This Summer SEO Rewind episode is one you may have missed, but it is worth coming back to in 2026 ...

especially if you’re trying to create content that actually helps your audience instead of just adding more noise to the internet.

In this conversation, I’m joined by Christine McLean Lewis to talk about how content and expertise work together, why your content should be built around the customer experience, and how different types of content assets:

can support your audience at different points i...

We’re continuing the Summer SEO Replays Series with a throwback to one of our most popular episodes from The Simple and Smart SEO Show.

This listener-favorite recap originally highlighted the top three most-listened-to episodes from season two, featuring conversations with Angie Colee, Nicole Lewis, and Matt Diamante. And honestly? The advice still holds up.

In this replay, you’ll hear simple, practical SEO wisdom for business owners who want to get found online without feeling overwhelmed. 

We revisit how SEO is really about helping the right people find you...

In this episode of The Simple and Smart SEO Show, Crystal Waddell revisits part one of her conversation with Andy Holland about performance SEO...

the kind of SEO that focuses on sales, revenue, and meaningful business growth instead of vanity traffic.

Andy breaks down why chasing massive traffic numbers can be misleading, especially when that traffic does not convert into revenue. He shares how bottom-of-funnel, buyer-intent pages can create real business impact, even when they do not bring huge traffic spikes. The big takeaway? SEO should help brands capture people who are ready...

Your Shopify taxonomy is not just your navigation menu — it’s the way your store teaches Shopify, Google, Pinterest, TikTok, Meta, and AI tools like ChatGPT what your products are, who they’re for, and why they matter.

In this episode of The Simple and Smart SEO Show, I’m breaking down why taxonomy is really your store’s semantic strategy. We’ll talk about the difference between Shopify’s built-in structure and the deeper semantic taxonomy your e-commerce store actually needs for modern SEO, GEO, and AI search.

If your products, collections, tags, metafields, variants, and...

In this episode of The Simple and Smart SEO Show, Crystal Waddell continues her conversation with Angela Skane about creating SEO content that goes beyond keywords and actually connects with your audience. ✨

Angela explains why businesses should stop obsessing over every possible long-tail query — especially in the age of AI search — and instead focus on deeply understanding their target audience.

Because when you understand your audience’s pain points, motivations, emotional triggers, and environment, you can create content that feels more human, more helpful, and more persuasive. 🧠

Crystal and Angela also discuss psychology levers, emo...

In this episode of The Simple and Smart SEO Show, Crystal Waddell welcomes Angela Skane from Network Solutions for a conversation about why SEO needs to move beyond rankings, impressions, and visibility.

Angela shares how her background in link building, viral content, and content strategy shaped the way she thinks about SEO today. Her big message? Impressions don’t pay the bills. SEO content has to do more than show up — it has to connect with real people and help them take action.

Crystal and Angela also dig into what TikTok can teach SEOs...

Crystal sits down with SEO expert Aimee Jurenka to unpack what visibility really looks like in the age of AI search. As traditional funnels break down and LLM-driven discovery rises, Crystal shares a practical, no-fluff framework for staying competitive: Get Found. Earn Trust. Be Chosen.

They explore why foundational SEO still drives the majority of traffic, how AI bots interpret your content differently than search engines, and what small business owners can do—without massive budgets—to stay visible. From semantic content and structured HTML to brand signals and “grounding queries,” this conversation bridges the gap betw...

Is the old inbound marketing playbook officially broken? According to AI Visibility Strategist Aimee Jurenka, it’s time to "throw a funeral" for the traditional traffic metrics we’ve relied on for a decade.

In this episode, Crystal and Aimee dive into the "panic state" many marketers feel as AI search begins to "swallow" organic traffic. They move beyond the fear to provide a roadmap for entrepreneurs and SEOs who need to adapt to a world where visibility matters more than rankings.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

In this episode of The Simple and Smart SEO Show, I sit down with SEO expert Aimee Jurenka to unpack a major shift happening in the industry right now:

👉 The death of inbound marketing as we know it.

For over a decade, SEO success was measured by one thing: traffic. But with the rise of AI search and disappearing clicks, that model is breaking fast.

We’re talking about:

In this episode of The Simple and Smart SEO Show, Crystal Waddell sits down with SEO expert Matt Diamante in part 2 of their conversation to break down what actually moves the needle in your business visibility.

Matt shares why most business owners are stuck doing the wrong kind of work...

and how shifting from “doing” to “promoting” can unlock real growth. 

From building trust through consistent content to turning one idea into multiple marketing assets, this episode simplifies SEO and content strategy into actionable steps anyone can follow.

You’ll also learn how t...

In this episode of The Simple and Smart SEO Show, Crystal welcomes back SEO educator and entrepreneur Matt Diamante to unpack what’s really driving his explosive growth.

Plus, why most SEO advice is overcomplicated or outdated.

Matt breaks down SEO into its simplest form: solving problems for your audience. 

He shares why consistency beats complexity, how topical authority actually works, and why chasing trends or “gaming the algorithm” is a losing strategy. 

The conversation also dives into content creation, programmatic SEO debates, AI’s impact on search behavior, and how small busi...

In Part 2 of my conversation with Brooke Gramer, we shift from voice and branding into something even bigger — the future of search and AI-driven commerce.

What happens when AI starts shopping for your customers?

We explore agentic commerce, GPT updates, model selection, and where AI should never replace human judgment. We also talk about the guardrails business owners need as AI becomes more embedded in workflows.

If you sell online — especially on Shopify — this episode will stretch your thinking.

Because the future of SEO isn’t just rankings. It’s recommen...

In this episode of The Simple and Smart SEO Show, I’m joined by Brooke Grammer, host of the How I AI podcast, for a powerful conversation about what’s really happening to content in the age of AI.

If you’ve noticed that websites are starting to feel polished… but completely forgettable… you’re not imagining it.

This episode is a must-listen for creative entrepreneurs, Shopify sellers, service providers, and marketers who want to stay visible, (without sounding generic.)

✨ Key Takeaways:

Is SEO dead? Not even close.

In part 3 of this Crystal Squared episode of The Simple & Smart SEO Show, Crystal Waddell sits down with Crystal Ortiz to unpack what’s really happening in the world of AI-powered search.

AND SPOILER: SEO is actually in a strong position right now.

They dive into how to define success beyond traffic metrics, how to use AI without wasting hours going down a rabbit hole, and why business goals [not shiny tools] should drive your SEO strategy. 

From product page optimization to...

In this episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show, Crystal Waddell and Crystal Ortiz dive deep into the psychology behind consumer decision-making and how that translates into smarter, more effective SEO strategies. 

They explore the importance of relationship-building over time, understanding customer buying cycles, and using AI as a strategic assistant, not a shortcut. 

Whether you're an e-commerce owner, SaaS marketer, or small business strategist, this episode is packed with insights on creating meaningful customer connections and leveraging AI without losing your voice.

🔑 Key Takeaways: