Want ChatGPT, Google, and other AI tools to recommend your small business? In this episode, SEO expert Paul Weidner explains how SEO really works in the age of AI, and why trust is the whole game.

A couple of my clients told me something wild recently. When I asked how they found me, they said, “ChatGPT suggested you.” I didn’t set that up, and I had no idea it was happening. So I brought in someone who does.

Paul is the founder of Search Strength SEO in Tampa and a fellow BNI member. He came from plumbing and landscaping, learned SEO without a degree, and built his company on the side for years before going full-time.

We break down what SEO actually is and how AI tools decide which businesses to recommend. We cover why Google reviews and brand consistency matter more than ever, and how to spot an SEO company that’s just after your money.

The biggest lesson: networking and SEO run on the same thing. Trust. It takes time to build, it’s easy to break, and it’s slow to repair. That’s true with people, and it’s true with Google.

Part of the Spotlight Series on No Strings Attached, where small business owners share the real struggles behind the highlight reel.

IN THIS EPISODE

1. How ChatGPT and AI search decide which businesses to recommend
2. What SEO (search engine optimization) means, in plain English
3. Free SEO wins: rewrite your pages for customers, collect Google reviews, post before-and-after photos
4. Why steady reviews beat a sudden burst of them
5. Brand consistency: the same name, address, phone number, and logo everywhere
6. Red flags when hiring an SEO company: ranking guarantees, outsourced work, and huge budgets
7. What a Google penalty is and how long recovery takes
8. Starting a business on the side vs. going all in (my $80K credit card lesson)
9. Why hiring a pro usually costs less than doing it yourself

CHAPTERS

00:00 Welcome to the Spotlight Series
03:05 Meet Paul Weidner, Search Strength SEO
04:05 Starting a business while keeping your day job
07:58 What is SEO? Explained simply
11:28 Easy SEO tips for small business owners
14:02 Hard lessons from going full-time
16:35 Why networking and SEO both run on trust
19:11 SEO vs. paid ads
20:58 How ChatGPT decides to recommend a business
23:51 What working with an SEO company looks like
27:19 Photos, video, and brand consistency
31:51 Using AI to automate your business
34:31 From plumber to SEO expert
36:29 How to choose an SEO company: the red flags
39:11 Why Google rewards consistency and recency
42:35 What is a Google penalty?
46:31 Why hiring a pro beats DIY
49:47 How to reach Paul

CONNECT WITH PAUL WEIDNER
🌐 searchstrengthseo.com
📞 Call or text: (813) 656-0707
🔍 Free SEO audit: searchstrengthseo.com/contact
💼 LinkedIn · 📸 Instagram · 👍 Facebook

CONNECT WITH ROGER
🎙️ More episodes: rogermagalhaes.com/podcast
📖 My book Nobody Told Me That: 20 years of small business lessons nobody tells you
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