Explore every episode of the podcast Your SEO Coach with Sam Sarsten

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In this video, I'm discussing my personal experience of running a small SEO agency and how I was extremely close to quitting early on. Being a small business owner isn't for the weak (regardless of the niche you're in); you have to have a certain level of Grit + intentionality to balance it all. If you're feeling a good bit of discomfort as a business owner right now, this is for you.

Chapters

00:00 Facing the Quitting Moment
01:29 The Marathon Analogy
09:19 The Journey of Building a Business
20:17 The Importance of Systems in Business
26:02 Finding Support and Growth
28:30 Building a Strong Team and Systems
29:19 Reflections on Personal Growth and Challenges
32:42 The Importance of Intentionality in Life
33:23 Navigating Business Challenges and Growth
42:01 Finding Motivation and Purpose
52:23 The Journey of Perseverance and Community Support

#localseo #localbusiness #localbusinessseo #googleseo #localseotips #seoforsmallbusiness

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👉 Jump all-in to the Academy (with a deal off your 1st month): https://www.localseoacademy.co/best-deal

In this episode, I break down the components of a $1,000 per month SEO plan, detailing the processes involved in local SEO over a year. I emphasize the importance of value-based pricing, onboarding, and a structured approach to SEO strategy, care, authority, and reporting. In this conversation, I discuss the phases of local SEO, including the strategy, build, care, and authority phases, emphasizing the importance of a structured approach to SEO for client success. I provide insights on building pages, managing backlinks, and the significance of regular reporting and client communication.

Takeaways
- Value-based pricing is crucial
- Structured SEO strategy enhances clarity Structured SEO phases
- Importance of client communication

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to SEO Plans
07:09 Onboarding and Initial Steps
12:57 The SEO Strategy Sprint
20:06 Care and Authority Phases
24:54 Building and Reporting
26:43 Identifying Key Services and Pages
30:05 Building and Managing Pages
31:59 Tasks in the Build Phase
32:24 Transitioning to the Care Phase
33:51 Establishing Authority Through Backlinks
39:07 Effective Reporting Strategies
40:05 Evaluating Client Success
41:05 Enhancing Content with FAQs and Blogs
43:53 Ongoing Client Engagement and Content Gathering
45:19 Integrating AI into SEO Strategies
48:13 The Continuous Nature of SEO

👉 Start charging more for SEO in 2027 ($10K Local SEO Offers - Free Resource): https://samsarsten.com/10k
👉 Jump all-in to the Academy (with a deal off your 1st month): https://www.localseoacademy.co/best-deal

The conversation focuses on the value and pricing of local SEO services, emphasizing the importance of mindset and understanding the potential return on investment for clients. I share success stories and strategies for web designers and SEOs to confidently charge higher fees for their services, highlighting the need to demonstrate value rather than just listing deliverables. In this conversation, I discuss the importance of value over deliverables in SEO services, emphasizing the need for a strategic approach to pricing and client relationships. I highlight the benefits of charging higher fees to create a sustainable business model and the significance of building trust through effective communication and reporting.

Takeaways
- Value over cost
- Charge confidently for SEO Value over deliverables
- Charge higher fees for sustainability

Chapters
00:00 The Power of Local SEO Results
02:59 Mindset Shift for SEO Pricing
05:49 Overcoming Pricing Objections
09:06 Building Confidence Through Experience
11:56 Identifying Ideal Clients for SEO
14:51 Stacking the Deck for Success
17:58 Understanding Client ROI for SEO
20:58 Deliverables vs. Value in SEO Packages
25:39 The Race to the Bottom in SEO Pricing
28:25 Shifting Focus: From Deliverables to Strategy
31:34 The Importance of Monthly Reporting
33:36 Overcoming the $2,500 Trap
37:52 Building a Sustainable SEO Business
39:48 The Power of Monthly Recurring Revenue
43:27 Learning from Experience and Building Confidence
46:23 Resources for Transitioning to Higher Fees
48:20 Final Thoughts on Value and Client Relationships

👉 Start charging more for SEO in 2027 ($10K Local SEO Offers - Free Resource): https://samsarsten.com/10k
👉 Jump all-in to the Academy (with a deal off your 1st month): https://www.localseoacademy.co/best-deal

The episode discusses local GEO, AI SEO services, and the lessons learned from offering these services in the agency. It covers the local GEO loop, competitor analysis, setting up AI visibility tools, monitoring and reporting, and action items. The conversation also delves into the importance of relationship building, lead magnets, and the challenges of using AI SEO tools. I discuss strategies for offering local SEO, including audits, boosts, and ongoing retainers. I emphasize the importance of AI visibility tools and the potential for growth in the local GEO market. I also share insights on pricing, client retention, and the value of AI SEO in the current landscape.

