertising accessible, especially for those considered “underdogs.” Listen as Charley dives into how she approaches PPC with a balance of technical acumen and creativity, why storytell...
Oct 30, 2024•37 min•Season 3Ep. 152
In this episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show , Crystal Waddell is joined by Simon Lesser, co-founder and CEO of Dragon Metrics, a powerful all-in-one SEO software platform. Simon shares the journey behind Dragon Metrics, and explains how DM competes with larger tools like Ahrefs and SEMrush. Key Takeaways: Founding Story of Dragon Metrics : Simon Lesser "quit his way to the top" by pivoting from an SEO agency to creating a top-tier SEO tool. SEO Tool Competitiveness : Dragon Metrics competes...
Oct 23, 2024•31 min•Season 3Ep. 151
In this episode, I (Crystal Waddell) get a chance to talk with analytics expert Dana DiTomaso to discuss Google Analytics 4 (GA4), its use cases and importance for small business owners. Key Takeaways: Set up GA4 immediately: The best time to set up analytics was yesterday, but it's not too late. Prioritize implementation and start gathering valuable data. Execution over analysis paralysis: Don't get bogged down by overthinking your analytics strategy. Focus on taking action and refining it ove...
Oct 16, 2024•48 min•Season 3Ep. 150
I'm sharing a personal update, the importance of balancing life and work, and learning when to step back. Key Takeaways: Recognize your limits: It's important to identify when to step back and take time for personal matters. Future-proofing the podcast: To ensure the podcast continues, guest hosts may be invited to share their insights in future episodes. Resilience in challenges: Even with setbacks, it’s essential to learn and grow from them, focusing on failing differently next time. Memorable...
Oct 08, 2024•9 min•Season 3Ep. 149
In this episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show , Crystal Waddell is joined by Amanda Jordan , Director of Digital Strategy at Rickety Roo, to dive deep into the world of local SEO. Whether you're a local business owner or part of a franchise, Amanda's insights will help you refine your SEO tactics and strategies for better visibility and results. Key Takeaways : Local SEO Is All-Encompassing : Local SEO isn't limited to Google Business Profiles or maps. It involves your entire website and how ...
Sep 25, 2024•44 min•Season 3Ep. 148
I interview Nathan Hirsch, founder of ECom Balance to discuss the importance of standard operating procedures (SOPs), effective hiring practices, and leveraging SEO for business growth. Key Takeaways: SOPs are essential for scalability : Nathan emphasizes the importance of creating detailed SOPs for every part of the business and regularly updating them to maintain efficiency. Hiring the right people is critical : Nathan shares his strategy for hiring A-players and the importance of setting clea...
Sep 18, 2024•35 min•Season 3Ep. 147
⚠️ SMART, advanced episode! 🤓 In this episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show , Crystal Waddell welcomes back Crystal Carter, Head of SEO Communications at Wix, to dive deep into the concept of entities and their impact on SEO. Takeways: Consistency is Key: Your digital presence and how you describe your business should remain consistent across all platforms. Inconsistent messaging can confuse search engines and users. Entities are Everywhere: Anything from people to concepts can be an entity....
Sep 11, 2024•36 min•Season 3Ep. 146
In this episode, I sit down with Nicolas Garfinkel to explore the future of SEO through the lens of predictive models and machine learning. Key Takeaways: The Importance of Data in SEO: Nicolas emphasizes the need for data-driven approaches in SEO, highlighting how relying on intuition alone isn't enough in today's rapidly changing environment. Predictive SEO Models: Nicolas introduces Kixley, the first predictive SEO tool that uses machine learning to forecast the impact of SEO strategies on ra...
Sep 04, 2024•32 min•Season 3Ep. 145
Episode Summary: In this episode, I sit down with Keshia Taylor to uncover how local SEO can drive business success without relying on social media. Key Takeaways: Introduction to Kechia Taylor: Kechia is a permanent makeup artist, educator, and franchisor with over 20 years in the beauty industry. She discusses her journey from being a brow expert to becoming a successful business owner and franchisor. Thriving Without Social Media: Kechia explains why she stepped away from social media and how...
Aug 28, 2024•40 min•Season 3Ep. 144
Join me as I sit down with the brilliant Jamar Ramos, a seasoned expert in SEO and multi-channel marketing. Key Insights: The Role of SEO: Jamar emphasizes the importance of SEO but clarifies that it’s just one piece of the puzzle. "SEO is just what you do on the technical side of the website. It has to be about multi-channel marketing," he states. Customer Satisfaction Over Domain Authority: One of the standout points Jamar makes is how customer happiness can drive success even if domain author...
Aug 21, 2024•34 min•Season 3Ep. 143
Dolly DeLong joins me to explore the real-world application of SEO for entrepreneurs and talk about the upcoming SEO Audio Summit. Key Takeaways: Introduction to Dolly DeLong: Dolly DeLong introduces her dual roles as a Middle Tennessee family photographer and a systems and workflow educator. She shares her experience of separating her photography and education businesses to better serve her audience and improve website clarity. The Importance of SEO: Dolly emphasizes the critical role of SEO in...
Aug 14, 2024•38 min•Season 3Ep. 142
Join me as I recap an eventful summer, blending personal adventures and business breakthroughs. Over the last decade, I've struggled with taking time off - this year, I took more time off and made more money than last year. Let's go SEO! Key Takeaways: Business Achievements: Launched 2025 photo props, doubling sales from last June. Website traffic nearly doubled, showing successful SEO efforts. New Website Launch: Introduced a dedicated site for the Simple and Smart SEO Show. Joined an SEO bundl...
