The SEO Mad Scientist

The SEO Mad Scientist by Web 20 Ranker

Welcome to The SEO Mad Scientist, where we dive deep into the ever-evolving world of SEO testing to bring you valuable and actionable insights. Join us as we uncover correlations between our latest experiments, algorithm updates, and industry shifts, providing you with the knowledge you need to stay ahead in the digital landscape. Curious about what we're currently testing? Interested in how our SEO experiments align with recent algorithm updates? Wondering about the implications for your own strategies? Look no further – we've got you covered. But that's not all. We don't just talk the talk; we walk the walk. Tune in as we candidly discuss our most recent testing results and the strategies that are making waves in the SERPs, helping you navigate the ever-changing SEO landscape with confidence. Whether you're a seasoned SEO pro or just starting out, if you want to stay on top of the latest developments in the industry, subscribe to "The SEO Mad Scientist" today! And hey, if you're an SEO aficionado or agency owner with insights to share, we'd love to have you as a guest on the show. Reach out to us – let's collaborate and elevate the conversation together!

  1. 22/12/2025

    Can We Influence AIO Snippets Using Structured, Information-Gain Optimized Content?

    In this episode, Sophie sits down with Lucy -Jane Love, Marketing Director at Banyan Risk Group and Rowan Security, to talk about what it takes to successfully market in highly regulated, “not-so-sexy” industries—from risk management and security to finance and investment. Lucy discusses how to make content engaging, the types of LinkedIn posts that consistently perform best, and why she uses AI more for research and talking points than for writing. They also dig into platform strategy (why LinkedIn is the current home base, and why Lucy’s eyeing TikTok next), how her team manages quality control and fact-checking, and her best advice for anyone creating content for industries where customers aren’t exactly “excited” to buy. In this interview, you’ll learn: How to create engaging content inside strict compliance boundariesWhat types of posts perform best on LinkedIn for niche industriesWhere AI fits (and doesn’t fit) in regulated content workflowsHow to plan quarterly themes while staying reactive to real-world eventsA practical framework for finding angles when your niche feels “boring” Connect with Lucy: www.banyanriskgroup.com www.rowan-security.com www.lucylove.co.uk https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-jayne-love-a1a68aa8/ 00:01 – Learn Niche & Restricted Content Marketing 00:29 – Explore Lucy’s Path in Risk Management Marketing 01:34 – Overcome Challenges in Regulated Industries 02:52 – Craft Compliant, Engaging Content 03:56 – Apply AI to Research & Insights 05:21 – Streamline Marketing Research with AI Tools 06:10 – Execute Strategy & Ensure Quality Control 07:05 – Plan Ahead While Reacting to Trends 08:26 – Manage Social vs Long-Form Content Efficiently 09:06 – Verify Accuracy with In-House Reviews 09:59 – Turn Client Insights into Safe Case Studies 11:10 – Reach High Net Worth Audiences on LinkedIn 12:25 – Start Video Content in Niche Markets 13:33 – Boost Engagement with LinkedIn Posts 15:04 – Maximize Reach with Cross-Platform Publishing 16:07 – Build Marketing from Scratch Successfully 16:58 – Discover Angles for “Unsexy” Niches 18:52 – Optimize Team Structure & Outsourcing 19:51 – Connect with Lucy & Learn from Her Work 20:30 – Apply Key Takeaways for Marketing Growth

    21 min
  2. 19/06/2024

    Enhance Local SEO w/ AI Content, On-Page SEO & Competitor Insights: The SEO Mad Scientist Episode 10

    Highlights From Episode 10 - The SEO Mad Scientist: The episode explores the impact of AI-generated content on Google Business Profile (GBP) rankings, highlighting a test where AI-created landing page content significantly influenced local SEO performance.A detailed analysis reveals the role of competitor parity and domain changes in SEO strategies, showing how these factors affect rankings and the importance of content structure and headings.The findings emphasize actionable insights and tips, including optimizing content beyond competitor metrics, understanding the importance of organic and local SEO alignment, and the impact of on-page updates on search engine visibility. Read the full GBP Landing Page Onsite Test here: https://web20ranker.com/seo-test/google-business-profile-website-url-impacts/ 🔍 Explore more SEO tests & submit your own test ideas: https://web20ranker.com/seo-mad-scientist/ 🛠️ Tools We Used in Testing: Local Viking: https://localviking.com/ SERPResults: https://serpresults.com/ Products Discussed: On-page SEO: https://web20ranker.com/perfect-on-page-seo/ SEO Discussion: Mike Milas 0:00 Test introduction  01:00 Impact of AI-generated content tests 02:20 Effects of keyword-targeted content  03:40 Increasing competitor parity metrics 04:42 Heading changes on SEO rankings 06:58 Ranking impact of changing the domain 10:45 Organic rankings impact on local rankings 14:07 Considerations for Competitor Parity

