Alex Talks to Startup Founders About SEO (Founders Common)

Last Updated on January 8, 2025

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In this special Fireside Chat edition of The Long Game Podcast, Alex Birkett shares insights about building SEO strategies for startups with the Founders Common community. He discusses foundational steps, the evolution of SEO in the era of AI, and innovative approaches like product-led SEO and programmatic strategies. Alex emphasizes the importance of setting realistic expectations for SEO’s nonlinear growth and highlights the value of intertwining branding, fast feedback channels, and data-driven content strategies to gain a competitive edge.

Key Takeaways

• Start with First Principles: Focus on creating valuable content that solves real problems for your target audience instead of over-optimizing for algorithms.
• Product-Led SEO Strategies: Examples like Zapier’s integration pages demonstrate how to use product capabilities to create SEO-friendly content that directly serves customer needs.
• Evolving Beyond Old Playbooks: Traditional SEO tactics like broad, top-of-funnel guides are becoming less effective due to AI, featured snippets, and increased competition.
• Branding and SEO Interplay: Personal branding and LinkedIn activity help amplify SEO efforts and build trust signals in a competitive digital landscape.
• The Nonlinear Nature of SEO: SEO requires patience, with growth often compounding over the years rather than showing immediate returns. Founders should manage expectations accordingly.
• Scaling and Adapting Over Time: Begin with foundational content and backlinks. Over time, expand into programmatic SEO, personalized clusters, and long-tail permutations as resources grow.

Show Links

• Connect with Alex Birkett on LinkedIn and Twitter
• Connect with Omniscient Digital on LinkedIn or Twitter

Time Stamps

• [00:00] Introduction: Fireside Chat with Founders Common
• [04:15] What is SEO? Dispelling Common Myths
• [10:30] Early-Stage SEO: Setting Realistic Expectations
• [18:45] Product-Led SEO and Programmatic Examples
• [25:20] Integrating Branding and SEO for Competitive Edge
• [33:50] Nonlinear Growth and Long-Term Strategies
• [40:30] Scaling Strategies: From Foundations to Market Domination
• [47:10] The Future of SEO: AI, LLMs, and the Evolving Search Landscape