So, what’s the real relationship between social signals and SEO? Does Google use them to determine rank, or are they just vanity metrics with no direct impact on SEO? Keep reading to find out.

What are social signals?

Social signals refer to the likes, comments, shares, and other interactions your content receives on social media platforms. They represent how often people engage with your content across channels like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, and more.

Do social signals affect SEO ranking?

Social signals are not a direct ranking factor, according to Google. This is a stance they’ve maintained since 2014, when Google’s Matt Cutts shared a statement in a video. In other words, likes, shares, and comments aren’t used in Google’s algorithm to decide how a page ranks.

However, many SEO professionals disagree with dismissing social signals entirely because they’ve observed a strong correlation between higher social engagement and better organic rankings.

For example:

• Backlinko lists social signals among its top eight ranking factors.
• CognitiveSEO analyzed 23 million social shares and found a clear correlation between strong social activity and higher search visibility.

While social signals may not send you soaring up the SERPs, they can amplify your overall online presence. More likes, shares, and mentions improve your content’s visibility on social platforms, which can drive more clicks, traffic, and backlinks.

It can also help get your brand mentioned in AI search platforms and large language models (LLMs), because more online mentions typically lead to more credibility.

In some cases, content with strong social engagement also appears directly in search results. For example, if you search for “Ergobaby carrier experience,” you’ll often see top results from YouTube and Reddit, two platforms where social activity drives visibility.

How are social signals used in SEO?

If there’s really some correlation between your social media presence and your organic ranking, how does it all work? Let’s take a look at the different ways in which social media can impact SEO.

Increased traffic to your site

Search engines evaluate user behavior signals, such as time on site, pages per session, and click-through rates, when determining how relevant and valuable your content is. If your site isn’t getting enough traffic, it’s harder to improve these signals and, in turn, your search visibility.

One of the most effective ways to tackle this challenge is by using social media to drive high-quality traffic. Sharing your content on platforms like YouTube, LinkedIn, TikTok, or Reddit helps you reach the right audience faster.

When more people visit your site and engage with your content, it can:

• Improve user behavior signals over time

• Help search engines better understand and index your content

• Potentially speed up how quickly your pages start ranking for relevant keywords

Opportunity for backlinking

Backlinks remain one of the strongest off-page ranking factors. According to Semrush, both the number of referring domains and the quality of backlinks are vital drivers of higher search rankings.

Earning those links, however, requires high-quality, valuable content. Reputable sites only link to content they trust, so consistently publishing content that’s relevant and useful to your audience is essential.

The challenge? If your site is new or not yet ranking, people who might want to link to your content may not even know it exists. That’s where social media distribution comes in. Sharing your content widely gets it in front of more people, increasing the likelihood that someone will read it — and link to it.

Boosting credibility and authority

When ranking a page, search engines look at topical authority to determine how relevant and trustworthy your content is for a given search. The more expertise and depth your content demonstrates, the more likely it is to rank well.

Publishing high-quality content is essential for building that authority and gaining credibility with both search engines and users. You can amplify this effect by sharing your content on social media, which can generate more social signals. In turn, this can lead to greater visibility, traffic, and credibility for your brand.

More AI and LLM search mentions

AI-driven search has a growing role in SEO. Features like Google’s AI Overviews (AIO) and AI Mode, as well as LLMs like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity, pull insights from a wide range of sources, including forums, reviews, and social media.

This makes brand visibility — including social signals — across social platforms more important than ever. The more your content, products, or brand are mentioned and discussed online, the greater the chance AI systems will surface you in generated summaries and snippets. Increasing your social signals can help your brand get cited in AI-generated results more often.

Are social signals identical to backlinks?

Not exactly. While links from social platforms can be indexed by search engines, many are marked as nofollow or ugc and don’t pass PageRank the same way traditional backlinks do.

That said, social sharing still plays an important indirect role in earning backlinks:

• Sharing your content on social platforms increases its visibility.

• The more people who see your content, the greater the chance someone will reference or link to it from their own site.

• These earned backlinks from third-party sites do contribute directly to your SEO.

So, while social links themselves don’t carry much weight as ranking signals, social visibility helps your content attract the high-quality backlinks that do.

Best Social Media Platforms for SEO

Let’s take a look at the best social media platforms for SEO. This will give you an idea of where to focus your efforts to improve organic rankings.

YouTube

As the #2 ranking site globally, YouTube gets a ton of visibility in search results. In fact, YouTube videos often rank prominently in relevant search results, especially for “how-to” or tutorial-style queries.

AI systems also scrape video titles, transcripts, and descriptions, which gives you more visibility via generative snippets. So, improving your YouTube SEO is an effective way to improve your social signals and online visibility.

Reddit

Reddit has become one of the most visible domains in Google’s organic search results, now ranking as the fifth-highest visibility domain, according to Amsive. Google increasingly prioritizes authentic, human-led discussions, and Reddit threads frequently appear in both traditional SERPs and AI search engines and LLMs.

This makes Reddit a powerful platform for boosting brand visibility and social signals and capturing search traffic. Focus on contributing to high-value discussions where your audience is already active. Detailed answers, expert insights, and in-depth comparisons tend to perform best.

TikTok

When your videos earn likes, shares, and comments, these social signals can boost your visibility within TikTok’s algorithm and increase the chances of your content appearing in Google’s “Short videos” section.

By optimizing your videos with relevant keywords, captions, and hashtags, you can amplify engagement and reach a wider audience. The more your content is shared and discussed, the greater the opportunity to drive traffic to your site— supporting your SEO efforts indirectly.

Instagram

Instagram Reels and visual content are showing up more often in Google search results, especially for reviews, tutorials, and step-by-step guides.

Strong engagement signals help your content gain traction on the platform. And the more your posts perform on the platform, the higher the likelihood they’ll surface in relevant search results.

Optimizing your captions, alt text, and hashtags can improve both in-platform reach and external visibility, making Instagram an effective channel for boosting your overall content exposure.

Pinterest

Pinterest often ranks well in Google’s image and idea-focused searches. And posts that earn strong social signals tend to surface more prominently on Pinterest and in search results as well. Invest in Pinterest SEO by optimizing your descriptions, titles, and hashtags to increase visibility and drive qualified traffic to your site.

Quora

Quora answers frequently appear in Google results for question-based searches, making it a valuable platform for driving visibility. Because LLMs are often trained on Q&A platforms, building a presence on Quora can also increase your chances of brand mentions in AI-generated summaries and search snippets.

Combining Social Media and SEO for Better Visibility

Social signals may not directly boost your search engine ranking, but they affect your search visibility in other ways, from more authority to LLM citations. The bottom line: Social media and SEO work best together. By creating shareable, high-quality content and promoting it strategically, you can strengthen your online presence and improve your search performance.

Need help creating top-notch content to improve your search visibility? ClearVoice offers a range of content solutions to help you rank in traditional search and LLMs. Connect with a content specialist to get started.

