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 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 led to smart growth.

Key Takeaways:

• Own Your Niche: Trying to serve everyone leads to confusion; doubling down on “senior night gifts” turned Crystal’s brand into the go-to source.
• Brand Identity Matters: When you’re for someone, you’re not for everyone — and that’s a strength, not a weakness.
• Price with Purpose: Raising prices to reflect value may turn away some customers — but it attracts the right ones.
• SEO + Branding = Power Couple: Traffic without conversion is a dead end; emotional storytelling transforms page views into purchases.
• Product Bundling for Growth: Offering customizable, repeatable product experiences increases cart size and customer retention.

Memorable Quotes:

• “SEO isn’t just about being found, it’s about being remembered.” – Crystal Waddell
• “Does your page just rank — or does it resonate?” – Crystal Waddell

Listener Action Items:

1. Audit Your Brand Message: Who are you for? Who are you not for? Rework your messaging to reflect that clarity.
2. Raise Prices Confidently: Evaluate if you’re undercharging for your work — and raise prices to align with your value.
3. SEO with Soul: Look at your top pages. Do they tell a story? Do they speak to one specific customer’s emotional journey?
4. Revisit Your Product Line: Can you bundle or personalize existing products for better sales and repeat customers?
5. Check Conversion, Not Just Traffic: Review if your SEO strategy leads to sales — not just visits.

Does SEO feel confusing, overwhelming, or just plain impossible to figure out? You’re not alone. That’s why I created the AI SEO Foundations course, powered by Crystal GPT: your personal AI SEO coach designed for busy, creative business owners like you.

Ditch the overwhelm and discover what SEO can do for your business! Head to SEOin7days.com (with the number 7!) and get started today—let’s make your brand easy to find and impossible to ignore.

Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome back to the Simple and Smart SEO show podcast.
• 0:03 Have your host, crystal Waddell, and today I am solo doing a follow through episode.
• 0:09 That's not quite on Friday, but I thought, you know what?
• 0:12 Reflecting on the Year So Far
• 0:31 Implementing Insights from Mordy Oberstein
• 1:31 Focusing on a Niche Market
• 2:49 The Importance of Brand Identity
• 4:31 Pricing Strategies and Lessons Learned
• 6:01 SEO and Branding: The New Power Couple
• 6:55 Crafting Emotional Connections
• 9:06 Brand Expansion: Do's and Don'ts
• 12:14 Conclusion and Final Thoughts