Leveraging SEO for Success
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Leveraging SEO for Greater Business Success: Insights from the E-Commerce Podcast
When it comes to growing an online business, search engine optimization (SEO) remains one of the most powerful and cost-effective ways to drive traffic and increase revenue. In a recent episode of the E-Commerce Podcast, host Matt Edmondson sat down with Brandon Leibowitz, the founder of SEO Optimizers, to discuss how businesses can maximize their digital presence through SEO.
If you’re looking to boost your search rankings, increase conversions, and outshine competitors, then this breakdown of their conversation is packed with actionable strategies just for you.
What Is SEO and Why Does It Matter?
SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is the practice of improving a website’s visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs). While there are paid ads at the top of Google, the organic (free) listings below them are what SEO focuses on. The goal? To rank higher on Google so that your website gets more clicks, traffic, and ultimately, sales.
Key Benefits of SEO:
- Long-term traffic growth – Unlike paid ads, SEO-driven traffic doesn’t stop when you stop spending money.
- Better brand credibility – Users trust organic search results more than ads.
- Higher ROI – Organic traffic has one of the best conversion rates compared to other channels.
Brandon emphasized that ranking on Google is about trust. Google doesn’t just take your word for it when you say your website is the best. Instead, it looks at external factors, particularly backlinks, to determine credibility
SEO Has Changed – Here’s What Works Now
SEO in 2007 (when Brandon started) was much simpler: throw in a few keywords, build some backlinks, and boom—you rank! But things have evolved. Today, SEO requires a more strategic approach. Here are some of the biggest changes:
1. Mobile Optimization Is Critical
Over 60% of online traffic now comes from mobile devices. Google prioritizes mobile-friendly websites, meaning if your site isn’t optimized for mobile users, you’re losing potential customers.
Actionable Tip: Ensure your website loads fast, is easy to navigate on mobile, and provides a seamless user experience.
2. AI and SEO: What’s Changing?
Google’s search algorithms are constantly evolving, with AI playing a bigger role. Voice searches, AI-generated content, and personalized search results are all reshaping how businesses should approach SEO.
Actionable Tip: Create natural, conversational content that answers user questions. Google rewards content that sounds human rather than robotic.
3. Keywords Are Still Important – But in a Smarter Way
Instead of stuffing a page with exact-match keywords, Google now prioritizes intent. That means long-tail keywords (e.g., “best mechanical pencil for drawing” vs. just “mechanical pencil”) and LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) keywords (related terms) matter more.
Actionable Tip: Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, or SEMrush to find buyer-intent keywords and naturally incorporate them into your content.
The Power of Backlinks: SEO’s Secret Weapon
A backlink is a clickable link from another website pointing to yours. Google sees backlinks as “votes of confidence,” and they are one of the biggest factors in determining search rankings.
How to Get Quality Backlinks
- Write guest blog posts – Contribute valuable content to industry-relevant websites and get a backlink in return.
- Leverage HARO (Help A Reporter Out) – Provide expert insights to journalists and get featured in high-authority publications.
- Network with bloggers and influencers – Offer a free product in exchange for a review and a link.
- Get listed on directories – Join local business directories, chamber of commerce websites, and niche-specific directories.
Avoid spammy backlinks – Buying 1,000 links from Fiverr may sound tempting, but low-quality backlinks can get your site penalized by Google.
Actionable Tip: Use tools like Ahrefs or Moz to analyze your competitors’ backlinks and target similar sources.
Optimizing Your Website for Conversions
SEO is about getting traffic, but what happens when users arrive? Your website must convert visitors into customers. Here’s how to improve conversion rates:
1. Improve Website Speed
A slow website kills conversions. A one-second delay can reduce conversions by 7%.
Actionable Tip: Use Google PageSpeed Insights to analyze and fix speed issues.
2. Use Clear Call-to-Actions (CTAs)
Make it easy for visitors to take action, whether it’s buying a product, signing up for a newsletter, or booking a call.
Actionable Tip: Keep CTAs visible and use persuasive text (e.g., “Get Your Free Guide Now!”).
3. Optimize for Mobile Users
Since most users browse on mobile, ensure your design is mobile-first. Don’t clutter pages—keep navigation simple.
Actionable Tip: Use short forms, easy-to-read fonts, and clickable buttons.
Blogging and Content Marketing for SEO Success
Writing blog posts isn’t just about sharing thoughts—it’s a powerful SEO strategy. Blogs help businesses rank for long-tail keywords and establish authority.
Best Blogging Practices for SEO:
- Answer common customer questions (check Google’s “People Also Ask” section for ideas!)
- Use structured data (FAQ schema) to increase the chances of getting featured snippets
- Create pillar content (long, detailed guides) and interlink to related blog posts
- Embed videos – Google prioritizes multimedia content, and YouTube (owned by Google) is the second-largest search engine!
Actionable Tip: Write blog posts answering highly searched questions and update them regularly for better rankings.
Final Thoughts: SEO Is a Long-Term Game
Brandon’s biggest takeaway? Be patient! Unlike paid ads that bring instant traffic, SEO takes months to show significant results—but the payoff is huge.
