Advertise on podcast: Meredith's Husband | SEO for People Who Don't Like SEO

What actually helps your website get mentioned in AI search? A survey of 1,400 SEOs offers a ranked answer. The list is worth reading as a whole, and the practical takeaway is that strong SEO and specific, easy to extract content carry over to AI search more than the exact order does. Timestamps [0:00] Introduction [1:29] How the survey worked and why crawl access ranks first [3:03] Query answer match [4:33] Citable and specific facts [5:03] Organic rankings and fan out coverage [6:09] Unique first party information [7:15] Reputation across the web [8:14] Extractable content structure [8:56] Structured data and llms.txt [10:02] What to take from the survey -- Take a look » AI+SEO Crash Course https://www.meredithshusband.com/course/crash -- Let me know if you liked this episode! https://www.meredithshusband.com/podcast

How do you create a new habit when it's something you don't want to do? Common advice is to break the work into smaller sessions, but for a task you are avoiding, even those sessions are too big to start. Here are three tricks that help me, when I'm in that situation: Start ridiculously smallSchedule it before doing itCounting small steps as winsTimestamps [0:00] Introduction [0:45] The problem: SEO tasks you keep putting off [1:37] Point 1: Start ridiculously small [3:38] Point 2: Schedule it before you do it [5:07] Point 3: Treat the small step as a win [7:00] Recap and your first habit -- Let me know if you liked this episode! https://www.meredithshusband.com/podcast

The Goal: Leave this episode with less stress about blogging. It's hard to blog consistently when it feels like every post needs to be perfect. The obstacle is rarely the writing itself, since most of the overwhelm comes from expectations we place on ourselves. In this episode, I talk about: The overwhelm that comes before writingWhy 'done' is more important than 'perfect'What actually happens after you publishTimestamps [0:00] Introduction [0:30] Why blogging consistently feels overwhelming [1:39] Tip one: take it one step at a time [2:43] Done is better than perfect [3:01] Tip two: what happens after you publish [3:42] Checking Search Console for impressions [4:49] Tip three: not every blog will succeed [5:13] What competitor research shows about successful blogs [6:25] Why 10% is the best case for a successful post [7:38] The three things to remember -- Let me know if you liked this episode! https://www.meredithshusband.com/podcast

How do you know if your website is showing up in AI search results? Google Search Console finally answers this, but only after a much bigger problem gets in the way of most website owners even looking. Check the Generative AI tab in Search Console and you'll know exactly which of your existing pages AI is already recommending to searchers. Google Search Console's new Generative AI reporting tabHow the tab separates AI search performance from regular searchWhy other AI visibility tools can't be trustedShifting blog strategy from keywords to topicsTimestamps [0:00] Introduction [1:46] Why AI over-reliance is becoming a real problem [2:20] Employees and clients blaming AI for mistakes [3:20] Media overconsumption and feeling overwhelmed by AI [4:15] AI advertising taking over every subway car [5:50] A new AI search feature inside Google Search Console [7:07] How the Generative AI tab works and what it shows [7:50] Why other AI visibility tools can't be trusted [8:48] Blogging by topic instead of keyword [10:01] Finding a client issue using the new data -- Let me know if you liked this episode! https://www.meredithshusband.com/podcast

Does Google prevent blogs from being seen if AI helped write them? Most of what already ranks on Google today is partly AI generated, so AI use on its own isn't the issue. The bigger shift is that Google is getting stricter about what even enters its index, not just what ranks well, and that filtering appears tied to how identifiable a piece of content is as fully AI generated with no human specificity added. AI content watermarking and what it means for text and imagesUpdated terms of service language shielding platforms from AI liabilityStricter Google indexing standards for AI generated pagesAdding personalization and specific detail to stay identifiableSpecific, first-person detail is what keeps a blog post inside Google's index instead of outside it. Timestamps [0:00] Introduction [1:47] The recent wave of updated terms of service emails [2:25] Companies protecting themselves from AI content liability [2:48] Social platforms tagging AI generated profiles [3:02] AI image and text watermarking explained [3:36] Anthropic commits to watermarking while OpenAI backs out [4:11] Why pure AI blog content may not get indexed [4:52] Google getting stricter about what even enters its index [5:29] What this means for small business blog owners -- Let me know if you liked this episode! https://www.meredithshusband.com/podcast

How do you find a blogger who won't accidentally tank your SEO? Hiring a blogger might not directly involve SEO, but the wrong hire can quietly undo months of progress. Hiring the right blogger comes down to three checks: originality, topic strategy, and how they use AI, each one protecting the SEO progress you've already built. Original content versus duplicated or recycled blogsKeyword cannibalization from topic-only bloggingRight and wrong ways a blogger should use AISetting the strategy yourself before you hireTimestamps [0:00] Introduction [2:08] Why hiring a blogger matters for SEO [2:45] The problem with duplicate blog content [3:30] How bloggers reuse content across clients [4:33] Choosing blog topics instead of keywords [5:00] Avoiding keyword cannibalization [5:50] Using AI the right way as a blogger [6:20] Red flags in blogger AI use [7:25] Why the blogger isn't responsible for strategy [7:45] Your job before you hire -- Let me know if you liked this episode! https://www.meredithshusband.com/podcast

