SEO Automation and Delegation

SEO can feel like a never-ending chore. Between fixing technical issues, finding the right keywords, and creating content, it's easy to get overwhelmed. But what if there was a better way?In this podcast episode, we'll discuss whether to automate or delegate your SEO tasks.We'll weigh the pros and cons of each option so you can figure out what works best for you.Ready to save time and focus on what really matters for your SEO? Let's get started!Transcript Summary00:00 - 00:25Gab introduces the episode on SEO strategies.Gelo acknowledges common SEO manager dilemmas regarding automation and delegation.They set the stage for discussing when and how to automate or delegate tasks in SEO.00:25 - 01:03Gab asks about when it's appropriate to delegate or automate tasks.Gelo responds, focusing on decision-making within companies or projects.He emphasizes that as an SEO manager, tasks not directly related to core responsibilities should be delegated.01:03 - 02:25Gelo delves deeper into delegation, stressing that an SEO manager's role often evolves into managing rather than doing.He gives examples of tasks that can be delegated in freelancing scenarios.Discussion includes managing specific tasks like on-page optimization versus technical SEO.02:25 - 03:42Gelo shifts to automation, discussing how routine tasks like report generation can be automated.Tools like Google Data Studio are mentioned for automated reporting.The focus remains on efficiency through automation in repetitive tasks.03:42 - 05:09Gab talks about handling overwhelm in SEO tasks, suggesting beginners initially handle all tasks to learn processes.Gelo adds that once overwhelmed, it's time to automate or delegate tasks.They discuss task prioritization and the "high impact task analysis" approach for efficiency.05:09 - 07:18Gab introduces the concept of skill specialization, advocating for mastering client interaction skills.Gelo agrees, stressing the importance of soft skills and knowing when to delegate client-facing tasks.They highlight the difficulty non-english speakers may face in client interactions.07:18 - 08:53Gelo revisits the importance of delegation and automation in SEO, particularly in large companies with extensive digital footprints.He underscores the need for proper delegation to avoid bottlenecks and ensure task competence.Examples include maintaining technical SEO expertise within teams.08:53 - 10:02Gelo concludes by cautioning against ineffective delegation, emphasizing the importance of understanding tasks before assigning them.He highlights the risks of miscommunication and task mismanagement in team environments.10:02 - 10:14Gelo says delegation can be challenging, especially when clients have specific subject matter expertise. If you lack the necessary knowledge, consider delegating tasks to the client or a subject matter expert.10:14 - 10:34Gelo says to delegate tasks that require specialized knowledge, such as creating content or managing passwords. This allows you to focus on tasks that align with your expertise.10:36 - 10:39Gelo mentions don't take on the entire project if you lack the necessary skills. Delegate tasks to freelancers or in-house experts with the relevant expertise.10:42 - 11:07Gelo says to delegate tasks to freelancers or in-house experts to streamline your workflow and improve efficiency. This allows you to focus on higher-level tasks and strategic planning.11:07 - 11:32Gelo says to delegate tasks such as social media posting, SEO, and content creation to free up your time for more strategic work. Utilize tools and automation to further enhance efficiency.11:32 - 12:07Gelo says that by delegating and automating tasks, you create a network of interconnected entities throughout the digital ecosystem. This enhances your overall productivity and effectiveness.12:07 - 12:29Gelo mentions delegation and automation are crucial for staying updated with the latest tools and technologies. This ensures you remain competitive and deliver high-quality work to your clients.12:30 - 12:50Gab says, I agree. It's important to recognize that delegation and automation are not just for beginners but also for experienced professionals seeking to optimize their time and workload.12:50 - 13:03Gab says delegation allows you to focus on higher-value tasks that generate more revenue and contribute to your long-term growth.13:06 - 13:29Gab says that by delegating tasks, you can educate and empower your clients, enabling them to take on more responsibility and contribute to their own success.13:29 - 13:49Gab says that this mindset shift can lead to a more collaborative and productive working relationship with your clients.13:49 - 14:01Gab mentions delegation also helps you track your time more effectively, ensuring you're not spending too much time on low-priority tasks.14:02 - 14:08Gelo said it's important to remember that delegation is not about ego but about empowering others to grow and succeed.14:09 - 14:33Gelo said delegation is a key part of personal and professional growth. It allows you to develop leadership skills, expand your knowledge, and advance your career.14:34 - 14:43Gelo says, ultimately, delegation leads to a more fulfilling and successful career.14:44 - 15:07Gab says Let's get more specific about the importance of delegation in SEO.15:07 - 15:31Gab mentions that Technical SEO is a crucial area where delegation can be highly beneficial. Consider delegating tasks such as technical audits, site crawls, and error analysis to experts.15:31 - 15:40Gab mentioned tools like Screaming Frog and Sitebulb can automate many technical SEO tasks, freeing up your time for more complex analysis