The Search Session

Advanced Web Ranking

Join international SEO consultant Gianluca Fiorelli as he explores the dynamic world of SEO. In each episode, industry leaders share insights and strategies to help in-house SEOs, agency professionals, and consultants tackle the evolving search landscape.

  1. Making Knowledge Graphs Actionable for Businesses | Beatrice Gamba

    3D AGO

    Making Knowledge Graphs Actionable for Businesses | Beatrice Gamba

    What if the secret to making AI actually work for your brand lies in how you structure knowledge itself? In this episode of The Search Session, host Gianluca Fiorelli sits down with Beatrice Gamba, Italian AI-powered digital strategist and innovation leader, for a deep dive into the world of semantics, ontologies, and knowledge graphs — and why they're becoming the backbone of how brands communicate in the age of AI. Beatrice shares how her early exposure to semantic technologies sparked a passion for connecting users with the right information, and how she now helps enterprises turn abstract concepts like ontological cores and structured data into real business decisions. The conversation covers everything from grounding AI in industry regulations and taming hallucinations, to the delicate art of building websites that speak fluently to both humans and machines. If you've ever wondered how raw data becomes meaningful, scalable knowledge — this is the episode for you. This is the 56th episode of:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_sm3ydVBxdAJ84k2qsH1LkTDbtbdNrGh  Here's what you'll learn in this episode: (00:07) Meet Our Guest: Beatrice Gamba(06:59) Turning Academic Concepts into Practical SEO Workflows(11:32) Explaining Knowledge Graphs with Metaphors and Practical Examples(18:43) Brand as a System of Entities(24:09) Orchestrating Data and Content: No Mixed Signals(28:35) Semantic Alchemy: The Five Phases(39:57) Tackling Hallucinations with Human-in-the-Loop(45:38) The Future of Agentic Search and the Website's Role(50:09) Life Beyond the Knowledge Graph: Running, Reading, and Rome 👉 Read the full article and explore additional insights:   https://www.advancedwebranking.com/blog/knowledge-graphs-actionable-for-businesses  Where to find Beatrice Gamba LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beatrice-gamba/ X: https://x.com/geatricebi Website: https://beatrice-gamba.com/   Where to find Gianluca Fiorelli  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gianlucafiorelli/ X: https://x.com/gfiorelli1 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/gfiorelli1.bsky.social Website: https://iloveseo.net/  🎙 Listen to The Search Session on your favorite platform: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_sm3ydVBxdAJ84k2qsH1LkTDbtbdNrGh  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1FzI5qwHtIndtiibZWiroS  Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-search-session/id1796043201  Made with ❤️by Advanced Web Ranking, the people behind the world's most accurate and longest-standing rank tracker. Get your free 7-day trial and find your true visibility in organic search for any market: https://www.advancedwebranking.com/ Be sure to subscribe for more actionable marketing and SEO tutorials:    / @advancedwebranking

    56 min
  2. Rethinking SEO Structure: Entities, Internal Links, and Topic Hubs | Dixon Jones

    MAR 23

    Rethinking SEO Structure: Entities, Internal Links, and Topic Hubs | Dixon Jones

    What does it really take to build authority in an AI-driven search landscape? In this episode of The Search Session, Gianluca Fiorelli sits down with SEO veteran Dixon Jones to unpack how semantic context, entities, and topical authority shape modern search. From the evolution of Majestic’s Topical Trust Flow to tools like InLinks, the conversation dives into how structured data, internal linking, and topic hubs help machines truly understand your brand. They explore the concept of a business’s “entity DNA,” the role of schema as a shared language across the web, and how to identify gaps between what your site says and what AI actually knows about you. The episode also tackles why many brands still miss the mark on building strong topic hubs—and what it takes to establish real credibility before even thinking about launching SEO tools. A sharp, insight-packed discussion for anyone looking to stay relevant as search continues to evolve. This is the 55th episode of:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_sm3ydVBxdAJ84k2qsH1LkTDbtbdNrGh  Here's what you'll learn in this episode: (00:07) Meet Our Guest: Dixon Jones(02:56) The Genesis of Entity SEO: Being Scared of Bill Slawski(07:52) Digital DNA: Internal Linking as a Knowledge Graph(11:21) What SEOs Should Own in the Brand Conversation(16:17) Schema as a Thinking Tool, Not Just a Technical Signal(21:12) Measuring What AI Knows About You(24:45) Visibility Gap Analysis and Prompt Tracking(33:52) When AI Gets It Wrong: The Hidden Risk of Bad Training Data(35:54) The Maybelline Pattern: Why Even Big Brands Fail at Topical Hubs(38:25) Internal Linking Is Still the Most Underrated Weapon in SEO(41:41) Advice for the Next Generation of Tool Builders 👉 Read the full article and explore additional insights:   https://www.advancedwebranking.com/blog/rethinking-seo-structure-entities-internal-links-topic-hubs   Where to find Dixon Jones LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dixonjones/ X: https://x.com/Dixon_Jones Website: https://dixonjones.com/  Where to find Gianluca Fiorelli  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gianlucafiorelli/ X: https://x.com/gfiorelli1 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/gfiorelli1.bsky.social Website: https://iloveseo.net/  🎙 Listen to The Search Session on your favorite platform: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_sm3ydVBxdAJ84k2qsH1LkTDbtbdNrGh  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1FzI5qwHtIndtiibZWiroS  Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-search-session/id1796043201 Made with ❤️by Advanced Web Ranking, the people behind the world's most accurate and longest-standing rank tracker. Get your free 7-day trial and find your true visibility in organic search for any market: https://www.advancedwebranking.com/ Be sure to subscribe for more actionable marketing and SEO tutorials:    / @advancedwebranking

