BuzzStream Digital PR and Link Building Podcast

BuzzStream
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Join host Vince Nero as he interviews link building, SEO, and digital PR experts to bring you tips and tricks for better coverage and rankings.

  1. How to Pitch Journalists Like a PR Pro with Carly Martinetti

    3D AGO

    How to Pitch Journalists Like a PR Pro with Carly Martinetti

    Traditional PR pro Carly Martinetti (co-founder of Notably) joins Vince to break down what good PR actually looks like — and what digital PR practitioners can learn from it. They get into the real differences between traditional and digital PR, why spray-and-pray pitching is killing your reputation, and how to find the "Goldilocks zone" journalist that makes every pitch count. ⏰ Chapters 0:00 – Intro4:54 – How is traditional PR different from digital PR?9:11 – Are clients asking about AI citations and LLM mentions?12:44 – How do you measure PR success and tie it to business goals?19:43 – How do you build a media list? Tools, process, and the Goldilocks zone26:29 – Creating an angle from nothing vs. piggybacking on a trend28:58 – What does a great pitch actually look like?34:11 – Breaking news vs. evergreen pitches — knowing the difference 🐝 Links Connect with Carly: linkedin.com/in/prcarly/Notably: notablypr.comTry List IQ free: buzzstream.com/listiq/

    43 min
  2. Is Google *Really* Killing the News Industry?

    APR 14

    Is Google *Really* Killing the News Industry?

    Is Google killing the news industry — or are publishers doing it to themselves? SEO veteran Barry Adams (Polemic Digital, FT Strategies) joins Vince Nero to challenge the "Google Zero" narrative: the growing belief among publishers that Google traffic is heading to zero. Barry argues the real story is more complicated — and more actionable — than the panic suggests. We get into why some publishers are quietly thriving while others spiral, what the Chartbeat data actually shows (and doesn't), how AI overviews fit into a much longer pattern of Google enriching its results, and why digital PR may be entering a boom era even as the media landscape shifts. ⏰ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 — Introduction2:40 — What is "Google Zero"?7:46 — The problems with Chartbeat's traffic data11:29 — Which publishers are actually thriving — and why13:30 — AI overviews aren't new: a history of Google enriching results15:41 — The New York Times model: smart diversification vs. chasing traffic18:58 — How Americans are changing where they get their news25:59 — The multimodal content strategy: one story, many channels27:28 — What Google Zero means for digital PR29:48 — Why mentions matter as much as links in the AI era 🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES Full post → https://www.buzzstream.com/blog/google-zero-podcast/Barry Adams on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/barryadams/SEO for Google News (Substack) → https://seoforgooglenews.substack.com/Polemic Digital → https://polemicdigital.com/List IQ (media list building tool) → https://www.buzzstream.com/listiq/ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 📬 SUBSCRIBE for weekly episodes on digital PR, SEO, and media strategy.

    36 min
  3. The Secret to Building Links That Impact Revenue from Garrett French

    APR 7

    The Secret to Building Links That Impact Revenue from Garrett French

    Garrett French has been in the SEO game for 25+ years and is the founder of Citation Labs, Zip Sprout, and Xofu. In this episode, Garrett breaks down why chasing links and vanity metrics is a losing game — and what to do instead. We dig into citable elements on product pages, link impact reporting , and how AI is changing the way we think about content and citations. If you're an SEO, link builder, or agency owner trying to prove ROI and keep your clients (and your job), this one's for you. ⏰ Chapters: 00:00 – Intro 02:26 – What are citable elements? 07:23 – Decisioning efficiency 11:16 – Friction-inducing, latent, unasked questions 15:29 – Does traditional keyword research still have a place? 18:29 – How customer research feeds your link building and PR strategy 25:38 – Why Garrett started tracking link impact 30:08 – AI overviews, LLMs, and what's actually changing 33:51 – What "helpful content" actually means — and why it's scary 43:55 – Where to find Garrett: Citation Labs, Zip Sprout, and Xofu 🔗Links: Citation Labs: citationlabs.comZip Sprout: zipsprout.comXofu: xofu.comGarrett on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/garrettfrenchFull episode: https://www.buzzstream.com/blog/bottom-line-link-building-podcast/