Takeaways
- Local GEO loop
- Relationship building for trust
- Challenges of using AI SEO tools Local SEO strategies include audits, boosts, and ongoing retainers
- AI visibility tools are crucial for client retention and providing valuable insights
- The local GEO market presents significant opportunities for growth

Chapters
00:00 Challenges of Using AI SEO Tools and Lead Magnets
28:33 Strategies for Offering Local SEO
36:35 The Local SEO Boost
43:15 The Local SEO and GEO Plan

Get your FREE AI Visibility Starter Kit (32-page doc + 46-min video): https://samsarsten.com/ai-visibility-starter-kit/

Best deal on my SEO community: https://localseoacademy.co/best-deal

SEO is dead for national SEO, but local SEO is thriving. AI overviews and chatbots have changed the game, reducing clicks and impacting businesses. Local SEO remains crucial for connecting service providers with consumers in the community.

Takeaways

• SEO is dead for national SEO
• Local SEO is thriving

Chapters

• 00:00 The Impact of AI on SEO
• 03:19 National SEO vs. Local SEO
• 05:01 The Evolution of Local SEO
• 09:10 AI Overviews and Local SEO
• 16:25 The Role of AI in Local SEO
• 26:29 The Future of SEO

Get your FREE AI Visibility Starter Kit (32-page doc + 46-min video): https://samsarsten.com/ai-visibility-starter-kit/

Join Alexia in the Academy with this deal: https://localseoacademy.co/best-deal

Alexia Lynn shares her origin story, from building her first website to evolving into a branding, web design, and SEO expert. She discusses her design background, love for Pixar, and her journey to becoming a full-time entrepreneur. The conversation delves into her experience with hiring team members and the importance of stable monthly recurring revenue in scaling her business. Alexia Lynn shares her journey of hiring VAs, her big vision for her agency, and the impact of SEO on her business. She also discusses the importance of being true to oneself and the value of results in sales.

Takeaways

• Entrepreneurial journey
• Evolution of services
• Impact of design background
• Importance of stable monthly recurring revenue
• Hiring and team structure Hiring VAs can help with time management and task delegation.
• SEO has had a significant impact on Alexia's business growth and client success.

Chapters

• 00:00 Future Vision and Team Structure
• 26:15 Finding and Hiring VAs
• 28:34 Big Vision and Agency Growth
• 30:08 Toastmasters and Public Speaking
• 31:03 Impact of SEO on Business
• 36:48 Dealing with Burnout

Get your FREE AI Visibility Starter Kit (32-page doc + 46-min video): https://samsarsten.com/ai-visibility-starter-kit/

Join Alyssa in the Academy with this deal: https://localseoacademy.co/best-deal

Alyssa Todd shares her journey from a corporate R&D engineer to a solopreneur web designer, emphasizing the importance of time freedom and flexibility. She discusses her early learning experiences, portfolio projects, and the growth of her web design business. Alyssa also highlights her transition to full-time entrepreneurship as a stay-at-home mom and the significance of celebrating small wins. Additionally, she shares insights on the value of coaching and learning by doing, offering encouragement to moms in the web design industry.

Takeaways

• Time freedom and flexibility are key motivators for transitioning to entrepreneurship.
• Learning by doing and seeking coaching support can build confidence and accelerate growth.
• Moms in the web design industry should prioritize their own pace and not compare themselves to others.

Chapters

• 00:00 The Origin Story: From Engineer to Solopreneur
• 02:00 Learning and Transitioning to Web Design
• 03:00 Early Projects and Growth
• 04:13 Balancing Business and Motherhood
• 07:29 Adding SEO as a Service
• 25:09 The Value of Coaching and Learning by Doing
• 33:18 Encouragement for Moms in Web Design

Get your FREE AI Visibility Starter Kit (32-page doc + 46-min video): https://samsarsten.com/ai-visibility-starter-kit/

Join Johnny in the Academy with this deal: https://localseoacademy.co/best-deal

Johnny shares his journey into web design, from the early days of Dreamweaver to his current focus on local SEO. He discusses his experience in the Web Designer Pro community and the impact of the Local SEO Academy on his business. Johnny also shares his long-term vision for his agency and the importance of building a team. The conversation covers topics such as team building, long-term vision, business services, and financial forecasting. Johnny shares insights on branding, website development, and the importance of focusing on one thing at a time. He also emphasizes the significance of forecasting and budgeting for business success.