and strategy.15:42 - 16:00Gab says that however, it's important to critically evaluate the data provided by these tools. While they can identify high-impact issues, they don't necessarily understand the nuances of your website or target audience. Focus on the most critical errors and prioritize tasks accordingly.16:00 - 16:19Gab says, for instance, a tool might flag a no-index error on a low-traffic page that isn't important for your SEO strategy. It's more impactful to fix a no-index error on your homepage. Delegate tasks based on their true impact on your SEO performance.16.19 - 16:35Gab said that tools can't make strategic decisions. Use your judgement to determine which errors require the most urgent attention.16:35 - 17:01Gab mentioned that Google Search Console also offers tools to help you manage technical SEO tasks. Submitting URLs for indexing and utilizing tools like Omega Indexer can streamline the process.17:01 - 17:23Gab says to consider delegating page speed optimization tasks to web developers or designers if you lack the technical expertise. This allows you to focus on your strengths in SEO strategy and content creation.17:23 - 17:54Gab says to delegate tasks that are outside your skillset to free up your time and energy for core SEO activities.Gelo said, I use Ahrefs for technical audits, but I always double-check their recommendations to ensure they're truly high-impact issues.17:54 - 18:11Gelo mentioned that Google Search Console (GSC) can also be used for on-page SEO tasks. It helps identify crawl errors, analyze indexing status, and track organic keyword rankings.18.11 - 19:34Gelo said that GSC also offers a valuable tool called "SEOcrawl.AI” This helps you analyze organic search queries that trigger impressions but don't convert into clicks. You can then identify irrelevant keywords and optimize your content accordingly.He said GSC allows you to annotate changes made to your website, enabling you to track the impact of SEO efforts over time. This helps you measure the effectiveness of your optimization strategies.Gelo said that annotations can be particularly helpful when migrating your website to a new domain or platform. GSC allows you to track SEO performance before and after the migration.19.34 - 19:49Gelo said that these are just a few examples of how delegation and automation can be leveraged to streamline your SEO workflow and improve overall effectiveness.Gab mentioned that he had a positive experience using GSC to monitor client websites for potential technical SEO issues.19:49 - 20:09Gab: The key takeaway is to identify tasks that can be delegated or automated to free up your time and mental energy for strategic SEO planning and creative content development. This allows you to focus on high-impact activities that generate results for your clients.20:10 - 21:04Gab introduces the topic of automation and how it can be used to improve content creation.Gelo explains that automation can be used to simplify tasks such as clicking buttons and updating pages.Gelo further explains that automation can be used to send emails and update content automatically.Gelo explains that automation tools typically have a monthly or yearly fee.Gelo mentions that some automation tools offer discounts during sales events such as Black Friday.21:04 - 21:33 Gab asks about the overall content creation workflow.Gelo says they prefer to delegate tasks manually, but they are also open to using automation tools for certain tasks.Gelo explains that they focus on keyword research and local SEO when delegating tasks.21:33 - 23:14Gelo explains that they use keyword research tools to identify relevant keywords for their content.Gelo further explains that they use keyword research tools to identify the search volume for specific keywords and to understand the intent of searchers.Gelo explains that they use topic ideation tools to generate ideas for their content.Gelo explains that they use AI writing tools to create outlines for their content.23:14 - 25:15Gelo explains that they use AI writing tools to create first drafts of their content.Gelo explains that they then use AI writing tools to speed up the editing process.Gelo explains that they use AI writing tools to proofread their content.Gelo explains that AI writing tools can be helpful, but they should not be used as a replacement for human editors.Gelo explains that they use AI writing tools to check for grammar errors and to double-check facts.Gelo explains that they use AI writing tools to identify niche-specific terms andGelo emphasizes the importance of human involvement in content creation and the benefits of a hybrid approach that combines AI and human expertise.25:15 - 25:56 Gelo explains that they create customer personas to understand their target audience.Gelo emphasizes that content should be tailored to the specific needs and interests of the target audience.26:00 - 26:59Gelo introduces Supercopy.AI as an SEO tool that can be used to generate customer personas.Gelo explains how Super Copy AI works and how it can be used to identify target keywords and generate customer personas.Gelo suggests other AI writing tools such as Gemini and ChatGPT.Gab acknowledges the importance of understanding how to prompt AI writing tools effectively.26:59 - 28:03 Gelo introduces Better Sheets as a tool that can be used to automate content creation with ChatGPT.Gab asks for clarification on how Better Sheets connects to Google Sheets.Gelo explains that Better Sheets can connect to Google Sheets and use API connections to automate tasks such as generating titles, meta descriptions, and content based on user-provided keywords.Gelo mentions that Better Sheets