In this episode of Performance SEO Unpacked, host Ruchi Pardal speaks with James Kelly of TrueCar about navigating the complexities of marketplace SEO in the age of artificial intelligence. They explore how marketplace sites differ from traditional ecommerce, the mistakes many SEOs make when using AI, and strategies for future-proofing your marketplace presence online.

Best Moments:

• (01:11) Introduction to the discussion: cracking marketplace SEO in the AI age
• (01:45) The biggest mistakes SEOs make with AI and marketplace content
• (02:10) Gartner’s prediction: Google searches expected to drop 25% by 2026
• (06:58) How to future-proof marketplace SEO with technical approaches
• (09:21) The importance of faceted navigation and filter management
• (13:18) Redesigning marketplace strategy for the AI era
• (14:11) Why site usability is foundational for marketplace SEO
• (15:47) The critical role of social proof and reviews for high-ticket items
• (19:22) Underrated marketplace data signals that matter for AI SEO
• (20:14) Using first-party user behavior data to improve SEO performance
• (23:57) Authority building and maintaining brand consistency across channels
• (24:57) How AI aggregates information about your brand from multiple sources
• (27:10) The importance of cross-departmental communication for successful SEO

Guest Bio

James Kelly is an SEO professional at TrueCar, where he specializes in marketplace SEO strategies. With extensive experience in optimizing complex marketplace websites with millions of pages, James brings valuable insights into technical SEO, user behavior analysis, and adapting to the rapidly changing landscape of search in the AI era. His approach emphasizes the importance of user engagement, site usability, and consistent brand messaging across all channels.