E1003: Breaking down an SEO video funnel that can work especially well for high-ticket offers.

You create short videos that answer real top-of-funnel keywords people already have. Those videos rank and send people to a form. The form qualifies them. AI buckets the leads. Then, before the sales call, you automatically send follow-up videos tailored to the type of prospect they are.

This works well because the person is not arriving cold. They have already watched your content, heard you explain something useful, taken time to fill out the form, and seen material that speaks to their specific situation before they ever get on a call.

I walk through the full process from start to finish.

What I cover:
- The tools you need to build this funnel
- How to choose the right top-of-funnel keywords
- Examples of video topics for different business types
- How to record short mobile videos quickly
- How to edit videos with AI
- Why less competitive questions are a good place to start
- How to use a memorable domain as your call to action
- What to put on the form page
- Why the form should qualify leads instead of only maximizing conversions
- How to use seven form fields to segment prospects
- Connecting the form to Zapier and Google Sheets
- How to group leads into customer archetypes
- How to send different follow-up videos based on each archetype
- What those longer follow-up videos should look like
- Why these videos can improve trust before the sales call
- What to do if someone does not close on the call
- How to follow up with a short-term discount and more tailored content
- Why bottom-of-funnel SEO should be part of the wider strategy

Tools mentioned:
- Ahrefs, Moz, or Semrush for keyword research
- Typeform or a form on your site
- Zapier for automations
- Descript for recording and editing
- Mailchimp or Zapier for email flows
- A memorable domain with a 301 redirect
- Calendly for call booking
- Google Sheets for organizing lead data

A few key ideas:
- Short videos can rank quickly for the right search terms
- Personalized follow-up content can make the sales call much warmer
- Bottom-of-funnel SEO keywords usually have stronger buying intent

If you sell a high-ticket service, coaching offer, software product, or subscription and want a practical way to connect SEO with sales calls, this episode lays out a full process you can adapt.

The form prompt:
Write only the output for a high-converting ToF lead form (no explanations), including a compelling headline, a short subheadline that sets a realistic expectation (they'll receive relevant content based on their answers, not a fully personalized plan), and exactly 7 concise, low-friction form fields: (1) name, (2) email, (3–6) four broad, industry-agnostic questions that uncover the user's current situation, goal, main challenge, and key context for segmentation into 4–5 archetypes, and (7) a final field/CTA that directs them to book a call via a calendar link; keep everything short, conversational, and ensure the questions are general enough to work across any niche while still enabling clear segmentation; now generate the output for this business: [INSERT BUSINESS].

⭐️ My Exact Social Media Posting Strategy - https://edwardsturm.com/articles/social-media-posting-strategy/

🚀 Learn SEO for free - https://freeseoknowledge.com/

💎 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/

00:00 High Ticket Funnel Overview
00:42 Tools You Need
01:54 Top of Funnel Video SEO
03:27 Editing With Descript
04:37 Keyword Competition Strategy
06:51 Form Setup And CTA
08:14 Lead Segmentation Automations
09:00 Archetype Warm Up Videos
12:05 Sales Call And Follow Up
16:14 Wrap Up And Goodbye

The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/

#searchengineoptimization #salesfunnels #marketingfunnels #seo

E1002: We break down one of the most persistent SEO myths: the idea that you can "hoard" or control SEO authority by using nofollow links.

This belief has been around for over a decade, and despite Google addressing it years ago, many SEOs and marketers still structure their sites around it. They avoid linking out. They overuse nofollow. They try to channel authority internally.

It doesn't work.

This episode explains what actually happens when you use nofollow links, why PageRank sculpting is no longer a viable tactic, and what you should focus on instead.

We walk through insights originally shared by former Google Head of Web Spam Matt Cutts and explain how they still apply today.

What you'll learn:
- What PageRank is and how it flows through links
- Why the idea of "saving" SEO authority is flawed
- What changed when Google updated how nofollow works
- Why nofollow links don't redistribute authority - they discard it
- Why avoiding outbound links can hurt your site
- When (and when not) to use nofollow
- How internal linking actually influences rankings
- Why site architecture matters more than link sculpting
- How to think about linking from high-authority pages
- What to focus on instead of outdated SEO tactics

We also cover:
- Why linking out to relevant, high-quality sources can be beneficial
- How Google evaluates link behavior today
- Practical ways to improve your internal linking structure
- The role of usability and crawlability in SEO performance

If you've been trying to control link flow with nofollow or avoiding outbound links altogether, this episode will help you reset your approach.

Focus on clear site structure, useful content, and logical linking. That's what moves rankings.