    21 min
  3. 08/05/2024

    Correlation Between Rankings, Keywords, Citations & Custom Signals: The SEO Mad Scientist Episode 8

    Highlights From Episode 8 - The SEO Mad Scientist: The team delves into the significant impact of custom signals on search engine rankings, shedding light on the key factors driving their effectiveness in boosting website visibility. They explore the crucial correlation between on-page content and off-page signals, emphasizing the importance of aligning these elements for improved SEO performance. The discussion on soundproofing services within the context of insulation provides valuable insights into the nuanced relationship between keywords, services offered, and search engine rankings. 🔬 Read the Full Custom Signals Test: https://web20ranker.com/seo-test/how-strong-is-the-impact-of-citations-and-signals-in-map-rankings/ 🔍 Explore more SEO tests & submit your own test ideas: https://web20ranker.com/seo-mad-scientist/ 🛠️ Tools We Used in Testing: Local Viking: https://localviking.com/ SERPResults: https://serpresults.com/ Products Discussed: Custom signals: https://web20ranker.com/custom-link-building/ SEO Discussion: Mike Milas + Alex C. Barr + Danielle Windsor 0:00 Mike Introduction 01:52 Custom Signals results recap 04:49 Optimization & keyword rankings analysis  05:38 Correlation between on-page & off-page 09:48 How citations are impacting rankings 12:31 How website kw references push rankings 16:39 Nuanced difference of keywords 23:06 Impact of Onsite and Offsite SEO

    25 min
  4. 04/04/2024

    What's Ranking in Local - Branding, Signals, PBNs & Map Embeds?: The SEO Mad Scientist Episode 6

    Highlights From Episode 6 - The SEO Mad Scientist: As Mike, Alex, and Danielle discussed, the custom signals test on Danielle's insulation business revealed a significant impact on rankings, with competitor links and optimized listings playing crucial roles.They also highlighted the importance of building a strong brand presence in conjunction with SEO efforts, citing the cumulative effect of various brand properties and references.Additionally, they explored the synergy between SEO strategies and other digital marketing channels like Facebook ads and PPC campaigns, emphasizing the potential for integration to enhance overall online performance. 🔍 Explore more SEO tests & submit your own test ideas: https://web20ranker.com/seo-mad-scientist/ 🛠️ Tools We Used in Testing: Local Viking: https://localviking.com/ SERPResults: https://serpresults.com/ Products Discussed: Custom signals: https://web20ranker.com/custom-link-building/ PBN Map Embeds: https://web20ranker.com/product/order-pbn-map-embeds/ Niche Citations: https://web20ranker.com/niche-directory-citations/ SEO Discussion: Mike Milas + Alex C. Barr + Danielle Windsor 0:00 Introduction 00:48 Signals Test Update 07:33 Testing Signals Locally 14:17 Branding and Ranking Correlation 11:06 Tracking keywords & call sources 17:45 Inner Pages and Rankings Correlation 22:13 What’s in our SEO testing library 26:13 PBN and Map Embed Updates 32:33 Impact of Google Updates 37:40 Citation Impact on Local Rankings 42:27 Ranking Organically v in Maps 44:00 Conclusion

    45 min

About

Welcome to The SEO Mad Scientist, where we dive deep into the ever-evolving world of SEO testing to bring you valuable and actionable insights. Join us as we uncover correlations between our latest experiments, algorithm updates, and industry shifts, providing you with the knowledge you need to stay ahead in the digital landscape. Curious about what we're currently testing? Interested in how our SEO experiments align with recent algorithm updates? Wondering about the implications for your own strategies? Look no further – we've got you covered. But that's not all. We don't just talk the talk; we walk the walk. Tune in as we candidly discuss our most recent testing results and the strategies that are making waves in the SERPs, helping you navigate the ever-changing SEO landscape with confidence. Whether you're a seasoned SEO pro or just starting out, if you want to stay on top of the latest developments in the industry, subscribe to "The SEO Mad Scientist" today! And hey, if you're an SEO aficionado or agency owner with insights to share, we'd love to have you as a guest on the show. Reach out to us – let's collaborate and elevate the conversation together!