Search with Candour

Jack Chambers-Ward and Mark Williams-Cook present a preview of SearchNorwichXL, their upcoming conference on 24 September 2026.Mark and Jack discuss the talks they’re looking forward to and give a preview of what to expect on the day.Use ‘MONDAYSWC’ to get 20% off your tickets: ⁠https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/searchnorwichxl-tickets-1985283700992?discount=mondayswc⁠For more information about SearchNorwichXL: https://searchnorwich.org/Chapters00:00 Introduction01:29 Mark’s first pick: Arnout Hellemans08:36 Jack’s first pick: Giulia Panozzo16:37 Mark’s second pick: Adam Gent25:22 Jack’s second pick: Future Of Search Panel31:14 Mark’s third pick: Myriam Jessier39:14 Jack’s third pick: Martin Splitt42:20 Discount code and tickets43:43 Mark’s upcoming speaking schedule46:55 Thanks and wrap up

Candour’s Principal SEO Consultant, Brendan Bennett and Design Lead Mark Salisbury join Search with Candour to discuss the growing overlap between SEO, design, UX, and brand, and how AI/LLMs and emerging agentic experiences affect the way we build and use websites.The Candour trio also explore what brand means beyond just a logo, how third-party signals like reviews, Reddit, and search results shape perception, and how SEOs measure brand through metrics such as brand search volume, sentiment, and frameworks like Google’s HEART.The conversation covers trust signals, page clarity, semantic HTML, the tension between brand-led copy and keyword-focused headings, and the risk of AI-generated “slop” versus human differentiation.Follow Mark and Brendan:Website: https://withcandour.co.uk/Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-salisbury-701b8911/Brendan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanbennett1989/Chapters00:00 Welcome, Brendan Bennett and Mark Salisbury01:09 Design vs SEO No Versus03:01 Why Brand Matters Now09:45 Defining Brand Beyond Logos17:17 Brand Metrics and Frameworks22:40 SERP Signals and Trust Issues27:19 When Brand Beats SEO33:01 AI Websites and Human Proof36:12 Luxury Branding vs AI Content42:05 Websites as Experiences42:48 Designing for Agents43:50 Trust and Spend Thresholds45:47 Technical SEO Meets Semantics49:10 Brand Voice vs Keywords53:31 Traffic vs Conversion Tradeoffs56:43 What Makes a Site Good59:04 Trust Signals and UX Proof01:02:14 Vibe Coding and Web Slop01:03:44 Future of SEO and Design01:08:51 Recommendations: Actionable tips01:12:00 Recommendations: Tools to try01:15:23 Recommendations: Fun things like dancing and video games

Jack Chambers-Ward hosts a July 2026 AI search and SEO news roundup on Search With Candour.This episode covers everything from new Google Trends features and social media data tracking in Google Search Console to research about ads in Google AI Mode and if Google punishes AI-generated content.Links to articleshttps://www.linkedin.com/posts/analyzing-search-interest-just-got-more-powerful-share-7478017577340968960-qsi3/https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7480247562084638720/https://seranking.com/blog/google-ai-mode-ads/https://www.tryprofound.com/blog/google-com-is-now-ai-mode-s-2-cited-domainhttps://ahrefs.com/blog/google-doesnt-punish-ai-content/https://www.similarweb.com/corp/reports/2026-generative-ai-landscape/https://www.axios.com/2026/07/23/yelp-reviews-chatgpt-geo-partnershipChapters00:00 Coming up on this episode00:29 Introduction01:53 Live Podcast returns on 7 October 202604:19 Google Trends new comparison feature09:31 ChatGPT adds Yelp reviews12:35 SE Ranking study: Ads in AI Mode18:39 Profound study: Google cites itself more23:01 Ahrefs study: Does Google punish AI content?29:37 SimilarWeb Generative AI Report36:33 Wrap up

Liv Day and Ellie Wraith from Digitaloft join Search with Candour to explain how to turn client expertise into SEO gold and why you need to create content your competitors can’t copy.They explain why unique, non-commodity content matters more in the AI era, how to extract insights from hesitant clients, and how to build processes (checklists, writer access to experts, ongoing client questions) to ensure information gain.They discuss using first-party data (sales, customer service transcripts), surveys, and sources like Reddit to uncover real audience pain points, plus repurposing interviews and video assets across site pages based on page goals. Follow Liv & Ellie:Digitaloft: https://digitaloft.co.uk/Liv on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-day-seo/Ellie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliewraith/Chapters00:00 Welcome to Search with Candour02:46 Introducing Ellie Wraith03:38 Introducing Liv Day04:30 Why expertise matters now09:48 Measuring information gain15:12 Client chats vs keyword research18:17 Handling hesitant experts27:25 Personal brands and authority32:53 What is trust in the AI era35:10 Convincing clients to get on camera37:04 Proving real Experts39:30 Repurposing your content and assets41:58 Technical difficulties42:05 Finding Proprietary Data46:50 Measuring Content Success51:03 Recommendations: Ask more questions and prioritise based on your bottom line54:01 Recommendations: Collate customer service data and check Reddit56:44 Recommendations: Summer gigs and Widow’s Bay59:00 Where to Follow and Wrap

Jack Chambers-Ward recaps the biggest SEO news from June 2026 on Search With Candour.Jack covers Google’s “Preferred Sources” expanding from Discover into AI Mode and AI Overviews, the new Search Console generative AI performance reporting and contrasts it with Bing Webmaster Tools’ expanded AI visibility reporting.He also highlights the new ability to connect Google Business Profile to GA4 for richer local reporting and a landmark German court ruling that Google can be held liable for false claims in AI Overviews, treating them as Google’s own content.Links to news storieshttps://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/search/original-high-quality-content-search/https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/search/a-new-profile-to-help-publishers-and-creators-highlight-their-work-on-search/https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2026/06/gen-ai-performance-reportshttps://blogs.bing.com/search/June-2026/New-AI-Visibility-Insights-in-Bing-Webmaster-Tools-Intents-Topics-Citation-Share-Comparehttps://support.google.com/analytics/answer/16930347https://the-decoder.com/landmark-german-ruling-declares-googles-ai-overviews-are-googles-own-words-and-makes-it-liable-for-false-answers/Chapters00:00 Introduction01:27 Preferred sources expand to AI Mode05:08 Google adds creator Search Profiles08:32 GSC AI performance reporting10:25 Bing AI visibility tools17:23 Google Business Profile data in GA422:34 German court finds Google liable for AI Overview content31:11 Wrap up

Sean Barber joins Search with Candour to discuss fighting misinformation in the health industry.Misinformation has been exacerbated with the growth of LLMs and AI, which increasingly cite piecemeal sources in ways that can mislead or endanger users.Sean and Jack share examples such as incorrect CPR guidance and confusing emergency and non-emergency phone numbers.Follow Sean:Website: https://www.searchwithsean.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SearchWithSeanLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanrbarber/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/searchwithsean.bsky.social00:00 Fighting misinformation in YMYL industries01:36 Meet Sean Barber05:15 Why misinformation spreads so quickly08:09 AI Overviews causing health risks11:26 Patience versus accuracy15:02 Organisation-wide strategies for companies fighting misinformation21:19 The importance of transparency and reputation26:28 Defensive vs proactive tactics29:51 Proving your expertise34:01 Put experts on camera37:58 Low-budget video setup39:51 Authenticity beats big productions41:10 Why showing your face matters43:13 How to build trust signals46:18 AI search and funding50:03 Bad press is actually bad press52:59 Always keep a human in the loop55:11 Recommendations: Sean’s actionable tip57:41 Recommendations: Sean’s SEO tools59:38 Recommendations: TV and movies01:03:54 Episode wrap-up

Léo Poitevin, founder and CEO of Astrak Agency, joins Search with Candour to discuss why your competitors may be recommended in ChatGPT and other AI search tools while you are not.Topics discussed:Why AI search engines are easier to manipulate than GoogleHow to identify competitors in AI searchHow to build trust signals for AI searchHow to use listicles and guest posts to rank in AI searchThe risks of self-promotional listiclesFollow Léo:Astrak Agency: https://astrak.agency/en/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leo-poitevin/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leopoitevinGet your tickets for SearchNorwichXLChapters00:00 Highlights of Léo Poitevin01:03 Introduction05:24 Leo’s SEO background07:14 Are LLMs easier to game than Google?07:47 Google is good at fighting spam12:36 AI competitor research15:16 Competitor research for GEO19:47 Tracking volatility25:13 Imperfect data and KPIs for AI search30:11 A listicle strategy that works for LLMs33:01 Léo case studies36:07 The risks of listicles37:16 Self promotional listicles38:04 Ranking shifts in ChatGPT39:06 Listicles penalised by Google41:48 Testing new limits43:05 Links versus mentions46:18 Black Hat vs White Hate SEO49:15 Influencers and guest posts52:34 What hurts AI search56:20 Recommendation: Actionable tip57:51 Recommendation: Tool59:57 Recommendation: Cozy games01:05:14 Where to follow Léo01:06:44 Episode wrap-up

