The Edward Show

How to Build Local Backlinks That Actually Increase Local Rankings

E936: Local SEO lives or dies by local authority - and one of the biggest drivers of that authority is local backlinks. I break down exactly how to build high-quality local backlinks that help search engines see your business as an authority in a specific city or region. This applies whether you're starting a local business, competing in a crowded market, or expanding into new locations. I cover practical strategies that send real referral traffic, strengthen local topical authority, and support long-term ranking improvements - not theory. What you'll learn: - Why local backlinks matter for local SEO and topical authority - How partnerships with local businesses create real traffic and stronger links - How to find and evaluate local sponsorship opportunities (and when they're worth it) - When to accept nofollow links or brand mentions - and when not to - How to use ChatGPT agent mode to research local sponsorships and partners - How to properly vet local partners to protect your brand and reputation - Core local citations you need for local SEO - How to track citations and backlinks correctly (and why tracking matters) - How citation language and context impact local topical authority - How to vary location and service language without hurting consistency - Why anchor text matters less than contextual language for local SEO - How to structure location hub pages to support link building - How to build links to pillar pages to strengthen weaker service pages This is especially useful if: - You're launching a local business and need to build authority from scratch - You're competing in a high-competition city - You're expanding SEO into new locations - You want a clear system for local link building 💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/ [https://compactkeywords.com/] 00:00 Introduction to Building Local Backlinks 00:59 Partnerships for Local Backlinks 01:16 Sponsorship Opportunities 01:59 Using ChatGPT for Sponsorships 04:03 Local Citations and Directories 04:30 Tracking and Managing Citations 05:21 Language and Context in Citations 07:36 Hub Pages for Local SEO 08:54 Conclusion and Wrap Up The Edward Show. The #1 search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ [https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/] #localseo #localmarketing #searchengineoptimization #linkbuilding

This Funded AI Startup Is Repeating a Massive SEO Mistake

E935: I break down a recently funded AI startup that is scaling SEO with unchecked, fully AI-generated financial content - and why this strategy has already failed before. I've seen this exact playbook play out with AInvest: rapid traffic growth driven by AI content, press, and links… followed by a sharp collapse after Google's spam and quality updates. Now we're watching the same model surface again, almost step for step. This episode is not about hating on AI. It's about understanding where AI actually helps - and where it quietly puts your entire domain at risk. What's covered: - How a low-authority domain was able to spike to tens of thousands of clicks per month - Why press, link velocity, and brand mentions can temporarily mask serious SEO issues - The dangers of scaling AI-generated financial content without human fact-checking - How Google evaluates unchecked AI content, especially in YMYL niches - Why sites often get away with this approach for a few months before getting hit - The long-term SEO damage most founders and marketers don't see coming - What this means for your tools, brand terms, and real linkable assets - How AI can be used responsibly in SEO without putting your site at risk Also, what this company is doing well, including: - Press and link acquisition - Brand trust signals and accessibility - Interactive AI tools and on-page engagement features If you're a founder, marketer, or SEO considering AI to scale content, this episode is a clear warning - and a roadmap for how to avoid repeating the same mistake. 💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/ [https://compactkeywords.com/] 00:00 Introduction and Frustrations 00:13 The Rise and Fall of AInvest 01:03 Introducing The New AInvest - Here We Go Again 02:52 SEO Strategies and Risks 04:22 AI Content and Google's Guidelines 07:56 Practical AI Applications 11:23 Final Thoughts and Warnings 12:25 Conclusion and Episode Wrap-Up The Edward Show. The #1 search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ [https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/] #searchengineoptimization #programmaticseo #scaledcontentabuse #blackhatseo

Why Google Killed Num=100: The Secret War Against OpenAI (feat. Moz's Jonathan Berthold)

E934: Google's quiet removal of the num=100 parameter sent shockwaves through the SEO tooling ecosystem. Many called it an apocalypse. Others barely noticed. I sit down with Jonathan Berthold, VP of Revenue at Moz, to unpack what actually happened, why Google made the change, and how it connects to a much bigger shift happening across search, AI, and zero-click results. We cover how SEO is evolving under pressure from AI Overviews, LLMs, and generative search - and why most of the panic is misplaced. Topics covered: - What the num=100 parameter was and why Google removed it - Whether this change was aimed at SEOs, tool providers, or OpenAI - How rank tracking, impressions, and average position were distorted before the change - Why keyword positions beyond page one rarely matter for real business outcomes - The rise of zero-click search and what it actually means for traffic - How AI Overviews and LLMs are reshaping informational search - Why commercial and transactional queries are far less impacted - The difference between SEO as a strategy vs SEO as a channel - Why brand is becoming the strongest long-term advantage in search - How Moz has adapted its product and analytics approach - What SEO agencies need to change when rankings stop being the primary KPI - Whether AI tools threaten SEO careers - or force better ones - Google vs OpenAI vs other LLMs and what's really at stake - Why "GEO" mostly looks like good SEO done correctly Key takeaways: - The num=100 removal didn't break SEO - it exposed bad measurement habits - Traffic quality matters more than traffic volume - Informational content still matters, even when clicks decline - Brand visibility now extends beyond Google into AI systems - SEO success is increasingly tied to business outcomes, not rankings This conversation goes deep into how search is changing without resorting to hype or fear. If you work in SEO, marketing, analytics, or product - and want a grounded view of where things are heading - this episode is for you. ⭐️ Jonathan Berthold on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanberthold/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanberthold/] ⭐️ Jonathan Berthold on 𝕏: https://x.com/j_bertho [https://x.com/j_bertho] ⭐️ Moz (my affiliate link): https://edwardsturm.com/refer/moz/ [https://edwardsturm.com/refer/moz/] 💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/ [https://compactkeywords.com/] 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 01:09 SEO Industry Insights 04:19 Impact of LLMs on SEO 10:47 Brand Importance in SEO 11:14 Discussion on Topical Authority 16:06 The Num Equals 100 Parameter Change 29:14 Google's Strategy Against OpenAI 32:13 The Rise of Claude Code and LLMs 33:06 Comparing ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude 35:27 OpenAI's New Ad Model 36:15 Challenges in Scaling OpenAI's Ad System 41:38 SEO and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) 54:07 The Future of AI in the Job Market 01:00:30 Will AI Mode Become the Default? 01:02:51 Conclusion and Final Thoughts The Edward Show. The #1 search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ [https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/] #searchengineoptimization #generativeengineoptimization #performancemarketing #digitalmarketing

