In this episode of Imperfect Marketing, Kendra Corman sits down with SEO expert Kyle Bailey to explore how artificial intelligence is changing the search landscape—and what businesses should really focus on to stay visible online.

Kyle shares his journey from growing up around construction trades to building an SEO agency focused on helping home service businesses succeed online. Along the way, the conversation dives into the realities of modern SEO, the myths around AI replacing search, and why understanding your customer still matters more than any algorithm update.

The Evolution of SEO in the Age of AI

AI tools like ChatGPT are changing how people search for information—but they haven’t replaced traditional search engines.

Kyle explains:

Why Google still has a major advantage because it can crawl and understand websites more effectively
How AI platforms currently rely on signals like reviews and third-party sources (Yelp, Google Reviews, etc.)
Why businesses need to expand their reputation across multiple platforms—not just Google
The risks of “gaming the system” with SEO shortcuts that create short-term gains but long-term damage

The takeaway? Solid SEO fundamentals still matter—and probably always will.

The Right Way to Approach SEO Strategy

One of the biggest mistakes businesses make is chasing SEO “cheat codes.”

Kyle describes the smarter approach:

80% solid SEO fundamentals
20% experimentation with new tactics

This balance allows businesses to stay competitive without risking their entire marketing strategy on short-lived hacks.

If you put all your effort into shortcuts, you may see quick wins—but you’ll likely lose everything when algorithms update.

Does Blogging Still Matter for SEO?

The answer, like many things in marketing, is: it depends.

Blogging isn’t just about stuffing keywords anymore. Instead, it should help customers make better decisions.

Effective blog content should:

Address customers’ biggest fears about working with your business
Explain how your process prevents common problems
Educate buyers so they feel confident choosing you
Demonstrate expertise through real-world examples

When content answers real questions, it improves both the customer experience and your search visibility.

Why Your Website Strategy Matters More Than Ever

Many businesses try to save money by piecing together website tools or building sites themselves using drag-and-drop builders.

Kyle explains why this can create problems:

DIY website builders often lack advanced SEO capabilities
Businesses may not truly own their domains or data
Piecemeal marketing strategies lead to inconsistent results
A holistic approach—website, content, reviews, and SEO—creates stronger long-term growth

In other words, your website shouldn’t just exist. It should function as the foundation of your entire marketing strategy.

The Most Important Marketing Lesson

At the end of the episode, Kyle shares a powerful question every business should ask:

“If you c

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