Host: Jack Chambers-Ward | https://www.linkedin.com/in/jlwchambers/ | He/himIn this episode of Search with Candour, I’m joined by Josh Bachynski, CEO at Be Found Everywhere. With over 20 years of experience, Josh shares insights on ethical marketing and why an evidence-based approach to SEO is important for AI search optimisation.Topics discussed:Why AI Mode is the biggest change in search since 1998How the ranking factors compare to the traditional 10 blue linksWhy marketers must adapt to AI or get left behindWhy testing is so important in making strategic decisionsGoogle’s definition of consensus and non-commodity contentHow to find trustworthy sources in SEOThe difference between virtue signalling and truly ethical marketingChapters00:00 Introducing Josh Bachynski01:16 Introduction04:15 Why evidence-based SEO is so important07:05 The new ranking factors for AI search15:00 Google’s definition of consensus and E-E-A-T18:18 The ethics of Google’s business model23:07 Google Ads incentives27:34 Learn to embrace AI and adapt36:11 Defining ethical marketing41:18 Truthful ethical marketing42:12 Virtue signalling and positivity43:28 Use AI for good44:03 Google is not moral47:55 Adapt or lose jobs50:37 Evidence-based SEO testing53:55 Finding trustworthy sources in SEO59:08 Accountability in communities01:03:30 Recommendation: Actionable tip01:08:36 Recommendation: Tools and software01:14:03 Recommendation: Something fun01:16:48 Where to follow Josh01:18:31 Episode wrap-up and upcoming guestsFollow JoshWebsite: https://bfeai.com/ - Use code BEEFY-JOSH-20 for 20% offLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-bachynski/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jbachynsWatch / Listen on YouTube - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8c8k5Yy8FltVNsIsP1iUCSXDfE5cq2pM&si=xl4cMh_ngcMhrJ0-Subscribe to Core Updates for weekly SEO news and SEO tips - https://coreupdates.com/

Laura Iancu joins Search with Candour to talk about the growing crossover between SEO and UX and how we should all thinking about “search experience optimisation” (SXO) instead of traditional SEO.Follow Laura:Searchpedia: https://searchpedia.co.uk/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-iancu-seo/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/searchpedia.bsky.socialTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@searchpediaChapters00:00 Intro trailer01:37 Introduction03:53 Why SXO matters05:05 Building a common language09:44 How often to have these conversations13:17 Sell the value, to get buy-in17:55 Show, don't tell25:26 Go beyond best practices30:27 Take a culture-first approach to research34:33 The benefits of heatmaps36:57 UX basics for SEOs41:41 Designers should stay flexible42:43 SEO basics for design teams44:52 AI search shifts47:30 Testing LLM Visibility48:44 Laura’s perfect website51:16 A dream of smarter site search54:33 Personalisation vs bots01:00:01 Recommendations: Actionable tip01:01:47 Recommendations: Tools and software01:03:49 Recommendations: Books and games01:10:31 Where to find Laura01:11:45 Episode wrap-up

Host: Jack Chambers-Ward (he/him)Vince Nero, BuzzStream’s Director of Content Marketing, joins Search with Candour to discuss whether paying for digital PR is the same as buying links.Vince shares research on link marketplaces, noting many sites have zero organic traffic and only a tiny fraction qualify as high-quality. With some top-tier paid placements averaging thousands of dollars per link, often rivalling or exceeding monthly digital PR retainers.Vince and Jack also discuss relevancy vs authority, referral traffic and business impact, the growing value of brand mentions for AI visibility, and how creating owned, original assets and proprietary data can drive long-term coverage.Follow VinceBuzzstreamBuzzstream podcastFollow Vince on LinkedInVince’s previous episodeVince's recommendations:Actionable tip: Create unique content for digital PR pitches and host that content on your website.Recommended tool: XofuSomething fun: Mina the Hollower and Widow's BayChapters00:00 Highlight reel01:12 Introduction04:47 Welcome Vince Nero05:38 Digital PR vs link buying08:48 Link marketplaces data12:47 Quality metrics relevancy17:13 Google risks penalties21:45 Cost value comparison32:02 Digital PR long-term wins36:07 The importance of owned assets44:00 AI mentions new value46:51 Linked vs unlinked mentions48:25 When links don’t matter49:46 Big brand campaign metrics50:45 AI as a status signal52:55 Non-AI agency debate54:15 Trusting Google guidance55:17 Search relations vs Google Corp01:01:00 guidelines vs case studies01:03:01 Recommendations: Actionable tip01:04:24 Recommendations: Tool/software01:05:37 Recommendations: Something fun01:15:28 Where to find Vince01:16:28 Episode wrap up and next guests

Host Jack Chambers Ward shares a special episode of Search With Candour highlighting two talks from SearchNorwich 18 ahead of the first SearchNorwichXL conference on 24 September 2026.🎟️SearchNorwichXL tickets: https://searchnorwich.org/In the first talk, Crystal Carter (Wix) discusses using AI tools for “actual intelligence” in SEO by emphasizing human experience, real examples, and opinion, noting forum visibility (e.g., Reddit) and practical ways to add EEAT-style signals, primary-source content, and social proof while using tools like transcribers, image enhancers, and NotebookLM.In the second talk, Martin Splitt (Google) presents “Maybe it isn’t JavaScript,” explaining that many indexing issues blamed on JavaScript are actually caused by blocked resources (e.g., robots.txt blocking APIs), caching/CDN behavior, or incorrect status codes in SPAs, and recommends using Search Console and rendered HTML to diagnose problems.00:00 Introduction00:26 Search Nor Excel Preview01:05 SearchNorwich 18 highlights01:49 Crystal Carter Intro04:59 AI Reality In SEO07:41 Why Humans Still Win09:54 Experience Signals Matter15:17 Real Examples And Proof17:39 Opinions Drive Clicks20:51 AI Tools For Humans23:39 NotebookLM Workflow25:32 Wix Built In AI Tools27:40 Crystal Wrap Up28:58 Why JavaScript Gets Blamed30:55 Use Search Console Rendered HTML33:04 Missing Content Cats Case Study35:32 Robots TXT Blocking The API37:52 Google Rendering Bug Noindex JS41:24 Phantom Noindex From CDN Cache47:10 SPA Error Pages Returning 20050:57 Fixing SPA 404s Properly51:54 Summary Tools And Q&A54:42 Wrap up

Jack Chambers-Ward hosts a solo episode to recap the biggest SEO news from May 2026, including Google IO, AI traffic reporting in GA4 and the May 2026 core update.Links to news storieshttps://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/search/explore-web-generative-ai-search/https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7458539598885867520/https://developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/ai-optimization-guidehttps://support.google.com/analytics/answer/9164320?hl=en#05132026https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/search/search-io-2026/https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/shopping/google-shopping-cart/https://status.search.google.com/incidents/wdAXJk6LRRihEjpzEeWEhttps://www.sistrix.com/blog/may-2026-core-update-visibility-analysis-and-data-updates/Time stamps00:00 Intro03:11 Subscriptions and Trusted News10:25 Reddit in Google Business Profiles14:12 Google’s guide for AI search optimisation29:07 GA4 AI Assistant Tracking33:08 Google I/O recap33:57 Search Box Reimagined37:42 Agentic search and UI40:28 Personal Intelligence42:57 Google’s Universal Cart45:17 May 2026 core update46:58 Wrap up

Chris Green joins Search with Candour to share his study on whether answering Google’s “People Also Ask” (PAA) questions correlates with higher organic rankings. 📖 Read the study in full: https://alsoasked.com/insights/paa-ranking-correlation Key takeaways📈Across the top 5 positions, pages that fully answer more PAA questions tend to rank higher.📊Commercial and transactional queries show the strongest correlations; navigational and informational queries are weaker.📉Beyond page 1, the correlation drops sharply and can even reverse in lower page 2 positions—likely due to small sample sizes and SERP variability.Answering PAA questions alone isn’t enough to rank well; technical quality, external signals, and user experience still matter.✅Covering a wide range of related questions can make content semantically richer, which may support ranking potential.Follow Chris Green🔗Website - https://www.chris-green.net/🔗LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisgreenseo/00:00 Do PAA Boost Rankings01:21 Show Intro and Context03:12 Meet Chris Green04:48 Why PAA Matters Now06:14 Originality and Value Proxy12:28 Study Setup and Intent Buckets16:02 SERP Sampling Top 2017:48 Scraping Content at Scale19:28 How Deep to Pull PAA21:01 Crawl Errors and Bot Blocks23:38 Cleaning Scrape Data24:00 Scraping Ethics and Bots26:09 Study Setup and Scoring27:29 Key Findings and Correlations32:48 Why Intent Was Messy36:43 Full vs Partial Answers39:37 Client Action Plan44:57 Beyond PAA Question Mining47:23 Where to Follow Chris48:12 Episode Wrap and Teaser