The post How Social Signals and SEO Shape Your Online Visibility appeared first on ClearVoice.

If you want your content to appear and continue ranking well, there are a few key strategies and tactics you’ll need to implement.

What is SEO and why does it still matter in 2025?

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the practice of improving a website’s visibility in search results.

Core strategies such as keyword research, content creation and optimization, and link building still matter because they help target intent-driven keywords and attract high-quality leads. Appearing in search results also boosts brand authority and conversions.  While SEO campaigns aren’t always cheap, the long-term ROI far outweighs the cost. Additionally, as ads become more expensive, SEO remains one of the few scalable ways to attract free, intent-driven traffic.

Image Source: Google.com

What’s changed is how SEO works. Search isn’t just “10 blue links” anymore, since Artificial Intelligence (AI) summaries, interactive results, and rich snippets now dominate search engine results pages (SERPs).

For example, besides SEO, you need to develop Generative Engine Optimization strategies, which involve optimizing your content to appear in AI-powered search results. Your brand’s appearance in AI summaries and interactive results will determine whether you capture clicks or get buried.

The Top 10 Most Important SEO Strategies

Without further ado, here are the top 10 most important SEO strategies for businesses to master.

1. Spice up keyword research with search intent + AI and SEO context

Search intent (why someone searches) is still the foundation of keyword research.

The four main types are:

• Informational: learning something
• Navigational: finding a brand/site
• Commercial: comparing options
• Transactional: looking to buy

Search intent optimization ensures you deliver the right content at the right time, especially when providing Your Money or Your Life (YMYL) content. This is Google’s term for web pages that could impact a person’s health, safety, financial stability, or overall well-being.

However, AI-powered SERPs have changed the game. Users ask more conversational questions, and Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE) often gives summarized answers instead of links.

To adapt, you can:

• Map content to intent while using natural language queries
• Use tools like Semrush or Ahrefs intent filters to spot SGE opportunities
• Write clear, authoritative answers that AI can cite

2. Recognize the evolution from E-A-T to E-E-A-T

E-A-T stands for Expertise, Authority, and Trustworthiness. It’s not an official score or one of the ranking factors from Google. However, it was originally used as a guideline for Google’s team of “quality raters,” or people who manually review content to check the performance of Google’s search algorithm.

With Google’s algorithm updates, E-A-T has evolved into E-E-A-T, which now includes Experience. This means that content backed by real-world knowledge is more likely to rank.

To build E-E-A-T into your SEO strategy, you can:

• Add author bios with credentials and experience
• Highlight case studies, testimonials, and customer examples
• Earn quality backlinks, mentions, and PR
• Build trust with clear contact info, policies, HTTPS, and positive reviews

3. Optimize for page experience and Core Web Vitals

Core Web Vitals have matured since their 2021 debut. In 2025, the metrics Google prioritizes are:

• Largest Contentful Paint: < 2.5 seconds for fast load times
• Interaction to Next Paint: < 200 milliseconds for responsive interactivity (replaces First Input Delay, or FID)
• Cumulative Layout Shift: < 0.1 for stable layouts

Page experience goes beyond numbers and is about creating smooth, frustration-free browsing on mobile and desktop. A note of caution: Websites that neglect User Experience (UX) will struggle to rank competitively, even with great content.

4. Create keyword clusters and content pillars

Keyword clustering (the “Hub and Spoke” model) helps boost topical authority by organizing content into related groups.

It’s a content strategy that involves creating topic clusters, building pillar content, and producing cluster posts.

Your content clustering should include:

• Pillar pages: broad, authoritative guides
• Cluster posts: deep dives on subtopics (e.g., “social media ads” or “post scheduling tools”)
• Internal linking: to help connect everything for context and crawlability

To better understand how this works, here’s an example of a pillar post from Ahrefs:

Image Source: Ahrefs.com

Google’s AI SEO optimization thrives on context, so pillar content and cluster posts signal expertise.

For example, a pillar page on “B2B SEO” could link to clusters like “SEO pricing in 2025,” “Google SGE optimization tips,” and “E-E-A-T best practices.”

5. Refresh your content syndication strategy

Content syndication — re-publishing your content on platforms such as LinkedIn articles or Medium — is still a smart way to expand your reach. But here’s the catch: If you don’t use proper canonicalization, Google may deem it duplicate content.

The fix? Canonical tags. These tags tell search engines, “Hey, the original version lives here.”

Always double-check to ensure your syndication partners are using the “rel=canonical” attribution, so Google knows your site is the source and you avoid being tagged as duplicate content.

6. Collaborate with industry experts to build authority

Getting links from authoritative sources is the key to achieving high search engine rankings. While backlinks remain critical in 2025, spammy link-building is dead.

Instead, partner with subject matter experts for:

• Interviews
• Expert roundups
• Co-authored research
• Joint webinars or podcasts

For example, you can create interview posts with an influencer, a thought leader, or anyone considered an expert on a given topic.

In exchange for being featured, the interviewee would gladly share and link to the interview post, giving your brand the exposure and much-needed backlink for SEO.

7. Publish original research and first-party data

Building direct relationships and collecting first-party data through emails, surveys, and on-site behavior has always played a pivotal role in marketing. Brands that commit to owning these insights consistently gain a stronger competitive advantage.

That’s why first-party data and original research are more valuable than ever. Investing in data hubs (newsletters, gated content, CRM integrations, and surveys) gives you a major edge in personalization, ROI tracking, and trust-building.

Some methods for achieving this include:

• Running surveys and polls (via Google Forms, LinkedIn, or X)
• Sharing case studies, benchmarks, and customer insights
• Packaging data into visual reports or infographics that others will cite

Image Source: Forms.Google.com

These content types also cater to Google’s Helpful Content Update. This algorithm update rewards genuinely helpful, people-first content while reducing the visibility of content created mainly to rank in search engines.

8. Stop ignoring structured data

Winning SEO isn’t just about ranking on page one; it’s about visibility in rich results and AI-powered summaries that dominate the SERPs.

Structured data (schema markup) helps Google understand your content and feature it in:

• FAQs
• How-to snippets
• Local business panels
• Video previews
• AI-generated SGE snapshots

By optimizing for rich results, you increase your chances of capturing clicks even when users never scroll past Google’s AI answers. Think of schema as your shortcut to visibility. If competitors are using it and you’re not, they’ll own the real estate that matters most.

9. Embrace mobile-first indexing

Mobile-first is no longer optional — it’s the default. In 2025, Google will primarily evaluate your mobile site when evaluating rankings. Follow these SEO best practices for a mobile-first approach:

• Use responsive design
• Keep paragraphs short with lots of white space
• Add jump links and a Table of Contents for scannability
• Optimize your images for smaller screens

10. Budget realistically: SEO pricing in 2025

SEO remains one of the best long-term investments, but costs have shifted as the field has grown more competitive and complex.