is still under development and will be revealed soon.28:08 - 30:04 Gab highlights the value of the information shared in the podcast and expresses his intention to use the recommended tools and strategies.Gab discusses the potential applications of AI writing tools beyond on-page SEO, including reporting and data interpretation.Gelo mentions that Neuron Writer also offers internal linking capabilities.Gab highlights the benefits of using a combination of manual and automated content creation processes.Gelo emphasizes the importance of understanding the fundamentals of SEO before implementing automation tools.Gab mentions their custom GPT tools for topic generation, internal linking, and content analysis.30:04 - 33:32Gab introduces the topic of link building and delegation. He mentions that he uses a group called SEO WorkOut for link building.He asks Gelo if he has any experience with link building.Gelo confirms that he has some experience with link building.Gab mentions that he is currently using a tool called Chat GPT for link building.Gab agrees that there are other plugins available.He mentions that he has found some plugins to be particularly useful.Gelo agrees that useful plugins can make link building easier.Gab mentions that delegation is important for link building, as it can be a tedious task.He also mentions that it is important to make sure that the work is done correctly before sending out emails for link building.Gab mentions that he uses link building to get more traffic to his website. He adds that he also uses other methods, such as adding content and optimizing his website for search engines.Gelo agrees that link building is an important part of SEO.Gab describes the process of using link building to get more traffic to his website. He mentions that he uses a tool called Hunter.io to find email addresses of potential prospects. Gab continues to describe the process of using link building to get more traffic to his website. He mentions that he uses a tool called Ninja Outreach to send emails to potential prospects.Gab describes the process of using Ninja Outreach to send emails to potential prospects.He mentions that Ninja Outreach is a free tool, but it has a limit on the number of emails that can be sent per day.Gelo mentions that there are other free tools available for sending emails to potential prospects. He mentions that Hunter.io has a free version as well.Gab mentions that he uses Hunter.io to find email addresses of potential prospects. He adds that he uses a tool called Voila Norbert to verify email addresses.Gab describes the process of using Voila Norbert to verify email addresses. He mentions that Voila Norbert is a paid tool, but it is worth the cost.Gelo describes his own approach to link building. He mentions that he uses email sequencing to automate the process of sending emails to potential prospects.Gelo describes the process of using email sequencing to automate the process of sending emails to potential prospects. 33:32 - 36:30 Gelo explains that email sequencing allows you to send multiple emails to potential prospects over a period of time. This can help to increase the chances of getting a response.Gelo mentions that the first email in a sequence should be a personalized introduction.Gelo suggests mentioning something specific about the recipient's website or content.Gelo adds that the first email should also briefly explain why you are contacting the recipient.Gelo suggests reminding the recipient of your initial email in the follow-up emails.Gelo mentions that you can also offer something of value in the follow-up emails, such as a free consultation.Gelo suggests including 2-3 follow-up emails in a sequence.Gelo mentions that it is important not to send too many follow-up emails, as this can come across as spammy.Gelo suggests using a tool like Sendfox and BuzzstreamGelo mentions that these tools can track metrics such as open rates and click-through rates.36:30 - 37:50Gelo suggests guest blogging as a good link building strategy.Gelo explains that guest blogging involves writing articles for other websites in your niche.Gelo suggests using tools like Buzzsumo or Ahrefs to find websites to guest blog for.Gelo mentions that you can also search for websites that accept guest posts by using Google search operators.Gab asks for an example of a Google search operator that can be used to find websites that accept guest posts.37:40 - 41:00 Gelo continues with the example: You can replace "keyword" with your target keyword or niche. For instance, if you are in the marketing niche, you could search for "marketing + write for us".Gab asks what to do after finding websites that accept guest posts.Gelo suggests reaching out to the website owner or editor and pitching a guest post idea.Gelo mentions that the pitch should be well-written and explain why the website owner's audience would benefit from reading your guest post.Gab asks for any additional tips for guest blogging.Gelo suggests writing high-quality content that is relevant to the website's audience.Gelo also suggests promoting your guest post on social media and other channels.Gab asks if there are any other link building strategies that they should discuss.Gelo mentions broken link building as another strategy.Gelo explains that broken link building involves finding broken links on other websites in your niche and then contacting the website owner to suggest your content as a replacement.39:57 - 40:42Gelo apologizes to the listeners for the advanced topics discussed earlier and introduces the next topic: quality assurance in link building and outreach.Gab mentions tools and resources available to ensure