Our LAST News show of the year! Thanks to all of our listeners for making this year another successful year for EDGE of the Web! Let us know your thoughts of the show at https://ratethispodcast.com/EDGE Stories! “As the WordPress Turns” (you gotta check out the YouTube on this one). The Mullenweg Meltdown continues. Musk wants to bring a challenge to GMail, DM style. A huge exploit documented by friend of the show, Mark Williams-Cook . Please check out our second episode of our interview with Ma...
Dec 20, 2024•31 min•Ep 736•Transcript available on Metacast Mark Williams-Cook is back on the EDGE, diving into the shifting landscape of search engines and SEO, where generative AI tools like Search GPT and ChatGPT are trying to steal the spotlight. But let’s be real—people still turn to Google for a reality check, like that friend who promises to help you move but never shows up. Mark reveals how Google’s financial motivations drive AI advancements, introducing ads that are more integrated than your Aunt's fruitcake recipe. He also highlights the const...
Dec 18, 2024•37 min•Ep 735•Transcript available on Metacast We reached out across the pond, and we got him, Andrew Optimisey joins us on the EDGE this week! We tackle a lot in a short time frame: marketing shortcuts and data ownership are at the top of the heap. Companies like HubSpot and Google are creating "walled gardens" of data, stirring legal and ethical concerns about who truly owns consumer information. We also cover an article from Search Engine Journal by Shelly Walsh, getting takes from 7 top SEO experts and their take on AI Overviews and wher...
Dec 12, 2024•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of EDGE of the Web, we sit down with Jon Gillham, the seasoned entrepreneur and founder/CEO of Originality AI, to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and content strategy. Jon stresses the importance of companies establishing explicit policies regarding the use of AI in their content strategies. Without clear guidelines, companies risk uncontrolled AI usage, which can compromise the authenticity and trustworthiness of their content. He also discusses the role of A...
Dec 11, 2024•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast We’re joined by Jon Gillham, a seasoned entrepreneur and the CEO of Originality AI, a cutting-edge tool designed to detect human vs. AI-generated content. We'll explore Originality AI's impressive accuracy rate in detecting AI-generated content, including from tools like ChatGPT, and discuss the industry's shift towards AI integration in content creation. Jon will shed light on the rising skepticism among consumers regarding online content, the struggle to manage false positives, and the evolvin...
Dec 06, 2024•38 min•Ep 732•Transcript available on Metacast It’s Going To Be OK! Kevin Indig jumped into the host seat for Erin while he was away! Kevin and Jacob discuss the DOJ's continued push for Google's break-up of products, specifically Google Chrome. They dissect Google's new Search Console features and their broader implications for data control and AI dominance. They also critique Google's latest moves, from real-time site notifications that miss the mark to the continued saga of Mullenweg’s crusade against WPEngine with an update to his WPEngi...
Dec 06, 2024•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast Ori Zilbershtein joins the EDGE as a guest to go over the news this week. We crack open a number of Google News pieces from around the marketing space. Some quick takeaways: Make sure you use WhatsApp as a conversion in Google Ads—you better be there. We discuss the report on shifting trends in CTR per industry and how the data could be interpreted another way, i.e. AI Overviews viciously rearranging the landscape. Is OpenAI actually thinking about developing a browser now? They hired an ex-Goog...
Nov 28, 2024•40 min•Ep 730•Transcript available on Metacast We have started a new series on EDGE of the Web. We’re focusing on marketing tools that we love! Hopefully, you’ll love them just as much as we do. First up: SEOGets.com Mathew Mellinger, Co-Founder of SEO Gets, joins the show to talk about his journey into software development from local SEO, and the needs he saw in the industry. SEOGets is a Google Seach Console alternative for SEO professionals and agencies managing multiple sites. Imagine linking several GSC accounts effortlessly, exporting ...
Nov 27, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep 729•Transcript available on Metacast What is Google's latest shake-up? The Page Experience Report's exit from Search Console. This week, we are joined by the insightful Lidia Infante from SurveyMonkey, as we explore the headlines in the SEO and Marketing world. The DOJ has some audacious demands for Google to sell Chrome, and ads have finally hit the AI Overview pages: We even unpack the drama-filled lawsuit between WP Engine and Automattic, questioning the ethical boundaries of open-source communities. This is the stuff that only ...
Nov 22, 2024•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast We’re in the second segment of our interview with the AI engineering powerhouse Britney Muller. We discuss the fascinating interplay of creativity and technical prowess in AI prompt engineering Brittany sheds light on the SEO industry's common missteps, emphasizing that AI language models aren't search engines and thrive on randomness. She’s even crafting a user-friendly guide to demystify these tech marvels, urging us to experiment and learn from mistakes. Brittany warns against using AI for da...