Here’s what you can expect to pay:

• Small businesses: $1,500 – $3,500 per month
• Mid-sized companies: $3,500 – $10,000+ per month
• One-time SEO projects: $7,500 – $50,000

SEO now requires more than keywords and backlinks. Brands need technical SEO expertise, AI-driven content optimization, UX improvements, structured data, and ongoing monitoring to stay competitive. Agencies and consultants who can deliver that level of expertise don’t come cheap.

FAQs about SEO in 2025

1. How can I improve my SEO campaigns this year?

Focus on SGE and intent alignment, demonstrating E-E-A-T, improving UX with Core Web Vitals, and using first-party data and expert collaborations.

2. Is SEO still important in 2025?

Absolutely. SEO evolves with search itself. Brands that adapt remain visible — those that don’t, fade from view.

3. How much does SEO cost in 2025?

Small businesses typically invest between $1,500 and $3,500 per month in SEO, while larger campaigns can cost significantly more.  Ultimately, the price depends on the level of ambition and aggressiveness of the strategy, whether for a local business or a large corporation.

4. Will SEO exist in 5 years?

Yes. AI will continue to reshape search, but brands still need SEO to be discovered.

Keeping Your SEO Strategy Future-Proof

At the end of the day, content has been and will continue to be the top SEO priority.

SEO cannot exist without content! It’s easy to let your content strategy become some vague bullet-pointed list in a strategy document that nobody on your team opens. But we’re here to tell you that you can get tremendous results from having well-maintained and thought-out content and SEO tactics.

If you’re eager to revitalize your 2025 SEO strategy, get in touch with one of our SEO content experts today.

The post SEO: The Most Important Strategies and Tactics appeared first on ClearVoice.

The right marketing WordPress plugins make it easier.

Below, you’ll find our top picks — from content to SEO plugins — that will simplify your days and improve your results. Each one has at least four stars and is regularly updated to help you manage, optimize, and grow your site.

1. OneSignal: Best plugin for browser-based notifications

Rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars

Keep ’em coming back for more. OneSignal allows you to show notification opt-ins when people visit your website. This useful tool promotes engagement, improves conversion, and helps retain and build trust with your users.

Visitors to your site can opt in for desktop or phone push notifications, giving them instant access to your content as it is created. Your users will never forget you with frequent notifications, even after they’ve left your website.

Key features

• Segment by behavior, language, or custom attributes
• Smooth UX = better retention
• Real-time analytics on opens, clicks, and conversions
• Reliable support when you need it
• Allows for A/B testing

2. Yoast: Best SEO plugin to improve your website content

Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars

Optimizing your website for traditional SEO, from metadata to relevant keywords, remains an essential part of any marketer’s job. As one of the best SEO plugins for WordPress, Yoast is a must-have tool throughout the content creation process.

Yoast helps you naturally include primary and secondary keywords without stuffing. The plugin will also remind you to add meta descriptions, title tags, and image alt text, and guide you on keyword usage for each element. The built-in guidance of Yoast is what makes this tool so helpful.

Key features

• Updated every two weeks
• Available in 58+ languages
• AI tools in Premium plans
• Free to install
• Real-time writing feedback
• Integrates with WooCommerce and other CMS

3. Smush Image Optimization: Best image loading & optimization plugin

Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars

To keep your site fast, you need to optimize, resize, convert, and compress images — and Smush Image Optimization makes that process effortless. Smush automatically compresses images to the optimal size, removing unnecessary data while maintaining sharpness and high quality on your site.

With this marketing plugin, your pages will load faster on both mobile and desktop, so your users get a better user experience (and you never have to worry about manually resizing and compressing images again).

Key features

• Bulk optimization
• Lossless image compression
• Pro version benefits
• Incorrect image size detection
• No monthly limits
• Backup and restore
• 8x faster image processing

4. Schema: Best plugin for creating standout search results

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Want your content to stand out in search results? Schema helps you add structured data to your pages so search engines better understand your content — and, when eligible, display rich results (also called rich snippets). These enhanced search listings can showcase features such as ratings, prices, events, recipes, videos, and more, making your pages more visually appealing and informative.

The result: higher visibility, better click-through rates (CTR), and stronger SEO performance. The Schema SEO plugin integrates seamlessly with WordPress and works with Google, Bing, Yahoo, and even Facebook to deliver richer previews that attract the right audience.

Key features

• Yoast SEO compatible
• Easy implementation
• Supports multiple schema types
• Validation with Google Structured Data Tool
• Lightweight and fast

5. Brevo: Best AI plugin for customer communication flows

Rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars

The Brevo plugin is a tool that helps your marketing team improve omnichannel communication with your target audience. It’s built to promote and distribute content through email, SMS, WhatsApp, and chat. Brevo makes it simple to segment your audience, trigger email campaigns, and track performance, allowing you to learn more about what your audience loves — from newsletters and blog posts to gated content.

With deep WooCommerce integration, GDPR compliance, and reliable deliverability, this marketing plugin combines campaign management, automation, and customer data into a single platform. The benefits include greater content reach and understanding, allowing you to target and craft content that generates traffic, engagement, and results.

Key features

• Manage and track email, SMS, WhatsApp, push, and ads
• Customizable forms and gamified popups
• Advanced list management and segmentation
• Marketing automation with visual workflow builder
• E-commerce integration
• Real-time performance analytics

6. Everest Forms: Best full-featured WordPress form-builder plugin

Rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars

Everest Forms is a handy content plugin for WordPress that lets you create custom forms for contact, surveys, quizzes, applications, and even payments without coding or design skills.

It’s great for capturing newsletter signups, lead data, and customer feedback right on your site. Use the insights you gather to understand your audience and publish higher-converting content.

Key features

• Mobile-responsive
• File and image uploads for easy input
• Customizable fonts, colors, and layouts
• Spam protection with CAPTCHA and Akismet
• Wide integrations with 30+ platforms

7. Blog2Social: Best social media marketing plugin

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Blog2Social lets you automate social media promotion directly from WordPress, saving you time and effort. With just a few clicks, you can create, customize, schedule, and share content across social networks like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Instagram, Pinterest, and more.

It’s especially helpful for cross-promoting blog posts, videos, and evergreen content at the ideal times for each platform. This content marketing plugin lets you customize hashtags, images, captions, and post formats for each network to maximize engagement and maintain brand consistency.

Key features

• Auto-post to 20+ networks
• Built-in social media calendar
• Custom hashtags, mentions, images, GIFs, and emojis
• Share and schedule video posts
• Track performance with UTM links
• Optimize social meta tags

8. Related Posts for WordPress: Best plugin to boost engagement

Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars

The Related Posts plugin improves user experience and SEO by strengthening your internal linking. It scans your content and automatically links to relevant related posts, helping reduce bounce rates and keep visitors engaged, all without slowing down your site.

