The Edward Show

E953: I break down a very common mistake I see when people use my SEO page title formula - and why it quietly hurts conversions.
You can write a great page title.

You can include your keyword.

You can add the benefit.
And still lose the conversion.
The problem isn't the title.
It's what happens after someone clicks.
When your page title promises a specific benefit but your page doesn't immediately deliver on that benefit, visitors feel the disconnect. They were primed to get something specific - and instead they get generic content. That gap reduces trust, increases bounce, and lowers conversions.
In this episode:
- The page title formula I use (Keyword | Benefit | Brand)
- Why including a benefit changes how searchers behave
- Why Google is more likely to use your titles when they stand out
- The mistake almost everyone makes after rewriting their titles
- How to align your above-the-fold copy with search intent
- Why adding a simple summary (like a TL;DR) can increase conversions
- The difference between optimizing for clicks vs. optimizing for conversions
- How this applies differently to informational keywords vs. purchase-intent keywords
If you're targeting SEO traffic but not seeing conversions, this episode will show you what's missing.
I also reference a case study from the SEO subreddit where simply adding short summaries increased conversions by 33%, and explain why that works from a user behavior standpoint.
If you want to see the full page templates I use for conversion-focused SEO landing pages, you can learn more about my course here: https://compactkeywords.com
And new episodes every day until I collapse.
⭐️ How Adding TL;DR Boosted My Conversions by 33% - https://www.reddit.com/r/SEO/comments/1h3qstq/how_adding_tldr_boosted_my_conversions_by_33/
💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/
00:00 Introduction to Page Title Formula
00:29 Common Mistake with Page Title Formula
00:38 Detailed Breakdown of the Formula
01:22 Importance of Brand Name in Page Titles
02:11 The Critical Mistake: Ignoring the Benefit in Copy
03:27 Case Study: TLDR Boosting Conversions
04:51 Optimizing Pages for SEO
06:43 Conclusion and Personal Note
The Edward Show. The #1 search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/
#searchengineoptimization #onpageseo #seocopywriting #digitalmarketing

E952: I break down how to create research report linkable assets that journalists want to share - without needing proprietary data, expensive surveys, or massive resources.
This approach has produced dozens, and in some cases hundreds, of high-quality backlinks by using existing studies, a clear point of view, and very targeted outreach. The work itself is not complicated. Most people fail because they take the wrong approach.
What this covers:
- What a "research report linkable asset" is and why it works
- How articles like SEO Sherpa's 21 SEO Experiments article earned over 200 backlinks using other people's data
- Why niche targeting consistently outperforms mass outreach
- How to use ChatGPT agent mode to find studies, reports, and before/after data responsibly
- How to turn multiple studies into a single, compelling research narrative
- Why writing in a real human voice matters more than people think
- How tone and respect influence whether someone shares your content
- A simple way to aggregate findings into a strong headline hook
- How to rate and structure studies so the article feels original
- The difference between pitching the wrong journalist and the right one
- How to find journalists who already agree with the perspective you're presenting
- Why most link building emails get ignored or deleted
- Examples of pitches that fail vs pitches that get shared
- How this strategy builds links, topical authority, and long-term trust at the same time
Who this is for
- SEOs and marketers who want links from real publications
- Founders and site owners who don't have original research data
- Anyone tired of generic link building tactics that don't work
- People who want to earn links by being useful, not annoying
Key takeaway
You don't need original data to earn high-quality links. You need a clear perspective, solid sourcing, respect for the people you cite, and outreach that is actually targeted. When those pieces line up, the results compound.
💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/
00:00 Introduction to Creating Research Report Linkable Assets
00:35 The Power of a Niche Targeted Approach
01:18 Using ChatGPT for Research
01:49 Crafting Shareable Content
03:30 Targeted Outreach Strategies
05:08 The Importance of a Unique Perspective
07:51 Wrapping
The Edward Show. The #1 search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/
#searchengineoptimization #linkbuilding #linkableassets #backlinks

E951: I break down one of the most frustrating messages in Google Search Console: "Crawled, currently not indexed."
Your page was crawled. There were no errors. No noindex tags. No robots.txt issues. And yet Google still refuses to index it.
I explain what this status means, why it happens, and one common cause almost nobody talks about - along with a simple fix you can apply immediately.
What you'll learn:
- What "crawled, currently not indexed" really means inside Google Search Console.
- Why this status is not caused by 404s, noindex tags, blocked resources, or server errors.
- The difference between crawling and indexing in Google's systems.
- The most common reasons pages get crawled but declined for indexing.
- Why authority, competition, and topical relevance matter.
- An overlooked reason Google may skip indexing your page entirely.
The key insight:
Google doesn't just ask "Can we index this?"

