Simple and Smart SEO: A podcast for Shopify sellers who want to expand beyond Etsy!
Ready to turn your Etsy shop into a powerhouse brand on Shopify? The Simple and Smart SEO Show is the go-to podcast for Etsy sellers ready to bridge the gap between a marketplace shop and a powerhouse Shopify brand. I don't believe in one-size-fits-all roadmaps. Instead, I provide the high-level SEO insights and strategic shifts you need to interpret for your unique business. Join me to learn how to master the Shopify ecosystem, own your traffic, and build a brand that thrives on your own terms through smart, data-driven insights. Whether you’re just opening your Shopify store or looking to optimize an existing one, join us each week to simplify your marketing and grow your business on your own terms.
Episodes
In this episode of The Simple and Smart SEO Show, Crystal Waddell welcomes Angela Skane from Network Solutions for a conversation about why SEO needs to move beyond rankings, impressions, and visibility.
Angela shares how her background in link building, viral content, and content strategy shaped the way she thinks about SEO today. Her big message? Impressions don’t pay the bills. SEO content has to do more than show up — it has to ...
Crystal sits down with SEO expert Aimee Jurenka to unpack what visibility really looks like in the age of AI search. As traditional funnels break down and LLM-driven discovery rises, Crystal shares a practical, no-fluff framework for staying competitive: Get Found. Earn Trust. Be Chosen.
They explore why foundational SEO still drives the majority of traffic, how AI bots interpret your content differently than search engines, and wha...
Is the old inbound marketing playbook officially broken? According to AI Visibility Strategist Aimee Jurenka, it’s time to "throw a funeral" for the traditional traffic metrics we’ve relied on for a decade.
In this episode, Crystal and Aimee dive into the "panic state" many marketers feel as AI search begins to "swallow" organic traffic. They move beyond the fear to provide a roadmap for entrepreneurs a...
In this episode of The Simple and Smart SEO Show, I sit down with SEO expert Aimee Jurenka to unpack a major shift happening in the industry right now:
👉 The death of inbound marketing as we know it.
For over a decade, SEO success was measured by one thing: traffic. But with the rise of AI search and disappearing clicks, that model is breaking fast.
We’re talking about:
- Why inbound marketing worked for so long
- The real reason tr...
In this episode of The Simple and Smart SEO Show, Crystal Waddell sits down with SEO expert Matt Diamante in part 2 of their conversation to break down what actually moves the needle in your business visibility.
Matt shares why most business owners are stuck doing the wrong kind of work...
and how shifting from “doing” to “promoting” can unlock real growth.
From building trust through consistent content to turning one idea into multi...
In this episode of The Simple and Smart SEO Show, Crystal welcomes back SEO educator and entrepreneur Matt Diamante to unpack what’s really driving his explosive growth.
Plus, why most SEO advice is overcomplicated or outdated.
Matt breaks down SEO into its simplest form: solving problems for your audience.
He shares why consistency beats complexity, how topical authority actually works, and why chasing trends or “gaming the algorith...
In Part 2 of my conversation with Brooke Gramer, we shift from voice and branding into something even bigger — the future of search and AI-driven commerce.
What happens when AI starts shopping for your customers?
We explore agentic commerce, GPT updates, model selection, and where AI should never replace human judgment. We also talk about the guardrails business owners need as AI becomes more embedded in workflows.
If you sell online ...
In this episode of The Simple and Smart SEO Show, I’m joined by Brooke Grammer, host of the How I AI podcast, for a powerful conversation about what’s really happening to content in the age of AI.
If you’ve noticed that websites are starting to feel polished… but completely forgettable… you’re not imagining it.
This episode is a must-listen for creative entrepreneurs, Shopify sellers, service providers, and marketers who want to stay...
SEO Isn’t Dead — It’s Evolving: AI Search, Revenue & the New Rules of Success (Crystal Ortiz Part 3)
Is SEO dead? Not even close.
In part 3 of this Crystal Squared episode of The Simple & Smart SEO Show, Crystal Waddell sits down with Crystal Ortiz to unpack what’s really happening in the world of AI-powered search.