⭐️ PageRank sculpting - https://www.mattcutts.com/blog/pagerank-sculpting/

🚀 Learn SEO for free - https://freeseoknowledge.com/

💎 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/

00:00 The SEO Myth
00:43 Matt Cutts Context
01:19 PageRank Basics
03:16 What Nofollow Does
03:48 Why PageRank Sculpting Fails
05:57 What To Do Instead
08:05 Outbound Links Matter
11:27 Wrap Up And Thanks

The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/

#searchengineoptimization #seo #pagerank #digitalmarketing

E1001: Guest blogging for SEO has declined, what Google said about it, and how most people are using it the wrong way in 2026.

Back in 2014, Google's head of web spam, Matt Cutts, published a post called "The Decay and Fall of Guest Blogging for SEO." His message was clear: guest blogging as a link building tactic had become too spammy to trust.

More than a decade later, many SEOs are still relying on it.

I walk through:
- What guest blogging is and why it became popular
- The exact problems Google identified with guest posting
- Real examples of spammy outreach
- Why most guest blogging efforts fail to produce results
- The difference between valuable guest posts and wasted time
- How Google views backlinks, PageRank, and intent

I also share my perspective on when guest blogging is still worth doing, and how to approach it in a way that actually benefits your business.

Key takeaways:
- Guest blogging for backlinks alone is not a reliable strategy
- Most opportunities are low quality and bring no meaningful traffic
- The only guest posts worth doing are the ones that send relevant traffic
- The only guest posts worth doing are the ones that improve your brand credibility
- If a link doesn't do either of those, it's likely not worth your time

I also cover better alternatives to traditional guest blogging, including:
- Getting coverage from relevant publications
- Building backlinks that actually drive traffic
- Ranking without relying heavily on backlinks
- Structuring SEO efforts around users, not just links

If you're playing the long game with SEO, this episode will help you avoid wasting time on tactics that don't move the needle.

⭐️ The decay and fall of guest blogging for SEO - https://www.mattcutts.com/blog/guest-blogging/
⭐️ Google: Guest Blogging For Links? You Better Nofollow Those Links - https://searchengineland.com/google-guest-blogging-for-links-you-better-nofollow-those-links-166218
⭐️ How to Build Backlinks for a Brand New Website (From Zero Authority) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcNmYaMrM3o
⭐️ The AI System to Find Relevant Journalists, Land Coverage, and Earn Ongoing High-Authority Backlinks - https://edwardsturm.com/articles/articles_ai-system-find-journalists-earn-high-authority-backlinks/
⭐️ How to Rank for Competitive Keywords Without Backlinks - https://edwardsturm.com/articles/rank-competitive-keywords-without-backlinks/

🚀 Learn SEO for free - https://freeseoknowledge.com/

💎 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/

00:00 Is Guest Blogging Overhyped
00:34 What Guest Blogging Is
01:14 Matt Cutts Calls It
02:11 The Spam Email Example
03:42 Paid Links And PageRank
04:37 Automation Ruined The Tactic
05:35 Stick A Fork In It
06:34 John Mueller On Nofollow
08:23 When Guest Blogging Is Okay
09:33 My 2026 Guest Blogging Rule
10:50 Real World Guest Blogging Wins
12:01 Alternatives And Resources
13:42 Episode 1001 Thanks

The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/

#searchengineoptimization #linkbuilding #guestblogging #backlinks

E999: If your content sounds like it was written by AI, people can tell. And when they can tell, trust drops. That leads to higher bounce rates, more pogo sticking, and lower conversions.

In this episode, I break down exactly why obvious AI writing is a problem for SEO and what to do instead.

This is an updated take on humanizing AI content. The rules have changed over the past year, and what worked before is no longer enough.

I walk through examples, patterns to avoid, and a workflow you can use to keep your content sounding natural while still using AI to save time.

What you'll learn in this episode:
- Why obvious AI writing reduces trust and hurts rankings
- What pogo sticking is and why it matters for SEO
- Common AI phrases and patterns that give your content away
- How AI writing impacts conversions and brand perception
- The difference between using AI to assist vs replace thinking
- A simple way to write content that actually sounds human
- How to edit AI content so it keeps your voice
- Small formatting and writing habits that signal "AI" immediately
- Why reading your content out loud improves quality
- How to use AI prompts to improve clarity without losing authenticity

Key ideas covered:
- AI tends to repeat what already exists instead of adding new insight
- Generic language makes content feel less trustworthy
- Visitors are more likely to leave if content feels vague or templated
- A few AI patterns are fine, but too many create a clear signal
- Clear, direct writing beats polished but empty writing

Practical tips from the episode:
- Start with voice dictation or your own rough draft
- Use AI to refine, not generate from scratch
- Remove overused transition words and filler phrases
- Avoid corporate-style language that says nothing
- Replace vague statements with specific examples
- Add screenshots, videos, or real examples where possible
- Keep your writing conversational but clear

If you're using AI for SEO content, this matters. The goal is not to avoid AI. The goal is to use it in a way that still sounds like you.