    44 min
  3. Aligning SEO and PPC with Authentic Brand Authority | Laura I. Abreu

    MAR 16

    Aligning SEO and PPC with Authentic Brand Authority | Laura I. Abreu

    What does it take for brands to stay visible and trusted in a search landscape increasingly shaped by AI, ads, and fragmented user behavior? In this episode of The Search Session, Gianluca Fiorelli sits down with Laura I. Abreu, an SEO and PPC specialist originally from Spain who focuses on lead generation and revenue growth. Together, they explore why modern marketing success relies less on purely technical tactics and more on authentic human connection, smart channel selection, and strong brand reputation. Their conversation dives into the difficulty of measuring AI-driven visibility, the impact of Google’s evolving ad formats on traffic quality, and how businesses should choose the right platforms based on audience behavior and profitability. Laura also explains why simple, raw branded content is outperforming highly polished or AI-generated material, and why marketers need to adapt their tone and strategies to platform-specific user intent. The episode also examines how brands can build a distinctive voice, avoid the pitfalls of overusing AI in content, and protect their online reputation in a world where AI models can surface old or negative information. It’s a practical discussion about what SEO, PPC, and brand strategy look like when authenticity and trust matter more than ever. Enjoy the conversation and discover why the future of search may depend as much on human connection as on algorithms. This is the 54th episode of:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_sm3ydVBxdAJ84k2qsH1LkTDbtbdNrGh  Here's what you'll learn in this episode: (00:06) Meet Our Guest: Laura I. Abreu(01:44) The Profit-First Approach: Rethinking SEO Success Metrics(07:11) Balancing Traffic Volume and Quality in Paid Media Strategy(14:03) Embracing "Raw" Content: Why Human Connection Beats AI(18:16) New Media, New Rules: SEO in the Creator Era(20:54) Understanding User Behavior Across Platforms(25:08) Speaking the Customer’s Language Authentically(34:08) Modern Online Reputation Management and Digital PR(41:55) The Global Marketer: Lessons from Living on "Mars" 👉 Read the full article and explore additional insights:   https://www.advancedwebranking.com/blog/seo-ppc-authentic-brand-authority  Where to find Laura I. Abreu LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurainesabreu/ X: https://x.com/Lauritaabreuu Website: https://serpconf.com/vienna/   Where to find Gianluca Fiorelli  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gianlucafiorelli/ X: https://x.com/gfiorelli1 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/gfiorelli1.bsky.social Website: https://iloveseo.net/  🎙 Listen to The Search Session on your favorite platform: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_sm3ydVBxdAJ84k2qsH1LkTDbtbdNrGh  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1FzI5qwHtIndtiibZWiroS  Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-search-session/id1796043201  Made with ❤️by Advanced Web Ranking, the people behind the world's most accurate and longest-standing rank tracker. Get your free 7-day trial and find your true visibility in organic search for any market: https://www.advancedwebranking.com/ Be sure to subscribe for more actionable marketing and SEO tutorials:    / @advancedwebranking

