How to Optimize for AI Search and Improve Your SEO – Matthew Edgar | Ep 57

In this insightful episode of Wisdom Journey, host Wisdom Okonkwo welcomes Matthew Edgar—technical SEO expert, partner at Elementive, and author of “Tech SEO Guide” and “Speed Metrics Guide.” Together, they dissect the shifting landscape of SEO in the era of AI-powered search, addressing misconceptions about AI and rankings, strategies to get your content noticed by large language models, and actionable steps for creators to future-proof their visibility.

Listeners will discover the real impact of generative AI on blog traffic, why optimizing for both LLMs and knowledge bases matters, and how to creatively adapt content to outpace generic AI responses. Matthew shares practical systems for standing out with human-centered, multimodal content—plus essential technical tips for bloggers and solo creators who want to rank and retain traffic amid these rapid changes. Whether you’re struggling with crawl errors, keyword research, content differentiation, or simply want to thrive in the age of AI search, this episode is packed with expert tactics and empowering advice.

Connect with Matthew Edgar

Did you find these SEO insights valuable? Don’t miss upcoming episodes! Subscribe to Wisdom Journey on your favorite podcast app, leave us a 5-star review, and share this episode with a fellow creator who needs an SEO boost. Follow us on social media for ongoing updates, resources, and behind-the-scenes wisdom. For feedback, questions, or to support the show, check the links in the show notes. Keep creating, keep refining, and keep seeking wisdom on your journey!Website: https://www.matthewedgar.net/

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewedgar/

I’m building an online business in public — sharing every win, setback, and “I can’t believe that happened” moment along the way. If you’ve ever wondered what it really looks like to start from scratch, come along for the ride. Join the journey at https://wisdom.beehiiv.com/

I’m building an online business in public — sharing every win, setback, and “I can’t believe that happened” moment along the way. If you’ve ever wondered what it really looks like to start from scratch, come along for the ride. Join the journey at https://wisdom.beehiiv.com/

Chapters

• [00:00] – Introduction to Matthew Edgar & the AI-SEO landscape

• [00:36] – Debunking myths: Will AI take all your blog traffic?

• [05:03] – How to influence your brand’s inclusion in AI-generated lists and recommendations

• [09:02] – Intention and mentions: The new SEO currency

• [10:31] – AI-generated content and Google rankings: What works, what gets penalized

• [13:26] – Checklists & systems for creating unique, value-driven content

• [16:28] – Surviving SEO in the age of AI: Habits creators need to adopt

• [19:58] – Step-by-step SEO workflow for YouTube

• [23:40] – Modern keyword research: User interviews, tools & new approaches

• [28:11] – Technical SEO: The most overlooked killer for small creators

• [34:04] – Fixing crawl errors in WordPress—no coding needed

• [36:26] – Improving Core Web Vitals with easy plugins

• [39:33] – Proving E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authority, Trust) as a solo creator

• [42:32] – Are topics the new keywords? Building content that wins

• [44:35] – Non-traditional topic research using Reddit, forums, and AI tools

• [47:02] – Most underrated free SEO tool revealed

• [49:12] – Content formats creators are sleeping on: going multimodal

• [50:57] – 2025 SEO trend every creator must double down on

• [52:33] – Where to find Matthew Edgar & closing thoughts