Over 80% of internet users rely on search engines regularly, and billions of searches happen every day! If you're not thinking about how people find you through search, you're missing a massive opportunity for your business.

In this episode of Small Business Casual, I’m joined by Marketing and Business Strategy Consultant, Sarah Moon, for a deep dive into what’s working in search in 2026

We go beyond keywords and algorithm hacks and instead look at building a solid foundation, establishing true topical authority, and sharing your human expertise, all while playing nice with Google, AI chatbots, YouTube, and more.

Sarah breaks down her “layer cake” approach to modern SEO and walks us through establishing core topics, building a hub-and-spoke system, and creating content people and search engines will find delicious!

We dig into:

What on earth is Dog Dancing? Click HERE to watch a dog-dancing video!
How large language models (LLM’s) are changing discoverability and visibility
Where AI fits (and doesn’t) in your content
Why your unique insights and credibility matter more than ever
How to future-proof your website in a world of chatbots and constant change
And more!

About Sarah Moon & Resources Mentioned

Sarah Moon is a Portland, Oregon-based marketing and business strategy consultant who founded Sarah Moon Consulting in 2008. She specializes in helping conscious entrepreneurs and thought leaders increase their online visibility using her proprietary, SEO-fueled Alignthority® System. Her work focuses on data-informed ethical, sustainable, and tailored marketing strategies. When she's not supporting awesome clients doing awesome work, you'll find her practicing dog dancing (yes, really), befriending local crows, or baking sourdough to share with her neighbors. Find her at sarahmoon.com!

Google Business Profile Workshop Tuesday, April 14th @ 4pm ET

Engineer Luck with SEO: FREE SEO Course

50 Post Titles for Business Blogs: FREE E-Book

Website: sarahmoon.net/

Instagram: instagram.com/sarahmoonco/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sarahmoon/

YouTube: youtube.com/@sarahmoonco

About Me, Host Emily Aborn

Emily Aborn | Small Business Copywriter & host of Small Business Casual. 12+ years of copywriting experience in 121+ industries. I help you step into becoming (and sharing) the real YOU. For fun/downtime, I love reading, writing, hiking with friends, and moments of uninterrupted silence.

Got a Question for the Show? Email Me! emily@emilyaborn.com

Website | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Substack

Human vs. Search Engine: A modern SEO strategy with Sarah Moon