Search With Candour

In this week's episode of Search with Candour, hosts Jack Chambers-Ward and Mark Williams-Cook share insights and initiate debates surrounding critical SEO topics. The dynamic duo discusses the role of consensus in SEO, particularly scrutinising how its interpretation affects how much users trust search engines. They delve into the value of technical SEO, especially for small businesses, and question the efficacy of a one-size-fits-all approach. Jack and Mark further explore the concept of traffic depreciation when SEO efforts stop. Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Search with Candour 01:23 Sponsor: PPC Chat Roundup 06:05 Consensus in SEO: Clearing Misunderstandings 19:00 The Value of Tech SEO for Small Businesses 25:33 SEO Strategy: The Importance of Early Publishing 25:58 The Flaws of One-Size-Fits-All SEO Packages 26:32 Tailoring SEO to Client Needs 28:33 Technical SEO and Crawling Issues 31:49 The Impact of SEO on Long-Term Traffic 37:57 Maintaining SEO Success and Competitor Analysis 40:35 The Importance

Jack Chambers-Ward and Anu Adegbola, an international PPC consultant and paid media editor at Search Engine Land discuss the significance of SEO and PPC team communication and collaboration. They explore strategies for sharing insights, tools, and data, as well as aligning goals to navigate Google updates and improve overall digital marketing results. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:37 Sponsored by AlsoAsked 04:02 Anu Adegbola's Background 04:41 SEO and PPC Collaboration 07:17 The Importance of Fresh Perspectives 16:50 Leveraging Customer Insights 20:23 SEO and PPC Best Practices 31:12 Testing and Adapting Strategies 35:08 The Importance of Flexibility in PPC 35:48 The Power of Brand Consistency 37:19 Navigating Attribution Challenges 38:43 Aligning Marketing Channels 41:28 Building Trust and Communication 43:38 Understanding Marketing Goals 51:41 The Role of PPC in SEO 54:09 The Future of PPC and SEO Collaboration 59:18 Where to Follow Anu 01:04:39 Upcoming Guests and Future Topics Links to follow Anu: W

In this episode of Search With Candour, host Jack Chambers-Ward discusses the evolving value of backlinks in 2025 with guest Tamara Novitovic from Bazoom Group. They explore how link building strategies need to adapt, the impact of AI on SEO, and why backlinks remain crucial. The conversation covers which metrics matter for link-building and future trends that will shape the SEO landscape. Whether you're reconsidering your link-building strategy or curious about the future of SEO, this episode offers invaluable insights for you! Follow Tamara Website: ⁠https://bazoom.com/⁠  LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamara-novitovic/⁠  Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:52 Sponsor: AlsoAsked 03:17 The Value of Links in 2025 04:55 Holistic Approach to Link Building 09:30 Metrics and Relevancy in Link Building 18:48 Content Strategy and Link Building 22:57 Interactive Content and Future Trends 33:08 Balancing Freshness and Relevancy 37:45 The Power of Data in Client Convincing 38:14 Learning from Industry Peers 3

In the first episode of 2025, host Jack Chambers-Ward is joined by Jamie Indigo, an expert in technical SEO and an overall delightful human being. Jamie guides Jack through the findings from the 2024 Web Almanac's SEO chapter including technical data changes over recent years, offering insights and predictions for the future. Jamie also highlights AI's rising influence, the importance of robots.txt, Core Web Vitals updates, and structured data advancements. Follow Jamie: Website: https://not-a-robot.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-indigo/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/not-a-robot.com Rich Snippets: https://trafficthinktank.com/rich-snippets/ Resources Web Almanac 2024 - SEO Chapter: https://almanac.httparchive.org/en/2024/seo Performance chapter: https://almanac.httparchive.org/en/2024/performance Maggie Appleton Dark Forest: https://maggieappleton.com/ai-dark-forest https://youtu.be/1OvasjokuaA?si=UBNiK07uyWHjd2HX by Jess Sankhavaram-Peck Chapters 00:00 Welcome to 2025:

In this special episode of Search With Candour, hosts Jack Chambers-Ward and Mark Williams-Cook sit down with guests Arnout Hellemans, Yagmur Simsek, and Begum Kaya. Recorded in a brand new studio to celebrate the finale of Season 3, the panel discusses SEO industry highlights from 2024, and makes some SEO predictions for 2025. Topics include the rise of AI, shifts in search engine market shares, and the ever-evolving landscape of SEO. The conversation extends to personal branding, the importance of community in SEO, and how the integration of AI could reshape the search experience in the coming years. Follow our guests Follow Arnout Hellemans on LinkedIn and Bluesky Follow Yagmur Simsek on LinkedIn and Search 'n' Stuff Follow Begum Kaya on LinkedIn Chapters 00:00 Welcome 00:17 Introducing Our Special Guests 02:38 Highlights of 2024 in SEO 11:53 The Impact of AI on SEO 27:06 Building Trust and Brand in SEO 43:09 The Long-Term Impact of SEO Tips 43:31 The Challenge of Measuring Long-Term SEO Success 44:

Jack Chambers-Ward and Mark Williams-Cook follow up on Mark's popular Search Norwich talk about conceptual models for SEO and his recent Google exploit discovery. Mark & Jack explore the details of the fascinating Google exploit, dissect the talk's key points, and answer questions from the community. The duo also preview next week’s big episode featuring three special guests and discuss the revamped format for Search With Candour in their cosier setting. Stay tuned for exclusive insights into Google's data, how Google classifies queries, and what this all means for SEO in 2025. Sponsors ⁠Experience the evolution of SE Ranking⁠ ⁠Try Optmyzr - Made by PPC people, for PPC people Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Search with Candour 00:15 Studio Updates and Upcoming Guests 01:13 Exploring the Google Exploit 01:29 Sponsor: SE Ranking 02:50 Sponsor: Optmyzr 05:53 Advanced SEO and Conceptual Models 10:13 Understanding SEO Through Video Games 11:25 The Importance of Conceptual Models in SEO 14:53 Google Exploit Dat

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

Join Jack Chambers-Ward as he discusses storytelling, copywriting, and content strategy with Will Slater, the creative content specialist at 43 Clicks North. Will uses his experience as a writer and photographer to explain how even bad ideas lead to great ones, the importance of curiosity, and the intricacies of creating content that resonates emotionally with your audience. Jack & Will explore how storytelling principles from novels, comics, and even music can enhance your marketing efforts. Plus, learn valuable tips for structuring your content, engaging specific audiences, and mastering the art of concise and impactful writing. This episode is packed with insights to help you create better content in 2024 and beyond. Sponsors Experience the evolution of SE Ranking Try Optmyzr - Made by PPC people, for PPC people Follow Will LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cleanslatewill Website: https://43clicksnorth.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cleanslatewill/ Instagram: https://www.i

In this week's episode of Search with Candour, Jack Chambers-Ward is joined by Tomek Rudzki from ZipTie.dev to discuss AI overviews and their impact on SEO. Tomek shares insights on how AI overviews have risen in recent months, how AI overviews incorporate sources as well as the differences between traditional search results and AI overviews. Jack and Tomek also discuss Google’s approach to user-generated content and ensuring high-quality search outcomes, especially for YMYL queries. Tomek also shares strategies for optimising content for AI overviews. 00:00 Trailer 00:55 Introduction 02:25 Sponsors 06:49 Welcome Tomek Rudzki 08:18 The Evolution of Ziptie.dev 10:15 The Rise of AI Overviews 16:36 Tracking AI Overviews 25:41 Comparing AI Overviews and Featured Snippets 33:55 Addressing Low-Quality Search Results 34:28 Trust and Authority in Online Content 36:23 Google's Approach to User-Generated Content 37:02 Manipulation and Spam in Search Results 38:56 Google's AI and Ranking Systems 43:16 Challenges wit

Join host Jack Chambers Ward and special guest Amanda King as they delve into the intricacies of content hierarchy and content consolidation in this insightful episode of Search With Candour. Amanda and Jack finally meet to discuss the importance of getting content structure right, common mistakes to avoid, and the nuances of SEO best practices in 2024 and beyond. This episode is packed with expert advice, real-life examples, and tips for performing effective content audits. Sponsors Experience the evolution of SE Ranking Try Optmyzr - Made by PPC people, for PPC people Follow Amanda: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandaecking/ Website: https://floq.co/ Engage: On Enterprise SEO: https://floq.co/resources/podcast/ Amanda on The SEO Mindset Podcast: https://theseomindset.co.uk/episode/picking-battles-in-the-workplace-amanda-king Amanda's articles for SEL: https://searchengineland.com/author/amanda-king Profanity-based stationery and apparel: https://fourletterfancies.com Chapters