    48 min
  4. SaaS Visibility Beyond Google in the AI Era | Bengü Sarıca Dinçer

    MAR 9

    SaaS Visibility Beyond Google in the AI Era | Bengü Sarıca Dinçer

    Curious how modern SaaS SEO goes beyond traffic and rankings?  In this episode of The Search Session, Gianluca Fiorelli sits down with Bengü Sarıca Dinçer to explore strategies that truly drive business impact. From aligning SEO with revenue goals to navigating AI-driven search and uncovering unexpected channels like TikTok, Bengü shares insights on measuring influence, optimizing content for intent, and proving top-of-funnel value with GA4.  If you want to see SEO as a strategic driver rather than just a traffic tool, this episode is for you. This is the 53rd episode of:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_sm3ydVBxdAJ84k2qsH1LkTDbtbdNrGh  Here's what you'll learn in this episode: (00:55) Meet Our Guest: Bengü Sarıca Dinçer(03:25) KPIs for the Modern SaaS Funnel(13:53) Measuring the Value of Top-of-Funnel (TOFU) Content(17:02) The Hidden Conversion Power of Documentation Pages(22:13) Using AI as a Copilot, Not a Decision-Maker(28:35) Discovering New Channels: Is TikTok the Next SaaS Growth Lever?(33:06) Using Email Marketing to Test SEO(37:06) International SaaS Strategy: Revenue-Driven Localization(41:51) From Introvert to International Speaker 👉 Read the full article and explore additional insights:   https://www.advancedwebranking.com/blog/saas-visibility-beyond-google-ai-era  Where to find Bengü Sarıca Dinçer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bengu-sarica-dincer/ X: https://x.com/bngsrc Website: https://designmodo.com   Where to find Gianluca Fiorelli  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gianlucafiorelli/ X: https://x.com/gfiorelli1 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/gfiorelli1.bsky.social Website: https://iloveseo.net/  🎙 Listen to The Search Session on your favorite platform: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_sm3ydVBxdAJ84k2qsH1LkTDbtbdNrGh  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1FzI5qwHtIndtiibZWiroS  Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-search-session/id1796043201  Made with ❤️by Advanced Web Ranking, the people behind the world's most accurate and longest-standing rank tracker. Get your free 7-day trial and find your true visibility in organic search for any market: https://www.advancedwebranking.com/ Be sure to subscribe for more actionable marketing and SEO tutorials:    / @advancedwebranking

    51 min
  5. Future-Proofing SEO: Technical Depth and Strategic Clarity in 2026 | Tory Gray

    MAR 2

    Future-Proofing SEO: Technical Depth and Strategic Clarity in 2026 | Tory Gray

    Is technical SEO still about rankings, or is it becoming something much bigger? In this episode of The Search Session, Gianluca Fiorelli sits down with Tory Gray to explore how enterprise SEO is evolving in an era shaped by AI disruption, limited visibility, and growing client uncertainty. Together, they examine how agencies are shifting from isolated service providers to cross-functional growth partners, collaborating across channels to deliver cohesive, brand-driven strategies. The conversation dives into log file analysis and what bot behavior reveals about crawl patterns, visibility, and performance, as well as the impact of AI-driven search results on top-funnel traffic and goal setting. They also discuss Google’s increasing focus on entity-based search and branded experiences, and what that means for modern organic strategy. Beyond tactics, Tory shares her journey from solo consultancy to agency founder, reflecting on leadership, sales, talent retention, and the responsibility senior SEOs have to mentor the next generation. This is the 52nd episode of:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_sm3ydVBxdAJ84k2qsH1LkTDbtbdNrGh  Here's what you'll learn in this episode: (00:06) Meet Our Guest: Tory Gray(02:51) Agency Life: Guiding Clients Through the AI Frontier(07:33) Escaping the SEO Silo: The Shift to Omnichannel(11:54)Technical SEO: Patterns in Server Logs and LLM Bots(17:54) Addressing the "Shrinking Traffic" Dilemma(22:16) Next-Gen Search: Google, TikTok & Beyond(30:06) Top-of-Funnel Strategy in the Age of AI Overviews(39:25) Career Evolution: From Freelancer to Agency Founder(46:29) Mentorship and the Human DNA of SEO(53:40) Personal Growth and New Horizons 👉 Read the full article and explore additional insights:   https://www.advancedwebranking.com/blog/technical-seo-depth-and-strategy  Where to find Tory Gray LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/torygray X: https://x.com/torylynne Website: https://thegray.company/   Where to find Gianluca Fiorelli  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gianlucafiorelli/ X: https://x.com/gfiorelli1 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/gfiorelli1.bsky.social Website: https://iloveseo.net/  🎙 Listen to The Search Session on your favorite platform: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_sm3ydVBxdAJ84k2qsH1LkTDbtbdNrGh  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1FzI5qwHtIndtiibZWiroS  Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-search-session/id1796043201  Made with ❤️by Advanced Web Ranking, the people behind the world's most accurate and longest-standing rank tracker. Get your free 7-day trial and find your true visibility in organic search for any market: https://www.advancedwebranking.com/ Be sure to subscribe for more actionable marketing and SEO tutorials:    / @advancedwebranking