Jack Chambers-Ward gives a recap of his experience at HiveMCR 2026 including all of the talks, panels and events over the two-day event hosted by Charlie Whitworth.The event included live music, stand up comedy and talks from Jono Alderson, Dawn Anderson, Alex Moss, Sophie Brannon and many more.Sponsored by Trendos - the AI search visibility tool.With Trendos, you can see who’s buying ads in your AI search results.Trendos now tracks ChatGPT sponsored placements and is the first tool to reveal which competitors are paying to appear in the AI answers your customers see every day. Use code CANDOUR to get a 5% discount on any paid plan. Try Trendos.com ChatGPT AdRadar nowChapters00:00:00 - Introduction00:02:19 - Trendos ad00:05:08 - Thursday at HiveMCR00:05:52 - Nikki Halliwell’s talk00:06:35 - Jess Atkinson’s talk00:07:09 - Manchester SEO All-stars panel00:08:10 - Token Honey00:09:21 - Friday at HiveMCR00:09:41 - Alex Moss’s talk00:11:05 - Sophie Brannon’s talk00:12:20 - Dawn Anderson’s talk00:13:49 - Jono Alderson’s talk00:16:19 - AI Search panel - Ben McKay, Nick Handley, Itamar Blauer and Gus Pelogia00:17:21 - Itamar Blauer’s talk00:18:22 - Areej AbuAli’s talk00:20:16 - Brand and digital PR panel - Lisa Paasche, Harry Clarkson-Bennett, Jono Alderson, Shannon McGuirk and Ashley Liddell00:21:20 - Gus Pelogia’s talk00:22:22 - Ashley Liddell’s talk00:23:40 - Gianluca Fiorelli’s talk00:24:19 - Steve Paine’s talk00:25:14 - Wrap up panel - Charlie Whitworth, Dawn Anderson, Luke Cope and Ned Poulter00:27:02 - Live comedy by Katie Lingo00:27:40 - Live comedy by Rich Wilson00:29:06 - Live comedy by Jeff Innocent00:29:49 - Wrap up and outro

Adam Gent returns to Search with Candour to discuss how Google’s indexing works and why large websites should monitor it closely.Adam explains that statuses like “URL unknown to Google” can mean Google has deprioritised and effectively forgotten pages, and that Search Console may misreport or fail to alert when pages are actively de-indexed. He describes a “130-day rule” for indexing, where low page quality can affect the status of existing pages.They also cover index bloat on large websites, the importance of long-term indexing, and practical steps like segmenting sitemaps by site sectioning or seasonality.Follow AdamIndexing InsightFollow Adam on LinkedInFollow Adam on BlueskyAdam at SearchNorwichXLChapters00:00 Highlight reel of Adam Gent01:40 Introduction04:57 Why index monitoring matters08:11 Search Console blind spots10:29 URL unknown to Google13:13 Why Adam built Indexing Insight14:04 The 130-day rule for indexing15:28 What page quality means21:36 Site sections and patterns29:37 Index bloat on big sites32:20 Cleaning up for AI visibility33:51 Indexing ratios that matter36:44 Is indexing getting harder37:33 Short-term vs long-term indexing40:50 Demand-led recovery44:29 Indexing misconceptions explained48:39 Sitemaps for seasonality52:11 Reducing Search Console noise55:44 Recommendations01:03:15 Wrap up

Jack Chambers-Ward delivers an SEO news recap covering key stories from April 2026 into early May.He highlights Google testing AI Mode directly in the “All” tab, AI Mode’s agentic restaurant bookings, AI Mode side-by-side browsing in Chrome desktop (US), and Google’s Audio Overviews appearing on SERPs beyond Search Labs.He also discusses Google’s official guidance on building agent-friendly websites—how agents use screenshots, raw HTML, and the accessibility tree—and notes Gemini in Chrome rolling out worldwide, potentially boosting Gemini adoption.Google tests AI Mode in the main search tab - https://brodieclark.com/notes/#apr-2026 Google Search Console impressions error - https://xcancel.com/brodieseo/status/2040311550406472112 Agentic restaurant bookings - https://xcancel.com/Google/status/2042626811083853857 AI Mode can open in side-by-side view - https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/search/ai-mode-chrome/ Google tests Audio Overviews - https://www.seroundtable.com/google-testing-audio-overviews-wild-41207.html How to build agent-friendly websites - https://web.dev/articles/ai-agent-site-ux Gemini in Chrome - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/nataliawitczyk_yes-gemini-integrated-in-chrome-is-now-rolling-activity-7456789716202508288-He8k/Get your tickets for SearchNorwichXL: https://searchnorwich.org/ Time stamps00:00 Intro01:22 AI Mode hits main search tab05:38 Search Console impressions bug07:35 AI restaurant booking agents11:09 AI Mode adds split-screen mode in Chrome18:47 Audio Overviews on SERPs21:51 How to build agent-friendly websites30:15 Gemini in Chrome goes global38:28 Wrap up

In this eighth live collaboration between SEO Mindset and Search with Candour, the hosts discuss the “efficiency paradox” and why AI can increase overwhelm rather than make life easier.Jack Chambers-Ward, Sarah McDowell and Tazmin Suleman debate the pressure to use AI, environmental and job concerns, hallucinations and misuse for legal/medical advice, de-skilling, declining human interaction, and the value of friction and curiosity.Audience Q&A covers practical uses (timestamps, concise messages, event planning), handling forced AI adoption with boundaries, and a discussion of physical books and focus.SponsorsSponsored by SISTRIXSponsored by MajesticFollow The SEO Mindset Podcasthttps://theseomindset.co.uk/ Follow Search with CandourWatch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8c8k5Yy8FltVNsIsP1iUCSXDfE5cq2pMFollow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4AILSpWLI74daOhECb8Hm0 Chapters00:00 Live Show Kickoff01:23 Meet the hosts02:48 Sponsors and SISTRIX Data07:33 Majestic Books and Q&A09:35 Efficiency Paradox Setup11:00 AI Overwhelm and Pressure17:48 Expectations vs Reality21:52 Hallucinations and Misuse26:00 Deskilling and Bad Bread31:14 Maps Memory and Connection37:34 Productivity as Self Worth37:55 Rest As Productivity38:35 Efficiency Versus Quality40:50 AI Replacing Coworkers42:36 Friction Builds Skills47:56 Embrace Failure And Process50:13 Life Beyond Work55:46 Audience Q And A Uses01:01:07 Forced AI And Boundaries01:11:50 Profit Motives And Reliance01:16:02 Books Comeback And Focus01:22:57 Wrap Up And Thanks

Jack Chambers-Ward and Mark Williams-Cook are back in the Candour studio to discuss if People Also Ask questions improve rankings and Google’s recent crackdown on self-promotional listicles.Sponsored by TrendosNo demo required. No paywall. Free plan available.Check your brand’s AI visibility now → Trendos.comThey discuss a Chris Green study using AlsoAsked API, SERP scraping, and OpenAI to score whether top-20 ranking pages fully/partially answer related People Also Ask questions, finding a strong correlation in the top five positions, strongest for commercial/transactional queries and weaker for informational/navigational.The conversation shifts to geographic personalisation in search and AlsoAsked’s city-based selector, plus upcoming talks referencing regional question differences. They then cover major traffic losses seen around late January for sites relying on self-promotional “best X” listicles and programmatic comparison pages, noting some core product pages survived while other pages were suppressed.Chris Green’s AlsoAsked study:https://alsoasked.com/insights/paa-ranking-correlation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9dfEjlmZx0 Time stamps00:00 Introduction01:18 Back in the studio with Mark02:48 PAA study setup06:03 Methodology and scoring08:10 Why commercial queries win11:58 Regional PAA insights16:40 Sponsor: Trendos20:39 Listicle crackdown begins23:37 Self promo listicles26:15 Traffic drop fallout28:57 Honesty beats hype31:25 Gemini warning cards34:17 No awards strategy37:37 Fan out award signals41:56 Wrap up and upcoming events

Jasmine Granton joins Search with Candour to discuss the mental health crisis in SEO and digital marketing. Jasmine’s experience as both a digital PR professional and a qualified psychotherapeutic counsellor means she’s especially qualified to discuss this topic.They explore how always-on culture, Slack urgency, KPIs, AI-driven expectations, and perfectionism keep marketers in fight-or-flight, reducing creativity and productivity.Jasmine shares practical techniques, including setting boundaries, “closing loops” at the end of the day, tracking energy and feelings, and building a “wins” folder to counter negativity bias and boost self-compassion.Time stamps01:14 Introduction03:00 Welcome Jasmine Granton05:09 Why marketing feels harder07:44 Perfectionism and self-worth12:24 Spotting burnout early15:08 Journaling and closing loops21:37 ‘Always on’ culture27:10 Psychological safety at work30:30 Learning from failure32:30 Control circles and change34:17 Building downtime into work35:56 Creative focus time at work37:17 Building self-compassion38:22 Closing failure loops40:32 Celebrating your wins48:21 Track your feelings49:55 Safety checks55:22 Recommendations01:04:00 Where to find Jasmine01:05:26 Episode wrap-up

Annie-Mai Hodge, founder of Girl Power Marketing and creator of the Social Tea newsletter, makes her triumphant return to Search with Candour to discuss how to do SEO for social media.Annie-Mai explains practical keyword research for social using tools such as TikTok Creator Search Insights and AlsoAsked, and existing SEO tools, then consolidating ideas into a simple spreadsheet and testing performance via platform analytics.They cover everything from captions, on-screen text, audio, and profiles without keyword stuffing; how to choose channels and formats by researching native results, spotting content gaps, and repurposing across platforms; and why posting time matters less than you may think.Follow Annie-Mai:🌟 Girl Power Marketing: https://www.girlpowermarketing.co.uk/🌟 Social media SEO workbook: https://offers.hubspot.com/view/social-media-seo-workbook🌟 The Social Media Tea: https://www.girlpowermarketing.co.uk/newsletter🌟 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anniemaihodge/🌟 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlpowermarketing/🎧 Annie-Mai’s previous episode: https://withcandour.co.uk/podcast/tiktok-as-a-search-engine-with-annie-mai-hodge▶️ Watch Search with Candour on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8c8k5Yy8FltVNsIsP1iUCSXDfE5cq2pM&si=K24FYKx9JiTMfWsh▶️ Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4AILSpWLI74daOhECb8Hm0 Chapters00:00 Welcome Back Annie-Mai00:52 Why Social SEO matters02:43 Keyword research tools06:02 Testing keywords in analytics09:07 Client audits and strategy12:43 Avoid keyword stuffing14:57 Posting times and expectations20:21 Choosing content formats25:20 Search intent on social29:24 Repurposing across platforms33:52 Trends vs core content35:54 Meme trend pitfalls36:36 Viral origins stories38:58 Brand consistency42:43 Human first optimisation48:18 Profile basics that work52:15 Are followers or views better?56:24 Recommendations: Actionable tips, tools and Project Hail Mary59:23 Wrap up

