Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Search with Candour
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SEO and AI News Roundup: Google’s /goto Redirects, GSC AI Reports, PAA Goes AI & Publisher Payment Pilot Program | 28 sept. 2026 | 00:17:45 | |
Recorded the day after the first SearchNorwichXL, this episode recaps the last four weeks of SEO news from the Core Updates newsletter: Google rolling out google.com/goto pass-through URLs to deter scraping amid the SERP API lawsuit (with rank-tracking tools finding workarounds); Google Search Console’s generative AI performance reporting rolling out globally, showing impressions for AI Overviews/AI Mode, alongside a toggle to opt sites out of generative AI features without affecting organic rankings; data suggesting nearly all People Also Ask results are AI-generated; and a Google AI Contribution pilot in Search Console that tests paying publishers when their content significantly contributes to AI-generated responses in Gemini, AI Overviews, and AI Mode. News stories
Chapters 00:00 Welcome and recap 01:11 SearchNorwichXL highlights 02:15 September 2026 news 02:40 Google’s new goto redirect URLs 05:26 GSC AI reports rollout 08:42 AI Overviews takeover People Also Ask 11:15 Google pilots new publisher payment program 15:44 Season five teaser 17:21 Wrap up | |||
| Building a Personal Brand (Without Being Cringe) | Search With Candour x Indie Business Club | 21 sept. 2026 | 01:42:54 | |
Jack Chambers-Ward hosts a crossover episode of Search With Candour with Mel Barfield from Indie Business Club, discussing personal branding through shared interests, authenticity, and community. The conversation covers balancing personal brand with employed work, using hobbies (ranging from board games and films to music and cheese) to create relatable connections, and how small signals like presenting yourself authentically can create new connections. Jack & Mel also discuss how who you work with affects your brand reputation and why being nerdy about the things you care about is so important. Follow Mel:
Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:25 How Jack and Mel met 03:23 Freelancing advice 09:05 Building your brand with podcasting 14:42 Nerd Signals That Connect 16:14 Board games and playtime 21:21 Content consumption habits 24:08 Band t-shirts and relatability 25:58 Cheese discussion 30:49 The ethics of who you work with 33:17 LinkedIn gurus 35:55 Choose your clients carefully 42:31 Should you niche down? 44:21 Essentialism and focus 48:38 Futureproof your personal brand 53:44 How to be relatable 59:19 See It. Say It. Sorted. 01:04:45 Hobbies create connections and opportunities 01:08:19 Align your personal brand with your values 01:09:41 Find your audience 01:11:33 Don’t write like your audience is children (unless they’re children) 01:14:46 Curiosity builds rapport 01:18:39 Being nerdy works 01:22:46 Building a brand while employed 01:27:20 Conference recognition 01:29:21 Hot takes on LinkedIn 01:34:13 Wrap up 01:41:42 Where to follow us | |||
| Automating SEO With ChatGPT + Python (Seb Atkinson) & Google Exploit Insights (Mark Williams-Cook) | Search with Candour | 14 sept. 2026 | 00:49:36 | |
🌟 SearchNorwichXL - 24 September 2026: https://searchnorwich.org/ 🎟️Get your tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/searchnorwichxl-a-one-day-seo-conference-with-world-class-speakers-tickets-1985283700992?discount=podcast Jack Chambers-Ward previews SearchNorwichXLand shares two talks from past SearchNorwich events: First, Seb Atkinson shows how ChatGPT’s Code Interpreter is the cheat code you need to start automating SEO tasks and improve your data analysis abilities using Python - no prior coding skills required! Seb discusses the kinds of SEO activities you can automate with Python and how to use ChatGPT to get started, including what tools to use, example projects and prompts, how to resolve errors, and how to use ChatGPT to develop your own coding skills. Second, Mark Williams-Cook from Search Norwich 19, explains why using conceptual models is doing "advanced SEO" and what he learned from the Google exploit he discovered last year. Also, Mark describes how SEO is just like the video Theme Park (yes, seriously) ⌚ Time stamps 00:00 Introduction 02:39 ChatGPT's Code Interpreter: Your secret weapon for SEO automation success - Seb Atkinson 20:33 Improving your SEO with conceptual models - Mark Williams-Cook 47:03 Wrap Up | |||
| August 2026 SEO and AI News: EU AI transparency law, Claude watermarks, Google’s anti-scraping URLs | 07 sept. 2026 | 00:29:23 | |
Topics discussed:
News stories:
Time stamps 00:00 Coming up on the show 00:26 Introduction 01:45 EU AI-labelling rules 06:31 Microsoft Clarity AI brand query filters 11:31 Claude watermarking update 15:45 Google AI visual tools 22:49 Google anti-scraping URLs 25:54 What’s coming up on season 5 28:05 Wrap up | |||
| SearchNorwichXL Preview: SEO talks from Arnout Hellemans and Brendan Bennett | 31 août 2026 | 00:51:37 | |
Jack Chambers-Ward continues the hype for SearchNorwichXL by highlighting talks from Arnout Hellemans and Brendan Bennett, who will be speaking at SearchNorwichXL. Arnout’s talk from SearchNorwich 16 is titled ‘How to work on your SEO without paying for tools’, and Brendan’s talk from SearchNorwich 19 is titled ‘It’s not me, it’s you: Why your SEO or agency (probably) hates you’ 🎟️ Get 25% off SearchNorwichXL tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/searchnorwichxl-tickets-1985283700992?discount=podcast Chapters 00:00 Introduction 03:19 Arnout Hellemans’ talk 23:43 In-between talks 24:26 Brendan Bennett’s talk 49:18 Wrap up | |||