    45 min
  4. Why You Don't Need to Panic About AI Citations

    MAR 31

    Why You Don't Need to Panic About AI Citations

    LLM source data is shifting fast — and if you've been watching the studies, you might be wondering if your entire digital PR strategy needs a rethink. Spoiler: it doesn't. In this episode, Vince sits down with content and growth manager with Semrush, Amanda Milligan, (founder of Brand Authority Club, formerly of Fractl, Stacker, and iPull Rank) to break down what's actually happening with LLM citations, why the volatility shouldn't send you into panic mode, and what digital PR professionals should really be focused on right now. Whether you're deep in digital PR or just trying to figure out how AI fits into your marketing strategy, this one is worth a listen. ⏰ Timestamps 0:00 – Intro 1:53 – The LLM sources study that sparked the panic 3:01 – Why you shouldn't overhaul your strategy 6:20 – The problem with chasing Reddit citations 9:20 – Why LLMs are giving PR people more buy-in for niche placements 12:42 – Knowledge base vs. retrieval layer explained 16:45 – Why brand mentions are finally winning the argument 21:22 – Start with brand messaging before anything else 28:25 – What "Citation Core" means for your niche 30:44 – The bigger opportunity for PR and social 🔗 Links and Resources mentioned: https://www.buzzstream.com/blog/llm-volatility-strategy-podcast/brandauthority.clubhttps://backlinko.com/llm-sourceshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/amandamilligan/https://www.buzzstream.com/listiq

    34 min
  5. How to Show Up in AI News Citations: Expert Roundtable Discussion

    MAR 25 ·  BONUS

    How to Show Up in AI News Citations: Expert Roundtable Discussion

    This panel discussion explores the impact of AI on digital PR, citations, and brand visibility. Agency experts Beth Nunnington, Will Hobson, and Kelsey Libert share insights on how AI influences media coverage, their citation strategies, and the future of brand authority across platforms. ⏰ Chapters 00:00 Intro 00:10 The Rise of AI in Digital PR 09:58 Industry Insights: The Impact of Content Freshness 17:28 Storytelling in the Age of AI 21:20 Understanding Citations: Earned vs. Owned 22:23 The Role of Syndication in Digital PR 25:05 Syndication Networks vs. Earned Distribution 27:57 Quality vs. Quantity in Syndication 33:03 Leveraging Social Media in PR Strategies 39:31 Building Brand Authority Across Platforms 42:39 Debunking Myths: AI Partnerships and Citations 44:49 Strategies for Brands to Show Up in AI 50:19 Sustainable Practices in AI Citations 51:43 Tools for Tracking AI Visibility 🔗 Resources and Sites Main study - https://www.buzzstream.com/blog/news-publications-ai-citations/BuzzStream - https://buzzstream.comFractl - https://frac.tlRise At Seven - https://riseatseven.comJourney Further - https://journeyfurther.comCitation Labs - https://citationlabs.comSparkToro - https://sparktoro.comAhrefs - https://ahrefs.comSEMrush - https://semrush.comSimilarWeb - https://similarweb.com 😀 Connect with our guests: Kelsey - https://linkedin.com/in/kelsey-libertBeth - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethenynunningtonWill - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hobsonwilliam/

