Dream Links, Real Authority Digital PR’s Edge in SEO & AI Search

Brought to you by :

Name: Resolve Marketing LLC (aka Grow Resolve). A manual link building SEO agency based in Boise, Idaho

Website: https://growresolve.com

PODCAST:

Introduction to Digital PR in 2025 Michael Johnson, CEO of Resolve Marketing LLC (aka Grow Resolve), presents a strategy for sustainable link building that moves beyond outdated tactics. He argues that while link building remains a critical ranking factor for Google and is increasingly important for AI and Large Language Models (LLMs), "brute forcing" rankings via purchased guest posts is dead,. Instead, the modern approach is Digital PR, which combines the SEO value of backlinks with the branding power of traditional PR to secure placements on high-authority publications.

The Core Strategy: Linkable Assets To succeed, brands must create "linkable assets." This is content created primarily to earn links rather than generate immediate sales. These assets must be informational, educational, and relevant to audiences beyond the brand's immediate buyers. Johnson calls this expanding "spheres of relevance." For example, an eyewear company successfully earned links from the New York Post by commissioning a study on how glasses affect dating and perceived attractiveness, rather than pitching a product directly,.

The Digital PR "Magnet" and Data Johnson describes the ideal asset as a "Digital PR Magnet" centered on proprietary data. Journalists specifically want original research, surveys, and reports because these elements allow them to tell unique stories.

• Data Collection: Johnson recommends using platforms like Pollfish to survey specific demographics or aggregating public government data to create rankings (e.g., "worst cities to drive in"),.

• Interpretation: Marketers must interpret raw data to find "headlines" that appeal to the press, such as finding that Gen Z prefers TikTok over Google,.

• Format: The content should live on the brand's website and include multimedia elements like interactive maps or charts.

Execution: Outreach and Internal Linking The campaign process typically takes two to three months: one month for content creation and another for outreach.

• Finding Journalists: Johnson advises identifying "dream publications" and using Google News noolean searches (e.g., "topic + study") to find journalists who actively cover research in that niche,.

• The Pitch: Outreach must be personalized. Johnson suggests a three-email sequence: an initial pitch, a follow-up within 3-7 days, and a final check-in. The pitch should be short, utilizing bullet points to highlight key data findings.

• SEO Value Transfer: A critical step is internal linking. Because the external links point to the informational "magnet" piece, the brand must internally link that piece to their commercial "money pages" to pass on the authority,.

Q&A and Key Takeaways During the Q&A, Johnson addresses how to apply this to difficult niches. For B2B industries like metal stamping, he suggests leveraging broader industrial topics like tariffs or employment to find newsworthy angles. He also notes that while some referral traffic occurs quickly, significant SEO results typically manifest within three to six months. Ultimately, the goal is to build a repeatable system where new studies are regularly released to maintain a constant flow of authority.

Resolve Marketing LLC’s team doesn’t just build links; they build reasons for others to link. Their writers create long-form resources, data-rich guides, and practical assets designed to educate and inspire. These become magnets for organic backlinks over time.