Aug 07, 2024•10 min•Season 3Ep. 141
I'm talking with veteran SEO expert Erin Sparks, host of the "Edge of the Web" podcast. Erin shares insider knowledge on building trust with Google and mastering SEO foundations. Key Topics: The Evolution of SEO : Discover how SEO has transformed since 2004, emphasizing accountability and digital strategy. Erin explains the shift from traditional marketing to a data-driven approach, highlighting the importance of staying current in the fast-paced digital landscape. Google's Knowledge Graph : Lea...
Jul 31, 2024•42 min•Season 3Ep. 140
In this Follow Through Friday episode, Crystal Waddell (that's me!) revisits her discussion with Holly Homer and walks listeners through her process of improving a dedicated page on her e-commerce website for senior athlete posters. She shares practical tips on reusing content, internal linking, and leveraging quick SEO wins to create a user-friendly page while managing time constraints. Crystal demonstrates how small, actionable steps can bring big results for your website's SEO strategy. Key T...
Jul 26, 2024•11 min•Season 3Ep. 139
This week I'm interviewing Holly Homer, co-founder of PageWheel and the creative force behind KidsActivities.com. Episode Highlights: Introduction to Holly Homer : Holly shares her remarkable journey from starting one of the first mom blogs to creating a sustainable business that supports her family. Streamlining Digital Product Creation : Discover how PageWheel can generate sales pages, thank you pages, delivery emails, and social media content, reducing the time and effort needed for digital m...
Jul 24, 2024•41 min•Season 3Ep. 138
In this Follow Through Friday episode, I revisit episode 136 with SEO expert Edwin Romero. I review his approach to strategic SEO and his "guided selling" method, and apply his advice to optimizing collections, blogs, and deleting affiliate links. Additionally, I introduce the Brand Resume Visibility Audit , a resource to enhance your omnichannel presence. Key Takeaways: Guided Selling Approach : Actively guide customers through the buying journey by presenting curated options to simplify decisi...
Jul 19, 2024•12 min•Season 3Ep. 137
In this episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show, I chat with Edwin Romero, an SEO expert I met at Brighton SEO in San Diego. We explore several key aspects of SEO: The importance of targeting high-intent, long-tail keywords over high-volume, short-tail ones to boost conversions. The necessity of personalized SEO strategies and a deep understanding of customer needs. Our discussion extends to the intricacies of website migrations, including: meticulous planning, effective redirects, and their im...
Jul 17, 2024•34 min•Season 3Ep. 136
Crystal shares insights from installing Clarity on her own websites, using its user experience data to improve customer journeys and increase conversions. This is the Follow Through Friday Episode For Episode 134 with Celeste Gonzalez . Key Takeaways : Microsoft Clarity Setup : Crystal installed Microsoft Clarity on both her Wix and Shopify websites, noting differences in ease of integration. Behavioral Insights : Clarity's screen recordings and heatmaps revealed user interactions, helping to op...
Jul 12, 2024•12 min•Season 3Ep. 135
This episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show features Crystal Waddell and special guest Celeste Gonzalez of Rickety Roo discussing the importance of user experience in SEO and the benefits of using Microsoft Clarity. *takes breath* We talk about so many SEO-adjacent topics: strategies for boosting conversions, the significance of focusing on the user, and the utilization of tools like heat maps and session recordings to analyze and improve website performance. Key takeaways include: understandi...
Jul 10, 2024•41 min•Season 3Ep. 134
In this episode of Follow Through Fridays on the Simple and Smart SEO Show, I review actionable SEO and blogging strategies shared in the podcast with Steven Schneider of Trio SEO. I discuss my experiences applying these tips on my new Wix website and Shopify store to enhance user experience and optimization. My key takeaways are: simplifying navigation, optimizing for search intent, using professional photography, and boosting user trust with reviews and detailed "about" sections. I also cover ...
Jul 06, 2024•16 min•Season 3Ep. 133
In this episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show, I chat with Steven Schneider from TrioSEO , an agency that specializes in organic SEO services . We discuss the importance of understanding the power of SEO and the transformation it can bring to a brand . Steven shares his journey into SEO, starting from blogging in college to building a successful SEO agency. Key points include: 1. The evolution of affiliate marketing and its current challenges. 2. The importance of high-quality, human-written ...
Jul 03, 2024•39 min•Season 3Ep. 132
Join me as I walk through the practical steps I took after my conversation with Erika Varangouli, an expert in content marketing, SEO, and branding at Riverside.fm. Key Takeaways: Integrating SEO with Branding: Erika emphasized the importance of aligning SEO with branding. Inspired by her advice, I started using customer reviews in ChatGPT to create better product descriptions. Customer-Centric Content: One new idea is to include a section in my thank-you emails that addresses potential issues, ...
Jun 28, 2024•6 min•Season 3Ep. 131
In this episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show, I interview Erika Varangouli about SEO and its intersection with brand building. We discuss key insights into conversion rate optimization, the historic division between SEO and paid landing pages, and the holistic approach required to build trust and relevance for small businesses. Erika shares her journey from working at Semrush to heading SEO and branded content at Riverside FM, emphasizing the importance of user experience and community engag...
Jun 26, 2024•38 min•Season 3Ep. 130