AND SPOILER: SEO is actually in a strong position right now.
They dive into how to define success beyond traffic metrics, how to use AI without wasting hours going down a rabbit hole, and why business goals [not shiny...
In this episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show, Crystal Waddell and Crystal Ortiz dive deep into the psychology behind consumer decision-making and how that translates into smarter, more effective SEO strategies.
They explore the importance of relationship-building over time, understanding customer buying cycles, and using AI as a strategic assistant, not a shortcut.
Whether you're an e-commerce owner, SaaS marketer, or smal...
In this thoughtful episode of The Simple and Smart SEO Show, Crystal chats with fellow SEO expert Crystal Ortiz, founder of Socialhart.
With over a decade of experience in digital marketing and a background in education, Crystal O. shares her journey from retail to SEO consulting and why connecting with customers is more powerful than any ranking algorithm.
They explore the intersection of SEO, AI, customer experience, and basic bu...
In this episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show, Crystal Waddell breaks down how AI search systems can lock businesses into outdated messaging, even after they've evolved.
Using a real-world case study of a lawn service company transitioning from residential to large-scale commercial work, Crystal explains how semantic misalignment—not visibility—is often the root problem.
She introduces the concept of semantic alignment and ...
In this episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show, host Crystal Waddell unpacks the concept of semantic triples and how understanding them can solve one of the most frustrating SEO issues ... getting impressions but no clicks.
Drawing from her experience at a technical SEO conference and a real-world case study from her own business, Crystal reveals how aligning your page’s content with user intent (not just keywords) can lead to hi...
In this special workshop-style episode of The Simple and Smart SEO Show, Crystal Waddell guides you through creating a one-page vision board for 2026 that blends your business goals, SEO priorities, and personal life — without overwhelm.
Whether you’re a Shopify seller, creative entrepreneur, or service-based business owner, this episode gives you space to reflect, reset, and move into 2026 with clarity and confidence.
✨ Grab a pen, ...
I'm sharing a throwback video that I made to help you think about creating a vision board for your business in 2026!
In this episode, we go behind the scenes of a hands-on workshop using Canva to create strategic vision boards for your business. Discover how to design quarterly, monthly, and weekly boards that align with your marketing goals, blog content, and brand messaging. Whether you're new to Canva or just need a cre...
In this “Best of 2025” highlight from the Simple and Smart SEO Show, we revisit one of our top-performing episodes featuring local SEO expert Darren Shaw.
Darren breaks down the critical mistake many local businesses make with their websites—and how to fix it using individual service pages.
If you're relying on a single "Services" page or even worse—a one-page website—this episode is a must-listen. Learn how your web...
In this solo “Follow Through Friday” episode, Crystal Waddell (that's me!) reflects on the powerful branding and SEO insights shared by Mordy Oberstein (Former Head of Brand at Wix and Unified Brand Marketing.)
I'm sharing how I've implemented them in my own business. From niching down my e-commerce offerings to optimizing emotional storytelling in my SEO strategy, I share actionable takeaways and honest lessons that...
In this episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show, Crystal Waddell (that's me!) welcomes back Ashley from Deviation to dive deep into the evolving world of search.
We break down digital silos across marketing teams, explore the power of unified metrics, and discuss why brand search and intent-rich content are key to dominating the search-everywhere era.
From creating demand via social media to optimizing for long-tail keywords ...
In this Black Friday-themed episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show, Crystal Waddell welcomes John Hogan, co-founder of Grid and Pixel.
We dive deep into how e-commerce businesses, especially those on Shopify, can use personalized and fully automated email flows to drive more revenue.
Learn the secrets to converting visitors with targeted popups, the importance of various email flows (including abandoned cart, product browse, and ...
In this episode of The Simple and Smart SEO Show, I'm stitting down with Ashley Liddell, co-founder of Deviation, to explore the concept of “Search Everywhere® .”
From Sephora’s “Black Beauty Is Beauty” campaign to understanding the evolution of search across platforms like TikTok, Pinterest, and Reddit, Ashley shares his journey to building a unique SEO agency.
We discuss the fragmentation of the customer journey, optimizing ...
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