Jack Chambers-Ward hosts a solo episode of Search With Candour, recapping the last 6 weeks of SEO news from the Core Updates newsletter.Jack covers Google’s February 2026 Discover update, a fast March spam update, and the ongoing March 2026 core update.He then highlights Bing Webmaster Tools, adding AI Performance reporting, Google’s WebMCP new UCP features.📧 Core Updates: https://coreupdates.com/🤝 SearchNorwichXL: https://searchnorwich.org/Google updates🔗 https://status.search.google.com/incidents/mYbNTqV1ytDc2fA8hUz4🔗 https://status.search.google.com/incidents/VbnSXAH4SmEcxPtx4YSD🔗 https://status.search.google.com/incidents/7eTbAa2jWdToLkraZj5yBing’s AI performance report📊 https://blogs.bing.com/webmaster/February-2026/Introducing-AI-Performance-in-Bing-Webmaster-Tools-Public-Preview📊 https://about.ads.microsoft.com/en/blog/post/march-2026/the-ai-performance-dashboard-your-view-into-where-your-brand-appears-across-the-ai-webUCP and MCP🛒 https://developer.chrome.com/blog/webmcp-epp🛒 https://block.github.io/goose/blog/2026/03/17/webmcp-for-beginners/🛒 https://ppcnewsfeed.com/ppc-news/2026-03/google-publishes-help-page-universal-commerce-protocol/🛒 https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/shopping/ucp-updates/Chapters00:00 SEO news rundown00:47 Google Discover Update02:42 March Spam Update03:43 March Core Update05:15 Bing AI metrics debut06:55 Inside AI Performance Report11:03 New Bing AI metrics14:42 WebMCP explained18:06 UCP Agentic Checkout20:43 UCP new features22:45 Walmart vs ChatGPT conversions25:02 Wrap up and next steps25:44 Newsletter and event plug27:16 Final thanks and teaser

Alison Moss joins Search with Candour to discuss how to prioritise technical SEO fixes and get development tickets actioned.Together, they cover common pitfalls like lack of buy-in and unclear requirements, emphasising translating SEO needs into business outcomes and developer-friendly acceptance criteria, using ticket templates, and providing references.Alison explains prioritising by impact versus effort, helping teams order “high priority” items, and acknowledging SEO competes with other business priorities while building relationships with product and dev teams and supporting testing.Links🔗Follow Alison on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-moss-804a5537/ 🎫SearchNorwichXL early bird tickets: https://searchnorwich.org/ 🎟️Buy tickets for the Live podcast in Brighton: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-efficiency-paradox-why-al-doesnt-make-your-life-easier-live-podcast-tickets-1982302667641?aff=erelexpmlt Time stamps00:00 Get your dev tickets prioritised with Alison Moss01:28 Introduction05:41 Why tech SEO gets stuck08:29 Sell fixes for buy in15:25 How to write clear dev tickets22:06 Prioritise issues smartly26:47 Pick your battles and quick wins32:19 Frameworks and relationships42:47 Handling senior pushback47:53 Explaining SEO value48:10 Writing better seo tickets50:56 Developer context links52:13 Resurrecting backlog work54:26 Using external proof56:42 Don’t be afraid to jump on a bandwagon59:56 Recommendation: Actionable tip01:01:08 Recommendation: Tools and software01:03:06 Recommendation: Butter, Project Hail Mary and Dungeons & Dragons01:15:06 Where to find Alison01:16:36 Conclusion

Jack Chambers Ward is joined by Jessica Bettis, Candour’s Director of Strategy, to discuss what makes a strong collaboration between SEO specialists and client partnership/account management.Jack and Jessica discuss their experience of working with clients together, and Jessica explains how client partners define success, translate work into business impact, manage resources and expectations, and nurture trust through onboarding and ongoing check-ins.Follow Jessica:Website: https://withcandour.co.uk/about/team/jessica-bettis LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-bettis/ Jessica’s recommendations:Spend 5–10 minutes aligning before key meetings or responding to feedback.Maintain a dedicated, shared digital space for client context and information.Wuthering Heights (2026)00:00 Welcome, Jessica Bettis01:25 Important client partner traits03:12 How to build respect and trust with your clients05:18 Commercial context matters10:20 Building client trust11:48 Matching teams to clients16:59 The behind-the-scenes value24:57 Skills and training balance30:21 Onboarding and roadmap34:28 How to prevent client churn37:10 Resource management39:52 The joy of surprise rebrands46:29 Upskilling and training clients49:56 Team collaboration magic52:29 Recommendation: Actionable tip 55:31 Recommendation: Tool/software58:59 Recommendation: Wuthering Heights (2026)01:04:10 Where to follow Jessica

Jack Chambers Ward welcomes SEO consultant and Designmodo SEO Manager Bengü Sarıca Dinçer to discuss what marketers should track in GA4 as search shifts across AI summaries, social platforms, newsletters, communities, and private sharing.Bengü argues classic metrics like rankings and organic sessions are incomplete and recommends focusing on influence signals such as assisted conversions, branded search growth, returning users, engagement, and what she calls “content eco,” plus a move toward probabilistic attribution.Time stamps00:00 Show Intro and Guest Tease02:04 Meet Bengü Sarıca Dinçer04:58 Why Metrics Must Change07:52 Assisted Conversions Explained10:23 Branded Search and Recall14:10 Digital Archaeology for Visibility17:16 Tracking AI Search Traffic24:18 Measuring Informational Content28:50 Dark Social and Private Sharing33:10 Every Platform Is Search34:24 Beyond Google Mindset36:43 GA4 As Question Tool37:32 Metrics Mislead Warning40:56 Email Social SEO Mix43:43 Audience Nurture Flywheel45:27 GA4 Hidden Features47:43 Map Discovery Paths50:31 Clarity Heatmaps Wins54:36 Sims And Web Analogy59:20 Where To Follow Outro01:01:48 Episode Wrap Next Week

Jack Chambers Ward welcomes returning guest Sarah McDowell from The SEO Mindset Podcast to discuss AI and LLMs and how they’re responsibly integrating them into their work processes.Jack & Sarah share AI usage stats, note the split between adopters and non-adopters, and cover concerns including environmental impact, big tech/data issues, hallucinations and fabricated reporting, and the need for clearer disclosure when AI is used.They describe practical, cautious uses of tools like Descript and Riverside for transcription, clip creation, repurposing, research, and rewriting emails, stressing AI as a tool that still requires human review.🎟️Get your tickets for the LIVE podcastFollow Sarah:The SEO Mindset podcastFollow Sarah on LinkedInResources:https://www.wearetenet.com/blog/llm-usage-statisticshttps://masterofcode.com/blog/chatgpt-statisticshttps://www.elon.edu/u/news/2025/03/12/survey-52-of-u-s-adults-now-use-ai-large-language-models-like-chatgpt/https://www.searchenginejournal.com/seo-pulse-ai-mode-hits-75m-users-gemini-3-flash-launches/563725/https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/23/googles-ai-overviews-have-2b-monthly-users-ai-mode-100m-in-the-us-and-india/https://blog.google/company-news/inside-google/message-ceo/alphabet-earnings-q4-2025/Time stamps00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro01:33 Weather Banter and Seasons03:36 Why This AI Episode04:35 Brighton Live Show Details08:03 AI Usage Stats Reality Check10:54 Adoption Curve and Attitudes16:00 Risks, Data and Hallucinations20:15 Disclosure and AI in Media22:46 AI as a Tool, Not a Replacement24:33 AI in Podcast Workflows27:09 Uncanny Valley and What LLMs Are28:29 Google Share Shifts30:32 Live Podcast Announcement33:00 Responsible AI Mindset37:46 AI for Transcripts42:28 Repurposing and Clips47:30 AI for Clearer Writing53:16 Key Takeaways Wrap55:28 Event Details Goodbye56:56 Final Outro Links