| The big SearchNorwichXL 2026 preview | 24 août 2026 | 00:47:15 | |
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/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:29 Mark’s first pick: Arnout Hellemans 08:36 Jack’s first pick: Giulia Panozzo 16:37 Mark’s second pick: Adam Gent 25:22 Jack’s second pick: Future Of Search Panel 31:14 Mark’s third pick: Myriam Jessier 39:14 Jack’s third pick: Martin Splitt 42:20 Discount code and tickets 43:43 Mark’s upcoming speaking schedule 46:55 Thanks and wrap up | |||
| SEO, design and brand in the age of AI | Search With Candour | 17 août 2026 | 01:20:12 | |
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:
Chapters 00:00 Welcome, Brendan Bennett and Mark Salisbury 01:09 Design vs SEO No Versus 03:01 Why Brand Matters Now 09:45 Defining Brand Beyond Logos 17:17 Brand Metrics and Frameworks 22:40 SERP Signals and Trust Issues 27:19 When Brand Beats SEO 33:01 AI Websites and Human Proof 36:12 Luxury Branding vs AI Content 42:05 Websites as Experiences 42:48 Designing for Agents 43:50 Trust and Spend Thresholds 45:47 Technical SEO Meets Semantics 49:10 Brand Voice vs Keywords 53:31 Traffic vs Conversion Tradeoffs 56:43 What Makes a Site Good 59:04 Trust Signals and UX Proof 01:02:14 Vibe Coding and Web Slop 01:03:44 Future of SEO and Design 01:08:51 Recommendations: Actionable tips 01:12:00 Recommendations: Tools to try 01:15:23 Recommendations: Fun things like dancing and video games | |||
| AI Search & SEO News (July 2026): Google Trends Update, ChatGPT + Yelp, AI Mode Ads & New Studies | 10 août 2026 | 00:40:02 | |
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 articles
Chapters 00:00 Coming up on this episode 00:29 Introduction 01:53 Live Podcast returns on 7 October 2026 04:19 Google Trends new comparison feature 09:31 ChatGPT adds Yelp reviews 12:35 SE Ranking study: Ads in AI Mode 18:39 Profound study: Google cites itself more 23:01 Ahrefs study: Does Google punish AI content? 29:37 SimilarWeb Generative AI Report 36:33 Wrap up | |||
| Turn client expertise into SEO gold | Search with Liv Day and Ellie Wraith | 03 août 2026 | 01:01:31 | |
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/ Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Search with Candour 02:46 Introducing Ellie Wraith 03:38 Introducing Liv Day 04:30 Why expertise matters now 09:48 Measuring information gain 15:12 Client chats vs keyword research 18:17 Handling hesitant experts 27:25 Personal brands and authority 32:53 What is trust in the AI era 35:10 Convincing clients to get on camera 37:04 Proving real Experts 39:30 Repurposing your content and assets 41:58 Technical difficulties 42:05 Finding Proprietary Data 46:50 Measuring Content Success 51:03 Recommendations: Ask more questions and prioritise based on your bottom line 54:01 Recommendations: Collate customer service data and check Reddit 56:44 Recommendations: Summer gigs and Widow’s Bay 59:00 Where to Follow and Wrap | |||
| June 2026 SEO News: Google is in legal trouble for AI Overviews, AI traffic reports in Google and Bing | 27 juil. 2026 | 00:34:15 | |
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 stories
Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:27 Preferred sources expand to AI Mode 05:08 Google adds creator Search Profiles 08:32 GSC AI performance reporting 10:25 Bing AI visibility tools 17:23 Google Business Profile data in GA4 22:34 German court finds Google liable for AI Overview content 31:11 Wrap up | |||
| Navigating SEO in the Age of AI and Misinformation | 20 juil. 2026 | 01:04:59 | |
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:
00:00 Fighting misinformation in YMYL industries 01:36 Meet Sean Barber 05:15 Why misinformation spreads so quickly 08:09 AI Overviews causing health risks 11:26 Patience versus accuracy 15:02 Organisation-wide strategies for companies fighting misinformation 21:19 The importance of transparency and reputation 26:28 Defensive vs proactive tactics 29:51 Proving your expertise 34:01 Put experts on camera 37:58 Low-budget video setup 39:51 Authenticity beats big productions 41:10 Why showing your face matters 43:13 How to build trust signals 46:18 AI search and funding 50:03 Bad press is actually bad press 52:59 Always keep a human in the loop 55:11 Recommendations: Sean’s actionable tip 57:41 Recommendations: Sean’s SEO tools 59:38 Recommendations: TV and movies 01:03:54 Episode wrap-up | |||
| How to rank in ChatGPT and AI search: Get AI traffic with listicles | 13 juil. 2026 | 01:08:03 | |
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:
Follow Léo:
Get your tickets for SearchNorwichXL Chapters 00:00 Highlights of Léo Poitevin 01:03 Introduction 05:24 Leo’s SEO background 07:14 Are LLMs easier to game than Google? 07:47 Google is good at fighting spam 12:36 AI competitor research 15:16 Competitor research for GEO 19:47 Tracking volatility 25:13 Imperfect data and KPIs for AI search 30:11 A listicle strategy that works for LLMs 33:01 Léo case studies 36:07 The risks of listicles 37:16 Self promotional listicles 38:04 Ranking shifts in ChatGPT 39:06 Listicles penalised by Google 41:48 Testing new limits 43:05 Links versus mentions 46:18 Black Hat vs White Hate SEO 49:15 Influencers and guest posts 52:34 What hurts AI search 56:20 Recommendation: Actionable tip 57:51 Recommendation: Tool 59:57 Recommendation: Cozy games 01:05:14 Where to follow Léo 01:06:44 Episode wrap-up | |||
