Podcast
Meredith's Husband | SEO for People Who Don't Like SEO
Hosted by A professional photographer and her SEO husband · EN
SEO for people who don't like SEO. I run an SEO agency. My wife Meredith is a family photographer. Our podcast explains how I got Meredith's website to the top of Google and answers questions from photographers about SEO and website marketing.
32episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Why Your Yelp Profile Suddenly Matters Again
2w ago00:09:51Tap to summarizeWondering if Yelp reviews still matter when people search with AI?The answer is "probably yes". It depends on a partnership most small business owners haven't heard about yet.OpenAI just struck a deal with Yelp, meaning ChatGPT will start pulling local business recommendations directly from Yelp reviews instead of relying only on Google.Why OpenAI needs outside sources like Yelp and RedditHow Yelp hides five-star reviews to pressure businesses into advertisingWhat changes for urban vs. rural business ownersWhy this partnership might not lastDust off your Yelp profile now, because the next time someone asks AI for a recommendation near them, Yelp may be the piece of advice it hands back.Timestamps [0:00] Introduction [0:33] What Yelp is and why it matters locally [1:36] Yelp's shady review practices [2:04] How Yelp hides five-star reviews [2:49] Aggressive sales tactics from Yelp [4:00] The OpenAI and Yelp partnership announced [4:36] How ChatGPT will source local reviews [5:31] Urban vs. rural impact for business owners [6:29] Requesting quotes directly through ChatGPT [7:10] Will this partnership even last? --Send me your AI/SEO questions!https://www.meredithshusband.com/podcast
Transcribe →AI Advice Is Turning Your Site Into Spam
3w ago00:08:16Tap to summarizeAre you accidentally sending Google a spam signal without knowing it?Technically, the problem isn't the AI tool itself, it's what the AI learned SEO advice from.Most AI models build their SEO knowledge from blogs online, and a lot of those blogs are wrong.Keyword stuffing disguised as AI-generated adviceWhy AI delivers bad advice with total confidenceThe garbage in, garbage out principleWhat AI connectors could change going forwardThe fix isn't complicated, but it does mean learning to push back on AI instead of trusting it outright.Timestamps [0:00] Introduction [0:56] Reviewing student websites during onboarding [1:14] The spam signal students didn't know they created [1:38] Students blaming ChatGPT and Claude for the advice [2:08] Why AI isn't built as an SEO expert [2:42] The garbage in, garbage out principle [3:07] Why we trust AI even when it's wrong [3:37] How to push back on AI for better answers [4:43] What AI connectors could fix [6:09] The App Store comparison and where connectors are headed --Send me your AI/SEO questions!https://www.meredithshusband.com/podcast
Transcribe →Photo Credits Without Links: How They Help SEO
4w ago00:12:39Tap to summarizeIs a photo credit worth anything for SEO if the business won't link it?Technically, an unlinked mention isn't as valuable as a link, but it's a lot closer than people believed in the past.A leaked piece of Google's algorithm showed unlinked mentions carry real weight, and AI search tools are making that gap even smaller because AI struggles to follow links the way a person does.Why links have always mattered so much in SEOWhat the Google algorithm leak revealed about unlinked mentionsWhy AI is bad at following links but good at finding mentionsWhat makes a mention "authentic" versus "inauthentic"Photographers no longer need to hold out for a linked credit. An accurate, relevant mention is enough to move the needle, and asking for a link shouldn't be a dealbreaker anymore.Timestamps [0:00] Introduction [0:30] Why this episode matters for photographers [1:43] Why links have always mattered in SEO [3:18] What the leaked Google algorithm revealed about unlinked mentions [4:00] Why AI struggles to follow links the way people do [5:36] An example of AI failing to count blog articles [7:00] Google's role in creating the technology behind AI search [9:28] Why relevance matters for mentions and links [10:02] Authentic versus inauthentic mentions [11:53] Naming your business accurately in a mention --Send me your AI/SEO questions!https://www.meredithshusband.com/podcast
Transcribe →Why Trading Links is Toxic
Jul 1300:11:51Tap to summarizeShould you trade links with another business, or will it hurt your SEO?Technically, links are one of the most important ranking signals Google has, but not all links carry the same weight.The real issue isn't trading links occasionally, it's when link trading or low quality backlinks make up too large a share of your overall link profile.Reciprocal links and why Google treats them differently than natural linksWhen trading links with a colleague is normal versus a spam signalWhat toxic backlinks actually are, and why Semrush warnings are often overblownWhy manual link penalties rarely happen anymoreFocus on earning links naturally, and you won't need to worry about a handful of reciprocal links or an alarming Semrush report.Timestamps [0:00] Introduction [0:30] Reciprocal and toxic links overview [0:50] Reciprocal link question [1:35] Why links matter to Google [2:15] High school analogy [3:00] What counts as a reciprocal link [3:40] Reciprocal link networks and Google's rule change [5:15] Rule of thumb for reciprocal links [6:50] Toxic backlinks question [7:30] What makes a backlink toxic [8:50] Manual penalties and why they stopped --Send me your AI/SEO questions!https://www.meredithshusband.com/podcast
Transcribe →Is AI Getting Better at SEO?