Jack Chambers Ward hosts Search with Candour with guest Dena Warren, SEO Lead at Techquity, to discuss how e-commerce brands can prepare for AI search and LLMs.They cover how the importance of consistent product data across on-site content, feeds, and maximising structured data (product, FAQ, reviews).Dena highlights using user-generated content, avoiding duplicate manufacturer copy, and ensuring key content is visible in HTML rather than hidden behind JavaScript interactions, feed optimisation using OpenAI’s product feed spec, and, of course, scepticism about LLMs.txt.Follow Dena:Techquity: https://www.techquity.co.uk/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dena-warren-b44106139/Dena’s recommendations:Ahrefs unlinked mentions: https://ahrefs.com/content-explorerAlsoAsked: https://alsoasked.com/Kelewele recipe: https://www.africanbites.com/kelewele-or-alocospicy-fried-plantains/Resources:https://developers.openai.com/commercehttps://productfeed.cloud/Time stamps00:00 Introduction01:39 Meet Dena Warren02:39 Why Clients Ask Now04:38 Avoiding AI Snake Oil06:52 Product Data And Schema10:18 Personalised Comparison Prompts12:13 2026 Ecommerce Essentials15:56 JavaScript And Crawlability17:33 Cloudflare Bots Panic20:54 Feed Specs For AI24:10 Agentic Commerce Readiness26:44 No Separate AI Subsites30:59 Multimodal Images And Video34:06 Shopping In Context35:08 3D And Video Demos36:05 Machine Readable Packaging37:29 SEO Shiny Object Traps38:02 llms.txt Scepticism42:22 Agentic Commerce Reality46:16 Agent Ready Checkout49:43 Small Brands Can Win53:52 Recommendations58:27 Episode Wrap up

Jack Chambers-Ward hosts Search With Candour with guest Faezeh Shafiee, a freelance international SEO content specialist, to discuss how to build an interview-based content campaign with the assistance of AI.During this campaign, Faezeh used expert interviews to create a multi-channel content campaign, turning an initial plan into interviews with three women leaders in sustainability. Faezeh explains the end-to-end process from planning, interviewing in both English and Spanish, recording and transcribing, to translating/localising, article structure, keyword research and repurposing into social, email, and other channels.00:00 Welcome to Search With Candour01:01 Subscribe & listener call-to-action before the chat02:04 Meet Faezeh Shafiee04:09 Why this campaign now: International Women’s Day + interview-based content05:17 From idea to execution: turning one interview into three11:00 Using AI as an assistant15:03 Keeping authentic voices and avoiding hallucinations19:52 Results & business impact24:06 Are interviews more valuable in the AI era? 27:21 The deeper why: women’s rights, personal context, and amplifying global voices32:44 Why individual action and content matter34:33 Storytelling as a content superpower38:54 Using AI for transcription, translation & editorial surprises44:10 What Faezeh learned from the campaign46:56 How to use AI responsibly48:45 Actionable Tip: Stop doomscrolling51:43 Tool Recommendation: Conduit for internet access solidarity53:39 What Faezeh’s enjoying: Watercolour painting and Bob Ross56:45 Wrap-Up and next episodes

Jack Chambers-Ward hosts a solo episode of Search With Candour recapping seven major SEO and digital marketing news stories from the first six weeks of 2026, previously covered in the Core Updates newsletter. He highlights Google’s Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) for agentic commerce and checkout capabilities, Google’s Business Agent for brand-voice shopper conversations, and Google’s Personal Intelligence initiative that personalises experiences by connecting Gemini to apps like Gmail, YouTube, Photos, and Search. He also covers Gemini-powered AI Insights in Google Trends, Chrome’s agentic “auto browse” features that can complete multi-step tasks, a SparkToro study showing AI/LLM recommendations are highly inconsistent, and the February 2026 Google Discover core update aimed at reducing sensational clickbait, improving local relevance, and addressing self-promotional “self-ranking” listicles. Jack notes plans for ongoing monthly news recap episodes and points viewers to links in the show notes for all sources.Links to resources/references:https://developers.googleblog.com/under-the-hood-universal-commerce-protocol-ucp/https://support.google.com/brandprofile/answer/16410382https://blog.google/innovation-and-ai/products/gemini-app/personal-intelligence/https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/search/google-trends-explore-with-ai/https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/chrome/gemini-3-auto-browse/https://sparktoro.com/blog/new-research-ais-are-highly-inconsistent-when-recommending-brands-or-products-marketers-should-take-care-when-tracking-ai-visibility/https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2026/02/discover-core-update00:00 Introduction02:34 Candour Website Builds: Why SEO Must Be Baked In From Day One04:17 Story #1: Google’s Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) for Agentic Commerce08:52 Story #2: Google Business Agent - Branded AI Chat for Retailers11:50 Story #3: “Personal Intelligence” and the Start of Fully Personalised Search15:09 Story #4: Gemini-Powered Google Trends Insights17:02 Story #5: Chrome “Auto Browse” & Gemini in the Browser22:54 Story #6: SparkToro Study: Why AI Brand Recommendations Are Inconsistent31:51 Story #7: February 2026 Google Discover Core Update34:35 Wrap-Up and upcoming episode

Join Jack Chambers-Ward as he sits down with Alex Dees, co-founder and CEO of Meridian, to discuss how to optimise your brand and sites for AI-driven search engines like ChatGPT, AI Mode, and Perplexity.Discover strategies and insights on increasing visibility in the age of AI, if “chunking” your content works, and the future of e-commerce and agentic commerce.Follow Alex:Website: https://trymeridian.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-dees00:00 Introduction and Welcome01:22 Guest Introduction: Alex Dees01:47 The Rise of AI in Search02:18 Optimising for AI Search03:58 The Future of SEO and AI11:55 Measuring Success in AI Search16:38 Strategies for Effective AI Marketing17:45 Content Structuring and Chunking27:20 Combining Data for Better Insights30:15 AI in E-commerce31:31 The Future of E-commerce and AI32:17 The Role of Structured Data in AI33:41 Agentic Commerce: Trends and Insights35:23 Google's Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP)36:04 Challenges and Opportunities in Agentic Commerce44:23 The Impact of AI on Small vs. Big Businesses46:53 The Growing Importance of Video Content49:17 Actionable Recommendations for AI Search52:59 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

In this episode of Search With Candour, host Jack Chambers-Ward is joined by SEO experts Chris Green and Amaka Chukwuma to discuss the SEO chapter of the Web Almanac 2025.Together, they delve into the process behind writing the chapter, trends in SEO, impacts of AI and LLM crawlers, structured data adoption, and the importance of resisting hype in the SEO industry.00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction00:27 Discussing the Web Almanac 202501:38 Welcoming the Guests03:15 SEO Chapter Insights04:09 Data Analysis and Process11:37 SEO Trends and Surprises20:11 Robots.txt and Web Standards30:11 Bing Bot and AI Crawlers35:50 Legacy SEO Practices and Their Impact38:16 The Rise of AI Crawlers39:58 Adoption and Implementation of LLMs48:59 Structured Data and Schema Markup56:36 The Future of SEO and the Web01:03:12 Closing Thoughts and Upcoming Topics📖 The SEO Chapter of the web almanac 2025: https://almanac.httparchive.org/en/2025/seoFollow Amaka:🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amaka-chukwuma-jubilee/Follow Chris:🔗 Website: https://www.torquepartnership.com/🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisgreenseo/🔗 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/chris-green.net

Join Jack Chambers-Ward and Mark Williams-Cook for a special episode of Search With Candour, where they recap the top SEO conferences of 2025 and share their most anticipated events for 2026.From Brighton SEO to the SEO Brein Meetup, they discuss the highlights, unique features, and what makes each conference a must-attend. Plus, get an exclusive sneak peek into the upcoming SearchNorwich XL…Don't miss out on insights, networking tips, and the banter you’ve come to expect from Search with Candour!Best SEO conferences of 2025:https://brightonseo.com/https://croatiaseosummit.com/https://hub.seofomo.co/events/https://tech-seo-summit.com/https://searchnstuff.co.uk/search-n-stuff-antalya-conference-2026/SEO conferences to look forward to in 2026:https://www.womenintechseo.com/conference/london/https://www.seobrein.nl/meetuphttps://hive-mcr.co.uk/https://searchnstuff.co.uk/search-n-stuff-london-conference-2026/Coming soon... https://searchnorwich.org/00:00 Introduction and Welcome00:20 Conference Highlights and Reflections01:57 The Importance of Networking04:30 Top Conferences of 202504:48 Brighton SEO08:50 Zagreb SEO Summit15:13 SEO FOMO Meetups19:46 Tech SEO Summit23:55 Search and Stuff Antalya26:46 The Importance of Preparation for Conferences27:23 Navigating Language Barriers at International Conferences28:07 The Value of Speaker-Audience Interaction29:35 Upcoming Conferences in 202630:18 WTSFest London33:50 SEO Brien Meetups35:39 Hive MCR39:33 Search and Stuff London41:43 SearchNorwich XL49:56 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Jack Chambers-Ward is joined by Georgie Kemp, the SEO lead at Veed.Together, they delve into the limitless potential of video as a channel for marketers, discussing how video content can be repurposed and its SEO advantages.Georgie emphasises the importance of authenticity and the human element in creating engaging video content. Jack and Georgie also explore the evolution of search, integrating video into SEO strategies, and leveraging AI while maintaining a human touch.Follow Georgie:Website: https://www.veed.ioLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgie-kemp/ Veed on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/veedstudioVeed on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/veedstudio/Resourceshttps://sell.g2.com/resources/webinars/capturing-demand-in-the-llm-ecosystemhttps://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7388499289389572097/https://sparktoro.com/blog/its-still-seo-search-everywhere-optimization/Veed guides for video marketing:https://www.veed.io/learn/video-marketing-guide https://www.veed.io/learn/ai-tools-for-video-editinghttps://www.veed.io/learn/ai-video-productionGeorgie’s recommendationshttps://www.granola.ai/https://misotasty.com/recipes/miso-brown-butter-banana-bread-recipeTime stamps00:00 The Limitless Potential of Video Marketing01:22 Introduction03:26 Sponsor Message05:13 Interview with Georgie Kemp06:50 The Evolution of Search and Video Content20:47 Community Engagement and Authenticity in SEO34:47 Monitoring Brand Sentiment35:12 The Party Analogy35:49 Honesty in Product Comparisons36:46 Community-Centric Content Strategy37:55 Success in Video Generation and Editing38:55 Comparison-Based Content42:17 Brand Management and Visibility48:17 AI's Role in Content Creation55:21 Recommendations and Final Thoughts