| Search with Josh Bachynski | The ethics of AI SEO, the new ranking factors & evidence-based marketing | 06 juil. 2026 | 01:19:39 | |
Host: Jack Chambers-Ward | https://www.linkedin.com/in/jlwchambers/ | He/him In 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:
Chapters 00:00 Introducing Josh Bachynski 01:16 Introduction 04:15 Why evidence-based SEO is so important 07:05 The new ranking factors for AI search 15:00 Google’s definition of consensus and E-E-A-T 18:18 The ethics of Google’s business model 23:07 Google Ads incentives 27:34 Learn to embrace AI and adapt 36:11 Defining ethical marketing 41:18 Truthful ethical marketing 42:12 Virtue signalling and positivity 43:28 Use AI for good 44:03 Google is not moral 47:55 Adapt or lose jobs 50:37 Evidence-based SEO testing 53:55 Finding trustworthy sources in SEO 59:08 Accountability in communities 01:03:30 Recommendation: Actionable tip 01:08:36 Recommendation: Tools and software 01:14:03 Recommendation: Something fun 01:16:48 Where to follow Josh 01:18:31 Episode wrap-up and upcoming guests Follow Josh
Watch / 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/ | |||
| What SEOs should learn about UX from web designers | 29 juin 2026 | 01:13:44 | |
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.social TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@searchpedia Chapters 00:00 Intro trailer 01:37 Introduction 03:53 Why SXO matters 05:05 Building a common language 09:44 How often to have these conversations 13:17 Sell the value, to get buy-in 17:55 Show, don't tell 25:26 Go beyond best practices 30:27 Take a culture-first approach to research 34:33 The benefits of heatmaps 36:57 UX basics for SEOs 41:41 Designers should stay flexible 42:43 SEO basics for design teams 44:52 AI search shifts 47:30 Testing LLM Visibility 48:44 Laura’s perfect website 51:16 A dream of smarter site search 54:33 Personalisation vs bots 01:00:01 Recommendations: Actionable tip 01:01:47 Recommendations: Tools and software 01:03:49 Recommendations: Books and games 01:10:31 Where to find Laura 01:11:45 Episode wrap-up | |||
| Buying Links vs Digital PR: Risks, Costs, and What Actually Works (with Vince Nero from BuzzStream) | 22 juin 2026 | 01:18:19 | |
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 Vince Vince's recommendations:
Chapters 00:00 Highlight reel 01:12 Introduction 04:47 Welcome Vince Nero 05:38 Digital PR vs link buying 08:48 Link marketplaces data 12:47 Quality metrics relevancy 17:13 Google risks penalties 21:45 Cost value comparison 32:02 Digital PR long-term wins 36:07 The importance of owned assets 44:00 AI mentions new value 46:51 Linked vs unlinked mentions 48:25 When links don’t matter 49:46 Big brand campaign metrics 50:45 AI as a status signal 52:55 Non-AI agency debate 54:15 Trusting Google guidance 55:17 Search relations vs Google Corp 01:01:00 guidelines vs case studies 01:03:01 Recommendations: Actionable tip 01:04:24 Recommendations: Tool/software 01:05:37 Recommendations: Something fun 01:15:28 Where to find Vince 01:16:28 Episode wrap up and next guests | |||
| AI for Human SEO + “Maybe It Isn’t JavaScript” (Crystal Carter & Martin Splitt) | SearchNorwich highlights | 15 juin 2026 | 00:55:44 | |
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 Introduction 00:26 Search Nor Excel Preview 01:05 SearchNorwich 18 highlights 01:49 Crystal Carter Intro 04:59 AI Reality In SEO 07:41 Why Humans Still Win 09:54 Experience Signals Matter 15:17 Real Examples And Proof 17:39 Opinions Drive Clicks 20:51 AI Tools For Humans 23:39 NotebookLM Workflow 25:32 Wix Built In AI Tools 27:40 Crystal Wrap Up 28:58 Why JavaScript Gets Blamed 30:55 Use Search Console Rendered HTML 33:04 Missing Content Cats Case Study 35:32 Robots TXT Blocking The API 37:52 Google Rendering Bug Noindex JS 41:24 Phantom Noindex From CDN Cache 47:10 SPA Error Pages Returning 200 50:57 Fixing SPA 404s Properly 51:54 Summary Tools And Q&A 54:42 Wrap up | |||
| May 2026 SEO News Recap: Google I/O, AI Traffic in GA4 & the May 2026 Core Update | 08 juin 2026 | 00:47:57 | |
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 stories
Time stamps 00:00 Intro 03:11 Subscriptions and Trusted News 10:25 Reddit in Google Business Profiles 14:12 Google’s guide for AI search optimisation 29:07 GA4 AI Assistant Tracking 33:08 Google I/O recap 33:57 Search Box Reimagined 37:42 Agentic search and UI 40:28 Personal Intelligence 42:57 Google’s Universal Cart 45:17 May 2026 core update 46:58 Wrap up | |||
| Does Answering People Also Ask Questions Improve Rankings? (SEO Study w/ Chris Green) | 01 juin 2026 | 00:49:25 | |
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 Rankings 01:21 Show Intro and Context 03:12 Meet Chris Green 04:48 Why PAA Matters Now 06:14 Originality and Value Proxy 12:28 Study Setup and Intent Buckets 16:02 SERP Sampling Top 20 17:48 Scraping Content at Scale 19:28 How Deep to Pull PAA 21:01 Crawl Errors and Bot Blocks 23:38 Cleaning Scrape Data 24:00 Scraping Ethics and Bots 26:09 Study Setup and Scoring 27:29 Key Findings and Correlations 32:48 Why Intent Was Messy 36:43 Full vs Partial Answers 39:37 Client Action Plan 44:57 Beyond PAA Question Mining 47:23 Where to Follow Chris 48:12 Episode Wrap and Teaser | |||
| HiveMCR 2026 Recap - SEO talks, AI Search panel, live comedy and more | 25 mai 2026 | 00:31:26 | |
