Search with Candour

In this episode of the Search With Candour podcast, host Jack Chambers-Ward and guest Stephen Schneider cover the importance of strong site structure, internal links, and conversion rate optimisation (CRO). They also discuss the role of user experience (UX) and how to leverage tools like Google Analytics 4 (GA4) and AI to enhance your content marketing efforts. Additionally, Jack and Stephen explo...

In this week's episode of Search with Candour, hosts Jack Chambers-Ward and Mark Williams-Cook share insights and initiate debates surrounding critical SEO topics. The dynamic duo discusses the role of consensus in SEO, particularly scrutinising how its interpretation affects how much users trust search engines. They delve into the value of technical SEO, especially for small businesses, and q...

Jack Chambers-Ward and Anu Adegbola, an international PPC consultant and paid media editor at Search Engine Land discuss the significance of SEO and PPC team communication and collaboration. They explore strategies for sharing insights, tools, and data, as well as aligning goals to navigate Google updates and improve overall digital marketing results. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:37 Sponsored by...

In this episode of Search With Candour, host Jack Chambers-Ward discusses the evolving value of backlinks in 2025 with guest Tamara Novitovic from Bazoom Group. They explore how link building strategies need to adapt, the impact of AI on SEO, and why backlinks remain crucial. The conversation covers which metrics matter for link-building and future trends that will shape the SEO landscape. Whether...

In the first episode of 2025, host Jack Chambers-Ward is joined by Jamie Indigo, an expert in technical SEO and an overall delightful human being. Jamie guides Jack through the findings from the 2024 Web Almanac's SEO chapter including technical data changes over recent years, offering insights and predictions for the future. Jamie also highlights AI's rising influence, the importance of robots.tx...

In this special episode of Search With Candour, hosts Jack Chambers-Ward and Mark Williams-Cook sit down with guests Arnout Hellemans , Yagmur Simsek , and Begum Kaya . Recorded in a brand new studio to celebrate the finale of Season 3, the panel discusses SEO industry highlights from 2024, and makes some SEO predictions for 2025. Topics include the rise of AI, shifts in search engine market share...

Jack Chambers-Ward and Mark Williams-Cook follow up on Mark's popular Search Norwich talk about conceptual models for SEO and his recent Google exploit discovery. Mark & Jack explore the details of the fascinating Google exploit, dissect the talk's key points, and answer questions from the community. The duo also preview next week’s big episode featuring three special guests and discuss the re...

Jack Chambers Ward celebrates the near end of the year with a Spotify Wrapped-style recap of the podcast's top episodes from 2024. Jack highlights the top 10 most watched and listened to episodes, along with honourable mentions from throughout season 3. Sponsors ⁠Experience the evolution of SE Ranking⁠ ⁠Try Optmyzr - Made by PPC people, for PPC people Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:42 Upcoming Epi...

Join Jack Chambers-Ward as he discusses storytelling, copywriting, and content strategy with Will Slater, the creative content specialist at 43 Clicks North. Will uses his experience as a writer and photographer to explain how even bad ideas lead to great ones, the importance of curiosity, and the intricacies of creating content that resonates emotionally with your audience. Jack & Will explor...

In this week's episode of Search with Candour, Jack Chambers-Ward is joined by Tomek Rudzki from ZipTie.dev to discuss AI overviews and their impact on SEO. Tomek shares insights on how AI overviews have risen in recent months, how AI overviews incorporate sources as well as the differences between traditional search results and AI overviews. Jack and Tomek also discuss Google’s approach to user-g...

Join host Jack Chambers Ward and special guest Amanda King as they delve into the intricacies of content hierarchy and content consolidation in this insightful episode of Search With Candour. Amanda and Jack finally meet to discuss the importance of getting content structure right, common mistakes to avoid, and the nuances of SEO best practices in 2024 and beyond. This episode is packed with exper...

In this bonus episode Search With Candour, Jack is joined by Steve Paine, the English-language marketing manager at SISTRIX to discuss breaking news on site reputation abuse and recent data insights. Steve & Jack explore the November core update from Google and its impact on website rankings with examples of affected websites such as Reddit, Forbes, The Guardian and more. Steve and Jack also e...

Jack Chambers Ward sits down with web data analyst Marco Giordano to discuss how to get the most out of your web data. Together, they delve into the intricacies of web analytics, covering topics such as incorporating crawl data, understanding GA4, leveraging BigQuery, and effectively communicating data insights to clients. Jack and Marco also discuss the importance of combining technical SEO exper...