Smart links are based on your content structure, with priority given to your most important pages. Plus, you stay in control: customize links, add widgets, or use shortcodes for flexible placement.

Key features

• One-click setup
• Smart AI matching
• Full manual control
• Cross-post type support
• Shortcode ready
• Widget support

9. Nelio A/B Testing: Best AI-enhanced testing plugin

Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars

Nelio A/B Testing makes it easy to test and optimize almost anything on your WordPress site — from headlines and CTAs to landing pages, product pages, and even menus. The built-in AI suggests what to test and provides ready-made templates, allowing you to launch experiments faster.

Heatmaps and detailed reports show exactly where visitors click, scroll, and drop off, so you get clear insights for improving conversions and user experience. It also integrates seamlessly with popular page builders, allowing you to run tests without breaking your design or slowing down your site.

Key features

• AI testing suggestions and templates for faster setup
• Test pages, posts, products, menus, CSS, or JavaScript
• Scans your entire site, historical test data, sales stats, and even Google Analytics insights
• Easy-to-understand results for goal-setting
• GDPR-compliant for privacy

10. Super Progressive Web Apps: Best mobile app plugin for WordPress sites

Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars

The Super Progressive Web Apps (SPWA) WordPress plugin allows you to turn your website into a “mobile app” that is accessible from the home screen of a mobile device — without having to edit your code.

SPWA is a WordPress plugin that prompts your site visitors to save your website to their home screen as an app. Users can revisit your site by launching the app directly from their smartphone’s home screen, and then use the interface to interact with your website.

You also have the option to cache your site pages on their mobile phone, allowing them to revisit your pages even when they’re offline. Sites with a heavy content focus will find that this plugin is the go-to tool for increasing repeat site traffic.

Key features

• Translated into 13 languages
• Regular updates
• Fast loading times
• Easy website-to-app transition
• User-friendly interface
• Offline page access
• Customizable splash screen

Power Your Content Strategy With Marketing WordPress Plugins

The right marketing WordPress plugins don’t just make your life easier — they help you work smarter, improve user experience, and get more ROI from every piece of content.

And if you want to take things even further, ClearVoice can help. Our content experts can handle everything from strategy and creation to optimization and editing. Connect with a content specialist today to learn more.

The post The 10 Best Marketing WordPress Plugins for Content Success appeared first on ClearVoice.

The challenge? Finding the right one to use. Try googling the term “link shorteners,” and you’ll find yourself staring at millions of hits.

But don’t despair. We made your job easier by examining the best link shorteners, explaining their purpose, and weighing their advantages and disadvantages so you can make the right choice for your team.

Why link shorteners?

Because many URL links are long-winded.

Put another way, quality content consists of well-thought-out, well-designed, and well-written information that

solves a reader’s problem, answers their questions, and looks clean and organized.

Longer, wordier blog post and article URLs are necessary for SEO purposes. But those lengthy URLs can also generate a host of problems when shared in emails, on websites, or through social media. Short links are also viewed as more trustworthy and less “spammy.”

Enter link shortener tools, which can help you clean up those lengthy, alphanumeric web addresses. More advanced link management platforms also provide link tracking, QR code generators, and branded links.

Let’s take a closer look at four of the higher-rated URL shorteners.

1. Bitly: Ranked 4.7 out of 5 stars

Bitly tends to be the first tool marketing experts think of in their search for an ideal URL shortener. Around since 2008, Bitly is super-easy to use and provides marketers with many features.

Pros: Bitly quickly allows you to create custom and encrypted short links, redirect links, and review data and analytics based on clicks and organic shares. It also integrates well with other tools and apps, such as social media and digital marketing dashboards, including HubSpot and Marketo. Additionally, the link platform successfully partners with Google Analytics and Marketo Engage, which is part of Adobe.

Cons: Bitly’s free plan is somewhat anemic. It allows you five short links, two QR codes, and access to only two custom landing pages a month. Some users find even the higher-price tiers limiting, requiring other tools to generate more insights.

Best for: Small to medium-sized businesses and smaller marketing teams that require powerful analytics along with link shortening abilities. If you need something more robust, like link management, data and analytics, or more, a paid plan is necessary.

Pricing plans:

• Core: $10 a month for 100 links
• Growth: $29 a month for 500 links
• Premium: $199 a month for 3,000 links
• Custom/Enterprise: Bitly offers a customized plan complete with advanced analytics, integrations, and security. Contact the company for a quote.

2. TinyURL: Ranked 4.5 out of 5 stars

Similar to Bitly, TinyURL has been around for a couple of decades. However, this link shortener platform isn’t a Bitly alternative. Rather, TinyURL is well-regarded for its simplicity, quickness, ease of use, and short learning curve.

Pros: Here’s how easy TinyURL is to use: Visit the website, enter your long link into the indicated box, and click the “Shorten URL” button. That’s it. You can also create custom links without an account (though creating an account helps you keep track of your full link history). If you need more, like browser extensions or a preview of custom links, TinyURL’s paid plans offer those features.

Cons: TinyURL offers limited tools, even with its payment plans. Collaboration features are limited, the platform doesn’t provide a basic user interface, and it offers limited analytics and tracking. Furthermore, TinyURL doesn’t link directly with other marketing platforms and requires a manual process to do so.

Best for: This no-frills tool is perfect for individual users or small businesses that require link-shortening simplicity.

Pricing:

• Free: 30 branded links, with a link shortener limit of 100 (must open an account to take advantage)
• Pro: $9.99 a month for 500 links with unlimited trackable clicks and 10,000 branded links
• Bulk 100K: $99 a month for 100,000 links and up to 100,000 clicks
• Enterprise: If you need more custom solutions and customer support, TinyURL provides tailor-made plans that offer more features. Contact TinyURL support for more information.

3. Rebrandly: Ranked 4.48 stars out of 5

The aptly named Rebrandly has a great reputation for its branded links and other powerful features, giving you a high level of control over your company’s image, SEO, and marketing efforts.

Pros: Rebrandly offers integration with Urchin Tracking Module (UTM), allowing you to track your digital campaign’s effectiveness. This URL shortener platform provides custom domains to assist with link branding, while comprehensive link analytics generate valuable information about click-throughs, audience engagement, conversions, and more. An added plus is that Rebrandly works well with several marketing platforms and partners nicely with Google Analytics, Zapier, and various social media platforms.

Cons: Many of Rebrandly’s more robust features are restricted to higher-priced plans. Some users have also complained about a l

ack of reporting features, while others cite a poor user interface and customer service issues.

Best for: Teams requiring custom, branded links and marketing platform integration to increase their visibility and image.