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 now Chapters 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:02:19 - Trendos ad 00:05:08 - Thursday at HiveMCR 00:05:52 - Nikki Halliwell’s talk 00:06:35 - Jess Atkinson’s talk 00:07:09 - Manchester SEO All-stars panel 00:08:10 - Token Honey 00:09:21 - Friday at HiveMCR 00:09:41 - Alex Moss’s talk 00:11:05 - Sophie Brannon’s talk 00:12:20 - Dawn Anderson’s talk 00:13:49 - Jono Alderson’s talk 00:16:19 - AI Search panel - Ben McKay, Nick Handley, Itamar Blauer and Gus Pelogia 00:17:21 - Itamar Blauer’s talk 00:18:22 - Areej AbuAli’s talk 00:20:16 - Brand and digital PR panel - Lisa Paasche, Harry Clarkson-Bennett, Jono Alderson, Shannon McGuirk and Ashley Liddell 00:21:20 - Gus Pelogia’s talk 00:22:22 - Ashley Liddell’s talk 00:23:40 - Gianluca Fiorelli’s talk 00:24:19 - Steve Paine’s talk 00:25:14 - Wrap up panel - Charlie Whitworth, Dawn Anderson, Luke Cope and Ned Poulter 00:27:02 - Live comedy by Katie Lingo 00:27:40 - Live comedy by Rich Wilson 00:29:06 - Live comedy by Jeff Innocent 00:29:49 - Wrap up and outro | |||
| Conversation with Adam Gent | How Google's index actually works and why indexing matters | 18 mai 2026 | 01:05:12 | |
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 Adam Follow Adam on Bluesky Chapters 00:00 Highlight reel of Adam Gent 01:40 Introduction 04:57 Why index monitoring matters 08:11 Search Console blind spots 10:29 URL unknown to Google 13:13 Why Adam built Indexing Insight 14:04 The 130-day rule for indexing 15:28 What page quality means 21:36 Site sections and patterns 29:37 Index bloat on big sites 32:20 Cleaning up for AI visibility 33:51 Indexing ratios that matter 36:44 Is indexing getting harder 37:33 Short-term vs long-term indexing 40:50 Demand-led recovery 44:29 Indexing misconceptions explained 48:39 Sitemaps for seasonality 52:11 Reducing Search Console noise 55:44 Recommendations 01:03:15 Wrap up | |||
| SEO News Recap (April–May 2026): Google AI Mode in SERPs, How to Build Agent-Friendly Websites & Gemini in Chrome | 11 mai 2026 | 00:40:33 | |
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 stamps 00:00 Intro 01:22 AI Mode hits main search tab 05:38 Search Console impressions bug 07:35 AI restaurant booking agents 11:09 AI Mode adds split-screen mode in Chrome 18:47 Audio Overviews on SERPs 21:51 How to build agent-friendly websites 30:15 Gemini in Chrome goes global 38:28 Wrap up | |||
| The Efficiency Paradox: Why AI Isn’t Actually Making Your Life Easier (Live at Ironworks Studios in Brighton) | 04 mai 2026 | 01:24:24 | |
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. Sponsors Follow The SEO Mindset Podcast Follow Search with Candour Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8c8k5Yy8FltVNsIsP1iUCSXDfE5cq2pM Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4AILSpWLI74daOhECb8Hm0 Chapters 00:00 Live Show Kickoff 01:23 Meet the hosts 02:48 Sponsors and SISTRIX Data 07:33 Majestic Books and Q&A 09:35 Efficiency Paradox Setup 11:00 AI Overwhelm and Pressure 17:48 Expectations vs Reality 21:52 Hallucinations and Misuse 26:00 Deskilling and Bad Bread 31:14 Maps Memory and Connection 37:34 Productivity as Self Worth 37:55 Rest As Productivity 38:35 Efficiency Versus Quality 40:50 AI Replacing Coworkers 42:36 Friction Builds Skills 47:56 Embrace Failure And Process 50:13 Life Beyond Work 55:46 Audience Q And A Uses 01:01:07 Forced AI And Boundaries 01:11:50 Profit Motives And Reliance 01:16:02 Books Comeback And Focus 01:22:57 Wrap Up And Thanks | |||
| Conversation with Mark Williams-Cook | Do People Also Ask Questions Improve Rankings? + Google’s Crackdown on Self-Promo “Best” Listicles | 27 avr. 2026 | 00:43:10 | |
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. No demo required. No paywall. Free plan available. Check your brand’s AI visibility now → Trendos.com They 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 stamps 00:00 Introduction 01:18 Back in the studio with Mark 02:48 PAA study setup 06:03 Methodology and scoring 08:10 Why commercial queries win 11:58 Regional PAA insights 16:40 Sponsor: Trendos 20:39 Listicle crackdown begins 23:37 Self promo listicles 26:15 Traffic drop fallout 28:57 Honesty beats hype 31:25 Gemini warning cards 34:17 No awards strategy 37:37 Fan out award signals 41:56 Wrap up and upcoming events | |||
| Conversation with Jasmine Granton | The mental health crisis in SEO & digital marketing (and how to fix it) | 20 avr. 2026 | 01:06:12 | |
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 stamps 01:14 Introduction 03:00 Welcome Jasmine Granton 05:09 Why marketing feels harder 07:44 Perfectionism and self-worth 12:24 Spotting burnout early 15:08 Journaling and closing loops 21:37 ‘Always on’ culture 27:10 Psychological safety at work 30:30 Learning from failure 32:30 Control circles and change 34:17 Building downtime into work 35:56 Creative focus time at work 37:17 Building self-compassion 38:22 Closing failure loops 40:32 Celebrating your wins 48:21 Track your feelings 49:55 Safety checks 55:22 Recommendations 01:04:00 Where to find Jasmine 01:05:26 Episode wrap-up | |||
| Social media SEO: Keyword research, search intent & content strategy (with Annie-Mai Hodge from Girl Power Marketing) | 12 avr. 2026 | 01:01:45 | |