Jack Chambers-Ward is joined by SEO veteran Noah Lerner for an in-depth discussion on the importance of critical thinking in SEO. Noah and Jack champion the structured, evidence-based approach to decision-making as well as discussing the challenges and pitfalls of problem-solving, and the essential skills needed to excel in SEO. Noah also brings real examples from over 20 years of experience, such...

Join hosts Jack Chambers-Ward and Mark Williams-Cook as they tackle the latest SEO news and industry trends. In this episode, we'll cover the growing influence of AI in search, Google introducing AI-organised search results, personalised Google Shopping feeds, and the pitfalls of AI Overviews for finance queries and restaurant reviews. We also explore how Redditors are manipulating search results...

Join hosts Jack Chambers-Ward and Search With Candour Scream Queens, Myriam Jessier, and Stéphanie Walter, in this Halloween-themed episode packed with spooky surprises and valuable marketing insights. From e-commerce strategies and UX design to SEO tips and digital PR trends, you'll discover the scariest messages from your boss and the history of Halloween itself. Sponsors Experience the evolutio...

Join host Jack Chambers-Ward and special guest Darren Shaw, founder of Whitespark, as they dive into the latest in local SEO and Google Business Profile optimisation. Discover key updates expected in 2025, innovative methods to enhance rankings, the impact of custom service entries, strategic use of Google Posts, and the importance of robust Q&A sections. From optimising menu items for restaur...

Join Jack Chambers-Ward from Search With Candour and Sarah and Tazmin from The SEO Mindset podcast in this special live episode from Brighton as they tackle career planning without the overwhelm. Recorded in front of a packed audience at in The Globe Room at Projects The Lanes, this episode discusses personal experiences in career development, strategies like ikigai and ISA, and the importance of...

Giulia Panozzo joins Search With Candour to discuss the neuroscience behind negativity bias. Giulia combines her knowledge of neuroscience and marketing to bring some fascinating neuromarketing insights to the podcast! Why do negative headlines get more clicks than positive ones? How does negativity bias affect the way we search? Why does one piece of negative feedback standout against positive fe...

Maria Scheibengraf joins Jack Chambers-Ward to explain why localization is so important for your international SEO strategy. Direct translation just doesn’t work for SEO. You need to take culture and nuance into account when it comes to your international SEO strategies. Maria explains the common problems that many agencies and SEOs face with multilingual SEO and how to get SEO localization right....

Eric Hoover joins the Search With Candour podcast this week to discuss how to use AI for SEO. Yes, we’re finally talking about AI tools in detail and how to integrate AI into your SEO workflow. Eric has recommendations for using AI and LLMs for keyword research, competitor analysis, content creation, ecommerce optimisation and if SearchGPT can ever dethrone Google as the primary search engine. Spo...

Jack Chambers-Ward and Mark Williams-Cook reunite in the Candour studio to discuss the early reactions to SearchGPT, the helpful content update might not be what you think and how robots.txt can interact with redirects to cause indexing confusion. Links and resources SE Ranking SearchGPT research Combined SearchGPT analysis on SEJ The helpful content update isn't what you think it is When robo...

Ashley Liddell joins Jack on this week's Search With Candour to discuss how social media is infiltrating SEO and Google. With the recent increase in UGC on the SERPs, aligning your social media and search strategies has never been more important. Sponsors SE Ranking is the intuitive SEO platform trusted by over a million SEO professionals - start your free trial today.⁠ Free live podcast in Bright...

Jack Chambers-Ward discusses the latest SEO news you need to know about. This includes Google's controversial overhaul of their SEO video documentation, how to create your own AI expert with Gemini and is Android changing its default search engine? Chapters 00:00:00 Intro 00:02:06 Win one year’s subscription to AlsoAsked Pro 00:04:22 Live podcast - 2 October 2024 in Brighton 00:06:20 SEO news...

Sarah McDowell and Tazmin Suleman, host of The SEO Mindset podcast, return to Search With Candour to discuss career planning and the announcement of our upcoming live podcast event on 2nd October 2024. Get your tickets for the live podcast https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/989270774517?aff=oddtdtcreator Sponsors: ⁠ SE Ranking is the intuitive SEO platform trusted by over a million SEO professionals -...