Technically, blog categories and tags can help your SEO, but most people are using them in a way that actively hurts it. The question to ask is: Do your blog categories actually help people find what they're looking for, or are they just clutter? Why keyword-stuffed categories and tags get flagged as spamThe retail store analogy for structuring categories and tags correctlyHow to fix an existing blog with too many categoriesUsing Google Search Console to avoid losing visibility during a cleanupGet this right and your blog categories start working the way they should, guiding real visibility instead of quietly working against it. Timestamps [0:00] Introduction [0:30] The real problem with blog categories and tags [1:43] Why keyword-stuffed categories are a spam signal to Google [2:23] User frustration and how it hurts rankings [3:37] The retail store analogy for categories and tags [5:11] What tags are for versus what categories are for [6:38] What to do if you already have too many categories [7:08] Using Search Console before you prune anything [8:38] The rip the band-aid off approach [9:08] How to rebuild categories and tags the right way -- Let me know if you liked this episode! https://www.meredithshusband.com/podcast

How do you know if the SEO advice you're getting is any good? The answer isn't about finding the right buzzword, it's about recognizing when someone is selling you a myth. Terms like AEO and GEO get pitched as replacements for SEO, but Google itself has flagged this exact claim as a warning sign when evaluating consultants. The AEO and GEO myth and where it's coming fromWhat Google's own guidance says about AI searchWhy the changes for AI search are smaller than past SEO shiftsOne question to ask before hiring an SEO/AI consultantKnowing this one distinction protects you from hiring the wrong person and wasting money chasing a trend that doesn't exist. Timestamps [0:00] Introduction [1:04] Where this bad advice is coming from [1:27] The overwhelming message: SEO is dead [2:09] Why the AEO and GEO claim is false [3:14] How AI models actually access search data [4:29] Why the changes for AI search are subtle, not dramatic [5:31] Only one consultant out of dozens debunked the myth [7:28] Closing and where to find the free Primer Read the Google Guide: Optimizing your website for generative AI features on Google Search https://developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/ai-optimization-guide -- Let me know if you liked this episode! https://www.meredithshusband.com/podcast

Why do the same competitors always outrank you on Google? The answer usually comes down to links, but figuring out where those links come from takes real digging. Most SEO advice stops at optimizing your own site, but the bigger gap is usually how other websites link to your competitors and not you. Local directories that pass along a valuable backlinkFree versus paid directory listingsUsing AI to surface where a competitor is mentioned onlineSorting real opportunities from dead endsFollowing this process gives you a short list of specific, findable places to get your own site linked and mentioned. Timestamps [0:00] Introduction [0:30] Why competitor research matters [1:04] Links versus on-site SEO [1:39] What clients pay for [2:14] How this connects to the mentoring program [2:49] Links and mentions, ranked [3:48] Finding local directories [5:23] Deciding if a directory is worth paying for [6:23] Using AI to find competitor mentions [8:15] Needle in a haystack, and why that's still worth it -- Let me know if you liked this episode! https://www.meredithshusband.com/podcast

Wondering if Yelp reviews still matter when people search with AI? The answer is "probably yes". It depends on a partnership most small business owners haven't heard about yet. OpenAI just struck a deal with Yelp, meaning ChatGPT will start pulling local business recommendations directly from Yelp reviews instead of relying only on Google. Why OpenAI needs outside sources like Yelp and RedditHow Yelp hides five-star reviews to pressure businesses into advertisingWhat changes for urban vs. rural business ownersWhy this partnership might not lastDust off your Yelp profile now, because the next time someone asks AI for a recommendation near them, Yelp may be the piece of advice it hands back. Timestamps  [0:00] Introduction  [0:33] What Yelp is and why it matters locally  [1:36] Yelp's shady review practices  [2:04] How Yelp hides five-star reviews  [2:49] Aggressive sales tactics from Yelp  [4:00] The OpenAI and Yelp partnership announced  [4:36] How ChatGPT will source local reviews  [5:31] Urban vs. rural impact for business owners  [6:29] Requesting quotes directly through ChatGPT  [7:10] Will this partnership even last? -- Let me know if you liked this episode! https://www.meredithshusband.com/podcast