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 Chapters 00:00 Welcome Back Annie-Mai 00:52 Why Social SEO matters 02:43 Keyword research tools 06:02 Testing keywords in analytics 09:07 Client audits and strategy 12:43 Avoid keyword stuffing 14:57 Posting times and expectations 20:21 Choosing content formats 25:20 Search intent on social 29:24 Repurposing across platforms 33:52 Trends vs core content 35:54 Meme trend pitfalls 36:36 Viral origins stories 38:58 Brand consistency 42:43 Human first optimisation 48:18 Profile basics that work 52:15 Are followers or views better? 56:24 Recommendations: Actionable tips, tools and Project Hail Mary 59:23 Wrap up | |||
| SEO News Recap: Google Discover & Core Updates, Bing AI Performance Metrics, Web MCP & UCP (Agentic Commerce) | 06 avr. 2026 | 00:27:37 | |
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/7eTbAa2jWdToLkraZj5y Bing’s AI performance report UCP 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/ Chapters 00:00 SEO news rundown 00:47 Google Discover Update 02:42 March Spam Update 03:43 March Core Update 05:15 Bing AI metrics debut 06:55 Inside AI Performance Report 11:03 New Bing AI metrics 14:42 WebMCP explained 18:06 UCP Agentic Checkout 20:43 UCP new features 22:45 Walmart vs ChatGPT conversions 25:02 Wrap up and next steps 25:44 Newsletter and event plug 27:16 Final thanks and teaser | |||
| How to get technical SEO tickets prioritised & shipped | Alison Moss | 30 mars 2026 | 01:19:11 | |
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 stamps 00:00 Get your dev tickets prioritised with Alison Moss 01:28 Introduction 05:41 Why tech SEO gets stuck 08:29 Sell fixes for buy in 15:25 How to write clear dev tickets 22:06 Prioritise issues smartly 26:47 Pick your battles and quick wins 32:19 Frameworks and relationships 42:47 Handling senior pushback 47:53 Explaining SEO value 48:10 Writing better seo tickets 50:56 Developer context links 52:13 Resurrecting backlog work 54:26 Using external proof 56:42 Don’t be afraid to jump on a bandwagon 59:56 Recommendation: Actionable tip 01:01:08 Recommendation: Tools and software 01:03:06 Recommendation: Butter, Project Hail Mary and Dungeons & Dragons 01:15:06 Where to find Alison 01:16:36 Conclusion | |||
| The key to client partnerships in SEO | Jessica Bettis | 23 mars 2026 | 01:04:56 | |
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.
Jessica’s recommendations:
00:00 Welcome, Jessica Bettis 01:25 Important client partner traits 03:12 How to build respect and trust with your clients 05:18 Commercial context matters 10:20 Building client trust 11:48 Matching teams to clients 16:59 The behind-the-scenes value 24:57 Skills and training balance 30:21 Onboarding and roadmap 34:28 How to prevent client churn 37:10 Resource management 39:52 The joy of surprise rebrands 46:29 Upskilling and training clients 49:56 Team collaboration magic 52:29 Recommendation: Actionable tip 55:31 Recommendation: Tool/software 58:59 Recommendation: Wuthering Heights (2026) 01:04:10 Where to follow Jessica | |||
| GA4 for 2026: Attribution, AI Search Metrics & Digital Archaeology with Bengü Sarıca Dinçer | Search With Candour | 16 mars 2026 | 01:03:28 | |
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 stamps 00:00 Show Intro and Guest Tease 02:04 Meet Bengü Sarıca Dinçer 04:58 Why Metrics Must Change 07:52 Assisted Conversions Explained 10:23 Branded Search and Recall 14:10 Digital Archaeology for Visibility 17:16 Tracking AI Search Traffic 24:18 Measuring Informational Content 28:50 Dark Social and Private Sharing 33:10 Every Platform Is Search 34:24 Beyond Google Mindset 36:43 GA4 As Question Tool 37:32 Metrics Mislead Warning 40:56 Email Social SEO Mix 43:43 Audience Nurture Flywheel 45:27 GA4 Hidden Features 47:43 Map Discovery Paths 50:31 Clarity Heatmaps Wins 54:36 Sims And Web Analogy 59:20 Where To Follow Outro 01:01:48 Episode Wrap Next Week | |||
| Using AI responsibly in digital marketing and podcasting | Sarah McDowell | 09 mars 2026 | 00:58:08 | |
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 podcast Follow Sarah:
Resources:
Time stamps 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 01:33 Weather Banter and Seasons 03:36 Why This AI Episode 04:35 Brighton Live Show Details 08:03 AI Usage Stats Reality Check 10:54 Adoption Curve and Attitudes 16:00 Risks, Data and Hallucinations 20:15 Disclosure and AI in Media 22:46 AI as a Tool, Not a Replacement 24:33 AI in Podcast Workflows 27:09 Uncanny Valley and What LLMs Are 28:29 Google Share Shifts 30:32 Live Podcast Announcement 33:00 Responsible AI Mindset 37:46 AI for Transcripts 42:28 Repurposing and Clips 47:30 AI for Clearer Writing 53:16 Key Takeaways Wrap 55:28 Event Details Goodbye 56:56 Final Outro Links | |||
| Future-Proofing E-Commerce for AI Search (Product Feeds, Schema, UGC & Agentic Commerce) | Dena Warren | 02 mars 2026 | 01:00:32 | |
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:
Dena’s recommendations:
Resources: Time stamps 00:00 Introduction 01:39 Meet Dena Warren 02:39 Why Clients Ask Now 04:38 Avoiding AI Snake Oil 06:52 Product Data And Schema 10:18 Personalised Comparison Prompts 12:13 2026 Ecommerce Essentials 15:56 JavaScript And Crawlability 17:33 Cloudflare Bots Panic 20:54 Feed Specs For AI 24:10 Agentic Commerce Readiness 26:44 No Separate AI Subsites 30:59 Multimodal Images And Video 34:06 Shopping In Context 35:08 3D And Video Demos 36:05 Machine Readable Packaging 37:29 SEO Shiny Object Traps 38:02 llms.txt Scepticism 42:22 Agentic Commerce Reality 46:16 Agent Ready Checkout 49:43 Small Brands Can Win 53:52 Recommendations 58:27 Episode Wrap up | |||
| Creating the perfect content campaign for International Women's Day | 23 févr. 2026 | 01:00:00 | |