    57 min
  6. Entity Search, Query Fan-Out, and Practical ML for SEO | Lazarina Stoy

    FEB 23

    Entity Search, Query Fan-Out, and Practical ML for SEO | Lazarina Stoy

    What happens when search shifts from keywords to entities - and from rankings to relationships? In this episode of The Search Session, host Gianluca Fiorelli sits down with Lazarina Stoy, marketing consultant and founder of Women in Marketing Bulgaria, to unpack how entity search, semantics, and query fan-out are reshaping modern SEO. They explore why machine learning is often more reliable than generative AI, how unresolved prompt injection limits agentic systems, and where tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and NotebookLM actually fit within professional workflows. The conversation dives into strategic brand positioning in the AI search era, from entity–attribute analysis and competitor comparison to the role of third-party validation in surfacing brands within Google Knowledge Graph and AI-powered results. They also discuss how to explain knowledge graphs to stakeholders, why context now outweighs keywords, and how ML education empowers SEOs to move from experimentation to confident automation. A focused, strategic discussion for SEOs navigating the semantic and AI-driven evolution of search. This is the 51st episode of:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_sm3ydVBxdAJ84k2qsH1LkTDbtbdNrGh  Here's what you'll learn in this episode: (00:07) Meet Our Guest: Lazarina Stoy(02:54) The Resurgence of Entity Search and Semantic SEO(11:42) Machine Learning vs. Generative AI: Choosing the Right Tool(19:34) "Vibe Coding" and Essential Skills for the 2026 SEO(22:32) Buyer Personas in the AI Era(29:16) Digital PR and Fact-Checking in the Knowledge Graph(32:14) Breaking Intent: Understanding "Query Fan-Out"(41:40) Machine Learning Education for SEOs(46:45) Explaining Knowledge Graphs to Stakeholders(54:17) Empowering the Community: Women in Marketing Bulgaria 👉 Read the full article and explore additional insights:   https://www.advancedwebranking.com/blog/entity-search-ml-seo-lazarina-stoy-interview  Where to find Lazarina Stoy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lazarinastoy/ X: https://x.com/lazarinastoy Website: https://lazarinastoy.com/ Website: https://www.mlforseo.com/   Where to find Gianluca Fiorelli  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gianlucafiorelli/ X: https://x.com/gfiorelli1 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/gfiorelli1.bsky.social Website: https://iloveseo.net/  🎙 Listen to The Search Session on your favorite platform: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_sm3ydVBxdAJ84k2qsH1LkTDbtbdNrGh  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1FzI5qwHtIndtiibZWiroS  Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-search-session/id1796043201  Made with ❤️by Advanced Web Ranking, the people behind the world's most accurate and longest-standing rank tracker. Get your free 7-day trial and find your true visibility in organic search for any market: https://www.advancedwebranking.com/ Be sure to subscribe for more actionable marketing and SEO tutorials:    / @advancedwebranking