In this week's episode of Search with Candour, Jack Chambers-Ward welcomes Nicole Lee to discuss the significance of long tail keywords in SEO and content marketing.Jack and Nicole delve into how these keywords become even more crucial in the age of AI, focusing on creating personalised, bottom-of-funnel content.The episode also covers Nicole's strategies for programmatic SEO, the challenges of setting client expectations, and the importance of high-intent content.Follow NicoleWebsite: https://nicoleleemf.com/ Daydream: https://www.withdaydream.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolelee-marketer/ RecommendationsCorner Maps: https://get.corner.inc/Opal: https://www.opal.so/ Graphite AEO tools: https://graphite.io/five-percent/aeo-toolsThinking in Bets: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35957157-thinking-in-bets Timestamps00:00 Introduction to Long Tail Keywords01:20 Welcome to Search with Candour01:36 Meet Nicole Lee08:16 The Importance of Long Tail Keywords in SEO15:55 Balancing Informational and Transactional Content29:42 Programmatic SEO Strategies36:11 Setting Client Expectations for Leads37:24 High-Value Conversions and Client Examples38:28 User Behaviour and Educated Consumers39:57 Specialised Content and High-Intent Articles43:50 The Art of SEO and Product Marketing49:08 Nicole’s Recommendations55:58 Staying Curious and Recommended Tools01:05:19 Upcoming Guests and Future Content

In the first episode of 2026, hosts Jack Chambers-Ward and Mark Williams-Cook discuss the major SEO news stories of 2025 and make predictions for the upcoming year.They reflect on their predictions from last year, including the impact of zero-click searches on organic click-through rates, the rise of video and visual search elements, and the importance of community and real marketing.The episode also covers Google's AI mode rollout, the challenges posed by automated advertising and privacy laws, and potential advancements in agentic search and browser-based AI.00:00 Introduction and New Year Greetings00:33 SEO Predictions for 202601:42 Zero Click Searches and AI Summarization07:40 Trends in Video and Visual Search12:30 The Return of Real Marketing20:39 Biggest News Stories of 202522:32 AI Mode Rollout Timeline23:30 Personal Use of AI Tools25:26 Global Expansion of AI Mode25:46 AI Mode and Search Functionality Predictions27:11 Impact of AI on Click-Through Rates31:12 Predictions for 202632:34 Automation and Data in SEO35:37 Challenges with Scraping and Indexing40:39 Agentic Search and Browser Integration44:52 Concluding Thoughts and Future Episodes

In the final episode of Search with Candour for 2025, Jack Chambers-Ward is joined by Greg Heilers to delve into the evolving landscape of digital PR. They discuss the current state and future of HARO (Help A Reporter Out), the impact of AI and LLMs on SEO and PR, and the growing influence of brand mentions in the age of global SEO.Greg also shares insights about the challenges and opportunities in the industry, particularly in the Chinese market. Join us for an engaging discussion on how to stay ahead in the ever-changing world of digital PR and SEO.Follow GregJollySEO: https://jollyseo.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregheilers/ Jolly SEO’s TL;DR: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL3o9O1rRBcLKq-hSgerIS8i47HWdOAiiWebsite: https://gregheilers.com/Greg’s recommendationshttps://featured.com/https://www.airtable.com/ https://youtu.be/ETlOSBR92Fs?si=Syh4xBbQScA2UXYh 00:00 Introduction and Opening Remarks01:14 The Evolution of HARO and Digital PR04:09 The Role of AI and LLMs in SEO and PR07:15 Challenges and Strategies in Link Building12:38 Globalisation and Language Barriers in SEO18:18 Future Trends and Industry Insights37:36 SEO Relevancy and Authority38:52 Pitch Twisting and Reactive PR39:50 GEO Relevancy and Brand Mentions46:23 Client Communication and Expertise Sharing54:07 Weird and Wild Link Building Requests58:55 Actionable Recommendations and Tools01:02:55 Exploring Chinese Culture and Final Thoughts

Jack Chambers-Ward is joined by Abi Bennetts to discuss the evolution of digital PR, the importance of brand building, and the impact of AI and LLMs on the PR landscape.Together, they explore strategies for creating authentic, relevant content and the significance of measuring brand sentiment and awareness. Abi also shares insights on how startups can leverage digital PR effectively and predicts the integration of digital and traditional PR in the future.Follow AbiWebsite: https://www.launchpr.co.uk/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abibennetts710/00:00 Why brand is the future of digital PR01:09 Introduction05:34 Welcome Abi Bennetts07:31 The Evolution of Digital PR and Brand Strategy10:05 The Role of AI and Authenticity in Digital PR12:36 Combining Traditional and Digital PR Tactics19:06 The Impact of Brand Sentiment and Trust33:04 Utilising Experts for Authentic Brand Building34:22 Balancing Virality and Planned Campaigns35:36 Holistic Approach to Digital PR36:18 SEO Integration in PR Strategies37:15 Defining Brand Identity and Messaging40:20 Advice for Digital PR Beginners47:25 Measuring Success in Digital PR53:16 Future of Digital PR and AI56:30 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Jack Chambers-Ward is joined by Amanda King for an in-depth conversation about the evolving landscape of SEO and the implications of AI-generated content.Amanda shares insights from her 15 years in the industry, discussing the challenges of maintaining relevant, high-quality content in a world where AI is increasingly prevalent. The episode covers a range of topics, including content consolidation, Google's move away from lexical search, and Amanda’s new tool - Topic Compass.Jack and Amanda also touch on the importance of balancing traditional SEO practices with modern digital marketing strategies to stay ahead in 2026.00:00 Introduction01:39 Welcome to Search With Candour04:35 Interview with Amanda King07:16 The Evolution of SEO and Content Strategies17:40 Challenges and Future of SEO34:21 Exploring Topic Compass and Content Relevance51:49 The Evolution of Google's Search Technology55:00 The Impact of AI on SEO and PPC56:11 Exploring Paris: Beyond the Usual Attractions01:01:35 The Importance of Updating Existing Content01:03:38 Tools and Strategies for Modern SEO01:08:31 Fun Recommendations: Movies, Games, and More01:23:29 Upcoming Episodes and Future PlansFollow Amanda:⭐Website: https://floq.co/⭐Topic Compass: https://topiccompass.io⭐LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandaecking/⭐Amanda's writing for SEL: https://searchengineland.com/author/amanda-king⭐Amanda's speakerdeck: https://speakerdeck.com/amandafloqLinks to resources/references:🎧Amanda’s previous episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3fWiAJwcO8🎧Discussing MUVERA with Egor Golovin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STcV-Y3KTAs📄Google’s MUVERA: https://research.google/blog/muvera-making-multi-vector-retrieval-as-fast-as-single-vector-search/

Join Jack Chambers-Ward in this episode of Search With Candour as he discusses the critical difference between strategy and tactics in SEO with special guest Derek Hobson from Brain Labs.Jack and Derek get super nerdy using everything from The Avengers to adult diapers to explore how to effectively structure your thinking around SEO strategies and tactics. They also discuss the importance of ongoing testing, adapting to industry changes like AI advancements, and building strong off-page SEO.Follow Derek:Brainlabs: https://www.brainlabsdigital.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dereknhobson/SEO Humorist: https://seohumorist.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@seohumoristResources:https://www.brainlabsdigital.com/navigating-the-new-era-of-ai-search/Greenshot: https://getgreenshot.org/The Sellout by Paul Beatty https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22237161-the-selloutThis is Strategy by Seth Godin https://open.spotify.com/show/0UggtiAbVMtoXAR3nhg2fK?si=14f33156e5ce4df700:00 Introduction01:38 Welcome to Search With Candour03:10 Guest Introduction: Derek Hobson from Brain Labs04:14 Defining Strategy and Tactics in SEO08:05 The Avengers Analogy: Strategy vs. Tactics21:42 SEO Strategy Development Process24:46 Marvel vs. DC: A Lesson in Strategy34:31 Unexpected Marketing Wins: Grommet Mug Case Study37:52 Client Strategy and Adaptation38:52 Creative Marketing Ideas40:54 The Importance of Brand Visibility44:07 SEO and Content Strategy48:55 Adapting to Industry Changes59:16 Off-Page SEO and Influencer Marketing01:08:36 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