Takeaways

• Web Design Evolution
• Impact of Local SEO Academy
• Long-Term Vision for Agency Team building and long-term vision are crucial for business growth.
• Focusing on one thing at a time is essential for success in web design and development.
• Financial forecasting and budgeting are key to maintaining a stable income and business growth.

Chapters

• 00:00 Journey into Web Design
• 02:56 Impact of Local SEO Academy
• 19:00 Long-Term Vision for Agency
• 22:02 Building a Team and Long-Term Vision
• 25:05 Business Services and Branding
• 42:23 Financial Forecasting and Budgeting

Get your FREE AI Visibility Starter Kit (32-page doc + 46-min video): https://samsarsten.com/ai-visibility-starter-kit/

Join Juliana in the Academy with this deal: https://localseoacademy.co/best-deal

Juliana Piper shares her journey from being a serial entrepreneur to becoming a successful web designer and SEO specialist. She discusses her struggles with finding a reliable website platform and her transition to using Show It. Additionally, she talks about her experience with SEO and her active involvement in the local business community. Juliana shares her journey of building a successful business while balancing family commitments and limited work hours. She emphasizes the importance of commitment, networking, and trying new strategies. Sam discusses the process of charging higher fees and the impact of recurring revenue on business stability. They also explore the challenges and rewards of growing a business while maintaining work-life balance.

Takeaways

• Serial entrepreneurship
• Struggles with website reliability
• Transition to Show It
• Experience with SEO
• Active involvement in the local business community Commitment and networking are key to building a successful business.
• Recurring revenue and strategic services provide stability and confidence in business offerings.

Chapters

• 00:00 The Journey of a Serial Entrepreneur
• 00:57 Struggles with Website Reliability
• 03:09 Transition to Show It
• 05:51 Experience with SEO
• 17:20 Active Involvement in the Local Business Community
• 24:48 Building Business Through Networking
• 27:16 Charging Higher Fees and Recurring Revenue
• 36:05 Balancing Business Growth and Work-Life Balance
• 42:45 Future Vision and Advice for Struggling Entrepreneurs

Get your FREE AI Visibility Starter Kit (32-page doc + 46-min video): https://samsarsten.com/ai-visibility-starter-kit/

Best deal on my community: https://localseoacademy.co/best-deal

In this episode I share my journey from using food stamps to building two six-figure businesses and achieving time freedom. I emphasize the importance of resiliency and the power of habits and systems in achieving success. I also highlight the significance of seeking help and the impact of mentorship on my journey. I share this journey of building a successful SEO business and the challenges I faced along the way. I also hit on the importance of systematizing and delegating tasks, as well as the value of teaching and mentoring others in the industry. I end the episode encouraging listeners to define their own path to success.

Takeaways

• Resiliency is the most important trait for business owners and in life.
• Goals are for losers, systems are for winners.
• Asking for help when needed is a sign of strength.
• Mentorship and guidance play a crucial role in shaping one's journey to success. Resilience
• Teaching
• Service
• Systematization

Chapters

• 00:00 From Food Stamps to Six-Figure Businesses
• 03:17 The Power of Numbers and Transparency
• 06:11 The Journey to Time Freedom
• 10:57 Discovering the Path to Success
• 13:24 The Impact of Mentorship and Guidance
• 26:36 The Journey to Success
• 28:34 Building a Business, Not a Job
• 29:03 Leadership and Team Building
• 30:00 Embracing the Role of a Teacher
• 30:57 Creating Better Systems
• 31:27 Trusting the Team and Achieving Time Freedom
• 32:57 Defining Success and Individual Paths
• 35:19 How Can I Help You?
• 37:39 Local SEO Academy and Community
• 41:31 Tools and Resources for Business Growth
• 47:21 The Journey to Abundance

Get your FREE AI Visibility Starter Kit (32-page doc + 46-min video): https://samsarsten.com/ai-visibility-starter-kit/

Join my local SEO community with this deal: https://localseoacademy.co/best-deal

In this episode, I introduce the concept of Local SEO and its potential for building a sustainable business. I emphasize the importance of learning the fundamentals and avoiding shortcuts to achieve success in Local SEO.

Takeaways

• Local SEO as a defensible marketing platform
• Focus on building a business, not a job

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Local SEO
• 00:30 Building a Sustainable Local SEO Business