In this bonus episode Search With Candour, Jack is joined by Steve Paine, the English-language marketing manager at SISTRIX to discuss breaking news on site reputation abuse and recent data insights. Steve & Jack explore the November core update from Google and its impact on website rankings with examples of affected websites such as Reddit, Forbes, The Guardian and more. Steve and Jack also explore manual versus algorithmic enforcement of Google's policies and share their findings on recent shifts in SERPs and site visibility. Follow Steve Paine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevechippy/ Follow SISTRIX: https://www.sistrix.com/blog/google-core-update-november-2024/ Follow Lily Ray: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lily-ray-44755615/ Follow Glenn Gabe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/glenngabe/ Follow Barry Schwartz: https://www.seroundtable.com/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:44 Site Reputation Abuse 01:42 November Core Update Insights 04:01 Impact on Major Websites 08:32 Manual Actions and Alg

Jack Chambers Ward sits down with web data analyst Marco Giordano to discuss how to get the most out of your web data. Together, they delve into the intricacies of web analytics, covering topics such as incorporating crawl data, understanding GA4, leveraging BigQuery, and effectively communicating data insights to clients. Jack and Marco also discuss the importance of combining technical SEO expertise with business acumen and provide valuable tips for anyone looking to maximise the impact of their web data. Sponsors AlsoAsked - Track search intent shift over time using the Timeline feature SE Ranking - Track AI Overviews for your clients using SE Ranking Links to follow Marco: Follow Marco on LinkedIn Check out SEOTistics Subscribe to Marco's newsletter Links to resources/articles: ⁠Free Google Cloud BigQuery training⁠ Analytics for SEO course ⁠Analytics for SEO ebook The Gray Dot keyword matrix template Chapters 00:00 Highlight reel 00:36 Welcome to Search with Candour 00:56 Introducing M

Jack Chambers-Ward is joined by SEO veteran Noah Lerner for an in-depth discussion on the importance of critical thinking in SEO. Noah and Jack champion the structured, evidence-based approach to decision-making as well as discussing the challenges and pitfalls of problem-solving, and the essential skills needed to excel in SEO. Noah also brings real examples from over 20 years of experience, such as the transition from UA to GA4 at Sterling Sky, building data pipelines and even how to communicate important data to clients. Sponsors Experience the evolution of SE Ranking Try Optmyzr - Made by PPC people, for PPC people Follow Noah ⁠Follow Noah on LinkedIn⁠ ⁠Sterling Sky⁠ ⁠Join the SEO community⁠ Chapters 00:00 Trailer introduction 00:58 Introduction 02:18 Sponsors: SE Ranking & Optmyzr 06:42 Welcome Noah Learner 09:44 Defining Critical Thinking Skills 11:42 Challenges in Problem Solving 15:32 Importance of Structured Problem Definition 23:31 Data-Driven Decision Making 40:52 Alignin

Join hosts Jack Chambers-Ward and Mark Williams-Cook as they tackle the latest SEO news and industry trends. In this episode, we'll cover the growing influence of AI in search, Google introducing AI-organised search results, personalised Google Shopping feeds, and the pitfalls of AI Overviews for finance queries and restaurant reviews. We also explore how Redditors are manipulating search results and whether we can trust online reviews anymore. Don't miss it! Resources Google’s AI-Organised search results Google Shopping’s personalised feed The Verge’s article on personalised Google Shopping feed Redditors disrupt AI Overviews with fake restaurant reviews Sponsors Experience the evolution of SE Ranking Try Optmyzr - Made by PPC people, for PPC people Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:10 Conference Season and Travel 01:40 Sponsor: SE Ranking 03:12 Sponsor: Optmyzr 06:01 AI in Search 2024 06:21 AI Organized Search Results 14:03 Personalized Shopping Feeds 26:55 Financial Advice Inaccuracies 28:52 Financial A

Join hosts Jack Chambers-Ward and Search With Candour Scream Queens, Myriam Jessier, and Stéphanie Walter, in this Halloween-themed episode packed with spooky surprises and valuable marketing insights. From e-commerce strategies and UX design to SEO tips and digital PR trends, you'll discover the scariest messages from your boss and the history of Halloween itself. Sponsors Experience the evolution of SE Ranking Try Optmyzr - Made by PPC people, for PPC people Chapters 00:00 Spooky Introduction and Halloween Special