Pricing:

• Free: 10 links, 10 QR codes, and one custom domain per month
• Essentials: $13 for 250 links, 250 QR codes, and two custom domains per month
• Professional: $32 for 1,500 links, 1,500 QR codes, and three custom domains per month
• Growth: $99 for 3,500 links, 3,500 QR codes, and 10 custom domains per month
• Enterprise: If you require dedicated support, additional links, unlimited domains, and other advanced options, Rebrandly can customize a program tailored to your needs.

4. Short.io: Ranked 4.2 stars out of 5

Short.io is a multipurpose URL shortener noted for simplifying links while boosting brand recognition. The software is also applauded for its dynamic tracking abilities and superior domain customization.

Pros: Short.io offers multiple features, including custom short links, API accessibility (a must for developers), in-depth analytics, and collaboration tools. The platform provides you with plenty of data, including location, audience engagement, devices used, and clicks and shares. Another benefit is that Short.io plays nicely with other software, like Google Analytics, Zapier, and Slack.

Cons: Short.io requires a complicated setup and a difficult learning curve, especially for those who haven’t used link shortener platforms before. Despite its robust features, poor ease-of-use dragged down Short.io’s ranking. Some users also complain about slow loading times when filtering link searches and a lack of customizable features compared with other platforms.

Best for: Developers and marketing teams looking for advanced targeting analytics and in-depth data.

Pricing:

• Free: 1,000 branded links and five custom domains per month
• Hobby: $5 for 2,500 branded links and seven custom domains per month
• Pro: $18 for unlimited branded links and 10 custom domains per month
• Team: $48 for unlimited branded links and 50 custom domains per month
• Enterprise: $148 for unlimited branded links and custom domains per month

All paid tiers offer free trials.

Selecting the Best Link Shortener

Finding the right link shorteners depends on your content team’s needs. TinyURL is a straightforward tool, while its cousins Bitly, Rebrandly, and Short.io provide robust features to aid with marketing and branding. When researching link management tools, consider ease of setup, required data needs, QR code requirements, and needed integrations with other platforms.

In addition to link shorteners, high-quality content and data-driven SEO strategies help drive audience engagement and search engine page rankings. ClearVoice’s group of experienced, proven content producers, editors, and strategists can help enhance your brand, increase domain authority, and generate quality leads for conversions. Get in touch to learn more about how ClearVoice can be a viable partner in your marketing strategies.

The post Best Link Shorteners Reviewed: Bitly vs. TinyURL vs. BL.INK appeared first on ClearVoice.

On this episode of CV MIC (Marketers in Conversation), Pablo — founder of Sandy Eggo SEO — joins us to unpack what the future of search really looks like in the age of AI and large language models (LLMs), why authority is proof not promise, and how marketers can better align content and SEO efforts to stay ahead.

Why SEO Isn’t Dead

SEO has been declared “dead” for years. Yet traffic patterns and demand for SEO services show the opposite. Pablo points out that global interest in SEO agencies has tripled, even as AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity reshape how users discover information.

The reason is simple: the fundamentals still matter. Brands still need technically sound websites, content that answers real user questions, and reputation signals that validate their credibility. What’s changing isn’t the foundation — it’s the playing field. Search is no longer confined to Google. Social platforms like TikTok, Reddit, and Instagram have become discovery engines in their own right, and AI chat tools are pulling heavily from existing search indices.

For marketers, this means optimizing not just for Google but for wherever audiences search. The challenge isn’t whether SEO is relevant; it’s how quickly you can adapt it to new discovery paths.

Authority Is Earned, Not Claimed

Authority in SEO has long been tied to Google’s emphasis on trust, expertise, and credibility (AKA Google’s E-E-A-T). But Pablo emphasizes that authority isn’t something a brand can simply declare. It has to be demonstrated through a consistent body of work.

That means building a comprehensive content ecosystem that spans every stage of the customer journey, from awareness to loyalty. It also means proving expertise through third-party validation — reviews, social proof, and reputation management. Even in an era when reviews themselves can be manipulated, genuine signals of trust remain one of the most powerful ways to demonstrate authority.

In practice, authority requires both depth and breadth of content, backed by a reputation that extends beyond a company’s own website.

Content and SEO: Stronger Together

One of the biggest mistakes companies make, Pablo argues, is treating SEO and content as separate functions. In reality, the two are inseparable.

Content provides the substance, stories, solutions, and resources users actually want. SEO ensures that content is structured, optimized, and discoverable. When these functions are siloed, both underperform. When they’re integrated, the results multiply.

Cross-team collaboration is the key. SEOs must take the lead in educating content, marketing, and even sales teams on search behavior and opportunities. In turn, content marketers need to align their strategies with technical realities. The best SEO outcomes don’t happen in isolation; they emerge from a shared understanding across developers, PR, legal, design, and marketing stakeholders.

Lessons From Experimentation

Pablo’s own experiments highlight how SEO principles play out in practice. When launching his consultancy, he deliberately built a website on one of the least SEO-friendly platforms he could find. Despite the limitations, the site generated leads — including from outside his local San Diego market — through little more than reviews and user-generated content.

The takeaway? Technical perfection matters, but trusted signals from real people often matter more. Reviews, authentic content, and reputation can compensate for platform shortcomings, proving once again that SEO is as much about people as it is about algorithms.

A Bigger Mission

For Pablo, SEO is more than a profession; it’s a tool for impact. Through Sandy Eggo SEO, he donates a portion of proceeds to local nonprofits, launched a scholarship for first-generation students, and offers pro bono websites for changemakers and community-driven organizations.

This commitment reflects his broader philosophy: SEO is ultimately about helping people connect with what they need, whether that’s information, services, or opportunities.

Catch More CV MIC Conversations

If you found Pablo’s insights helpful, check out other recent episodes of CV MIC, where we’ve passed the mic to:

• Nandhini Sundaram, Founder of Nandhini Coaching, on overcoming burnout.
• Scott Leese, Founder of Scott Leese Consulting, on the role of focus in growth.
• Jessica Germain, VP of Marketing at My Code, on generational marketing.
• Annette Matzen, Senior SEO Manager at Zenni Optical, on navigating SEO evolution.
• Anthony Morrell, Senior Manager of Digital Marketing at MRC, on connecting content to outcomes.

Stay tuned for more conversations with today’s leading marketers. And if you’re ready to explore how ClearVoice can support your content production efforts, connect with a content specialist today.

The post CV MIC: Pablo Villalpando, SEO Manager and Consultant at Sandy Eggo SEO appeared first on ClearVoice.

But the truth is that businesses will always want to be found by their audiences. Yes, SEO is changing (and so must your strategy), but the fundamentals remain the same. Below, we’re covering the biggest SEO and AI trends to keep your content marketing efforts successful in 2025 and beyond.

5 SEO and AI Trends You Need to Know

The future of SEO is about meeting people where they search. From AI-driven answers to fragmented discovery across platforms, the focus is shifting from ranking in one place to being referenced everywhere.

