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
240 episodes
From SEO to AI Search: Building a Modern Visibility Ecosystem That Actually Works
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 co...
SEO, But Make It Honest: Traffic, AI, and the Truth No One Wants to Say (Part 2 with Aimee Jurenka)
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...
SEO Got Us Traffic… But Not Sales (Here’s the Problem) Part 1 With Aimee Jurenka
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 decad...
The SEO & Content Strategy That Actually Drives Growth (Part 2 With Matt Diamante)
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 m...
How Simple SEO Really Works (and Why Most Advice Is Wrong) with Matt Diamante
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Matt Diamante to unpack what’s really driving his explosive growth.Plus, why most SEO advice is overcomplicated or outdated.
Agentic Commerce and the Future of Search: How AI Will Change Online Shopping (Part 2 With Brooke Gramer)
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 a...
Why AI Content All Sounds the Same (And How to Stand Out With Smarter SEO) Part 1 With Brooke Gramer
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 ...
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.
The Art of Relationship Building in SEO: Timing, Trust, and AI Tools (Crystal Ortiz Part 2)
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. The...
From SEO to CX: Crystal Ortiz on Why Customer Connection Is the Ultimate Ranking Factor (Part 1)
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, Cr...
How AI Search Traps Businesses in Their Old Positioning (And How to Fix It) (Semantic SEO Part 2 of 3)
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 co...
Why Your Page Isn’t Converting: How Semantic Triples Unlock Smarter SEO (Semantic SEO Part 1 of 3)
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.&nb...
Vision Board Workshop for 2026: Align Your SEO, Business & Life Goals (Without Burnout)
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 — wi...
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Intro to Vision Boarding for Business: Creating Clarity and Focus
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 bu...
The Power of Service Pages: Local SEO Gold with Darren Shaw (Best of 2025 Highlight)
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...
Best of 2025: SEO, Branding, and Smart Business Growth
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 ...
Bye, Bye Digital Silos! Hello, Intent-Driven SEO with Ashley Liddell from Deviation (Part 2)
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 ...
How to Maximize Black Friday Sales with Automated Email Marketing – Featuring John Hogan from Grid and Pixel
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 ho...
Search Everywhere®: Reimagining SEO Across All Platforms with Ashley Liddell (Part 1)
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” camp...
Using Shopify with AI and Smart E-Commerce Strategies (Part 2 with Deonnah Carolus)
📌 Episode Summary: In this episode, Crystal continues her conversation with Deonnah Carolus, the founder of E-Commerce Savvy, diving deeper into launching and scaling Shopify stores with the help of AI tools. Deonnah shar...
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Mastering Shopify for 2025: AI, SEO & Design Trends with Deonnah Carolus (Part 1)
In this episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show, Crystal Waddell (That's me!) is joined by Shopify expert and founder of e-Commerce Savvy, Deonnah Carolus. They dive into the recent changes at Shopify, talk AI integration,...
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GEO to Relevance Engineering: Redefining the Future of Search with Garrett Sussman (Part 2)
In this must-listen follow-up episode, Crystal Waddell is joined again by Marketing Director Garrett Sussman to unpack the fast-evolving world of SEO, GEO (Generative Engine Optimization), and the iPull Rank conception of "Relevance Engineering...
AI Search, Shopify & the New Rules of SEO with Garrett Sussman (Part 1)
In this episode of the Simple and Smart SEO Show, Crystal Waddell is joined by Garrett Sussman, Director of Marketing at iPullRank<...
🎧 Semantic Triples, Ikigai, and Optimizing Life with AI (Featuring Ana de la Cruz, Part 2)
In Part 2 of this conversation, Ana de la Cruz, SEO Lead at Chartis, returns to The Simple and Smart SEO Show with Crystal Waddell for a deep dive into the human side of AI.Ana unpacks how experimenting wi...
Vibe Coding Is The New SEO: Featuring Ana De La Cruz
In this episode of The Simple and Smart SEO Show, Crystal sits down with Ana de la Cruz, SEO Lead at Chartis, to explore her journey from Univision Radio to leading SEO strategy at a global media agency. Ana shares h...