quality work when delegating tasks.Gab poses the next question: how to ensure quality when delegating tasks.Gelo clarifies that they are not just talking about tools but also have their own resources.40:28 - 42:17Gab suggests hiring an SEO VA or freelancer to ensure quality work and provides an example of how to establish trust.Gab clarifies that it is important to establish trust when delegating tasks.Gab shares a personal experience of establishing trust when delegating tasks as an SEO manager and team lead.Gab describes the importance of establishing trust and avoiding micromanaging when delegating tasks.Gab emphasizes the importance of clear communication and feedback when delegating tasks.41:35 - 43:31Gab describes a specific example of how to provide clear instructions and track progress when delegating tasks, using a vlog as an example.Gab explains how to ensure that the delegated task is completed correctly, including checking internal links and providing feedback.Gelo shares their own approach to delegation, emphasizing ownership and accountability.43:31 - 45:27Gelo explains their approach to delegation, which involves giving team members ownership and expecting them to learn and grow.Gelo emphasizes the importance of providing honest and constructive feedback, even if the output is not perfect.Gelo suggests using positive reinforcement and virtual high-fives to recognize good work.Gelo reiterates the importance of expressing appreciation for good work and addressing concerns constructively.Gab adds that bonuses can be used as additional motivation.44:50 - 45:27Gelo explains that positive reinforcement, like compliments and virtual high fives, can also be effective motivators.Gelo emphasizes the importance of recognizing good work and expressing appreciation for the quality of the team's work. However, they add that if they see a decline in quality, they won't hesitate to find replacements for interns who are not performing well.Gab agrees with the approach and suggests avoiding sugarcoating feedback.Gelo clarifies that they want their interns to be the best version of themselves on projects.45:27 - 46:12Gab discusses the importance of leadership in delegation and how successful agency owners empower their teams to grow. They emphasize the need for open communication and constructive criticism to achieve success.Gab reiterates the importance of leadership and clear communication when delegating tasks.Gab emphasizes the importance of ownership for team members.Gelo jokes about avoiding becoming a "time doctor" who micromanages everything.Gelo mentions the use of trackers.46:13 - 46:23Gab introduces the topic of over-automating tasks in SEO.Gelo expresses concern about the potential risks of over-automation.46:23 - 46:53Gab explains that over-automation can lead to a loss of human expertise and judgement.He emphasizes the importance of understanding the foundation of SEO before automating tasks.Gelo agrees with Gab's assessment and adds that over-automation can make it difficult to adapt to changes in algorithms or best practices.46:53 - 47:20Gab points out that over-automation can prevent team members from learning and developing their skills.He stresses the importance of allowing team members to gain hands-on experience with tasks.47:20 - 48:04Gelo agrees with Gab and adds that experimentation is essential for learning and growth.He encourages listeners to try different approaches and see what works best for them.48:04 - 48:21Gab highlights the risks of over-automating content creation.He warns against using AI tools to generate content without human oversight.48:23 - 49:00Gelo shares an example of over-automation leading to content problems.He emphasizes the importance of human expertise in creating high-quality content.49:00 - 49:42Gab stresses the importance of understanding the foundation of SEO before using automation tools.He encourages listeners to learn from experienced SEO professionals.49:42 - 50:07Gab discusses the risks of using AI tools to generate backlinks.He explains that Google can penalize websites that use low-quality backlinks.50:07 - 50:32Gab emphasizes the importance of testing automation tools before using them in production.He warns against blindly trusting automation tools without proper oversight.50:32 - 50:53Gelo agrees with Gab and adds that it is important to choose automation tools that are a good fit for the specific needs of the business.50:53 - 51:00Gab introduces the next topic: recommended automation tools for beginners.51:00 - 52:23Gelo recommends Google Data Studio or Looker for reporting automation.He explains that these tools can help save time and improve data visualization.52:23 - 53:00Gelo recommends SendFox for email outreach automation.He explains that this tool can help save time and improve outreach efficiency.53:00 - 53:32Gelo recommends Neuron Writer for note-taking and task management.He explains that this tool can help improve productivity and collaboration.53:32 - 54:02Gab recommends Zapier for connecting different automation tools.He explains that this tool can help create complex automation workflows.54:02 - 55:05Gelo discusses the importance of using automation tools strategically.He emphasizes the need to have a clear plan and objectives before automating tasks.55:05 - 55:24Gab points out that automation tools are not a replacement for human expertise.He stresses the importance of using automation tools to complement, not replace, human judgement.55:24 - 56:13Gab discusses the importance of high-quality content creation.He explains that AI tools can be helpful for generating ideas and outlines, but they cannot replace human writers