    56 min
  6. Mastering Media Pitches: Secrets from a Journalist and PR Pro

    MAR 25

    Mastering Media Pitches: Secrets from a Journalist and PR Pro

    In this insightful interview, journalist and PR expert Joni Sweet shares her unique perspective on pitching stories, building relationships with journalists, and navigating the modern media landscape. Discover practical tips for crafting compelling pitches, understanding editorial calendars, and leveraging data to increase media coverage. ⏰ Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:42 A Day in the Life of a Freelance Journalist 08:41 The Art of Pitching: Insights for PR Professionals 11:28 Understanding Editorial Calendars and Trends 16:09 Quality vs. Quantity in PR Coverage 22:48 Impact of Coverage: Quality vs. Quantity 26:05 Aligning PR Strategies with Client Objectives 27:19 Building Relationships with Journalists 31:20 The Challenge of Fake Experts 34:26 Quick Questions 37:35 Pitch Fix Live Workshop Announcement 🔗 Links Joni Sweet Website - https://jonimsweet.comJoni SweetSubstack Newsletter - https://jonisweet.substack.comList IQ Media List Builder - https://buzzstream.com/listiq

    40 min
  7. PR from Scratch for an App with Hily's Tori Khutorna

    MAR 18

    PR from Scratch for an App with Hily's Tori Khutorna

    What do you do when you have a brand new app and nothing "newsworthy" to pitch? You build the story yourself. In this episode, Vince sits down with Tori Khutorna, PR Manager at Hily. Tori breaks down how she thinks about creating stories from scratch, finding the emotional hook, nailing the timing, and getting coverage even when your product isn't making headlines on its own. If you're doing PR for an app — or any brand in a crowded market — this one's for you. ⏱ Timestamps 0:00 — Intro 5:06 — Why founders think everything is newsworthy (and how to handle it) 8:41 — How to create news when you don't have any 13:09 — How to get product teams on board with PR-driven features 16:08 — Why timing and emotional hooks make or break a pitch 21:34 — Does every pitch need a "why now?" 28:51 — Aligning every PR story to your company's mission 29:50 — The Trejo's Donuts collab and how to find the right brand partners 33:22 — Where to find Tori and wrap-up--📩 Connect with Tori on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/viktoriia-khutorna-tori-torn-23998919b/🌐 Check out Hily: https://www.hily.com 🔗 Check out List IQ: ⁠https://www.buzzstream.com/listiq/

    35 min
  8. From Pickle Chocolate Shakes to Fake Athletes: Inside Creative PR Campaigns

    MAR 11

    From Pickle Chocolate Shakes to Fake Athletes: Inside Creative PR Campaigns

    What separates a forgettable digital PR campaign from one that actually gets coverage, links, and results? In this episode, Vince sits down with Katy Powell — PR director and co-founder of Bottled Imagination — to talk about what it really takes to build creative campaigns that stand out. They get into everything: how to stress-test ideas before you pitch them, why you should be thinking more like an ad agency, how to mitigate risk when going big, and what "So What Reporting" actually means for your clients. Plus, Katy shares the stories behind two standout campaigns — a fake footballer designed to raise gambling awareness, and a very unusual protein shake flavor event involving pickles and chocolate. If you're in digital PR and feel like you've been stuck doing the same thing over and over, this one's for you. ⏰ Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction 02:26 – What makes Bottled Imagination so creative? 06:02 – How to stress-test a campaign idea 08:27 – What actually makes an idea press-worthy? 13:38 – The ProteinWorks pickle & chocolate campaign 18:04 – Overcoming data and execution challenges 21:43 – Getting the data you need (and the AI trap to avoid) 29:11 – The Jordan Rees fake footballer campaign 33:03 – How to measure creative campaigns beyond just links 35:54 – "So What Reporting" explained 🔗 Links and resources Full post: https://www.buzzstream.com/blog/creative-digital-pr-podcast/Bottled Imagination: https://bottledimagination.comConnect with Katie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katy-powell-333717127/Try ListIQ (media list building tool): https://www.buzzstream.com/listiq/BuzzStream: https://buzzstream.com---💬 Have a question about creative digital PR? Drop it in the comments! 👍 If you found this useful, like and subscribe for more episodes on digital PR, link building, and content strategy.

    36 min
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Join host Vince Nero as he interviews link building, SEO, and digital PR experts to bring you tips and tricks for better coverage and rankings.

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