1. AI and LLM Search Optimization

It’s time to face the facts: Google’s AI Overviews, AI Mode, and LLMs are stealing clicks by answering your users’ questions. Users no longer have to scroll search results to get answers or product suggestions. Now, they get all the info they need without ever having to click a thing (you’ll also hear this referred to as “zero-click search“).

So what can you do about it? Optimize your content for AI and LLM search (aka generative engine optimization or “GEO.” This is the future of SEO, and including AI search visibility in your SEO strategy is vital to increase the chances of these platforms recommending your brand to users. This can also help mitigate the loss of impressions and clicks you’re likely seeing and lead to more branded searches and direct traffic as LLMs cite your brand in response to user queries.

Key takeaways: As AI Overviews, LLMs, and AI-driven search assistants dominate, visibility is no longer about ranking first — it’s about becoming a trusted source that AI cites. Focus on creating content that answers user questions clearly, includes expert insights, contains original research and data, and provides real-world examples so your brand earns mentions in AI-generated answers.

2. High Quality, Relevant Content

No matter how much search evolves, one thing hasn’t changed — high-quality, relevant content remains the foundation of SEO. Google continues to prioritize content that demonstrates depth, credibility, and usefulness, regardless of whether it’s written by humans, AI, or a combination of both.

The rise of generative AI has made it easier than ever to produce content at scale, but it’s also created a flood of generic, low-value pages. To stand out, brands need to focus on original insights, firsthand experience, and authoritative sources that add real value for both readers and AI-driven search systems.

Key takeaways: As AI-generated content becomes ubiquitous, quality becomes your competitive edge. Prioritize E-E-A-T (experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness) signals so your content earns trust, ranks higher, and has a better chance of being cited by both search engines and LLM-powered assistants. Hiring niche writers, editors, and content reviewers with deep industry experience and expertise is one way to do this. You can also include original quotes from expert sources using a platform like HARO (Help a Reporter Out).

3. Search Everywhere Optimization

Search isn’t happening in one place anymore. Users discover products, services, and answers across multiple platforms: Google, YouTube, TikTok, Reddit, LinkedIn, Amazon, and even AI-powered assistants. This shift, often called “fragmented search,” is redefining how brands compete for visibility.

This means you need a search everywhere optimization strategy that combines managed visibility — the platforms you control, like your site, profiles, and listings — with influenced visibility, where other voices shape perception. Unboxing videos on TikTok, Reddit reviews, AI summaries, and third-party comparisons all impact whether someone chooses you over a competitor.

Long-tail, conversational keywords are more important than ever for optimizing your content, but visibility now also depends on format and context. That could mean repurposing content into short-form videos, optimizing for AI-ready Q&A, or ensuring your brand earns citations in LLM-generated answers.

Key takeaway: In the future of SEO, being everywhere matters more than ranking first. To win, you need to combine optimized owned assets with a strong presence in earned spaces, from Reddit threads and TikTok feeds to AI-powered search summaries, ensuring visibility and trust wherever your audience discovers, compares, and decides.

4. Brand Building as an SEO Strategy

As AI-powered search and LLM-generated answers become more prominent, brand recognition is becoming just as important as rankings. When users trust your brand, they’re more likely to search for you directly, click when they see your name, and engage with your content — all signals that traditional and AI search engines value.

These platforms also need reliable, well-known sources to cite. If you consistently publish authoritative, original content (notice a theme with these SEO trends yet?) and establish yourself as a thought leader, you’ll be more likely to be surfaced in AI-generated answers.

Key takeaways: Future SEO success depends on making your brand the answer. Invest in PR to position yourself as an expert source, share advice and answer questions on platforms like Quora and Reddit, and create original, data-driven research that others naturally reference. The more your brand is cited and trusted across the web, the more weight it carries with users and with AI systems deciding what to recommend.

5. Topical Authority

Brands that demonstrate deep topical authority will have an edge in this zero-click world. It’s no longer enough to rank for a few high-volume keywords — you need to own your niche by covering topics comprehensively and signaling that your content is the most trustworthy, useful resource available.

One way to strengthen topical authority is by creating topic clusters. Start with a comprehensive pillar page on a core subject, then build supporting content that addresses subtopics from every angle as well as various search intents (from informational to commercial), and then link it all together. Conducting surveys, publishing studies, and analyzing trends in your industry will also help your brand stand out as a source others cite.

Key takeaways: By combining in-depth topic coverage, proprietary insights, and early coverage of rising topics, you position your brand as the go-to resource and make it more likely to be cited, ranked, and recommended across both traditional and AI search.

The Future of SEO Is Alive and Kicking

As long as there are search engines, there will be SEO. While there will always be someone saying “SEO is dead,” it’s just not the case. The future of SEO isn’t as linear as it once was but it remains a crucial component to driving brand awareness, authority, leads, and conversions.

If keeping up feels like a full-time job, bring in specialists who do this every day. ClearVoice can pair you with industry expert writers, editors, strategists, and SEO pros to help you rank in traditional and AI search engines. Connect with a content specialist to learn more.

The post The Future of SEO: 5 Key Trends (and What to Focus on Now) appeared first on ClearVoice.

AI search engines and large language models (LLMs) have fundamentally changed how people search. Now, users can get answers directly on the search results page — no click required. And yes, that shift has caused many businesses to see a dip in impressions and clicks.

But here’s the truth: SEO isn’t dying; it’s transforming. And if you want to keep showing up where your audience is searching, your strategy has to evolve, too.

Is SEO dead?

No, SEO isn’t dead, but AI and LLMs have changed search forever. The fundamentals of SEO — quality content, authority, and technical soundness — remain just as critical. But now they should be paired with strategies for generative search.

It also requires a big mindset shift. Ranking #1 is no longer the only goal. What matters now is being referenced — by AI search engines, LLMs, and the platforms where your audience actually discovers information.

Here’s what’s changed:

• Zero-click searches are rising: A study by Semrush found that the number of site visits generated from LLMs and AI search engines will surpass traditional organic search by 2028.

• Top rankings don’t guarantee clicks anymore: Even if you land in position #1, you may get buried under AI-generated summaries and sidebars.

This means it’s time for you to include generative engine optimization (GEO) in your SEO strategy. When you pair GEO tactics with solid SEO fundamentals, you’ll stay visible wherever your audience is searching.

Why Are Digital Marketers Saying SEO Is Dead?

Some marketers claim SEO is dead because AI-powered search has completely rewritten the rules. Users can now get answers instantly — without ever clicking a link — and that’s shaken up traditional strategies.

AI Search Is Stealing Clicks

Google’s AI Mode and AI Overviews surface detailed answers directly on the results page. For many queries, users never need to visit a website. In fact, another Semrush study found that only 32% of the links in Google’s AI Mode sidebar overlap with the top 10 traditional search results. Translation: Ranking #1 no longer guarantees visibility.

