Game plan for balancing journalistic quality with search performance

Summary

Voices of Search Podcast – Episode Summary: "Game Plan for Balancing Journalistic Quality with Search Performance"

Release Date: August 9, 2025
Host: Tyson Stockton
Guest: Dena Rickman, GoFundMe
Podcast Network: I Hear Everything

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Introduction

In this insightful episode of the Voices of Search, host Tyson Stockton engages with Dena Rickman from GoFundMe to explore effective strategies for balancing journalistic quality with search engine optimization (SEO) performance. The discussion delves into how high-quality content not only satisfies editorial standards but also enhances SEO outcomes, ensuring sustainable online visibility.

The Intersection of Journalistic Quality and SEO

Dena Rickman emphasizes the compatibility between journalistic excellence and SEO objectives. She asserts that "extremely quality content that you know you would publish in a newspaper, is going to perform well on SEO" (01:01). This statement highlights the foundational role that credible, well-crafted content plays in achieving superior search rankings. Dena contrasts traditional journalism with some current SEO content, noting that the latter often surpasses the former in factual accuracy and strength, especially in brand-driven contexts.

Long-Term vs. Short-Term SEO Strategies

The conversation shifts to the sustainability of SEO practices. The Unnamed SEO Director articulates a vital perspective on the dichotomy between short-term gains and long-term success. He states, "There's always room for the cheap tricks... but if you're thinking more of how do I be successful in the next five, ten years, I think you need to go after more of that kind of lasting strategies rather than something that's more of the flash in the pan" (01:49). This insight underscores the importance of adopting enduring SEO tactics rooted in journalistic principles, as opposed to fleeting methods that may offer immediate but unsustainable improvements.

Practical Strategies for Balancing Quality and SEO

Dena offers actionable advice for organizations striving to maintain high content standards without compromising SEO performance. Her tip: "Hire ex-journalists or journalists who are kind of freelance writers as well on the side to write your content because it will be really, really, really good and it will have all those things and you won't need to balance it" (02:43). This recommendation highlights the value of leveraging journalistic expertise to naturally integrate quality and SEO, eliminating the need for balancing acts.

Industry Practices and Real-World Applications

The Unnamed SEO Director shares a practical example from his own experience, mentioning the inclusion of a British journalist on their content creation team. He remarks, "We actually do have a British journalist on staff for part of our content creation" (03:06). This practice exemplifies how incorporating professional journalists into SEO teams can elevate content quality, ensuring it meets both editorial and optimization standards.

Dena responds enthusiastically, showing appreciation for such integrations and reinforcing the effectiveness of her suggested strategy.

Conclusion

The episode concludes with Tyson Stockton thanking Dena Rickman for her valuable insights. The discussion reinforces the notion that high-quality, journalistic content serves as a robust foundation for effective SEO strategies. By prioritizing enduring content quality and integrating journalistic expertise, organizations can achieve sustainable search performance that stands the test of time.

For listeners seeking to enhance their SEO efforts without sacrificing content integrity, the strategies discussed in this episode offer a balanced and effective approach. Hiring experienced journalists and focusing on long-term content quality are key takeaways that can drive both editorial excellence and search engine success.

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Notable Quotes:

• Dena Rickman (01:01):
  "You can have extremely quality content and if you have extremely quality content that you know you would publish in a newspaper, it's going to perform well on SEO."

• Unnamed SEO Director (01:49):
  "There's always room for the cheap tricks... but if you're thinking more of how do I be successful in the next five, ten years, I think you need to go after more of that kind of lasting strategies rather than something that's more of the flash in the pan."

• Dena Rickman (02:43):
  "Hire ex-journalists or journalists who are kind of freelance writers as well on the side to write your content because it will be really, really, really good and it will have all those things and you won't need to balance it."

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This episode serves as a valuable resource for SEO professionals and content marketers aiming to harmonize the demands of quality journalism with the technical requirements of search engine optimization. By adopting the discussed strategies, listeners can enhance their content's credibility and visibility in the digital landscape.

Transcript

[Tyson Stockton]

The Voices of Search Podcast is a proud member of the I Hear Everything Podcast Network. Looking to launch or scale your podcast, I Hear Everything delivers podcast production, growth and monetization solutions that transform your words into profit. Ready to give your brand a voice then visit iheareverything.com welcome to the Voices of Search Podcast. A member of the I Hear Everything Podcast Network, ready to expedite your company's organic growth efforts. Sit back, relax, and get ready for your daily dose of search engine optimization wisdom. Here's today's host of the Voices of Search Podcast, Tyson Stockton.

[Unnamed SEO Director]

Last one Game plan. You're the SEO director at a major publication. What's your game plan for balancing journalistic quality and search performance?

[Dena Rickman]

Ooh, I know. SEO director. That sounds like a lot high pressure job.

[Unnamed SEO Director]

It's not so bad.

[Dena Rickman]

I think the game plan is to sure is that the two things can balance quite well with each other, right? Like you can have extremely quality content and if you have extremely quality content that you know you would publish it in a newspaper, it's going to perform well on SEO. And some of the SEO content that I see in the world nowadays when I'm like, you know, searching to buy like a new raincoat, which I do, going back to the weather, you know, it's better than what I would see published in newspaper. Like, I'm like, you know, whoever's working for this brand is incredible and I should like go and find them on LinkedIn and try and poach them because people are writing incredibly factual, incredibly accurate and incredibly strong SEO content for brands at the moment. And I think those brands are kind of reaping rewards in our kind of new AI age.

[Unnamed SEO Director]

I totally agree with that and I feel like part of it is it's almost like short term versus long term gains. And I feel like if you over fixate on kind of like that SEO search aspect, it's probably not going to be as lasting. And I feel like being that journalism is a practice that has been around a lot longer. It feels like there's a lot of principles that are holding true over time, which is a lot of the areas that I think as SEOs that we should be leaning towards. I mean there's always room for kind of like the cheap tricks of like, hey, we need a quick little bump in numbers. But if you're thinking more of how do I be successful in the next five, 10 years, I think you need to go after more of that kind of lasting strategies rather than something that's more of the flash in the pan.

[Dena Rickman]

I mean, this is my tip. So I said I wouldn't talk that much about GoFundMe. I haven't. But my tip is hire ex journalists or journalists who are kind of freelance writers as well on the side to write your content because it will be really, really, really good and it will have all those things and you won't need to balance it. And they're also. So yeah, that's my tip to do all of that, I guess.

[Unnamed SEO Director]

Side fun fact, we actually do have a British journalist on staff for part of our content creation.

[Dena Rickman]

Oh my gosh, really? What's their name? Do I know them?

[Unnamed SEO Director]

Yeah, probably not. But yeah, no, he's been around for quite some time and yeah, he's just someone that was hot on the staff. But with that, that's going to wrap up this episode of the Voice of Search podcast. Thanks again to dena Rickman from GoFundMe for joining us. If you'd like to contact Dena, you can find a link to her LinkedIn profile in the show notes, or be sure to check out her company's [e-mail] if you haven't subscribed yet and want a daily stream of SEO and content marketing knowledge in your podcast feed, hit the subscribe button in your podcast app or on YouTube and we'll be back in your feed soon. Thanks for checking out the Voice of Search podcast and we'll see you in the next episode.