Simple and Smart SEO: A podcast for Shopify sellers who want to expand beyond Etsy!

This episode was too good to leave in the archive!  As part of our Summer Replay Series, we're revisiting my conversation with consultant, SaaS founder, and self-described AI fanatic Andrew Ansley — and honestly, his advice is even more relevant today. Andrew breaks down exactly how he uses ChatGPT and Claude to run multiple businesses, why "clouding up the context window" is killin...

Ever felt like you’re being priced out of your own business growth? In this special summer replay, host Crystal Waddell tackles one of the biggest, most frustrating myths in the online business world: “If you’re not paying $5,000 a month for an SEO agency, you’re not getting anything worth paying for.” Spoiler alert: Crystal respectfully (and fiercely) disagrees. Drawing from a hilariously humilia...

What if SEO isn’t just about keywords, rankings, or “free traffic” from Google? In this rerun episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show, Crystal Waddell talks with Ray Grieselhube r, founder of DemandSphere , about why good SEO is really good product management — and why small business owners need to think beyond traditional rank tracking. Ray shares why SEO, user experience, content strategy, prod...

This Summer SEO Rewind episode is one you may have missed, but it is worth coming back to in 2026 ... especially if you’re trying to create content that actually helps your audience instead of just adding more noise to the internet. In this conversation, I’m joined by Christine McLean Lewis to talk about how content and expertise work together, why your content should be built around the customer...

We’re continuing the Summer SEO Replays Series with a throwback to one of our most popular episodes from The Simple and Smart SEO Show . This listener-favorite recap originally highlighted the top three most-listened-to episodes from season two, featuring conversations with Angie Colee, Nicole Lewis, and Matt Diamante . And honestly? The advice still holds up. In this replay, you’ll hear simple, p...

In this episode of The Simple and Smart SEO Show , Crystal Waddell revisits part one of her conversation with Andy Holland about performance SEO ... the kind of SEO that focuses on sales, revenue, and meaningful business growth instead of vanity traffic. Andy breaks down why chasing massive traffic numbers can be misleading, especially when that traffic does not convert into revenue. He shares how...

Your Shopify taxonomy is not just your navigation menu — it’s the way your store teaches Shopify, Google, Pinterest, TikTok, Meta, and AI tools like ChatGPT what your products are, who they’re for, and why they matter. In this episode of The Simple and Smart SEO Show , I’m breaking down why taxonomy is really your store’s semantic strategy. We’ll talk about the difference between Shopify’s built-i...

In this episode of The Simple and Smart SEO Show , Crystal Waddell continues her conversation with Angela Skane about creating SEO content that goes beyond keywords and actually connects with your audience. ✨ Angela explains why businesses should stop obsessing over every possible long-tail query — especially in the age of AI search — and instead focus on deeply understanding their target audienc...

In this episode of The Simple and Smart SEO Show , Crystal Waddell welcomes Angela Skane from Network Solutions for a conversation about why SEO needs to move beyond rankings, impressions, and visibility. Angela shares how her background in link building, viral content, and content strategy shaped the way she thinks about SEO today. Her big message? Impressions don’t pay the bills. SEO content has...

Crystal sits down with SEO expert Aimee Jurenka to unpack what visibility really looks like in the age of AI search. As traditional funnels break down and LLM-driven discovery rises, Crystal shares a practical, no-fluff framework for staying competitive: Get Found. Earn Trust. Be Chosen. They explore why foundational SEO still drives the majority of traffic, how AI bots interpret your content diff...

Is the old inbound marketing playbook officially broken? According to AI Visibility Strategist Aimee Jurenka , it’s time to "throw a funeral" for the traditional traffic metrics we’ve relied on for a decade. In this episode, Crystal and Aimee dive into the "panic state" many marketers feel as AI search begins to "swallow" organic traffic. They move beyond the fear to...

In this episode of The Simple and Smart SEO Show , I sit down with SEO expert Aimee Jurenka to unpack a major shift happening in the industry right now: 👉 The death of inbound marketing as we know it. For over a decade, SEO success was measured by one thing: traffic. But with the rise of AI search and disappearing clicks, that model is breaking fast. We’re talking about:  Why inbound marketing wo...