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 Candour 01:01 Subscribe & listener call-to-action before the chat 02:04 Meet Faezeh Shafiee 04:09 Why this campaign now: International Women’s Day + interview-based content 05:17 From idea to execution: turning one interview into three 11:00 Using AI as an assistant 15:03 Keeping authentic voices and avoiding hallucinations 19:52 Results & business impact 24:06 Are interviews more valuable in the AI era? 27:21 The deeper why: women’s rights, personal context, and amplifying global voices 32:44 Why individual action and content matter 34:33 Storytelling as a content superpower 38:54 Using AI for transcription, translation & editorial surprises 44:10 What Faezeh learned from the campaign 46:56 How to use AI responsibly 48:45 Actionable Tip: Stop doomscrolling 51:43 Tool Recommendation: Conduit for internet access solidarity 53:39 What Faezeh’s enjoying: Watercolour painting and Bob Ross 56:45 Wrap-Up and next episodes | |||
| 7 Biggest SEO News Stories So Far in 2026 (Google UCP, Business Agent, Personal Intelligence) | 16 févr. 2026 | 00:35:36 | |
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:
00:00 Introduction 02:34 Candour Website Builds: Why SEO Must Be Baked In From Day One 04:17 Story #1: Google’s Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) for Agentic Commerce 08:52 Story #2: Google Business Agent - Branded AI Chat for Retailers 11:50 Story #3: “Personal Intelligence” and the Start of Fully Personalised Search 15:09 Story #4: Gemini-Powered Google Trends Insights 17:02 Story #5: Chrome “Auto Browse” & Gemini in the Browser 22:54 Story #6: SparkToro Study: Why AI Brand Recommendations Are Inconsistent 31:51 Story #7: February 2026 Google Discover Core Update 34:35 Wrap-Up and upcoming episode | |||
| How businesses can optimise for AI search | 09 févr. 2026 | 00:58:39 | |
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-dees 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 01:22 Guest Introduction: Alex Dees 01:47 The Rise of AI in Search 02:18 Optimising for AI Search 03:58 The Future of SEO and AI 11:55 Measuring Success in AI Search 16:38 Strategies for Effective AI Marketing 17:45 Content Structuring and Chunking 27:20 Combining Data for Better Insights 30:15 AI in E-commerce 31:31 The Future of E-commerce and AI 32:17 The Role of Structured Data in AI 33:41 Agentic Commerce: Trends and Insights 35:23 Google's Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) 36:04 Challenges and Opportunities in Agentic Commerce 44:23 The Impact of AI on Small vs. Big Businesses 46:53 The Growing Importance of Video Content 49:17 Actionable Recommendations for AI Search 52:59 Final Thoughts and Recommendations | |||
| SEO Trends & Insights from the Web Almanac 2025 | 02 févr. 2026 | 01:05:05 | |
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 Introduction 00:27 Discussing the Web Almanac 2025 01:38 Welcoming the Guests 03:15 SEO Chapter Insights 04:09 Data Analysis and Process 11:37 SEO Trends and Surprises 20:11 Robots.txt and Web Standards 30:11 Bing Bot and AI Crawlers 35:50 Legacy SEO Practices and Their Impact 38:16 The Rise of AI Crawlers 39:58 Adoption and Implementation of LLMs 48:59 Structured Data and Schema Markup 56:36 The Future of SEO and the Web 01:03:12 Closing Thoughts and Upcoming Topics 📖 The SEO Chapter of the web almanac 2025: https://almanac.httparchive.org/en/2025/seo Follow 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 | |||
| Top SEO Conferences of 2025 & What to Look Forward to in 2026 | Search With Candour | 26 janv. 2026 | 00:51:03 | |
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:
SEO conferences to look forward to in 2026:
00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:20 Conference Highlights and Reflections 01:57 The Importance of Networking 04:30 Top Conferences of 2025 04:48 Brighton SEO 08:50 Zagreb SEO Summit 15:13 SEO FOMO Meetups 19:46 Tech SEO Summit 23:55 Search and Stuff Antalya 26:46 The Importance of Preparation for Conferences 27:23 Navigating Language Barriers at International Conferences 28:07 The Value of Speaker-Audience Interaction 29:35 Upcoming Conferences in 2026 30:18 WTSFest London 33:50 SEO Brien Meetups 35:39 Hive MCR 39:33 Search and Stuff London 41:43 SearchNorwich XL 49:56 Conclusion and Final Thoughts | |||
| Video content is essential for success in 2026 | 19 janv. 2026 | 01:05:17 | |
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:
Resources
Veed guides for video marketing:
Georgie’s recommendations Time stamps 00:00 The Limitless Potential of Video Marketing 01:22 Introduction 03:26 Sponsor Message 05:13 Interview with Georgie Kemp 06:50 The Evolution of Search and Video Content 20:47 Community Engagement and Authenticity in SEO 34:47 Monitoring Brand Sentiment 35:12 The Party Analogy 35:49 Honesty in Product Comparisons 36:46 Community-Centric Content Strategy 37:55 Success in Video Generation and Editing 38:55 Comparison-Based Content 42:17 Brand Management and Visibility 48:17 AI's Role in Content Creation 55:21 Recommendations and Final Thoughts | |||
| Why AI makes long-tail keywords MORE powerful | 12 janv. 2026 | 01:07:29 | |
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 Nicole
Recommendations
Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Long Tail Keywords 01:20 Welcome to Search with Candour 01:36 Meet Nicole Lee 08:16 The Importance of Long Tail Keywords in SEO 15:55 Balancing Informational and Transactional Content 29:42 Programmatic SEO Strategies 36:11 Setting Client Expectations for Leads 37:24 High-Value Conversions and Client Examples 38:28 User Behaviour and Educated Consumers 39:57 Specialised Content and High-Intent Articles 43:50 The Art of SEO and Product Marketing 49:08 Nicole’s Recommendations 55:58 Staying Curious and Recommended Tools 01:05:19 Upcoming Guests and Future Content | |||
| What happened in SEO in 2025? SEO Predictions for 2026 | 05 janv. 2026 | 00:46:37 | |
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 Greetings 00:33 SEO Predictions for 2026 01:42 Zero Click Searches and AI Summarization 07:40 Trends in Video and Visual Search 12:30 The Return of Real Marketing 20:39 Biggest News Stories of 2025 22:32 AI Mode Rollout Timeline 23:30 Personal Use of AI Tools 25:26 Global Expansion of AI Mode 25:46 AI Mode and Search Functionality Predictions 27:11 Impact of AI on Click-Through Rates 31:12 Predictions for 2026 32:34 Automation and Data in SEO 35:37 Challenges with Scraping and Indexing 40:39 Agentic Search and Browser Integration 44:52 Concluding Thoughts and Future Episodes | |||
| The secrets to earning great HARO links with Greg Heilers | 29 déc. 2025 | 01:08:54 | |
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 Greg
Greg’s recommendations 00:00 Introduction and Opening Remarks 01:14 The Evolution of HARO and Digital PR 04:09 The Role of AI and LLMs in SEO and PR 07:15 Challenges and Strategies in Link Building 12:38 Globalisation and Language Barriers in SEO 18:18 Future Trends and Industry Insights 37:36 SEO Relevancy and Authority 38:52 Pitch Twisting and Reactive PR 39:50 GEO Relevancy and Brand Mentions 46:23 Client Communication and Expertise Sharing 54:07 Weird and Wild Link Building Requests 58:55 Actionable Recommendations and Tools 01:02:55 Exploring Chinese Culture and Final Thoughts | |||
| The truth about digital PR: Sentiment is more important than links | 22 déc. 2025 | 01:01:24 | |
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 Abi Website: https://www.launchpr.co.uk/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abibennetts710/ 00:00 Why brand is the future of digital PR 01:09 Introduction 05:34 Welcome Abi Bennetts 07:31 The Evolution of Digital PR and Brand Strategy 10:05 The Role of AI and Authenticity in Digital PR 12:36 Combining Traditional and Digital PR Tactics 19:06 The Impact of Brand Sentiment and Trust 33:04 Utilising Experts for Authentic Brand Building 34:22 Balancing Virality and Planned Campaigns 35:36 Holistic Approach to Digital PR 36:18 SEO Integration in PR Strategies 37:15 Defining Brand Identity and Messaging 40:20 Advice for Digital PR Beginners 47:25 Measuring Success in Digital PR 53:16 Future of Digital PR and AI 56:30 Final Thoughts and Recommendations | |||
| Stop using keywords, start using topics for SEO with Amanda King | 15 déc. 2025 | 01:27:44 | |
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 Introduction 01:39 Welcome to Search With Candour 04:35 Interview with Amanda King 07:16 The Evolution of SEO and Content Strategies 17:40 Challenges and Future of SEO 34:21 Exploring Topic Compass and Content Relevance 51:49 The Evolution of Google's Search Technology 55:00 The Impact of AI on SEO and PPC 56:11 Exploring Paris: Beyond the Usual Attractions 01:01:35 The Importance of Updating Existing Content 01:03:38 Tools and Strategies for Modern SEO 01:08:31 Fun Recommendations: Movies, Games, and More 01:23:29 Upcoming Episodes and Future Plans Follow 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/amandafloq Links 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/ | |||
| Strategy vs tactics in SEO with Derek Hobson | 08 déc. 2025 | 01:19:32 | |
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:
Resources:
00:00 Introduction 01:38 Welcome to Search With Candour 03:10 Guest Introduction: Derek Hobson from Brain Labs 04:14 Defining Strategy and Tactics in SEO 08:05 The Avengers Analogy: Strategy vs. Tactics 21:42 SEO Strategy Development Process 24:46 Marvel vs. DC: A Lesson in Strategy 34:31 Unexpected Marketing Wins: Grommet Mug Case Study 37:52 Client Strategy and Adaptation 38:52 Creative Marketing Ideas 40:54 The Importance of Brand Visibility 44:07 SEO and Content Strategy 48:55 Adapting to Industry Changes 59:16 Off-Page SEO and Influencer Marketing 01:08:36 Final Thoughts and Recommendations | |||
| Balancing Punk Rock Ethics and Marketing with Ade Holder | Search With Candour | 01 déc. 2025 | 01:19:09 | |
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 Ade
Recommendations
00:00 Balancing Punk Rock Ethics with Marketing 00:55 Introduction 01:25 Meet Ade Holder: Punk Rock Legend and Marketing Expert 03:07 The Intersection of Punk Rock and Business Ethics 03:28 Ade Holder's Journey: From Punk Rock to Marketing 04:46 Authenticity and Business: A Personal Journey 07:25 Navigating Client Choices and Ethical Dilemmas 18:21 The Creative and Analytical Balance in SEO 37:32 The Role of Ethics in Modern SEO 43:00 Honouring SEO Pioneers 43:20 The Importance of Testing Hypotheses 44:10 Client Collaboration and Experimentation 45:28 SEO Testing and Real-World Results 47:01 Navigating SEO Challenges 48:06 Understanding Client Issues 50:59 Technical SEO Insights 54:05 The Gap Between Cutting-Edge and Basic SEO 57:43 The Importance of Authenticity in Networking 01:01:12 Balancing Band Life and Business 01:04:18 Recommendations | |||