⭐️ The Leila/Alex Hormozi Acquisition Memo - https://www.instagram.com/p/DWbyRpIFI8O/?img_index=2
⭐️ How to Humanize ChatGPT Content - https://edwardsturm.com/articles/humanize-chatgpt-content/

🚀 Edward's SEO Articles - https://edwardsturm.com/articles/search-engine-optimization/

💎 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/

00:00 Why AI Slop Hurts SEO
01:30 Leila Hormozi Memo
02:38 Top AI Phrases to Avoid
04:44 Buzzword List Red Flags
05:34 New ChatGPT Giveaways
08:32 Write by Voice First
10:06 Use AI to Edit Not Think
11:23 Honorable Humanizing Tips
13:51 Episode 999 Farewell

The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/

#searchengineoptimization #digitalmarketing #copywritingtips

E998: Google's March 2026 Core Update is rolling out, and early data shows significant volatility across search results. I break down what's happening, what people in the SEO community are reporting, and what you should actually do if you want to avoid losing traffic.

We're still in the early phase of the rollout, which means most of what you're seeing right now is speculation mixed with early signals. That said, there are already clear patterns worth paying attention to.

In this episode, I cover:
- What Google officially said about the March 2026 Core Update
- How this update connects to the March Spam Update and recent Google Discover changes
- Volatility data from tools like Semrush, Mozcast, and Advanced Web Rankings
- Reactions from the SEO community, including common complaints and concerns
- Early examples of sites gaining and losing traffic
- Why strong "entity definition" across your site is becoming more important
- The risks of topical sprawl and trying to cover too many unrelated topics
- How internal linking and contextual relevance play a role in rankings
- Observations from competitive niches like iGaming
- Why many sites still struggle to understand core updates until weeks later

I also share practical takeaways you can apply right now:
- Build content and links at the same time instead of treating them separately
- Focus on acquiring backlinks that bring real traffic, not just superficial authority signals
- Avoid publishing clusters of near-identical pages targeting slight keyword variations
- Create varied content within your niche to reduce obvious SEO patterns
- Start narrow, build authority, and only expand once you've established topical depth

If you've been impacted by this update, or you're trying to stay ahead of future ones, this episode will give you a clear way to think about what's changing and how to respond.

⭐️ Google March 2026 Core Update Is Rolling Out - First Core Update Of Year - https://www.seroundtable.com/google-march-2026-core-update-41121.html
⭐️ Reddit: Here Comes the March 2026 Core Update - https://www.reddit.com/r/SEO/comments/1s52o0a/here_comes_the_march_2026_core_update/

🚀 Edward's SEO Articles - https://edwardsturm.com/articles/search-engine-optimization/

💎 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/

00:00 March Update Madness
00:35 What Google Announced
01:05 Volatility Signals
01:43 Streets React
02:34 Winners and Losers
03:58 Entity Focus Theory
04:53 Topical Authority Playbook
06:15 iGaming Black Hat Theory
07:16 Avoid Getting Hit
08:06 Too Much SEO Patterns
09:57 The Smartest SEO
10:45 Final Thanks

The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/

#searchengineoptimization #googlecoreupdate #googlemarchupdate #seo

E997: Most people think "GEO" is replacing SEO, and that getting cited by tools like ChatGPT or Perplexity requires a totally different strategy.

I break down why that narrative is wrong.

Using a real discussion from the SEO subreddit, I walk through what's actually happening behind the scenes in AI search - and why, after six months of testing, even experienced "GEO" practitioners still can't figure out what's moving the needle.

The answer is simpler than most people expect: AI search is not a new system. It is built on top of search.

AI systems are performing live queries, expanding them, validating results, and selecting sources - just like a search engine would.

Once you understand that, the confusion around GEO starts to disappear.

