{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/65d4445a7e29af00164868b8/6adc17af02b9e3b25928af55?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Ep. 146 - What \"Doing SEO\" Actually Looks Like (and the mistakes we see most)","description":"<p>If you&#39;ve ever thought &quot;I should probably blog more&quot; and called that your SEO plan, this episode is for you. In part two of the series, Whitney is joined by Matt Kuncaitis, who leads SEO services at Whitney Bateson Digital Strategy, to break SEO into the three layers every practice website needs: the foundation, the content, and the trust signals. They explain why the foundation always comes first, why your homepage should work like a roadmap for the rest of your site, and what your contact page is probably missing. They get into how content has changed now that anyone can publish an AI-written article in seconds, and why saying something original is what stands out. And they wrap up with the trust signals that help search engines and future clients believe you&#39;re the real deal, from reviews and your Google Business Profile to your credentials and backlinks.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Takeaways:</strong></p><ul><li>SEO isn&#39;t one thing. It breaks into three layers: the foundation (how your site is built and organized), content (what you publish to show your expertise and grow traffic), and trust signals (proof you&#39;re a legitimate, credentialed business). Blogging is part of SEO, not the whole thing.</li><li>Start with your foundation. That means your site structure: a homepage, an About page, service pages, and a contact page. Your homepage works like a roadmap for the rest of the site, and your contact page should list your phone number, email, hours, and address (if you have a physical location), not just a form. Search engines read that too.</li><li>Create content with search intent in mind. Content should be written for the right person at the right stage of their buyer journey, not just for traffic. The sweet spot is a topic people are searching for that you&#39;re also an expert in and can talk about passionately.</li><li>Original beats volume now. A couple of years ago, SEO content was a volume game. Now that AI has made content easy to produce, standing out means sharing your own thinking and expertise. In our experience, there&#39;s not necessarily a penalty for using AI to write. What matters is whether the end product has your original ideas built in.</li><li>Trust signals tell search engines (and clients) you&#39;re the real deal. Reviews, a complete Google Business Profile for local practices, clearly stated credentials, and backlinks from other legitimate sites all count. Backlinks can be as simple as pitching a reporter, getting into your local paper, or speaking at your chamber of commerce. You do them once and they keep working for you.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Connect with Matt:</strong></p><p>LinkedIn: <a href=\"https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattkuncaitis/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattkuncaitis/</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Resources mentioned:</strong></p><ul><li><em>Getting Found Online in the Age of AI</em> series page. Register for the live taping, submit your site for a live audit, and download the free SEO self-check: <a href=\"https://offers.whitneybateson.com/seo-series-podcast/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://offers.whitneybateson.com/seo-series-podcast/</a></li><li>SEO Self-Assessment Checklist: score your site&#39;s foundation, content, and trust signals in just a few minutes - <a href=\"https://offers.whitneybateson.com/seo-series-podcast/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://offers.whitneybateson.com/seo-series-podcast/</a></li><li>Live taping of Part 4 -Thursday, October 29 at 2 pm ET on Zoom. Audit submissions close Wednesday, October 28 at 2 pm ET. Sign up here - <a href=\"https://offers.whitneybateson.com/seo-series-podcast/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://offers.whitneybateson.com/seo-series-podcast/</a></li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Connect with Whitney:</strong></p><p>Follow Whitney on Instagram @whitneybateson</p><p>Email: <a href=\"mailto:info@whitneybateson.com\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">info@whitneybateson.com</a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Subscribe &amp; Review:</strong></p><p>If you&#39;re enjoying the podcast, don&#39;t forget to follow and leave a review! Your support helps others discover the show.</p>","author_name":"Whitney Bateson"}