Table of Contents
Marketing Your Website SEO
Last Update August 26, 2026
How SEO Can Transform Your Business: Lessons from Brandon Leibowitz
SEO is more than a buzzword, it’s the backbone of online success. In the latest episode of the Business Choreography Podcast, host Michael Johnson sits down with Brandon Leibowitz, founder of SEO Optimizers, to unpack why SEO isn’t just for tech giants but essential for every business looking to grow online.
Brandon has been in the digital marketing trenches since 2007, helping small and medium businesses turn website visitors into leads and customers. In this lively chat, he shared how SEO works, why backlinks matter, and why optimizing for people, not bots, is the ultimate key.
The Early Days of SEO: How It All Started
SEO (search engine optimization) has been around for over two decades. Brandon explained that Google first ranked sites by counting backlinks, treating them as votes of confidence from other websites.
The more backlinks you had, the higher you ranked.
But over time, Google got smarter. Now, it’s not just about the quantity but the quality and relevancy of those backlinks.
If you’re a health brand, getting a backlink from a food blog makes sense. A random link from a car dealership?
Not so much.
Why Quality Backlinks Win
Backlinks remain the backbone of SEO today. But Brandon emphasized that not all backlinks are created equal.
Here’s what makes a backlink powerful:
- Relevancy: Is the linking site related to your field?
- Authority: Is it a reputable source? A link from Forbes beats a random blog every time.
- Trust: Google rewards links from trusted sources, pushing your site higher in results.
When Should You Start SEO?
The short answer: yesterday.
Brandon recommends starting SEO efforts as early as possible. Even if you don’t have a website yet, buy a domain and set up a simple landing page.
Google values domain age, so planting that seed now will help you down the road.
If you’ve had a website sitting around for years, that’s even better, you’re already building credibility without even realizing it.
Building Backlinks: The Art of Digital Networking
Backlink building isn’t about spammy blog posts or cheap link farms. Instead, it’s about smart digital networking.
Here’s Brandon’s quick blueprint:
- Spy on competitors: Use tools like Ahrefs, Moz, or Semrush to see who links to them.
- Reach out: Connect with those websites, offer value, and suggest collaborations.
- Be creative: Guest posts, interviews, sponsorships, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach.
The goal is to get high-quality, clickable links that direct people (and Google) to your site.
SEO Beyond Google: Optimizing Everywhere
SEO isn’t limited to Google searches. It applies anywhere there’s a search feature: Facebook, Amazon, Yelp, Spotify, and more.
On each platform:
- Use keyword-rich titles and descriptions.
- Name image and video files with descriptive keywords before uploading.
- Optimize hashtags and captions to attract more views.
Funnels, Websites, and Control
Brandon highlights that while funnel builders like ClickFunnels work, having control over your website is crucial.
With your site (especially using WordPress), you avoid paying extra fees and gain full control over SEO.
Landing pages, sales funnels, and blogs should all be part of your ecosystem whenever possible. This lets you fully optimize and retain authority over your content.
Why User Experience Matters More Than Keywords
Once upon a time, SEO was about stuffing as many keywords as possible onto a page. Those days are gone.
Today, SEO is about providing value and optimizing for humans first.
Write for people, not bots. Naturally use keywords without overloading.
Focus on readability and a smooth user experience.
Google’s AI is designed to act more like a human reader. The better your content serves real people, the more Google will favor it.
Where to Start with SEO
When Brandon begins work with a client, he starts with a deep website analysis:
- What keywords are they targeting?
- How does their site stack up against competitors?
- What backlinks do they have, and what are they missing?
By identifying these gaps, Brandon crafts a customized strategy that aligns with the client’s goals.
Overcoming the Fear of SEO
Many business owners hesitate to dive into SEO because they don’t understand it fully.
Brandon suggests focusing on one fact: SEO helps people find you.
He shows clients real search data using tools like Google Keyword Planner. Seeing how many people search for your products or services each month is often enough to overcome fear and spark action.
Building SEO into Your Business Strategy
SEO isn’t a quick fix, it’s a long game.
It takes time to build trust with Google and climb up the rankings. But the payoff is worth it: more organic traffic, better leads, and stronger brand authority.
If you have a website that’s been around for a while, you already have a head start. Brandon’s approach helps you supercharge that foundation rather than start from scratch.
Recommended Platforms for SEO
Brandon’s favorite platform? WordPress.
It offers the most flexibility and full control, allowing you to optimize every piece of your site.
Other options like Shopify are good for e-commerce, but he advises against builders like Wix SEO or Squarespace if SEO is a priority.
Final Thoughts: SEO as Your Business Choreography
SEO is like choreography for your business. Every piece needs to move in sync: your website, your content, your social media, and your outreach efforts.
When everything lines up, your business dances to success, generating leads, building trust, and making a bigger impact.
Want to Learn More?
Brandon offers a free website analysis and step-by-step classes on SEO for those looking to get started. Visit seooptimizers.com/gift to grab your free resources and start growing your business today.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you market a website with SEO?
Start by identifying what your customers search before they buy, then make sure a page on your site answers each of those queries properly. Technical foundations come next so search engines can crawl and index it.
Links and authority follow. Most sites skip the first step and optimize pages nobody was looking for.
What comes first, SEO or content?
Research comes first, then content, then optimization. Writing before checking what people search produces pages that read well and rank for nothing.
Optimizing before writing produces keyword-stuffed pages. The order that works is find the demand, write the best answer to it, then make it easy to crawl and understand.
How do you measure SEO success?
Track inquiries and revenue from organic search, not sessions or rankings. Traffic that never converts is a cost.
Set a baseline before making changes so improvement is measurable, and give it three to six months before judging. Rankings are useful as an early signal but they are not the outcome.