The URL Structure That Makes or Breaks Your SEO

E933: How URL structure directly impacts SEO performance, topical authority, and whether Google views your site as legitimate or spammy. I walk through two common URL structure approaches that many sites use when targeting similar keywords - and explain why one of them often triggers spam signals, ranking cannibalization, and doorway page issues, even when the content itself is solid. If you're building feature pages, use-case pages, programmatic SEO, or scaling content across keyword variations, this episode will help you avoid structural mistakes that quietly limit rankings. What you'll learn: - Why certain URL patterns raise red flags for Google - How search engines interpret keyword-heavy slugs vs hierarchical structures - The difference between doorway page patterns and real topical depth - How nested subfolders help establish clearer parent-child topic relationships - Why documentation-style URL structures tend to perform better long term - How poor URL structure can cause ranking cannibalization - How to structure feature and use-case pages without looking manipulative - How internal linking should work when using nested URL hierarchies - Why this approach makes link building and topical authority easier Real-world examples discussed: - How a top mattress affiliate structures pages to rank for thousands of keywords - How legal SEO sites organize practice-area pages by accident type - Why these structures scale without triggering spam classifications Who this episode is for: - Founders and marketers building SEO-driven landing pages - SEOs working on programmatic or scaled content - Anyone restructuring a site for better topical authority - People confused about why similar pages keep competing with each other This episode focuses entirely on information architecture, not content tricks or shortcuts. The goal is to help Google understand what your site is actually about - and reward it accordingly. ⭐️ Google's update on Doorway pages - https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2015/03/an-update-on-doorway-pages [https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2015/03/an-update-on-doorway-pages] 💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/ [https://compactkeywords.com/] 00:00 Introduction to URL Structures and SEO Impact 00:09 Fictional Email Client and URL Structure Examples 00:51 Comparing Two URL Structures 01:59 Real-World Examples and SEO Insights 02:59 Google's Perspective on URL Structures 04:39 Advantages of Hierarchical URL Structures 07:00 Case Studies: NapLab and Legal SEO 09:06 Best Practices for Internal Linking 10:40 Wrapping URL Structures The Edward Show. The #1 search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ [https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/] #searchengineoptimization #informationarchitecture #topicalauthority #digitalmarketing

The Wildest Marketing Alpha Right Now: Digg, ChatGPT Ads & Early-Mover Wins

E932: I break down the most interesting marketing opportunities I'm seeing right now and why they matter if you care about getting in early. We start with the Digg relaunch and why, despite recent crackdowns on obvious SEO spam, it's still one of the most compelling platforms to pay attention to. I explain what's changed since the first Digg episode, which niches are being targeted, which ones are not, and how non-SEO brands can still use Digg effectively for long-term marketing and visibility. Next, we cover the announcement of ads coming to ChatGPT. I walk through OpenAI's stated ad principles, what this likely means for AI SEO, and why ads probably won't influence model responses. I also talk about the opportunity window that tends to open when a major platform launches ads and why early experimentation often matters more than perfect execution. Finally, I share real results from the recent press kit episode and explain why every serious marketing or SEO strategy should include one. We look at how press kits affect backlinks, topical authority, and brand searches, and why journalists rely on them more than most people realize. Topics covered: - What has changed since Digg's relaunch and why it still matters - How Digg is handling SEO spam and which niches are being affected - Why Digg could follow a similar SEO trajectory to Reddit - How to use Digg for top-of-funnel content instead of direct promotion - The role of AI moderation and how it may shape future promotion - What OpenAI has announced about ads in ChatGPT - Why ChatGPT ads likely won't impact AI SEO rankings - The size of the opportunity when new ad platforms launch - Past examples of early ad platform inefficiencies - Why press kits make it easier for journalists to link to you correctly - How press kits can influence brand searches and site links ⭐️ E927 - Why Every SEO Strategy Needs a Press Kit (Most People Miss This) - https://youtu.be/hlZwZpGg76I [https://youtu.be/hlZwZpGg76I] ⭐️ E928 - Digg Just Relaunched - And It's the Wildest Parasite SEO Opportunity of the Decade - https://youtu.be/xf9QYuAKFHo [https://youtu.be/xf9QYuAKFHo] 💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/ [https://compactkeywords.com/] 00:00 Introduction to Crazy Alpha in Marketing 00:40 Digg's Evolution and Opportunities 07:05 ChatGPT Ads: A New Frontier 12:40 The SERP Results of Press Kits in SEO 13:54 Conclusion and Episode Wrap-Up The Edward Show. The #1 search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ [https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/] #searchengineoptimization #chatgptads #arbitrage #digitalmarketing