Are you accidentally sending Google a spam signal without knowing it? Technically, the problem isn't the AI tool itself, it's what the AI learned SEO advice from. Most AI models build their SEO knowledge from blogs online, and a lot of those blogs are wrong. Keyword stuffing disguised as AI-generated adviceWhy AI delivers bad advice with total confidenceThe garbage in, garbage out principleWhat AI connectors could change going forwardThe fix isn't complicated, but it does mean learning to push back on AI instead of trusting it outright. Timestamps [0:00] Introduction [0:56] Reviewing student websites during onboarding [1:14] The spam signal students didn't know they created [1:38] Students blaming ChatGPT and Claude for the advice [2:08] Why AI isn't built as an SEO expert [2:42] The garbage in, garbage out principle [3:07] Why we trust AI even when it's wrong [3:37] How to push back on AI for better answers [4:43] What AI connectors could fix [6:09] The App Store comparison and where connectors are headed -- Let me know if you liked this episode! https://www.meredithshusband.com/podcast

Is a photo credit worth anything for SEO if the business won't link it? Technically, an unlinked mention isn't as valuable as a link, but it's a lot closer than people believed in the past. A leaked piece of Google's algorithm showed unlinked mentions carry real weight, and AI search tools are making that gap even smaller because AI struggles to follow links the way a person does. Why links have always mattered so much in SEOWhat the Google algorithm leak revealed about unlinked mentionsWhy AI is bad at following links but good at finding mentionsWhat makes a mention "authentic" versus "inauthentic"Photographers no longer need to hold out for a linked credit. An accurate, relevant mention is enough to move the needle, and asking for a link shouldn't be a dealbreaker anymore. Timestamps [0:00] Introduction [0:30] Why this episode matters for photographers [1:43] Why links have always mattered in SEO [3:18] What the leaked Google algorithm revealed about unlinked mentions [4:00] Why AI struggles to follow links the way people do [5:36] An example of AI failing to count blog articles [7:00] Google's role in creating the technology behind AI search [9:28] Why relevance matters for mentions and links [10:02] Authentic versus inauthentic mentions [11:53] Naming your business accurately in a mention -- Let me know if you liked this episode! https://www.meredithshusband.com/podcast

Should you trade links with another business, or will it hurt your SEO? Technically, links are one of the most important ranking signals Google has, but not all links carry the same weight. The real issue isn't trading links occasionally, it's when link trading or low quality backlinks make up too large a share of your overall link profile. Reciprocal links and why Google treats them differently than natural linksWhen trading links with a colleague is normal versus a spam signalWhat toxic backlinks actually are, and why Semrush warnings are often overblownWhy manual link penalties rarely happen anymoreFocus on earning links naturally, and you won't need to worry about a handful of reciprocal links or an alarming Semrush report. Timestamps [0:00] Introduction [0:30] Reciprocal and toxic links overview [0:50] Reciprocal link question [1:35] Why links matter to Google [2:15] High school analogy [3:00] What counts as a reciprocal link [3:40] Reciprocal link networks and Google's rule change [5:15] Rule of thumb for reciprocal links [6:50] Toxic backlinks question [7:30] What makes a backlink toxic [8:50] Manual penalties and why they stopped -- Let me know if you liked this episode! https://www.meredithshusband.com/podcast

Is AI getting better at doing SEO, and does that mean you can eventually just hand it the whole job? AI does continue to improve, but better AI doesn't change the difference between using a tool and relying on one. If everyone could press the same "do my SEO" button, the button can only ever make you even with everyone else, never ahead of them. This episode discusses: Using AI vs relying on AIThe "Garbage in, garbage out" principleFeeding your AI project the right dataThe hammer analogyYou'll walk away understanding which parts of SEO to hand to AI, and which parts still require you to make the decisions. Timestamps [0:00] Introduction [0:35] The two most common listener questions [1:25] Using AI vs relying on AI [1:50] Why out-of-the-box AI is not an SEO consultant [2:15] Where AI connectors are headed [3:00] The colleague who refused to adapt [4:45] Garbage in, garbage out [5:00] Feeding your AI project the right data [6:20] The hammer analogy [7:45] Why one-button SEO keeps you even with everyone else -- Let me know if you liked this episode! https://www.meredithshusband.com/podcast

Can I just ask Claude or ChatGPT to do my SEO?  Technically yes, but there are three potential problems every website owner needs to understand first.  Remember AI's objective is to make you happy in the immediate term. That doesn't always mean the same thing as giving you good advice.  AI delivers tips with complete confidence whether it's right or wrongAI has no strategic framework AI often bases suggestions on SEO mythsThis episode explains all three, and the alternative that's coming soon --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Timestamps [0:30] Introduction [1:32] Confident Advice Can Be Wrong [1:53] Garbage In Leads To Garbage Out [3:42] The Hidden Text Spam Example [6:16] Why Random Tips Fail SEO [7:48] Training AI Replaces Prompt Engineering [10:15] Sam Altman on AI and Your Job [12:02] Building an SEO Database With Strategy [14:15] The Future of SEO With AI [14:40] Closing --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Let me know if you liked this episode! https://www.meredithshusband.com/podcast