Join host Jack Chambers-Ward and special guest Darren Shaw, founder of Whitespark, as they dive into the latest in local SEO and Google Business Profile optimisation. Discover key updates expected in 2025, innovative methods to enhance rankings, the impact of custom service entries, strategic use of Google Posts, and the importance of robust Q&A sections. From optimising menu items for restaurants to leveraging photos and videos effectively, this episode is packed with expert insights and practical tips essential for SEO professionals and business owners. Links to follow Darren Darren on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenshawwhitespark/⁠ Whitespark on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/whitespark/⁠  Threads: ⁠https://www.threads.net/@darrenshawseo⁠  Website: ⁠https://whitespark.ca/⁠  YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@WhitesparkCa⁠  Tiktok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@darrenshawseo⁠ Resources Local SEO ranking factors 2023 edition - ⁠https://whitespark.ca/local-search-rankin

Join Jack Chambers-Ward from Search With Candour and Sarah and Tazmin from The SEO Mindset podcast in this special live episode from Brighton as they tackle career planning without the overwhelm. Recorded in front of a packed audience at in The Globe Room at Projects The Lanes, this episode discusses personal experiences in career development, strategies like ikigai and ISA, and the importance of setting achievable goals. Sponsors ⁠SE Ranking⁠ ⁠AlsoAsked⁠ ⁠SISTRIX⁠ ⁠Majestic⁠ Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:34 Sponsors: SE Ranking & AlsoAsked 00:04:28 Live Podcast Begins 00:05:08 Career Planning Discussion 00:05:27 Introducing the SEO Mindset Podcast 00:06:18 Introducing Search With Candour 00:07:21 Why This Live Podcast is Important 00:08:13 Finding Your Ikigai 00:09:59 Live Podcast Sponsors: SISTRIX & Majestic 00:13:40 Career Planning Experiences 00:20:05 Overcoming Career Planning Challenges 00:27:36 Strategies for Effective Career Planning 00:49:59 The Simpl

Giulia Panozzo joins Search With Candour to discuss the neuroscience behind negativity bias. Giulia combines her knowledge of neuroscience and marketing to bring some fascinating neuromarketing insights to the podcast! Why do negative headlines get more clicks than positive ones? How does negativity bias affect the way we search? Why does one piece of negative feedback standout against positive feedback? Resources and studies: Neuroscience of Search: What does brain science tell us about the user?

Maria Scheibengraf joins Jack Chambers-Ward to explain why localization is so important for your international SEO strategy. Direct translation just doesn’t work for SEO. You need to take culture and nuance into account when it comes to your international SEO strategies. Maria explains the common problems that many agencies and SEOs face with multilingual SEO and how to get SEO localization right. Follow Maria Scheibengraf Follow Maria on LinkedIn Follow Crisol Translations Resources Maria's companion blog post Book recommendation: The Culture Map by Erin Meyer The Nike 'Am I a Bad Person? ad Sponsors Experience the evolution of SE Ranking Start your 14-day free trial of Optmyzr Book your personalised Optmyzr demo Chapters 00:00 Start 00:00:34 Intro 00:01:37 Sponsor: SE Ranking 00:03:45 Sponsor: Optmyzr 00:06:39 Welcome to the show Maria Scheibengraf 00:08:06 Why is SEO localisation so important? 00:11:00 The flawed workflow of SEO translation 00:15:10 Direct translation

Eric Hoover joins the Search With Candour podcast this week to discuss how to use AI for SEO. Yes, we’re finally talking about AI tools in detail and how to integrate AI into your SEO workflow. Eric has recommendations for using AI and LLMs for keyword research, competitor analysis, content creation, ecommerce optimisation and if SearchGPT can ever dethrone Google as the primary search engine. Sponsors Experience the evolution of SE Ranking Get your tickets for the live Brighton podcast Links to follow Eric: Follow Eric on LinkedIn Eric's Website Links to resources/articles Unmasking AI by Dr Joy Buolamwini AI in SEO, Treat it like a New Team Member Human-AI Collaboration FeedGen AI Ranch style SEO vs skyscraper style content Most people can’t identify AI-generated content Chapters 00:00:00 How to do SEO in an AI world 00:00:28 Intro 00:01:37 Sponsor: SE Ranking 00:03:45 Live brightonSEO podcast 2 Oct 2024 00:05:44 Welcome to the show Eric Hoover 00:06:01 Let’s talk a