Topics covered in this episode:
- Why six months of GEO testing often leads to inconsistent and unmeasurable results
- The concept of "query fanout" and how AI systems expand a single prompt into multiple searches
- How grounding queries work and why brand mentions across the web matter
- Why AI citations are not based on memory or training data in the way most marketers assume
- The difference between being indexed, being ranked, and being selected during AI query expansion
- Why third-party mentions and reputation signals still play a major role
- The idea that much of the GEO industry is built on misunderstandings of how these systems operate
- How tools can reveal what AI systems are actually searching behind the scenes

I also cover new data from Promptwatch, based on 1 million citations, showing what types of pages are being cited by AI systems:
- Landing pages: 15.2% of citations
- Product pages: 14% of citations
- Listicles, landing pages, and product pages dominate citation sources

This reinforces a point I have been making for a long time: bottom-of-funnel pages that clearly match user intent are far more effective than generic top-of-funnel content.

We also discuss:
- Why traditional "awareness content" often fails to convert or get cited
- How SEO landing pages and product pages align directly with what users are searching for
- Why reputation management and entity signals are becoming more important, not less
- How AI search is pushing SEO back toward fundamentals rather than replacing it

If you've been trying to figure out GEO, AI citations, or how to get mentioned in AI systems, this episode explains what actually matters.

⭐️ Updated Search Query and Reasoning Extractor Bookmarklets (ChatGPT + Claude) - https://theseopub.com/updated-search-query-and-reasoning-extractor-bookmarklets/
⭐️ The Reddit Thread - https://www.reddit.com/r/SEO/comments/1s45fli/comment/ocpdi29/?context=3
⭐️ The Promptwatch Research - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/gijs-de-groot2021_seeing-a-lot-of-talk-about-listicles-losing-activity-7426618883454894080-5kL2/

🚀 Edward's SEO Articles - https://edwardsturm.com/articles/search-engine-optimization/

💎 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/

00:00 GEO Frustration Thread
00:54 WebLinkr Query Fan-Out
02:53 How To Find Fan-Out
03:54 Training Myth Exposed
04:59 GEO Disinfo Lobby
07:11 PromptWatch Citation Data
08:15 What ChatGPT Cites
09:09 Landing Pages Win
11:32 Episode Wrap Up

The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/

#generativeengineoptimization #searchengineoptimization #answerengineoptimization #digitalmarketing

E996: Google's March 2026 spam update just dropped and it's one of the fastest rollouts we've ever seen.

The update launched on March 24 and finished rolling out by March 25. Unlike previous updates that took weeks, this one was completed in just a couple of days, which suggests a more targeted and specific change rather than a broad algorithm shift.

We go through what's been observed so far, what Google has officially said, and what SEOs across the industry are reporting.

Key topics covered:
- Timeline of the March 2026 spam update rollout
- Why this may be the fastest Google update ever
- Real-world impact: sites losing 50% of traffic vs others tripling
- What Google says about spam updates and SpamBrain
- What this update does NOT target (based on early reports)
- Patterns SEOs are seeing across rankings and traffic
- The role of AI-generated content in this update
- Why "thin" and mass-produced content may be getting hit
- Internal linking and site structure signals gaining importance
- Ongoing volatility before and during the rollout
- What to check in your Google Search Console right now

We also discuss:
- The difference between AI content and low-quality content
- Why not all AI content is penalized
- How Google likely detects scaled content patterns
- The importance of combining content publishing with link building
- What this update might signal for future algorithm changes

At the time of recording, there is no single confirmed target, but the strongest signals point toward enforcement against low-value, scaled content rather than specific tactics like link spam or site reputation abuse.

If you've seen ranking changes, now is the time to review your content quality, site structure, and overall SEO approach.

⭐️ How to Humanize ChatGPT Content - https://edwardsturm.com/articles/humanize-chatgpt-content/
⭐️ Google March 2026 Spam Update Unleashed (& Finished) - https://www.seroundtable.com/google-march-2026-spam-update-41109.html
⭐️ Muhammad Younis on 𝕏 - https://x.com/Younis_0_/status/2037062619866259948
⭐️ Charles Floate on 𝕏 - https://x.com/Charles_SEO/status/2036712081853182016
⭐️ [Incoming] Google releases March 2026 spam update - What will G target? - https://www.reddit.com/r/SEO/comments/1s2okw5/incoming_google_releases_march_2026_spam_update/

🚀 Edward's SEO Articles - https://edwardsturm.com/articles/search-engine-optimization/

💎 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/

00:00 Spam Update Shock
00:28 Rollout Details
00:50 Volatility Stories
01:11 SpamBrain Explained
02:29 What It Targets
03:35 Reddit Reactions
05:03 Short Rollout Theory
06:18 SEO Advice Now
07:47 AI Content Detection
10:06 Wrap Up

The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/

#searchengineoptimization #googlecoreupdate #googlemarchupdate #seo