AI is changing how we show up for people and where.

In this initial episode, we’re digging into how tools like Google’s AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Perplexity, and more are transforming how users search—and what that means for your SEO strategy. More to come on this topic, but this is the overview and starting point to understanding AI and search.

We cover the basics of:

• What AI search engines are and how they work
  
  
• The rise of clickless search and what it means for traffic
  
  
• Whether AI is replacing SEO (spoiler: nope, but it is evolving it)
  
  
• 5 actionable ways to optimize your site for AI search results
  
  
• Why digital PR, technical SEO, and topical authority matter more than ever
  
  
• How to track AI search traffic in GA4 and why you should
  
  

Keep your business ahead of the curve.

🔎 Read more here: https://welloptimizedseo.com/blog/will-ai-replace-seo/

Want to know if your site’s ready for AI search? Let’s chat—schedule a free consultation at welloptimizedseo.com

If your business deals with someone’s health, money, or legal safety—you’re in Google’s high-stakes category. In this episode of the WELL Optimized Podcast, we’re breaking down what YMYL (Your Money or Your Life) means, why it matters for your SEO strategy, and what you need to be doing differently if you run a business in a high-trust, high-impact industry like health, wellness, beauty, law, or finance.

We’ll talk about how Google evaluates trust and credibility, how to write content that ranks and builds client trust, and the common mistakes we see small businesses make when trying to show up online.

🧠 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• What is YMYL content?
  • The types of businesses Google classifies as “high risk” for misinformation
  • Examples of YMYL industries and what qualifies
• Why YMYL matters for SEO:
  • How Google’s algorithm treats these sites differently
  • The importance of E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authority, Trust)
• Common SEO mistakes in YMYL industries:
  • Not showing credentials or who’s behind the content
  • Writing generic content instead of demonstrating subject-matter expertise
  • Ignoring credibility signals like reviews, bios, citations, or FAQs
• Best practices for creating trustworthy content:
  • What to include on your About page and service pages
  • How to structure content with E-E-A-T in mind
  • Tips for boosting authority as a newer business

🎯 Takeaways:

• If your content could impact someone’s physical, financial, or emotional safety—assume Google is watching.
• Show who you are, why you're qualified, and how you help—on every page.
• It’s not just about keywords. It’s about building trust—online and off.

🔗 Links & Resources:

• Google’s Search Quality Evaluator Guidelines
• WELL Optimized SEO Workshops

Done is better than perfect, and taking action beats overthinking every single time.

You can build the most beautiful board, brainstorm like a pro, color-code your Google Calendar —but if you're not executing? You're just giving yourself a false sense of progress.

Time to execution matters. The longer you sit on an idea, the heavier it gets. It starts to feel bigger, scarier, more impossible. But momentum loves motion. So start messy. Start imperfect. Start with a coffee-stained post-it note and build something weird. Then go back and fix it later. Just start.

There are times when you SHOULD slow down, though. And we cover those in this episode, too. Certain things DO call for more time and thoughtfulness (partnerships, legal matters, financial leaps, etc).

Above all, remember that rest is not a reward; it’s a requirement.

And with quiet comes CLARITY. In this episode, I share my tips and tricks for quick execution without getting overwhelmed about having the perfect end product.

👉 Action Homework: Take messy action on something you've been sitting on.

Links & Resources:

💡 Apply to Be a Guest – If you’re a builder, creator, side hustler, or obsessive hobbyist, I’d love to hear your story! Apply here.

🎙️ Subscribe & Review – If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend, leave a rating, and write a review. It helps a ton!

Mentioned in this episode

SEO Workshops for Small Business Owners (grab a recording or attend the next one!)

🌎 Connect with Heather

• Website: welloptimizedseo.com
• Instagram: @welloptimizedseo
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-nicole-hamilton/

📩 Got a topic or question? Email me at heather@welloptimizedseo.com

SEO is one of the most misunderstood aspects of digital marketing. In this episode, we break down what SEO actually is (a long-term strategy, user-focused, and multi-faceted) and what it is not (instant results, just keywords, or a one-time task). Whether you're a small business owner or a marketer trying to make sense of it all, this episode will help you cut through the noise and focus on what really moves the needle in SEO.

What You’ll Learn:

• What is holistic SEO?
• Types of SEO
• Common misconceptions
• Why SEO is a long game, not a quick fix
• The key elements of a strong SEO strategy
• How SEO fits into your overall marketing plan

👉 Action Homework: Consider your customer journey. What would they be searching at all stages of working with you? From general questions about your industry to terms they’d search to decide on who to purchase from, write down these words! This is the start of keyword research and a solid content strategy.

Links & Resources:

💡 Apply to Be a Guest – If you’re a builder, creator, side hustler, or obsessive hobbyist, I’d love to hear your story! Apply here.

🎙️ Subscribe & Review – If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend, leave a rating, and write a review. It helps a ton!

Mentioned in this episode

SEO Workshops for Small Business Owners (grab a recording or attend the next one!)

Search intent blog

Read this episode blog while you listen!

🌎 Connect with Heather

• Website: welloptimizedseo.com
• Instagram: @welloptimizedseo
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-nicole-hamilton/

📩 Got a topic or question? Email me at heather@welloptimizedseo.com

In this episode, I dive into the power of local lead generation and why building relationships in your community is essential for long-term success. Whether you run a gym, salon, restaurant, or service-based business, I’m sharing actionable strategies to help you attract and retain clients right in your backyard. We’ll talk about:

✨ Building referral partnerships with other local businesses
📢 Using community events and sponsorships to boost visibility
📱 Leveraging social media and local SEO to get found by customers nearby
📊 Tracking what’s working so you can focus your efforts where it matters most

Plus, I’ll break down why local clients often become your most loyal advocates—and how supporting fellow small businesses strengthens the entire community.