In this episode, Jack Chambers-Ward interviews Ade Holder, frontman of Phinius Gage and owner of 427 Marketing. They explore how punk values can influence business practices, the challenges of maintaining authenticity, and the importance of constructive capitalism. Ade shares insights from his experience in marketing and as a musician, highlighting the intersection between creativity and analytical thinking. Tune in for discussions on music, SEO, client relations, and actionable tips for blending personal passions with professional life.Follow AdeWebsite: https://www.427marketing.co.uk/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ade-holder-3a010914/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/adeholder.bsky.socialPhinius Gage: https://phiniusgage.bandcamp.com/track/masquerade RecommendationsRank Caddy - https://rankcaddy.io/The Ritual by Adam Nevill - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10239382-the-ritualMalevolence - https://mlvltd.com/00:00 Balancing Punk Rock Ethics with Marketing00:55 Introduction01:25 Meet Ade Holder: Punk Rock Legend and Marketing Expert03:07 The Intersection of Punk Rock and Business Ethics03:28 Ade Holder's Journey: From Punk Rock to Marketing04:46 Authenticity and Business: A Personal Journey07:25 Navigating Client Choices and Ethical Dilemmas18:21 The Creative and Analytical Balance in SEO37:32 The Role of Ethics in Modern SEO43:00 Honouring SEO Pioneers43:20 The Importance of Testing Hypotheses44:10 Client Collaboration and Experimentation45:28 SEO Testing and Real-World Results47:01 Navigating SEO Challenges48:06 Understanding Client Issues50:59 Technical SEO Insights54:05 The Gap Between Cutting-Edge and Basic SEO57:43 The Importance of Authenticity in Networking01:01:12 Balancing Band Life and Business01:04:18 Recommendations

In this episode of Search with Candour, Ben Goodey, founder of Spicy Margarita, joins Jack to discuss how to create revenue-driven SEO strategies.The discussion explores how effective audience research impacts conversion rates, differentiating between top-of-funnel and bottom-of-funnel content, and the evolving role of SEO in the age of AI.Ben shares his insights on creating revenue-driving strategies and the importance of client communication in achieving long-term success.Follow Ben:Spicy Margarita: https://www.spicymargarita.co/How the f*ck: https://www.thefxck.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamingoodey/Resources:https://marketingcyborg.com/p/the-lema-framework-how-anyone-canhttps://withcandour.co.uk/podcast/how-to-create-content-that-stands-out-with-lily-ugbajahttps://seo.thefxck.com/interviews/product-positioning-april-dunford/https://seotesting.com/https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/221251872-when-the-cranes-fly-south00:00 How to make money from SEO00:56 Introduction02:04 Welcome, Ben Goodey02:51 The Importance of Revenue-Driven SEO09:39 Understanding Audience and Customer Research13:10 The Role of Content in Building Trust17:06 Leveraging Customer Insights for Effective SEO29:39 Competitor Analysis and SEO Strategy35:48 SERP Insights and Competitor Awareness37:15 The Importance of Tracking Conversions41:29 Integrating SEO with Broader Marketing Strategies51:13 The Impact of AI on SEO Strategies58:33 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

In this week's episode of Search With Candour, host Jack Chambers-Ward is joined by Leah Hart to explore the future of sustainable marketing in 2025.They delve into the importance of both environmentally and personally sustainable practices. Topics include the pitfalls of greenwashing, the energy costs of AI tools like ChatGPT, and effective ways to avoid burnout and maintain personal well-being in the industry. Follow Leah:Website: https://www.fourfront.us/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hartleahc/Recommendationshttps://www.thriftbooks.com/w/algorithms-to-live-by-what-computers-can-teach-us-about-solving-human-problems_brian-christian_tom--griffiths/10740830/item/25388624/ https://ground.news/https://www.fourfront.us/blog/sustainable-digital-marketing/00:00 Introduction04:43 Welcome Leah Hart07:08 Defining Sustainable Marketing08:01 Challenges and Strategies in Sustainable Marketing08:39 AI and Sustainability in Marketing12:24 Identifying Genuine Sustainable Practices22:06 Balancing Sustainability and Performance23:35 Hybrid Work Models and Sustainability27:12 Measuring Success in Sustainable Campaigns29:35 The Role of AI in Sustainable Marketing39:44 Personal Sustainability and Career Longevity42:52 Balancing Work and Personal Life44:00 Implementing Quitting Time and AI Tools45:24 Building Team Relationships and Communication49:52 Understanding Team Dynamics and Personality Types58:04 Advice for New Marketers01:05:50 Personal Habits for Reducing Stress01:10:17 Recommendations and Conclusion

Join Jack Chambers-Ward as he sits down with the award-winning brand consultant and designer Jacob Cass.Jacob recounts the harrowing experience of losing 95% of his site traffic and the strategies he employed for recovery.Jacob and Jack discuss practical brand-building exercises, the relevance of maintaining consistency across different platforms, and the indispensable tools and techniques to thrive in the ever-evolving world of SEO and digital marketing in 2025.Whether you're a solopreneur or a seasoned business owner, this episode is packed with invaluable insights and actionable advice that can help you manoeuvre through the complexities of digital branding and SEO.Follow JacobJUST Creative: https://justcreative.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobcass/JUST Branding podcast: https://www.youtube.com/c/JUSTCreativeBrand Builders Alliance: https://joinbba.com/Brand Builders Summit: https://brandbuilderssummit.com/Recommendationshttps://www.aiprm.com/en-gb/Poetry for Neandethals: https://www.explodingkittens.com/products/poetry-for-neanderthals00:00 The Rollercoaster of SEO and Personal Branding01:12 Introduction03:24 Jacob Cass's Journey and Career Highlights06:33 The Impact of SEO Changes on Just Creative12:11 Adapting to SEO Challenges and Shifting Strategies24:03 The Importance of Personal Branding in 202530:59 Building a Resilient Brand34:17 Client's SEO Struggles and Simple Solutions36:19 The Power of Word of Mouth in Business38:06 Consistency in Branding Across Platforms39:26 Balancing Multiple Roles and Audiences44:11 The Caveman Test and Simplifying Your Brand Message52:12 Experimentation and Creativity in Branding54:38 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

In this episode of Search With Candour, host Jack Chambers-Ward discusses the impact of Google's MUVERA (multi-vector retrieval system) on link building with guest Egor Golovin, Chief Commercial Officer at Serpzilla.Together, they explore how MUVERA recontextualises backlinks, emphasising the importance of context, relevance, and trust over raw volume.Egor shares his insights on current and future link building strategies, the role of AI-generated content, the significance of brand mentions, and the gradual shift towards more complex backlink strategies.Whether you're a seasoned SEO professional or new to digital marketing, this conversation offers valuable insights for refining your link building approach in the evolving digital landscape.Follow EgorWebsite: https://serpzilla.com/Follow Egor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/egor-golovin-949919204/Follow Serpzilla on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/serpzilla/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@serpzillaResources and recommendationshttps://research.google/blog/muvera-making-multi-vector-retrieval-as-fast-as-single-vector-search/https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3228917-outliers00:00 Introduction01:10 Welcome to Search With Candour01:22 Introducing Egor Golovin01:52 The Impact of MUVERA on Link Building02:42 Podcast Updates and Viewer Engagement04:07 What is MUVERA?11:18 The Role of AI in Content and Link Building12:25 Guest Posting and Digital PR in the Era of MUVERA19:49 The Value of Brand Mentions and No-Follow Links27:23 Link Protection Strategies29:35 The Future of Backlink Strategies30:14 Parasite SEO and Its Decline33:13 Emerging Backlink Strategies39:31 The Role of AI in SEO42:58 Actionable SEO Tips45:57 Recommendations51:38 Conclusion

Join us LIVE from Brighton as the teams from ⁨@SEOMindsetPodcast⁩ and Search with Candour come together for an engaging and informative podcast.In this special episode, the trio of hosts explore the importance of intentional social connections for career progression, and practical tips on maintaining good social health.The episode also features insights from the audience, real-life stories, and a detailed analysis of Google's take on 'social health.’Don't miss out on expert advice, heartfelt stories, and actionable tips designed to enhance your personal and professional growth in the SEO world!Headline sponsor - SISTRIXSISTRIX is the all-in-one SEO toolbox for those who want to succeed on Google, Amazon and Facebook. With SISTRIX's market-leading tools, you can optimise your website according to the latest Google guidelines, track competitors on Amazon and easily generate and perform research across TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.Food sponsor - MajesticMajestic maps the web to bring you the Link Intelligence data you need to dominate your market. Established in 2004, Majestic is dedicated to serving worldwide backlink data and analysis.Drinks sponsor - Good Signals and WhitworthGood Signals help brands that deserve to do better online – do just that. They use what makes your business unique and interesting to help you grow online in new and exciting ways – connecting your brand with the people who matter most to you.Whitworth SEO specialise in authentic SEO without the jargon. Just proper SEO consultancy, no fluff and purely focused on delivering return on investment from your organic channel.00:00 Introduction and Welcome01:21 The SEO Mindset Podcast Origins02:33 Introducing Search with Candour03:45 SISTRIX: How does Google define social health?04:40 Sponsor Acknowledgements12:10 Exploring Social Health and Loneliness17:01 Maintaining Work-Life Synergy27:51 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome37:09 Choosing Your Influential Five37:36 Using the 5-3-1 Model39:27 Quality Time and Presence40:13 Balancing Social Health and Solitude42:44 Tips for Social Health42:58 Overcoming Fear and Trying New Things54:49 Navigating Social Interactions and Remote Work01:00:03 Q&A and Personal Stories01:04:51 Closing Remarks and Thank Yous

