EP.111: Is SEO Dead? How Google, AI & Search Are Changing Business Visibility w/ Kara Duncan | The Ambitious Podcast

Is SEO dead or just different? If you've been relying solely on social media to grow your business, you're missing a massive opportunity. Today I'm joined by Kara, an SEO expert who's been doing this for 5+ years, to break down exactly how search engine optimization works in the age of AI and what you need to do to get discovered online.

Google had 5.5 billion searches per day in 2022. In 2025 it's almost 17 billion. SEO isn't dead, it's evolving, and if you're not planting seeds now, you'll be kicking yourself in two years. We're covering how SEO actually works (it's more than just keywords on your website), the difference between Google search and AI search (and why you need to optimize for both), the EEAT framework (Experience, Expertise, Authority, Trustworthiness) and why firsthand experience now matters more than information, the three essential starting points (optimize your website, build strategic backlinks, create blog content), the shocking stat that businesses with blogs convert at 13 times the rate of businesses without them, how Pinterest acts as true top-of-funnel and drives purchases (not just inspiration), why the information-as-value era is dead and what's replacing it (insight, storytelling, and thought leadership), how to repurpose your podcast or YouTube into SEO-rich blog posts without starting from scratch, and realistic timelines for SEO ROI (6-12 months for local, 12-24 months for broader markets).

If you're exhausted from the social media hamster wheel and want traffic that compounds over time instead of disappearing in 24 hours, this episode is your roadmap.

Timestamps:

00:52 Welcome to Ambitious: Meet Kara, the SEO Expert

03:09 Diving into SEO: Basics and Misconceptions

05:27 SEO Strategies: Blogging, Keywords, and Beyond

08:44 The Evolution of SEO in the Age of AI

12:17 Creating Depth in Content: Beyond Quick Wins

17:56 Leveraging SEO for Long-Term Success

26:13 Repurposing Content for SEO: Practical Tips

31:03 The Role of Pinterest in SEO Strategy

35:51 Understanding Pinterest's Role in Marketing

37:46 The Importance of ROI in Marketing

38:55 Pinterest as a Platform for Action and Inspiration

41:17 Optimizing Your Website for SEO

47:00 Leveraging AI in Content Creation

01:00:01 The Long-Term Benefits of SEO

Resources Mentioned:

• Kara's Free Private Podcast: Build it Once, Get Found for Months

Connect with Kara:

• Instagram
• TikTok
• Website

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