👉 Action Homework: Make a list of local businesses you could collaborate with and brainstorm ways to connect with their audiences. The stronger your local network, the more resilient your business becomes.

Links & Resources:

💡 Apply to Be a Guest – If you’re a builder, creator, side hustler, or obsessive hobbyist, I’d love to hear your story! Apply here.

🎙️ Subscribe & Review – If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend, leave a rating, and write a review. It helps a ton!

🌎 Connect with Heather

• Website: welloptimizedseo.com
• Instagram: @welloptimizedseo
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-nicole-hamilton/

📩 Got a topic or question? Email me at heather@welloptimizedseo.com

Thinking about quitting your 9-to-5 and diving into entrepreneurship?

In this episode, I deliver a bit of a reality check on when starting a business makes sense and when it's better to hit pause. This isn’t your “manifest millions” pep talk—it’s an honest look at what it really takes to launch and sustain a business, from solving real problems to surviving those early, low-revenue months.

You’ll learn:
✅ Green flags that signal you're ready to start a business
🚩 Red flags that suggest it's not the right time
⚖️ How to test the waters before taking the leap

Whether you're itching to turn your side hustle into a full-time gig or just curious if entrepreneurship is right for you, this episode is your dose of tough love and motivation.

👉 Action Homework: Build your personal startup checklist using the red and green flags from this episode. If you're still feeling fired up after that, it's time to make your move.

💬 Enjoyed the episode? Leave a review or visit my website for more insights on marketing, SEO, and building a business that actually works.

Links & Resources:

💡 Apply to Be a Guest – If you’re a builder, creator, side hustler, or obsessive hobbyist, I’d love to hear your story! Apply here.

🎙️ Subscribe & Review – If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend, leave a rating, and write a review. It helps a ton!

🌎 Connect with Heather

• Website: welloptimizedseo.com
• Instagram: @welloptimizedseo
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-nicole-hamilton/

📩 Got a topic or question? Email me at heather@welloptimizedseo.com

Thinking about leaving your 9-5 to chase your entrepreneurial dreams? In this episode, I share my personal journey of quitting a traditional job to start my own business. I breaks down personal lessons learned, challenges faced, and the practical steps I took to make the leap. If you're wondering when and how to take the plunge, this episode offers real-life insights and actionable advice to help you prepare for the transition.

Key Takeaways:

✅ Quitting your 9-5 requires both mindset shifts and practical planning
✅ Preparation is essential—build a cushion & create your "quit my job milestones"
✅ Test your business idea while still employed to reduce risk - data is KEY!
✅ Expect challenges, but embrace the uncertainty as part of the journey
✅ You don’t need anyone’s permission—take the leap and trust yourself (but be ready to fail and make mistakes!)

While this episode is more of a personal story of my journey, I hope it gives you a little motivation and reassurance that you CAN do this. You will need to plan and this episode breaks down some of the steps within that plan.

✔️ What’s Coming Next on the Podcast

• Actionable digital marketing and inbound lead generation tips
• Candid discussions with entrepreneurs in all phases—not just the ultra-successful
• Honest conversations about the hard shit: hiring, scaling, failing, pivoting, and pressing forward

Links & Resources:

💡 Apply to Be a Guest – If you’re a builder, creator, side hustler, or obsessive hobbyist, I’d love to hear your story! Apply here.

🎙️ Subscribe & Review – If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend, leave a rating, and write a review. It helps a ton!

🌎 Connect with Heather

• Website: welloptimizedseo.com
• Instagram: @welloptimizedseo
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-nicole-hamilton/

📩 Got a topic or question? Email me at heather@welloptimizedseo.com

Welcome to Chaotic Competence! The podcast for entrepreneurs, creatives, and side hustlers who are juggling priorities, navigating uncertainty, and making things happen—even in the midst of chaos.

In this first episode, I introduce the concept of chaotic competence, why you don’t need permission to pursue your goals, and how I've built three businesses by embracing both strategy and spontaneity.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re waiting for the “right time” or “enough expertise” to start something—this episode is for you.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✔️ What is Chaotic Competence?

✔️ Stories from an Entrepreneurial Journey

• Lessons learned from building a six-figure business while working full-time
• The importance of learning by doing rather than waiting for perfection

✔️ Why You Don’t Need Permission

• The invisible rules we create in our heads (and why they hold us back)
• Overcoming imposter syndrome (Who am I to do this? Should I wait?)

✔️ The Myth of Perfection & The Power of “Good Enough”

• Why waiting until you're 100% ready means you’ll never start
• Building competence while taking messy action

✔️ Journey Before Destination: Why The Process Matters

• The importance of gratitude and enjoying the process
• How small, intentional steps can lead to major changes

✔️ What’s Coming Next on the Podcast

• Actionable digital marketing and inbound lead generation tips
• Candid discussions with entrepreneurs in all phases—not just the ultra-successful
• Honest conversations about the hard shit: hiring, scaling, failing, pivoting, and pressing forward

Key Takeaways:

🔹 You don’t need permission to start something—just start.
🔹 Competence comes from action, not waiting until you’ve mastered everything.
🔹 Entrepreneurship is messy, chaotic, and imperfect—but that’s what makes it exciting.
🔹 Your dream life is figureoutable—you just need to take the next step.

Links & Resources:

💡 Apply to Be a Guest – If you’re a builder, creator, side hustler, or obsessive hobbyist, I’d love to hear your story! Apply here.

🎙️ Subscribe & Review – If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend, leave a rating, and write a review. It helps a ton!

🌎 Connect with Heather

• Website: welloptimizedseo.com
• Instagram: @welloptimizedseo
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-nicole-hamilton/

📩 Got a topic or question? Email me at heather@welloptimizedseo.com