| SEO strategies that make money | Ben Goodey on Search with Candour | 24 nov. 2025 | 01:08:40 | |
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:
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00:00 How to make money from SEO 00:56 Introduction 02:04 Welcome, Ben Goodey 02:51 The Importance of Revenue-Driven SEO 09:39 Understanding Audience and Customer Research 13:10 The Role of Content in Building Trust 17:06 Leveraging Customer Insights for Effective SEO 29:39 Competitor Analysis and SEO Strategy 35:48 SERP Insights and Competitor Awareness 37:15 The Importance of Tracking Conversions 41:29 Integrating SEO with Broader Marketing Strategies 51:13 The Impact of AI on SEO Strategies 58:33 Final Thoughts and Recommendations | |||
| Sustainable Marketing in 2025: Environmental & Personal Sustainability with Leah Hart | Search With Candour | 17 nov. 2025 | 01:20:30 | |
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:
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00:00 Introduction 04:43 Welcome Leah Hart 07:08 Defining Sustainable Marketing 08:01 Challenges and Strategies in Sustainable Marketing 08:39 AI and Sustainability in Marketing 12:24 Identifying Genuine Sustainable Practices 22:06 Balancing Sustainability and Performance 23:35 Hybrid Work Models and Sustainability 27:12 Measuring Success in Sustainable Campaigns 29:35 The Role of AI in Sustainable Marketing 39:44 Personal Sustainability and Career Longevity 42:52 Balancing Work and Personal Life 44:00 Implementing Quitting Time and AI Tools 45:24 Building Team Relationships and Communication 49:52 Understanding Team Dynamics and Personality Types 58:04 Advice for New Marketers 01:05:50 Personal Habits for Reducing Stress 01:10:17 Recommendations and Conclusion | |||
| What to do when you lose 95% of your website traffic | Jacob Cass | 10 nov. 2025 | 01:01:49 | |
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 Jacob
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00:00 The Rollercoaster of SEO and Personal Branding 01:12 Introduction 03:24 Jacob Cass's Journey and Career Highlights 06:33 The Impact of SEO Changes on Just Creative 12:11 Adapting to SEO Challenges and Shifting Strategies 24:03 The Importance of Personal Branding in 2025 30:59 Building a Resilient Brand 34:17 Client's SEO Struggles and Simple Solutions 36:19 The Power of Word of Mouth in Business 38:06 Consistency in Branding Across Platforms 39:26 Balancing Multiple Roles and Audiences 44:11 The Caveman Test and Simplifying Your Brand Message 52:12 Experimentation and Creativity in Branding 54:38 Final Thoughts and Recommendations | |||
| MUVERA and the future of backlinks | Egor Golovin from Serpzilla | 03 nov. 2025 | 00:52:53 | |
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 Egor
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00:00 Introduction 01:10 Welcome to Search With Candour 01:22 Introducing Egor Golovin 01:52 The Impact of MUVERA on Link Building 02:42 Podcast Updates and Viewer Engagement 04:07 What is MUVERA? 11:18 The Role of AI in Content and Link Building 12:25 Guest Posting and Digital PR in the Era of MUVERA 19:49 The Value of Brand Mentions and No-Follow Links 27:23 Link Protection Strategies 29:35 The Future of Backlink Strategies 30:14 Parasite SEO and Its Decline 33:13 Emerging Backlink Strategies 39:31 The Role of AI in SEO 42:58 Actionable SEO Tips 45:57 Recommendations 51:38 Conclusion | |||
| Exploring Social Health & Career Growth | The SEO Mindset & Search with Candour Live from Brighton | 27 oct. 2025 | 01:06:29 | |
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! SISTRIX 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. Majestic 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 Whitworth Good 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 Welcome 01:21 The SEO Mindset Podcast Origins 02:33 Introducing Search with Candour 03:45 SISTRIX: How does Google define social health? 04:40 Sponsor Acknowledgements 12:10 Exploring Social Health and Loneliness 17:01 Maintaining Work-Life Synergy 27:51 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome 37:09 Choosing Your Influential Five 37:36 Using the 5-3-1 Model 39:27 Quality Time and Presence 40:13 Balancing Social Health and Solitude 42:44 Tips for Social Health 42:58 Overcoming Fear and Trying New Things 54:49 Navigating Social Interactions and Remote Work 01:00:03 Q&A and Personal Stories 01:04:51 Closing Remarks and Thank Yous | |||
| Build your brand or get left behind | Yordan Dimitrov | Search with Candour | 20 oct. 2025 | 01:01:08 | |
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:
00:00 Embracing AI: The Younger Generation's Journey 01:14 Introduction to the Podcast 01:29 Interview with Yordan Dimitrov 01:41 The Importance of Brand in SEO 02:20 Upcoming Brighton SEO Event 04:15 SEO Strategies and User Behaviour 06:17 The Role of Brand and Visibility 10:05 Impact of AI on SEO Metrics 13:49 User-Generated Content and Reviews 22:21 Personalisation and AI in Search 25:14 The Future of Search and AI 31:06 Meta's AI Integration and User Consent 32:01 The Shift in Digital Marketing Metrics 33:04 The Impact of LLMs on User Conversion 34:32 E-commerce Strategies for Better User Experience 37:44 The Importance of Consistent Branding 38:39 Personalisation and Localisation in Marketing 45:55 The Role of User-Generated Content 51:31 Adapting SEO Strategies for AI and LLMs 54:17 Tool and Content Recommendations 59:43 Conclusion and Final Thoughts | |||