Jul 600:09:19Tap to summarizeIs AI getting better at doing SEO, and does that mean you can eventually just hand it the whole job?AI does continue to improve, but better AI doesn't change the difference between using a tool and relying on one. If everyone could press the same "do my SEO" button, the button can only ever make you even with everyone else, never ahead of them.This episode discusses:Using AI vs relying on AIThe "Garbage in, garbage out" principleFeeding your AI project the right dataThe hammer analogyYou'll walk away understanding which parts of SEO to hand to AI, and which parts still require you to make the decisions.Timestamps [0:00] Introduction [0:35] The two most common listener questions [1:25] Using AI vs relying on AI [1:50] Why out-of-the-box AI is not an SEO consultant [2:15] Where AI connectors are headed [3:00] The colleague who refused to adapt [4:45] Garbage in, garbage out [5:00] Feeding your AI project the right data [6:20] The hammer analogy [7:45] Why one-button SEO keeps you even with everyone else --Send me your AI/SEO questions!https://www.meredithshusband.com/podcast
Transcribe →Can Claude Do My SEO for Me? (an honest answer)
Jun 2900:15:01Tap to summarizeCan I just ask Claude or ChatGPT to do my SEO? Technically yes, but there are three potential problems every website owner needs to understand first. Remember AI's objective is to make you happy in the immediate term. That doesn't always mean the same thing as giving you good advice. AI delivers tips with complete confidence whether it's right or wrongAI has no strategic framework AI often bases suggestions on SEO mythsThis episode explains all three, and the alternative that's coming soon---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Timestamps [0:30] Introduction [1:32] Confident Advice Can Be Wrong [1:53] Garbage In Leads To Garbage Out [3:42] The Hidden Text Spam Example [6:16] Why Random Tips Fail SEO [7:48] Training AI Replaces Prompt Engineering [10:15] Sam Altman on AI and Your Job [12:02] Building an SEO Database With Strategy [14:15] The Future of SEO With AI [14:40] Closing--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --Send me your AI/SEO questions!https://www.meredithshusband.com/podcast
Transcribe →New Instructions from Google: How to Optimize for AI
Jun 2200:20:36Tap to summarizeGoogle released updated guidance for optimizing websites in both traditional and AI-powered search. The message is clear: SEO hasn't changed as much as you think. In this episode, Meredith's Husband walks through the new guidance from Google's and explains what it means for you as a website owner.Get the full article with links discussed in the episode:https://www.meredithshusband.com/blog/google-ai-seo-guideTimestamps [0:00] Introduction [0:42] Why AI bots still use Google for search [3:42] AI plus SEO crash course update [5:56] Walking through Google's new guidance document [6:45] Is SEO still relevant for AI search? [9:00] Creating unique, helpful, people-first content [13:31] Technical structure that supports visibility [15:29] Myth busting: chunking, LLMS.txt, and more [18:22] Agentic search experiences [19:00] Summary: Four Key Points from Google --Send me your AI/SEO questions!https://www.meredithshusband.com/podcast
Transcribe →Google I/O Updates: AI Search & Local SEO
Jun 1500:10:40Tap to summarizeGoogle's recent developer conference announced several updates worth paying attention to as a local business owner. This episode breaks down what those announcements mean for your website, including a new AI detection tool, changes to Google Business Profiles, a long-overdue update to Google Search Console, and key findings from an AHREFS study on how AI search engines actually send traffic, and how you can get cited more often.Timestamps [0:00] Introduction [0:30] Overview of Google developer conference updates [1:05] AI-generated image detection and YouTube disclosure requirements [3:10] Google Gemini and Google Business Profiles [3:51] AI impressions now tracked in Google Search Console [4:45] AHREFS report: word count and AI citations [6:10] ChatGPT vs. Google: traffic comparison [7:20] How ChatGPT cites results for purchase-related searches [8:15] AI citations pulling from deeper in search results [9:10] Tips for getting cited in AI search and newsletter mention [10:05] Closing --Send me your AI/SEO questions!https://www.meredithshusband.com/podcast
Transcribe →Ubersuggest vs Semrush/Adobe: Honest Take
Jun 800:08:05Tap to summarizeA listener asks whether Ubersuggest's $290 lifetime plan is worth it as an alternative to Semrush. The answer covers the founder's reputation, why lifetime pricing at that level raises red flags, and what Adobe's $2 billion acquisition of Semrush might signal about the tool's long-term value. Timestamps [0:00] Introduction[0:45] The question: Is Ubersuggest worth $290 lifetime?[0:57] What Ubersuggest claims to do[1:11] Neil Patel's history in the SEO industry[1:33] Why past reputation matters when choosing tools[3:17] The problem with lifetime subscription pricing[4:21] Adobe acquires Semrush for $2 billion[4:37] What that acquisition signals about Semrush's value[5:29] Recent changes to Semrush before the deal[6:42] Final recommendation on Ubersuggest --Send me your AI/SEO questions!https://www.meredithshusband.com/podcast
Transcribe →Update from Google: The Next Step in AI Search (2026)
Jun 100:08:12Tap to summarizeGoogle's developer conference just delivered what may be the most significant shift in SEO in years. Meredith's Husband breaks down what Google announced about AI-powered search, why website traffic will decrease for most owners, and why that can be good news for photographers and small business owners who want more qualified visitors and fewer window shoppers.Timestamps [0:00] Introduction [0:26] Why Google's announcement matters for SEO [1:23] The end of the 10-link search results page [2:20] What search results will look like instead [2:52] Critics say fewer options hurts consumers [3:30] Why Google was already making choices for you [4:47] How conversion rates will change with AI search [5:45] Is SEO still worth doing if traffic drops [6:10] What will actually change in how you do SEO [6:37] Final thoughts and what is coming next --Send me your AI/SEO questions!https://www.meredithshusband.com/podcast
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