Sara Does SEO Podcast - Wedding SEO Podcast for Wedding Pros, Photographers, and Creatives by Sara

#23: What Are Backlinks? (And Why Do They Matter?)

Backlinks just might be the most boring topic in SEO (sorry!)… but they matter SO much to your rankings. In this episode, I’m breaking down what backlinks actually are, why Google cares about them, and why they’re often the missing piece when SEO feels “stuck.” If you’ve ever looked at another business ranking above you and thought, “How are they outranking me with that website?” there’s a really good chance backlinks are part of the answer. I also walk through the types of backlinks that actually help your SEO, where wedding pros can realistically get them, and the shortcuts I’d personally avoid. If you're working on SEO, this is a "need to" listen! What I cover: - What backlinks are and how Google uses them to judge website authority - Why backlinks can impact rankings even more than on-page SEO optimization - The difference between high-authority, industry-relevant, and local backlinks - Realistic ways wedding pros can earn backlinks over time - Why I don’t recommend paying for link-building services Resources mentioned: - Moz Free Domain Authority Checker: https://moz.com/domain-analysis [https://moz.com/domain-analysis] - OFD Collective: https://ofdcollective.com/ [https://ofdcollective.com/] Your Next Steps: 👉 Learn more about Sara Does SEO: https://saradoesseo.com/ [https://saradoesseo.com/] 👩‍💻 Check out our SEO services for wedding pros and photographers: https://saradoesseo.com/get-more-info/ [https://saradoesseo.com/get-more-info/] 💌 Connect with me on Instagram @saradoesseo!

#22: Is Showit Good for SEO?

Is your website on Showit? Are you considering it? There are a lot of strong opinions floating around about whether Showit is “good” or “bad” for SEO, so you know I had to weigh in 😉 In this episode, I’m walking you through my Showit SEO review. I'll explain where Showit really shines, where I think it makes SEO harder than it needs to be, and the mistakes I see holding back rankings again and again. If you already love Showit, I hope this episode gives you clarity and a few 'to-dos.' And if you’re considering switching platforms, this will help you make a more informed decision. What I cover: - If Showit websites can rank on Google and AI search - The biggest reason creatives love the Showit platform - The SEO features I wish Showit would improve - The problem with creating mobile and desktop elements separately - What happens when duplicated pages keep the same SEO settings Resources mentioned: - Showit SEO Review blog post: https://saradoesseo.com/seo-basics/showit-seo-review/ [https://saradoesseo.com/seo-basics/showit-seo-review/] - Sara Does SEO Website Platform Study: https://saradoesseo.com/wedding-seo-tips/what-website-platform-ranks-best-for-seo [https://saradoesseo.com/wedding-seo-tips/what-website-platform-ranks-best-for-seo] Recommended Episodes: 1. Episode 11: Which website platform is best for SEO? How we can help: 🔧 The SEO Fix for wedding pros: https://saradoesseo.com/wedding-seo-services/seo-fix/ [https://saradoesseo.com/wedding-seo-services/seo-fix/] Your Next Steps: 👉 Learn more about Sara Does SEO: https://saradoesseo.com/ [https://saradoesseo.com/] 👩‍💻 Check out our SEO services for wedding pros and photographers: https://saradoesseo.com/get-more-info/ [https://saradoesseo.com/get-more-info/] 💌 Connect with me on Instagram @saradoesseo!

#21: Is Pixieset Really Bad for SEO?

I keep hearing more and more photographers ask: Can a Pixieset website actually rank well on Google? I get why people are confused. There’s a lot of outdated Pixieset SEO advice floating around, based on the years-ago Pixieset website builder. In this episode, I’m walking through what I’m seeing inside real wedding photographer websites on Pixieset today. I talk through where Pixieset really shines for SEO, the limitations I’ve noticed, and what matters way more than your website platform when it comes to ranking well. If you’ve been wondering whether you need to leave Pixieset to improve your SEO, listen to this first! What I cover: - Is Pixieset still “bad for SEO”? - The SEO features inside Pixieset that I love as an SEO - The technical SEO issues I still wish Pixieset would improve - Why most Pixieset templates are an issue for SEO - My honest thoughts on who should stay on Pixieset — and who should be cautious about it Resources mentioned: - My Pixieset Review Blog: https://saradoesseo.com/seo-basics/pixieset-review/ [https://saradoesseo.com/seo-basics/pixieset-review/] How we can help: 🔧 The SEO Fix for wedding pros: https://saradoesseo.com/wedding-seo-services/seo-fix/ [https://saradoesseo.com/wedding-seo-services/seo-fix/] Your Next Steps: 👉 Learn more about Sara Does SEO: https://saradoesseo.com/ [https://saradoesseo.com/] 👩‍💻 Check out our SEO services for wedding pros and photographers: https://saradoesseo.com/get-more-info/ [https://saradoesseo.com/get-more-info/] 💌 Connect with me on Instagram @saradoesseo!

#20: Do I Have to Be on WordPress to Rank Better?

For years, there’s been this belief that you have to be on WordPress to rank well on Google. I’ve been working in SEO for over a decade now, and I’ve heard this same advice over and over. So how much truth is there to this? Do you have to be on WordPress for the best rankings in the wedding industry? Let's talk about it. If you’ve ever felt pressured to switch your website just for SEO, this episode is for you. What I cover: - The long-standing belief that you need WordPress to rank and where it comes from - What we found in our study of 100+ high-ranking wedding websites across different platforms - Why general SEO agencies often push WordPress - The real factors that impact your rankings beyond your platform - Why I want you to choose a platform you can actually use and maintain confidently - My experience working with WordPress, Showit, Squarespace, Wix, and more Resources mentioned: - Sara Does SEO Website Platform Study: https://saradoesseo.com/wedding-seo-tips/what-website-platform-ranks-best-for-seo/ [https://saradoesseo.com/wedding-seo-tips/what-website-platform-ranks-best-for-seo/] Your Next Steps: 👉 Learn more about Sara Does SEO: https://saradoesseo.com/ [https://saradoesseo.com/] 👩‍💻 Check out our SEO services for wedding pros and photographers: https://saradoesseo.com/get-more-info/ [https://saradoesseo.com/get-more-info/] 💌 Connect with me on Instagram @saradoesseo!

#19: Can I Hire You for an SEO Audit? (Nope 😉 Here’s Why)

Before you spend money on an SEO audit, this is worth hearing. I get asked all the time if we offer SEO audits — and my answer is always no, for a really intentional reason. In this episode, I walk through what changed for me after years of offering audits, what I started noticing about client results (or lack of them), and why I ultimately shifted to a completely different approach. This shift was about moving from information overload to actual progress. I'd love to tell you more about it so you can think hard about if an SEO audit is what you REALLY need. What I cover: - Why I used to require SEO audits for every client — and what changed - What usually happens when clients receive a giant audit document - The biggest problem with paying for “a pile of problems” without solutions - The moment that shifted how I think about SEO services - Why I created the SEO Fix instead — and how it’s different from an audit - When I do still recommend an SEO audit (even though I don’t offer them) How we can help: 🔧 The SEO Fix: https://saradoesseo.com/wedding-seo-services/seo-fix/ [https://saradoesseo.com/wedding-seo-services/seo-fix/] Your Next Steps: 👉 Learn more about Sara Does SEO: https://saradoesseo.com/ [https://saradoesseo.com/] 👩‍💻 Check out our SEO services for wedding pros and photographers: https://saradoesseo.com/get-more-info/ [https://saradoesseo.com/get-more-info/] 💌 Connect with me on Instagram @saradoesseo!