Jack Chambers-Ward dives into the evolving world of SEO, AI, and branding with guest Yordan Dimitrov, SEO Manager at Reflect Digital. They discuss the importance of brand consistency, the role of LLMs (Large Language Models) like ChatGPT in shaping user experiences, and the pivotal strategies for maintaining visibility and relevance in an ever-changing digital landscape. If you're curious about how AI is impacting SEO or want tips on optimising your brand’s digital presence, this episode is packed with valuable insights and recommendations.Don't miss out on Yordan's upcoming talk at Brighton SEO and the exciting discussions around these crucial topics!Follow Yordan:Reflect Digital: https://www.reflectdigital.co.uk/ Website: https://yordandim.com/BioLink: https://yordan.bio.link/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dimitrovy/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/yordan-dimitrov.com BrightonSEO talk: https://brightonseo.com/talks/forget-seo-vs-ai-build-a-brand-people-trust-or-get-left-behind 00:00 Embracing AI: The Younger Generation's Journey01:14 Introduction to the Podcast01:29 Interview with Yordan Dimitrov01:41 The Importance of Brand in SEO02:20 Upcoming Brighton SEO Event04:15 SEO Strategies and User Behaviour06:17 The Role of Brand and Visibility10:05 Impact of AI on SEO Metrics13:49 User-Generated Content and Reviews22:21 Personalisation and AI in Search25:14 The Future of Search and AI31:06 Meta's AI Integration and User Consent32:01 The Shift in Digital Marketing Metrics33:04 The Impact of LLMs on User Conversion34:32 E-commerce Strategies for Better User Experience37:44 The Importance of Consistent Branding38:39 Personalisation and Localisation in Marketing45:55 The Role of User-Generated Content51:31 Adapting SEO Strategies for AI and LLMs54:17 Tool and Content Recommendations59:43 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this bonus episode of Search With Candour, Jack Chambers-Ward and Mark Williams-Cook share their top recommendations for talks at the upcoming Brighton SEO conference.Candour’s dynamic duo discusses talks that cover the value of human connection in digital PR, and explore the intricacies of AI, machine learning, and attribution models in SEO.Whether you're attending Brighton SEO or simply interested in staying updated with the latest in the SEO world, this episode is packed with invaluable information and expert commentary.Jack’s recommendationsJohn Iwuozor - https://brightonseo.com/events/october-2025/talks/vector-embeddings-for-everyday-marketers Yordan Dimitrov - https://brightonseo.com/events/october-2025/talks/forget-seo-vs-ai-build-a-brand-people-trust-or-get-left-behind Tom Capper - https://brightonseo.com/events/october-2025/talks/measuring-aio-impact-was-anyone-clicking-anyway Myriam Jessier - https://brightonseo.com/events/october-2025/talks/making-all-content-machinereadable-geo-beyond-text-optimization Lazarina Stoy - https://brightonseo.com/events/october-2025/talks/aipoweredormlenabled-semantic-keyword-research-for-the-ai-era Mark’s recommendationsTom Rawle - https://brightonseo.com/events/october-2025/talks/ai-is-dead-for-digital-pr-long-live-the-humansDixon Jones - https://brightonseo.com/events/october-2025/talks/what-ai-knows-about-your-brand-and-what-you-can-do-about-itLuke Carthy - https://brightonseo.com/events/october-2025/talks/lastclick-attribution-is-broken-and-its-hurting-seoAdam Gent - https://brightonseo.com/events/october-2025/talks/how-googles-search-index-worksWill Kennard - https://brightonseo.com/events/october-2025/talks/everything-you-need-to-know-about-react-server-components00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview00:38 Catching Up with Mark02:11 Candour's Recent Projects and Developments03:27 Upcoming BrightonSEO and Personal Updates07:59 BrightonSEO Talk Recommendations08:50 Mark recommends: Tom Rawle11:27 Jack recommends: John Iwuozor13:14 Mark recommends: Dixon Jones17:10 Jack recommends: Yordan Dimitrov20:04 Mark recommends: Luke Carthy22:58 Jack recommends: Tom Capper24:51 Mark recommends: Adam Gent28:22 Jack recommends: Myriam Jessier32:18 Mark recommends: Will Kennard36:25 Jack recommends: Lazarina Stoy38:53 Final Thoughts

In this episode of Search With Candour, Jack Chambers-Ward hosts Pablo Lopez to discuss the future of clickless SERPs and their impact on SEO.They delve into the widespread adoption of AI in search engines like ChatGPT and Google's AI Mode, the effects on user journeys, and the shift from traditional SEO tactics to strategies focused on direct traffic and brand loyalty.Pablo shares valuable insights on audience understanding, content strategy, and the importance of integrating SEO with other digital marketing channels.If you're looking to stay ahead in the evolving world of SEO, this conversation is a must-watch!Follow PabloDept Agency: https://www.deptagency.com/   Pablo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pablolopezm/ Pablo’s Recommendationshttps://ahrefs.com/blog/zero-click-search/ https://ipullrank.com/how-ai-mode-works https://seofomo.co/ 00:00 Introduction01:26 Welcome to Search With Candour02:54 Introducing Pablo Lopez04:02 The Future of Clickless SERPs07:51 User Adaptation to AI Mode10:58 Impact on User Behaviour and Trust19:58 Shifting SEO Strategies26:52 Measuring Success in a Clickless World36:36 User-Focused Content and Brand Loyalty38:39 SEO Strategies and Customer Understanding40:27 Impact of AI on Publishing and Content Creation50:54 Direct Traffic and Brand Recognition57:54 Recommendations01:07:44 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Episodes

In this week's episode of Search with Candour, Jack Chambers-Ward sits down with Manuel Madeddu to discuss the importance of a holistic approach to web performance.They delve into the significance of connecting various elements such as SEO, user experience, and sustainability for optimal web performance.Manuel shares his insights on adapting to the evolving search landscape, the critical metrics to monitor, and the significance of bridging the gap between different departments.Follow ManuelLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manuel-madeddu/Carpet Joe: www.carpetjoe.com00:00 Introduction to AI and SEO00:57 Welcome to Search With Candour02:30 Guest Introduction: Manuel Madeddu04:54 The Importance of a Holistic Approach07:23 Web Performance and Sustainability14:03 The Evolution of Search and SEO35:58 Balancing UX, Design, and SEO41:58 The Importance of Accessibility in Web Development44:15 Real-World Examples of Accessibility Challenges47:50 The Role of Legislation in Accessibility48:25 Colorblindness and User Experience51:06 Recommendations and Final Thoughts54:48 Tools and Software for Web Performance55:59 Entertainment Recommendations: Movies, Games, and Anime01:08:15 Upcoming Events and Personal Updates

Join hosts Jack Chambers-Ward and Mark Williams-Cook in this week's episode of Search with Candour as they discuss recent Google SERP changes and the impact of AI on keyword research.Discover why the SEO community is buzzing about Google changing the num100 parameter and how these modifications affect impressions and rank tracking.Additionally, the dynamic duo share conference experiences, and tease upcoming speaking engagements.Links:Search ‘n’ Stuff conference: https://searchnstuff.co.uk/conferences/search-n-stuff-antalya-conference-2025/International Search Summit: https://events.transperfectdigital.com/international-search-summit/Personas for AI search: https://searchengineland.com/seo-personas-ai-search-461343Google search drops num100 parameter: https://www.seroundtable.com/google-search-drops-100-results-parameter-40097.htmlJack’s brightonSEO talk: https://brightonseo.com/events/october-2025/talks/the-future-of-content-with-zero-clicksSponsor Jack’s charity MMA fight: https://justgiving.com/page/jack-chambers-wardTimestamps:00:00 Introduction00:44 Conference Highlights and AI Keyword Research01:58 Personalisation in AI Search07:30 Upcoming Conferences and Events12:56 Google's Search Parameter Changes21:55 Impact of Bot Traffic on Google Search Console Data24:13 Rise of New Crawlers and Tools25:34 Google's JavaScript Requirement Update27:33 AI Mode and the Future of Search35:10 Transparency and Data Limitations40:20 Upcoming Events and Conferences

In this episode of Search With Candour, Jack Chambers-Ward interviews Jojo Furnival, Marketing Manager at Sitebulb about the unique challenges of enterprise SEO.Jack & Jojo discuss issues such as the complexity and scale of large websites, resource allocation, and the importance of interdepartmental communication.Jojo shares insights on the value of automation and proactive management, as well as the essential human skills necessary for effective SEO at an enterprise level.They also chat about Sitebulb's new cloud services and the importance of aligning SEO strategies with broader business goals.Jojo’s recommendations:New free enterprise SEO courseRendering Difference Engine Chrome extensionMy Victorian Nightmare podcastFollow Jojo:⁠Check out Sitebulb⁠⁠Follow Jojo on LinkedIn⁠⁠Follow Jojo on Bluesky⁠Resources:Previous episode with Patrick about JavaScript SEOPrevious episode about enterprise SEO strategies from January 2024Sitebulb webinar about enterprise SEOTime stamps00:00 Introduction to Enterprise SEO Challenges01:14 Welcome to Search With Candour04:45 Welcome Jojo Furnival06:10 Understanding Enterprise SEO Challenges10:08 Navigating Technical and Human Challenges14:24 Prioritisation and Communication in SEO22:38 Aligning SEO with Other Departments26:10 Adapting to Outdated Technology30:12 Log File Analysis and Future Plans31:40 Automation in SEO: Balancing Technology and Human Touch33:19 Enterprise SEO: Tool Stack and Automation Strategies35:28 Effective Communication and Soft Skills in SEO39:44 Understanding Roles and Skills in SEO Teams45:38 Challenges and Metrics in Enterprise SEO51:03 Adapting to AI and LLMs in SEO55:46 Recommendations and Final Thoughts62:05 Outro