Search Is More Fragmented Than Ever

Users aren’t just searching on Google anymore. They’re turning to AI tools, Amazon, and social platforms like ChatGPT, TikTok, Reddit, and Pinterest to research and make buying decisions. If you’re only optimizing for Google, you’re missing where your audience spends time.

Competition Is Skyrocketing

AI-generated content has flooded the web, pushing Google to deindex low-quality pages and reward authority-driven content. At the same time, AI Overviews can overshadow even top-ranking results, making “position #1” less valuable than ever.

How to Update Your SEO Strategy in 2025

It’s not all doom and gloom. You just need to rethink your approach to stay competitive. Here’s how:

Keep SEO Fundamentals Strong

High-quality content, on- and off-page optimization, and clear authority signals are still the foundation of SEO. Google also continues to prioritize E-E-A-T — experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness — when deciding what to show in results.

And user experience matters more than ever: fast-loading pages, mobile-friendly design, and intuitive navigation all help your content earn visibility with both traditional search engines and AI-driven tools.

Make Your Content Easy for AI to Cite

Want to improve your chances of getting your brand mentioned by AI search engines and LLMs? Create content that’s designed to be cited, summarized, and recommended:

• Structure content with Q&A-style headings that mirror the way people naturally search. Use conversational, long-tail keywords that match the highly specific queries used in AI chatbots. For example, instead of targeting “leaky pipe repair,” use “How do I fix a leaky pipe without having to replace it?” to align with AI-driven results.

• Publish authoritative, quotable insights that LLMs can confidently cite. Include expert commentary, original data, or unique perspectives to make your content more reference-worthy. The more you sound like an authority, the more likely AI tools will surface your content in summaries.

• Support claims with credible sources to increase trustworthiness and citation potential. Link to high-authority publications, government data, or well-known experts in your industry. AI engines prioritize content that connects to recognized, reputable sources.

• Use clear, concise answers in your content so AI can easily extract key takeaways. Start each section with a one- or two-sentence answer before expanding into supporting details. This improves your chances of being featured in AI Overviews and LLM responses.

• Create comparison tables, data summaries, and stats that make your content “reference-ready.” AI search tools favor structured, scannable formats because they’re easy to summarize. Tables and bullet lists increase the likelihood that your content will be pulled directly into AI-generated responses.

• Track AI citations to see where (and if) you’re being mentioned — then fill content gaps proactively. Tools like Semrush’s AI SEO Toolkit, Similarweb’s AI Chatbot Traffic, and Authoritas help you monitor mentions, track share of voice, and compare your visibility against competitors. Once you know which AI tools are overlooking your brand, you can create content specifically designed to target those opportunities.

Be Everywhere People Search

Search is no longer limited to Google. Your audience is discovering brands and solutions on TikTok, Reddit, YouTube, Pinterest, Amazon, and AI chatbots.

 To stay visible:

• Target fragmented discovery by tracking where your audience searches — AI chatbots, marketplaces, or social search — and optimize accordingly.

• Repurpose content into platform-native formats like TikTok shorts, Reddit threads, YouTube explainers, or Pinterest visuals.

• Engage with users on these platforms. Answer questions, join conversations, and build authority in spaces like Reddit, Quora, and TikTok comments where your audience actively seeks advice and recommendations.

Leverage Google Shopping and LLM product feeds

Shopping results are becoming a bigger SEO opportunity, especially as AI tools integrate product data. Set up a Google Merchant Center account and optimize your product feed to improve visibility. ChatGPT has even introduced a form merchants can use to be notified when product feeds can be submitted directly — a sign of where generative search is headed.

Double Down on Authority Signals

Google’s growing Knowledge Graph now places more weight on people entities, meaning content written by real experts and supported by authoritative sources is more likely to rank. Invest in bylined authors, cite trusted references, and build signals of trust (like reviews and case studies) into your content.

Stay Ahead of AI-Driven SEO

Here’s how to future-proof your strategy:

• Create content clusters that establish topical authority. AI tools favor sources that cover a subject comprehensively, not just single keywords.

• Optimize for conversational prompts. Look at how people phrase queries in ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Mode, then align your headings and subheadings accordingly.

• Monitor AI trends continuously. Tools like AnswerThePublic can reveal the questions users ask in search, which you can use in your content marketing efforts.

• Think beyond traffic. Branded mentions in AI summaries are becoming key signals of authority and trust. Having a strong, multi-channel online presence is an essential component of staying visible.

  

Defibrillate Your SEO with ClearVoice

It’s clear that the SEO industry is in a transformative phase. Just as a defibrillator can shock a heart back to life, your SEO may need a similar jolt to keep up with the times. The right strategy and approach can breathe new life into a stagnant SEO campaign, boosting its performance and driving better results.

To zap your SEO strategy back to life, you can rely on ClearVoice. You get your own team of content experts, from writers and editors to content strategists and SEO specialists, to reinvigorate your marketing. Connect with a content specialist today to learn more.

The post Is SEO Dead in 2025? appeared first on ClearVoice.

As Zenni Optical’s first internal SEO hire, Annette has brought strategy, structure, and soul to a scrappy growth-focused team. We passed the mic to her to talk about audience behavior, brand storytelling, and why tapping into emotions is a smarter long game than chasing traffic alone.

Bridging Content, Brand, and Technical SEO

When you’re the only SEO in-house, you wear a lot of hats. Annette collaborates with multiple teams across Zenni — from creative to analytics — to ensure that SEO isn’t an afterthought, but baked into campaigns from the start.

That means translating technical insights into digestible takeaways for stakeholders, while also guiding writers and brand marketers toward content that serves both humans and search engines. It’s a balance: getting granular with schema markup and crawl budgets while still advocating for stories that connect with real people.

Why Emotional Marketing Isn’t Just for B2C

Annette’s passion lies in what happens after someone finds your content. Does it speak to them? Does it build trust? Is it clear, compelling, and reflective of how they actually think and feel?

“I’m very interested in the psychology of decision-making,” she shared. “Talia Wolf’s work really influenced how I approach conversion — by focusing on emotions over tactics.” For Annette, emotional marketing is not fluff; it’s a framework for deeper engagement, especially in industries where products can feel commoditized.

At Zenni, that means moving beyond product specs to show how affordable eyewear can fuel confidence, creativity, and identity. And yes, that starts with a smart SERP strategy, but it doesn’t end there.

Owning the Full Funnel (and Helping Teams See It)

A big part of Annette’s role involves education: helping teams understand that SEO isn’t just about top-of-funnel discovery. It can influence landing pages, product pages, help centers, and everything in between.

She encourages marketers to think holistically. Ranking is just one piece of the puzzle — user experience, content clarity, and conversion paths matter just as much. Especially as search evolves with AI overviews and zero-click experiences, there’s even greater pressure for every page to deliver value fast.