    1h 1m
  7. The Fragile Web: Technical SEO in the Age of AI | Jamie Indigo

    FEB 16

    The Fragile Web: Technical SEO in the Age of AI | Jamie Indigo

    Is technical SEO becoming more powerful—or more fragile—in the age of AI? In this episode of The Search Session, Gianluca Fiorelli sits down with Jamie Indigo for a deeply technical conversation about what’s actually changing as AI reshapes search. Moving beyond the hype, they explore how foundational crawling principles still matter, why undocumented AI systems introduce new layers of complexity, and how technical SEOs may finally gain the strategic visibility they’ve long deserved. The discussion dives into cultural bias in AI and its impact on international SEO, the real mechanics behind model performance and feedback loops, and why JavaScript itself isn’t the problem—execution is. They also examine the breakdown of bot etiquette, the strain AI crawlers are placing on infrastructure, and the broader implications for digital rights and the future of the open web. This is a sharp, unfiltered look at the technical realities behind AI-driven search—and what it takes to stay relevant as the ground keeps shifting. This is the 50th episode of:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_sm3ydVBxdAJ84k2qsH1LkTDbtbdNrGh  Here's what you'll learn in this episode: (00:07) Meet Our Guest: Jamie Indigo(03:09) SEO in the Age of AI: Job Security or Frustration?(07:31) The Ghost in the Machine: Why Technical SEO is Overlooked(09:54) “I Speak Bot”: Translating Crawl Reality to Stakeholders(10:49) The Ethics Problem: Engagement, Sycophancy, and Human Harm(15:16) Longevity, Model Collapse, and the Economics Behind the Hype(21:03) AI in the Day-to-Day: Where It Helps (and Where It Doesn’t)(24:50) Big Infrastructure Outages: Cloudflare, AWS, and a Centralized Web(30:24) JavaScript and SEO: The Tool Isn’t Evil—Execution Is(35:36) Three Must-Know Tech SEO Skills for Large-Scale Sites(38:21) Why Modern AI Bots No Longer Play by the Old Web Rules(49:13) A Cyberpunk Future? Reclaiming the Free Web(54:44) Nerd Outro: Dungeons & Dragons Roles and the Joy of Being Support👉 Read the full article and explore additional insights:   https://www.advancedwebranking.com/blog/technical-seo-in-age-of-ai-search  Where to find Jamie Indigo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-indigo/ X: https://x.com/Jammer_Volts Website: https://not-a-robot.com/   Where to find Gianluca Fiorelli  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gianlucafiorelli/ X: https://x.com/gfiorelli1 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/gfiorelli1.bsky.social Website: https://iloveseo.net/  🎙 Listen to The Search Session on your favorite platform: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_sm3ydVBxdAJ84k2qsH1LkTDbtbdNrGh  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1FzI5qwHtIndtiibZWiroS  Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-search-session/id1796043201  Made with ❤️by Advanced Web Ranking, the people behind the world's most accurate and longest-standing rank tracker. Get your free 7-day trial and find your true visibility in organic search for any market: https://www.advancedwebranking.com/ Be sure to subscribe for more actionable marketing and SEO tutorials:    / @advancedwebranking

    57 min
  8. Log Files, AI Bots, and the Real Mechanics of AI Search | Metehan Yeşilyurt

    FEB 9

    Log Files, AI Bots, and the Real Mechanics of AI Search | Metehan Yeşilyurt

    What really changes for SEO when search stops being deterministic and starts thinking like an AI? In this episode of The Search Session, Gianluca Fiorelli is joined by Metehan Yeşilyurt, an expert working at the intersection of AI, machine learning, and SEO. Together, they unpack how AI search reshapes visibility, why classic SEO fundamentals still matter in probabilistic systems, and what understanding LLM behavior reveals about optimization today.  From Google’s evolving AI experiences to Perplexity’s citation model, visual content, log file analysis, and the growing fight against manipulation, this conversation goes deep into how search is changing—and how SEOs should adapt. This is the 49th episode of:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_sm3ydVBxdAJ84k2qsH1LkTDbtbdNrGh  Here's what you'll learn in this episode: 00:07 Meet Our Guest: Metehan Yeşilyurt01:30 Defining the Landscape: SEO vs. GEO vs. AEO13:48 Measuring Visibility When Prompts Are Unstable19:36 Multimodal SEO: Optimizing for Images and Video29:20 Perplexity vs. Google AI Overviews: Key Differences in AEO32:50 Embeddings, Topical Authority, and User Intent Mapping37:23 Analyzing Logs to Study AI Search Bot Behavior41:11 Spam, Hacks, and the Fragility of AI Search Systems49:51 Metehan Yeşilyurt: Life Beyond AI Search👉 Read the full article and explore additional insights:   https://www.advancedwebranking.com/blog/log-files-ai-bots-and-ai-search-mechanics  Where to find Metehan Yeşilyurt LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/metehanyesilyurt/ X: https://x.com/metehan777 Website: https://metehan.ai/   Where to find Gianluca Fiorelli  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gianlucafiorelli/ X: https://x.com/gfiorelli1 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/gfiorelli1.bsky.social Website: https://iloveseo.net/  🎙 Listen to The Search Session on your favorite platform: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_sm3ydVBxdAJ84k2qsH1LkTDbtbdNrGh  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1FzI5qwHtIndtiibZWiroS  Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-search-session/id1796043201  Made with ❤️by Advanced Web Ranking, the people behind the world's most accurate and longest-standing rank tracker. Get your free 7-day trial and find your true visibility in organic search for any market: https://www.advancedwebranking.com/ Be sure to subscribe for more actionable marketing and SEO tutorials:    / @advancedwebranking

    54 min

About

Join international SEO consultant Gianluca Fiorelli as he explores the dynamic world of SEO. In each episode, industry leaders share insights and strategies to help in-house SEOs, agency professionals, and consultants tackle the evolving search landscape.

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