Nov 21, 2024•45 min•Ep 727•Transcript available on Metacast Literally, if you have to check your legalese, check the site you have on the package, Mattel! Top news of the week in digital marketing and AI. Matt Mullenweg gets trolled by a mock website based on his own website, trying to show departures from WPEngine. There’s a core algorithm update happening right now - watch your stats! What is the potential scenario of a Google break up, as it applies to the Google Ad section of their business? AI news and a really cool AI tool on this episode (can you ...
Nov 14, 2024•31 min•Ep 726•Transcript available on Metacast This is the first for EDGE of the Web, which has the top brass from Search Engine Land! Erin welcomes the impressive panel featuring: Marc Sirkin, CEO of Third Door Media, Danny Goodwin, Editorial Director, Search Engine Land & SMX Barry Schwartz, contributor to SEL and owner of Search Engine Roundtable. They discuss the huge news of Semrush’s recent acquisition of Search Engine Land (a Third Door Media property). The discussion highlights the ongoing mission to maintain editorial integrity amid...
Nov 12, 2024•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast Mordy’s back with the EDGE after his holiday and throws out hot takes and Captain Obvious moments on the show. We cover the news of the week: AI Overviews that are rolling out in 100+ countries (except for those in the EU, oddly), Google’s perspective on Core Web Vitals and ranking, and the communication from Google about content that starkly differs from the rest of the domain - it ain’t gonna fair well, folks! Check out our jump into AI News and Tools with this episode—seriously concerning and...
Nov 01, 2024•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast Britney Muller rejoins the EDGE to weigh in on the progress of AI and LLMs for use in marketing, the over-hyped announcements to Google's transformative papers, and the ethical dilemmas in AI development. Discover how emergent properties of AI models are often misunderstood and why ethical integrity is paramount in technology communication. Plus, get an inside scoop on Google's AI controversies and the practical uses of AI technology in everyday tasks. Britney underscores the need for human over...
Nov 01, 2024•45 min•Ep 723•Transcript available on Metacast We’re back from Tech SEO Connect! And we brought Mark Williams-Cook to pinch-hit for Mordy while he was on holiday….and last minute, so there’s that. We dialed into some things that we missed while we were away. For starters, the Semrush buyout of Search Engine Land is huge news, and we have even bigger news! Marc Sirkin, Danny Goodwin, and Barry Schwartz will be on the show soon to discuss the event. Matt Mullenweg seems to be melting down about First Amendment claims against WP Engine. The Wor...
Oct 25, 2024•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of EDGE of the Web, Erin welcomes the talented Akvile DeFazio to discuss the exciting world of AI in marketing. Akvile shares advice for small businesses looking to harness the power of AI, emphasizing the importance of beginner AI courses and webinars. Akvile shares her thoughts about the dynamic nature of marketing, the intricate balance between AI tools and human creativity, and the necessity of human oversight in AI-generated content. Akvile also announces her upcoming free w...
Oct 23, 2024•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast Erin Sparks interviews Akvile DeFazio, founder and president of Akvertize Inc., an award-winning agency specializing in paid social media advertising. Akvile shares her rich experience managing social media adverts across various sectors, including e-commerce, events, and apps, leveraging platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and TikTok. Key discussion points include: Ad Strategies and Targeting Changes in Consumer Behavior Importance of Conversion Tracking AI and Advertising ...
Oct 09, 2024•39 min•Ep 720•Transcript available on Metacast Yes, sometimes it happens. We don’t get through all of the news prepped. Mordy, Erin and Jacob take on the WordPress vs WP Engine scenario with a bit of fervor that really tanked the rest of the news, honestly. Which side do you fall on, the WordPress argument is that WP Engine hasn’t been “contributing” their fair share, so they banned all customers of WP Engine from updating or adding plugins from the WordPress library. WP Engine, however, seems to have to pay to play as a WordPress hosting en...
Oct 04, 2024•34 min•Ep 719•Transcript available on Metacast What is the future of Large Language Models and Search? Kristine Schachinger, SEO consultant at Sites Without Walls, joins us for another episode to discuss the intricacies of Navboost and its ramifications for SEO. Drawing insights from the recent Google versus DOJ court documents, she unpacks this misunderstood “ranking signal.” Continuing the conversation, Kristine shares the concept of “summarization engines” in replacement of AI Search - as she weighs into what the future of search may be a...
Oct 03, 2024•42 min•Ep 718•Transcript available on Metacast Is Generative AI causing seismic shifts in the search engine landscape? Surveys by The Information and Barry Schwartz reveal users are “turning away” from traditional search engines like Google, but how far are they actually turning? A slew of news from the digital marketing space, including AI-powered video ads on Amazon, Google's Merchant Center Next is pushing for optimized structured data, and a great Kevin Indig article studying over ½ million AI Overviews. Plus, hear about our media partne...