Rethinking the ROI Conversation

One challenge Annette sees often? Teams over-indexing on content quantity without tying it back to performance. (AKA: How do you tie content to ROI?) Her approach is methodical: evaluate what’s already working, repurpose or optimize where possible, and launch new content based on evidence, not assumptions.

That lens has made her a trusted advisor, not just an executor. She’s part strategist, part translator, and part coach. And in her eyes, the future of SEO is less about playing algorithm games and more about building meaningful, measurable connections.

Advice to Other SEO Leaders: Learn to Speak the Language of Others

Annette’s advice to other in-house SEO pros is simple: master the art of cross-functional collaboration. SEO can’t live in a silo — it needs to flex across brand, dev, product, and beyond.

By staying curious, listening well, and meeting other teams where they are, you can unlock new opportunities to integrate SEO deeper into the business. And when you combine that with empathy and a clear POV, SEO becomes more than a tactic; it becomes a growth engine.

ClearVoice connects brands with expert SEO writers and strategists who understand the nuance of technical accuracy and emotional storytelling, just like Annette. Whether you’re scaling content or optimizing for conversions, we’ll help you create content that performs. If you’re ready to explore how ClearVoice can support your content production efforts, connect with a content specialist today.

Want more bold conversations with marketers like Annette?

Check out other episodes of CV MIC:

• Scaling Bottom-of-Funnel Content: Lashay Lewis, BOFU.ai
• Developing the Personal in Personal Branding: Melissa Zehner, Organic GTM
• Delivering Direct Mail that Works: Jeff Malloy, Director of Enterprise Sales at PreSmart Solutions
• Leading with Listening in a Regulated Industry: Anthony Morell, Merchant Risk Council

The post CV MIC: Annette Matzen, Senior SEO Manager at Zenni Optical appeared first on ClearVoice.

Whether you’re a seasoned content lead or a founder navigating growth, Lashay’s journey offers a fresh perspective on strategy, AI, and the overlooked power of bottom-of-funnel content.

Rejection as a Catalyst

Before BOFU.ai was a consultancy, it was a lesson in resilience. Lashay’s pivot to bottom-of-funnel content came after being rejected from a role she deeply wanted, one focused entirely on BOFU strategy. The reason? She didn’t know how to write that kind of content well yet.

That rejection didn’t just sting — it sparked a fire. She reverse-engineered what she would have needed to succeed in that role and began building frameworks to help others (and herself) write stronger, more strategic content. Her first LinkedIn post about it got one like. The second? Hundreds of engagements, new subscribers, and the momentum she needed to move forward.

What Makes BOFU So Hard and So Valuable

Lashay carved out a niche by focusing on the funnel stage most teams ignore: bottom-of-funnel. In her view, BOFU is where content should be deeply collaborative, driven by cross-functional insights, and aligned with clear pain points and capabilities. But getting there isn’t easy.

Bottom-of-funnel content requires input from multiple teams — product, sales, marketing — and when those inputs are fragmented, the result is often misaligned messaging. AI tools on their own can’t solve this. Lashay found that many AI writing assistants struggled to generate strong BOFU content, not because the technology was flawed, but because the necessary inputs and context were often missing or inconsistent.

That realization is what pushed her to reimagine how AI could be used differently, not as the sole creator, but as a co-pilot working within a proven human framework.

Human-Led. AI-Supported. Strategy First.

After spending two years refining her own content frameworks, Lashay began teaching those processes to AI. This wasn’t an off-the-shelf solution. It required deep customization and a clear understanding of what good content looks like before AI could step in.

For her, AI only becomes valuable when layered on top of a strong, proven system. That philosophy now powers BOFU.ai: a human-led, productized consultancy that uses AI to streamline parts of the content creation process without sacrificing strategic depth or editorial quality.

It also allows her team to stay lean. By automating the first draft process and maintaining a human-in-the-loop system for editing and quality control, BOFU.ai publishes content faster without bloating headcount.

A Call for Specialization (and Smarter Resourcing)

Lashay’s experience spans multiple content channels — blogs, YouTube, social — and she’s quick to point out that each one needs its own approach. Repurposing is important, but copy-pasting a blog into a LinkedIn post or a YouTube script won’t cut it. Each format has its own rhythm, its own expectations, and its own audience behavior.

She also pushes back on the expectation that one content marketer should do it all. Channel expertise matters, and so does structuring your team (or partner network) around that reality. She’s seen far better outcomes when in-house marketing leaders build their own bench of consultants, rather than relying on one-size-fits-all agencies.

In fact, her entire consultancy model emerged from what she viewed as agency shortcomings — from handoffs to junior talent, to misalignment across services. BOFU.ai operates with a different philosophy: offer deep expertise in one area, stay focused, and connect with trusted peers when clients need more.

Building with Intention

The frameworks and philosophies behind BOFU.ai weren’t built overnight. They were refined over the years, through failed launches, quiet pivots, and honest reflection. Originally conceived as a software solution, BOFU.ai evolved into a consultancy only after Lashay realized that the best way to scale wasn’t by chasing tech hype, but by leaning into what already worked.

Her previous consultancy, Authority Plug, taught her how to productize a service. BOFU.ai takes that a step further by embedding AI into the productized delivery, not as a replacement for human thinking, but as an accelerator for it.

Beyond the Business

While content strategy is clearly a passion, it’s not Lashay’s whole story. She’s a mother of four, a gamer, and someone who’s intentionally stepped away from hustle culture to savor the present. After spending her 20s isolated and deeply focused on her business, she now prioritizes presence with her family, at work, and in her daily life.

That grounding perspective shapes her approach to business today. She doesn’t want a large team or flashy scale. She wants sustainable growth rooted in quality, clarity, and alignment, both personally and professionally.

Closing Advice: Build from the Gaps

If there’s one thing Lashay hopes marketers take away from her journey, it’s this: the places where you feel stuck might hold the key to your next breakthrough.

Rejection, confusion, and self-doubt can all become building blocks if you give yourself space to learn from them. And when you find a gap in your skills or strategy, don’t hide from it. Create a system that fills it.

As Lashay puts it, “The path can be fluid, but the destination doesn’t have to change.”

For more marketer-to-marketer conversations, explore past episodes of CV MIC, where we keep the mic open and the insights flowing. And if you’re ready to explore how ClearVoice can support your content production efforts, connect with a content specialist today.

Catch more CV MIC episodes:

• • Stephanie Yoder, Director of Content, Rebrandly
  • Vincent Nezzer, VP of Strategic Delivery, Avenue Z
  • Lisa Vanterpool, Director of Brand Content & Content Design, Fiverr

The post CV MIC: Lashay Lewis, Founder of BOFU.ai appeared first on ClearVoice.

Many content teams publish, promote, and move on. But older posts are often your most underutilized assets — they’re already indexed, ranking, and likely have backlinks. All they need is a boost.

The post 6 Best WordPress Plugins to Help You Revive Old Content appeared first on ClearVoice.