#63 - SEO First: Building Marketing That Lasts

🎙 From Google to Growth Engine — Cody Jensen on Building Ethical SEO That Actually Works

What do Groupon knockoffs, offshore shortcuts, and a Lil Wayne lyric have in common? For Cody Jensen, they were all lessons on his path to building Search Bloom — a multimillion-dollar SEO and digital marketing agency built on transparency, strategy, and results.

In this episode, I sit down with Cody — former Googler, data-obsessed strategist, and CEO of Search Bloom — to pull back the curtain on what actually works in SEO today. From the dark side of snake oil tactics to the surprising power of AI (used right), we unpack the foundational mindset and methodology that’s helped his team generate over $800B in attributable revenue for clients.

We cover:

• Why SEO isn't dead — it’s just misunderstood
• What white hat really means, and how Search Bloom built a business that clients don’t want to leave
• The evolution from ART to ARTS (Authority, Relevance, Trust, Strategy) and why it still holds up in an AI-dominated world
• Local SEO that actually works — from Google Business Profile hacks to citations that matter
• Why organic + paid is the growth combo most businesses ignore
• AI-generated blogs? Why they’re killing your site (and what to do instead)

🎯 Key Takeaways:

• Real SEO is built, not bought. If it’s $500/month, you’re likely getting nothing.
• Do SEO from the bottom up. Start with ROI, not just rankings.
• Local SEO can deliver ROI in 2 weeks — but only if you're doing it right.
• AI is a tool, not a shortcut. Use it for strategy, not content dumps.
• Strategy is the new secret sauce. Your roadmap is your edge.

This episode is for small business owners navigating digital growth, marketers who’ve been burned by bad SEO, and anyone curious about ethical, high-ROI search marketing in 2025.

🔗 Connect with Cody:

• LinkedIn
• Search Bloom

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