Sep 27, 2024•41 min•Ep 717•Transcript available on Metacast Anastasia Kotsiubynska, Head of SEO at SE Ranking, joins the EDGE to discuss the latest SE Ranking AI Overview studies. This episode focuses on the impact of AI overviews in Google's search results and what this means for SEO strategies. Anastasia sheds light on how these AI overviews have changed over the last five months since their release in April 2024. While this technology offers impressive efficiency, it also poses significant challenges, such as a potential 25% drop in organic traffic by...
Sep 25, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Transcript available on Metacast Dissecting Google's latest moves in the advertising world, from expanding its ad opportunities to embracing dynamic pricing on YouTube. Also, Google's all-new updates on its indexing API, which now comes with a big dose of spam-detection rigor. Who knew indexing could be this thrilling? Have you ever wondered if AI could help rake in millions with fake music? Well, a certain North Carolinian named Michael Smith did just that and found himself $10 million richer—but now he’s about to face the mus...
Sep 20, 2024•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast In episode 714 of EDGE of the Web, Kristine Schachinger shares her thoughts about the recent leak of Google's internal documents and its implications for SEO professionals. With 2500 pages of documentation now public, the SEO community is abuzz with speculation, curiosity, and anger. We cover the ground around the role of user engagement and click signals, addressing misconceptions and the importance of long-term data and context in Google's ranking algorithms. Key Segments: [00:03:38] Introduci...
Sep 18, 2024•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast In a recent announcement, Google stated that they will be phasing out bid strategy enhanced cost-per-click (eCPC) from Google Ads. The company says they will be replacing eCPC with manual CPC starting in October. Meta is updating business tools, announcing they will be increasing data restrictions as ongoing attempts to prioritize privacy continue. Meta explains the restrictions are set to automatically restrict certain data, including URLs and custom parameters. If one wasn’t enough, here's ano...
Sep 11, 2024•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week Erin is joined by the Chief Marketing Officer of SE Ranking, Bogdan Babiak, to discuss the SEO platform’s new brand evolution. Since its founding in 2013, SE Ranking has been a trusted tool for SEO professionals throughout the industry, and now, they are bridging the gap between SEO and innovation with a whole new look. Bogdan shares the vision behind SE Rankings brand evolution, discussing integral pieces such as AI and ML solutions behind their growing mission. Bogdan and Erin discus...
Sep 10, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Ep 712•Transcript available on Metacast Google is trying out a new product categories tab in search results, intended to offer more tailored suggestions in product searches. The new tab is driven by performance insights, demand trends, and actionable recommendations Yelp is hitting Google with a lawsuit, claiming that the search leader is illegally dominating local search markets. Following the recent and impactful DOJ antitrust lawsuit, Google may have a target on their back as the lawsuits pile up. You can now create specific remark...
Sep 04, 2024•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast The newest tech SEO conference is coming to Raleigh, North Carolina, this fall! Guests JR Oakes, Patrick Stox, and Matthew Kay have come together to create an all-new SEO experience, Tech SEO Connect, coming to Raleigh on October 17th & 18th. Don’t miss the heavy list of speakers covering core web vitals, Ahrefs Lang, data warehousing, BigQuery, machine learning, and more. In this show, we discuss the origin of Tech SEO Connect with the founders themselves. Learn what makes Tech SEO Connect diff...
Sep 03, 2024•42 min•Ep 710•Transcript available on Metacast A recent survey launched by Aleyda Solis highlights key SEO threats, with Google's updates, self-preferencing, and AI Overviews at the top of the list. The study reveals that AI advancements are reshaping search engine dynamics, and SEO is more difficult than ever. Google declares that low-quality traffic will not impact search rankings. The company affirms that links and site traffic do not negatively influence a site's trustworthiness but that ranking factors prioritize valuable, relevant cont...
Aug 29, 2024•45 min•Ep 709•Transcript available on Metacast We have the CEO of Team Odeon, Ori Zilbershtein, back for his second interview this week. In this episode, we explore the growing threat of negative SEO and fraudulent DMCA case claims, which are growing at a staggering rate. Learn what’s causing the spike in SEO scams as we dive into the scammers' minds in an attempt to understand their motives. Finally, we look at the steps Google has taken to mitigate negative SEO. Join us on episode 708 as we address the increasing number of SEO scams you mu...
Aug 28, 2024•33 min•Ep 708•Transcript available on Metacast Welcome back to another episode of news from the EDGE! The August 2024 core update has been rolled out! Primary intentions of the update are to reward high quality content and diminish low-value ranking based SEO content. In light of the August 2024 core update, a ranking bug affecting search results has emerged. Google claims the bug is unrelated to the update and confirms the issue is resolved and search performance should be stabilizing back to normal. Will the Google empire crumble? The DOJ ...
Aug 22, 2024•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