It asks "Does this page add distinct value compared to what we already have?"
One of the strongest signals for that decision is your page title.
I walk through:
- Why generic or near-duplicate page titles can prevent indexing.
- How page titles signal value and differentiation to Google.
- A simple page title formula you can use on any site.
- Real examples across informational and bottom-of-funnel keywords.
- How better titles can improve click-through rate and user patience.
The page title formula covered:
- Target keyword
- Clear benefit or searcher goal
- Brand name
- Separated cleanly for clarity and intent
I also show how this approach helps:
- Differentiate your content in crowded SERPs.
- Protect your pages from future competition.
- Improve user engagement after the click.
- Increase the chances your page gets indexed in the first place.
If you're tired of publishing content that Google crawls but never shows in search results, this episode will help you understand what's happening and what to change.
⭐️ The Reddit post - https://www.reddit.com/r/SEO/comments/1qzt59k/understanding_crawled_not_indexed_in_gsc_an/
💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/
00:00 Introduction to Crawled, Currently Not Indexed
00:18 Understanding 'Crawled, Currently Not Indexed'
01:43 Common Causes and Solutions
02:08 The Importance of Unique Page Titles
03:02 Examples and Practical Tips
07:35 Using ChatGPT for Page Titles
08:15 Conclusion
The Edward Show. The #1 search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/
#searchengineoptimization #googlesearchconsole #digitalmarketing #seo

E950: David Quaid returns to the podcast to show how simple SEO can be.
Instead of chasing competitive keywords, buying tools, or following complex frameworks, David invents a brand-new term - 'Funfluencer' - publishes a two-sentence blog post, and gets it indexed, ranked, and cited by both Google and AI systems like Perplexity.
The result: a made-up term treated as a real concept, complete with definitions, explanations, and citations generated by AI - all without backlinks, schema, or long-form content.
We break down exactly what happened, why it worked, and what it proves about modern SEO and AI retrieval.
What's covered:
- How inventing a term can be easier than competing for existing keywords
- Why low or zero search volume keywords are often ignored - and exploitable
- How Google indexed and ranked a two-sentence blog post
- Why "thin content" isn't defined the way most people think it is
- How AI tools like Perplexity infer meaning and expand on minimal source material
- How internal links, backlinks, and schema were not required in this example
- How authority is passed from existing pages without clear or visible metrics
- The disconnect between common SEO advice and what actually works
- How to practice SEO safely without tools, subscriptions, or risk
- A repeatable approach anyone can test on their own site
This is a practical demonstration, not a theory.
No tools.
No research software.
No backlinks.
No long content.
Just clear intent, basic on-page structure, and understanding how search and AI systems work.
If you've ever struggled with indexing, ranking, or felt overwhelmed by SEO advice, this episode is meant to reset the conversation and show what's possible with a much simpler approach.
⭐️ David Quaid on 𝕏 - https://x.com/DavidGQuaid
⭐️ David Quaid on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidquaid/
⭐️ David Quaid's agency - https://primaryposition.com/
💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:09 Inventing and Ranking a New SEO Term
01:30 Defining 'Funfluencer'
03:03 SEO Strategies and Internal Linking
04:38 Debunking SEO Myths
11:55 Practical SEO Tips and Examples
17:38 Conclusion and Farewell
The Edward Show. The #1 search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/
#searchengineoptimization #answerengineoptimization #generativeengineoptimization #digitalmarketing

E949: Most people fail at journalist link building because they pitch what they want to say - not what the journalist is actually looking for.
I break down the exact approach I use to consistently get featured by journalists across platforms like HARO, Source of Sources, Featured, and Quoted. When I'm actively link building, this method gets me around 20 journalist backlinks per month, with acceptance rates that are significantly higher than average.
Journalists usually tell you exactly what they want. The mistake most people make is ignoring that and trying to "educate" the journalist instead. This episode is about recognizing the angle, responding correctly, and knowing when not to pitch at all.
We cover:
- Why journalists ignore most pitches, even from credible experts
- How to identify what a journalist is already trying to confirm
- Why many articles are already written before a quote is requested
- How journalist bias and deadlines shape what gets accepted
- Real examples from Source of Sources, broken down line by line
- What types of answers are almost guaranteed to be ignored
- How effective link builders structure their responses
- When responding is a complete waste of time
- Why credibility alone is not enough
- How to avoid getting links that hurt your brand long-term
Examples discussed:
- Chefs being asked to recommend meals at popular restaurant chains
- Cleaning and organizing experts being asked about common mistakes
- Ecommerce founders being featured for lessons learned and hard-earned insights
Each example shows how journalists clearly define:
- The angle they want
- The answers they will accept
- The answers they will not accept
Important boundaries:
- Why you should never pitch something that directly contradicts your public stance
- When a backlink is not worth the tradeoff
- How to avoid lying or misrepresenting your experience
- Why some highly effective tactics are not right for every brand
I also explain:
- How often I respond to journalist queries
- Why one high-quality response per day is enough
- My acceptance rate on Featured
- How this fits into my broader SEO and link building strategy
💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/
00:00 Introduction to Backlink Strategy
00:29 Understanding Journalists' Needs
01:41 Examples of Effective Pitches
02:52 Ethical Considerations in Link Building
05:49 Maximizing Acceptance Rates
10:12 Conclusion and Additional Resources
The Edward Show. The #1 search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/
#searchengineoptimization #linkbuilding #backlinks #publicrelations