The Edward Show

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

E948: A real SEO case study that challenges one of the most common link-building assumptions: that higher domain authority backlinks are always better.
Using an example from the SEO subreddit, I explain how a nationally known appliance brand improved rankings for an extremely competitive keyword by moving away from high-authority websites and intentionally building links from smaller, real blogs instead.
This is about nuance in SEO. Doing one tactic repeatedly - even if it's considered "best practice" - can stall growth or actively hurt performance. Search engines reward variety, realism, and natural patterns, not perfection.
What you'll learn:
- Why relying only on high-authority backlinks can limit rankings
- How low-authority websites can strengthen a backlink profile
- What a "natural" backlink profile actually looks like in practice
- Why difficult keywords require both volume and diversity
- How real blogs owned by real people influence search rankings
- The difference between strong backlinks and balanced backlinks
- Why repeating one SEO tactic is a long-term risk
Case study covered:
- A national appliance company targeting an ultra-competitive keyword
- An audit that revealed an overly "clean" backlink profile
- A strategic shift to smaller, niche blogs with real audiences
- Roughly 200 lower-authority links built over four months
- Rankings improved after adding variety, not more authority
Topics discussed:
- Backlink audits and pattern detection
- High-authority vs low-authority links
- Anchor text and link diversity
- Branded searches and natural signals
- Podcast backlinks vs journalist links
- Directories, partnerships, and linkable assets
- Why SEO should look normal, not engineered
Also covered:
- Why some self-promotional listicles are losing traffic
- The difference between a few transparent listicles and mass production
- Why templated, AI-generated content gets flagged
- How overdoing any tactic creates an unnatural footprint
This is a reminder that SEO isn't about maxing out one metric. It's about balance, variation, and consistency over time. If your strategy looks too perfect, it probably isn't working as well as it could.
⭐️ Moved Away From The Large Power Websites - https://www.reddit.com/r/SEO/comments/12ihay2/link_building_in_2023_strategies_that_have_worked/
💎 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: The Importance of Varying SEO Strategies
00:30 Case Study: Low Authority Sites Boost Rankings
01:03 Detailed Analysis: The Appliance Company Example
02:23 The Strategy: Building a Natural Backlink Profile
04:18 Practical Tips for Diverse Link Building
05:45 Addressing Criticism: Self-Promotional Listicles
07:43 Conclusion: The Power of Variety in SEO
The Edward Show. The #1 search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/
#searchengineoptimization #linkbuilding #backlinks #digitalmarketing