In this episode of The Simple and Smart SEO Show , Crystal Waddell sits down with SEO expert Matt Diamante in part 2 of their conversation to break down what actually moves the needle in your business visibility. Matt shares why most business owners are stuck doing the wrong kind of work... and how shifting from “doing” to “promoting” can unlock real growth.  From building trust through consistent...

In this episode of The Simple and Smart SEO Show , Crystal welcomes back SEO educator and entrepreneur Matt Diamante to unpack what’s really driving his explosive growth. Plus, why most SEO advice is overcomplicated or outdated. Matt breaks down SEO into its simplest form: solving problems for your audience.  He shares why consistency beats complexity, how topical authority actually works, and why...

In Part 2 of my conversation with Brooke Gramer, we shift from voice and branding into something even bigger — the future of search and AI-driven commerce. What happens when AI starts shopping for your customers? We explore agentic commerce, GPT updates, model selection, and where AI should never replace human judgment. We also talk about the guardrails business owners need as AI becomes more embe...

In this episode of The Simple and Smart SEO Show , I’m joined by Brooke Grammer, host of the How I AI podcast, for a powerful conversation about what’s really happening to content in the age of AI. If you’ve noticed that websites are starting to feel polished… but completely forgettable… you’re not imagining it. This episode is a must-listen for creative entrepreneurs, Shopify sellers, service pro...

Is SEO dead? Not even close. In part 3 of this Crystal Squared episode of The Simple & Smart SEO Show , Crystal Waddell sits down with Crystal Ortiz to unpack what’s really happening in the world of AI-powered search. AND SPOILER: SEO is actually in a strong position right now. They dive into how to define success beyond traffic metrics, how to use AI without wasting hours going down a rabbit...

In this episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show, Crystal Waddell and Crystal Ortiz dive deep into the psychology behind consumer decision-making and how that translates into smarter, more effective SEO strategies.  They explore the importance of relationship-building over time, understanding customer buying cycles, and using AI as a strategic assistant, not a shortcut.  Whether you're an e-c...

In this thoughtful episode of The Simple and Smart SEO Show , Crystal chats with fellow SEO expert Crystal Ortiz, founder of Socialhart.  With over a decade of experience in digital marketing and a background in education, Crystal O. shares her journey from retail to SEO consulting and why connecting with customers is more powerful than any ranking algorithm.  They explore the intersection of SEO,...

In this episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show , Crystal Waddell breaks down how AI search systems can lock businesses into outdated messaging, even after they've evolved.  Using a real-world case study of a lawn service company transitioning from residential to large-scale commercial work, Crystal explains how semantic misalignment—not visibility—is often the root problem.  She introduces...

In this episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show , host Crystal Waddell unpacks the concept of semantic triples and how understanding them can solve one of the most frustrating SEO issues ... getting impressions but no clicks.  Drawing from her experience at a technical SEO conference and a real-world case study from her own business, Crystal reveals how aligning your page’s content with user inte...

In this special workshop-style episode of The Simple and Smart SEO Show , Crystal Waddell guides you through creating a one-page vision board for 2026 that blends your business goals, SEO priorities, and personal life — without overwhelm. Whether you’re a Shopify seller, creative entrepreneur, or service-based business owner, this episode gives you space to reflect, reset, and move into 2026 with...

I'm sharing a throwback video that I made to help you think about creating a vision board for your business in 2026! In this episode, we go behind the scenes of a hands-on workshop using Canva to create strategic vision boards for your business. Discover how to design quarterly, monthly, and weekly boards that align with your marketing goals, blog content, and brand messaging. Whether you&apo...

In this “Best of 2025” highlight from the Simple and Smart SEO Show , we revisit one of our top-performing episodes featuring local SEO expert Darren Shaw .  Darren breaks down the critical mistake many local businesses make with their websites—and how to fix it using individual service pages .  If you're relying on a single "Services" page or even worse—a one-page website—this epis...

In this solo “Follow Through Friday” episode, Crystal Waddell (that's me!) reflects on the powerful branding and SEO insights shared by Mordy Oberstein (Former Head of Brand at Wix and Unified Brand Marketing.)  I'm sharing how I've implemented them in my own business. From niching down my e-commerce offerings to optimizing emotional storytelling in my SEO strategy, I share actionab...