One thing SEO professionals should stop worrying about right now

Summary

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Podcast Summary: "One thing SEO professionals should stop worrying about right now"

Podcast: Voices of Search // I Hear Everything
Host: Tyson Stockton
Guest: Paul Andre de Vereff, Founder at Answer Engine Optimization
Date: June 24, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this episode, host Tyson Stockton sits down with Paul Andre de Vereff, Founder at Answer Engine Optimization, to address a critical question for SEO professionals: What is one thing they should stop worrying about right now? The conversation navigates the current shifts in SEO, particularly in the face of AI advancements, and emphasizes how practitioners can better adapt their focus and reporting methods. The tone is practical and direct, geared towards actionable insights.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Main Point: Stop Obsessing Over Traffic

[00:46][01:00]

• Paul Andre de Vereff quickly identifies traffic as a metric SEO pros need to deprioritize:

  "Traffic. You need to have that report stack that this different metric stack that you talk about while having different things to report on."
  — Paul Andre de Vereff ([01:00])

• Takeaway: Rather than relying on visitor traffic as the sole or primary measure of SEO success, Paul urges SEOs to develop a broader reporting “stack” that incorporates various performance indicators.

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2. The Impact of AI on SEO Metrics

[02:36]

• AI's growing presence is reshaping the SEO industry, especially regarding traffic:

  "The whole AI just shut the SEO industry down with traffic because you know it's being taken away. So being able to not to just really focus on traffic but focus on the overall metrics..."
  — Paul Andre de Vereff ([02:36])

• Takeaway: With user behavior changing—more answers being surfaced directly in search results or via AI—traditional traffic metrics are less reliable. It’s essential to adapt and diversify the way SEO performance is measured.

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3. Building a Robust Reporting Stack

[02:36]

• Paul outlines the types of metrics to watch:

  "...focus on the overall metrics, things that you described, whether it was just like, you know, indexation, crawlability, you know, obviously, you know, impressions and then clicks, you know, stuff like that. Just being able to have, like, a stack of metrics."
  — Paul Andre de Vereff ([02:36])

  • Suggested reporting metrics include:
    • Indexation
    • Crawlability
    • Impressions
    • Clicks
    • Other engagement or technical signals

• Takeaway: Modern SEO reporting should be multi-faceted, capturing a blend of technical, visibility, and engagement metrics, not just web traffic.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• "Traffic. You need to have that report stack that this different metric stack..."
  — Paul Andre de Vereff ([01:00])
  A direct challenge to the industry’s fixation on traffic as the primary SEO success metric.

• "The whole AI just shut the SEO industry down with traffic... So being able to not to just really focus on traffic but focus on the overall metrics..."
  — Paul Andre de Vereff ([02:36])
  Paul succinctly summarizes the dramatic impact AI has had on how success in search is measured.

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Timestamps Cheatsheet

• [00:46] Introduction of the episode’s big question: What should SEO pros stop worrying about?
• [01:00] Paul names "traffic" as the metric to stop obsessing over.
• [02:36] Discussion of AI's effect on industry metrics and the importance of diversified reporting.
• [02:59] Episode wrap-up

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Summary & Actionable Advice

• Focus Forward: With the evolution of search (especially AI-powered answers), classic SEO traffic figures aren't as telling as they once were.
• Diversify Metrics: Build a comprehensive reporting approach that values indexation, crawlability, impressions, and clicks, not just raw visitor numbers.
• Adapt or Fall Behind: SEOs who persistently report on traffic alone risk missing broader trends and opportunities.

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For those in SEO, this brief episode is a wake-up call: Traffic is no longer king—embrace a wider array of metrics to accurately track and report your impact.

Transcript

[Podcast Announcer]

The Voices of Search Podcast is a proud member of the I Hear Everything Podcast Network. Looking to launch or scale your podcast, IHeAreEverything 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 and I Hear Everything Production. In this podcast, we'll share the news, knowledge and strategies you need to navigate the ever changing world of SEO. 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.

[Tyson Stockton]

I'm Tyson Stockton and joining me today is Paul Andre de Vereff, Founder at Answer Engine Optimization. What is one thing SEO professionals should stop worrying about right now?

[Paul Andre de Vereff]

Traffic. You need to have that report stack that this different metric stack that you talk about while having different things to report on.

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[Paul Andre de Vereff]

Certain things go down like obviously like the whole AI just shut the SEO industry down with traffic because you know it's being taken away. So being able to not to just really focus on traffic but focus on the overall metrics, things that you described, whether it was just like, you know, indexation, crawlability, you know, obviously, you know, impressions and then clicks, you know, stuff like that. Just being able to have, like, a stack of metrics.

[Tyson Stockton]

Thanks for stopping by, and we'll see you in the next episode.