Why You Should Choose Your Publishing Tools Carefully

It's 2025 and publishing tools abound. Every day, it seems new publishing tools emerge, giving content writers more choices about how, when, and where to publish new content. Not all of these newfangled tools are worth your time. On the other hand, there are some proven, tried and tested, publishing tools that will still do the trick. Even in 2025.

Let's take a look at 5 Web publishing tools you can use in 2025. Then I'll tell you which publishing tool wins the prize for the best—hands down.

5 Popular Web Publishing Tools in 2025

I'm not going to say you shouldn't try these publishing tools, but these are not the best publishing tools for every occasion. Still, these 5 publishing tools are pretty decent depending on what type of publishing you do and your audience.

1. Medium - Medium has been around a while. Writers who want to build a platform flock to Medium because it's easy to use. Plus, Medium publications allow writers to extend their reach and audience engagement by leveraging the audience of niche publications that align with their content. Some writers are even able to earn income from their articles on Medium. These are all huge pluses. Why you should publish on Medium: Ease of use and monetization opportunities. Why you should NOT publish on Medium: It may not be right platform for you, especially if you have a brand that you want to promote through your content publishing assets. 
2. Substack - Substack is growing in popularity for one good reason. It's doing to newsletters what Medium did for blogs. Anyone with an audience can migrate that audience to Substack and have a built-in network of readers. Plus, Substack's app will extend your reach and the network effect kicks in, growing your readers faster and further than you ever dreamed you could. On top of that, through subscriptions, you can monetize your newsletter and turn it into a revenue channel. Why you should publish on Substack: Grow your newsletter audience through Substack's app and monetize your premium newsletter content. Why you should NOT publish on Substack: Effective newsletter require ongoing attention. You must publish on schedule and deliver high-quality content consistency if you want your newsletter to grow, particularly if you plan to monetize your content. Not everyone has the time for that, and if you don't want to publish a newsletter, then Substack is not the right publishing tool for you.
3. Ghost - Ghost is open source and non-profit. That combination is powerful in many people's eyes. Because it is open source, Ghost is more flexible than either Medium or Substack. If you want a newsletter that you have complete control over, with monetization options, and the ability to design your content publishing assets your way, then Ghost is the platform for you. To make a good thing even better, Ghost has a platform option where you can build your newsletter, blog, or publication on a web-based domain like Substack or Medium, or you can download Ghost and develop your own publication brand that you have complete control over. Why you should publish on Ghost: Flexibility and control. Why you should NOT publish on Ghost: Ghost is not free. It costs $15/month if billed yearly. If have a no-budget startup, that may be prohibitive, but in the long run you'll pay less because Ghost doesn't take a percentage of your sales like Patreon and Substack do. If you download the Ghost software, you're on your own with development.
4. Shorthand - While Ghost, Medium, and Substack are family sedans, Shorthand is a Cadillac. If you want a luxury enterprise publishing solution, Shorthand is your ticket. Beyond just a blog or newsletter publishing tool, you can use Shorthand to embed rich media into your publication. You can use animation techniques, build a collaborative team to work on your publication, brand your publication with customized elements, and publish a sleek, magazine-quality Web publication using easy-to-use tools. Your publishing options are also more flexible with Shorthand than with other Web publishing tools. You can store your publication on S3, embed it into your own Web properties, export to a ZIP file, or publish to your Shorthand subdomain. Why you should publish on Shorthand: Use the same Web publishing tools Fortune 500 brands use to publish their brand magazines. Why you should NOT publish on Shorthand: Shorthand is expensive. It starts at $40/month. But what you get for that $40/month is pure gold.
5. Quark - Quark has been developing desktop publishing solutions since 1981. By the 1990s, QuarkXPress had become the premier desktop publishing solution. Quark Publishing Platform is an AI-powered automation solution designed to make the publishing process more streamlined for enterprise businesses. Why you should publish on Quark: If you've got the budget and the team to produce your publication, Quark has the resources to make it happen. Why you should NOT publish on Quark: You simply don't have the budget.

Which Publishing Tool Still Has the Most Users?

WordPress has been around since 2003. They practically built the blogosphere. From individual bloggers to enterprise publishing teams, WordPress is well trusted to deliver the best publishing tools on the Web—even in 2025. 

What makes WordPress the best publishing tool? It's not just one thing. It's many things.

• WordPress started as a blog publishing tool but has grown into a full content management system, powering everything from small business websites to e-commerce stores
• WordPress has an arsenal of plugins that can help you expand your publication's abilities
• WordPress has a ton of themes to help you design your website to look the way you want it to look
• WordPress is totally and completely 100% free to use
• It's also open source, which means you can alter the code, design it the way you want to design, and put your development chops to work to make it what you want it to be
• Where other publishing tools claim to democratize publishing, WordPress actually did it
• With content blocks, WordPress is flexible and easy to use, allowing you to build the website, blog, newsletter, membership site, e-commerce platform, or any other publication and do it your way
• WordPress patterns allow you to easily insert a block of code into your website to something that is common so that you don't have to recreate the wheel
• WordPress also has a worldwide network of developers ready and willing to assist you with any problem you encounter with the software

Do you have plans to build a blog, website, newsletter, or online publication? If so, have your WordPress solution installed and set up by an industry veteran who has set up thousands of WordPress sites since 2003.

by Eric Brister - Chris McElroy SEO Agency

AI Search Optimization 101: What is Search Everywhere Optimization Now? 

Every time a new technology comes along, people start sounding the alarm that SEO is dead. It happened when Google shifted its algorithm, when social media started driving traffic, and now with the rise of AI search tools. The reality? SEO is not DEAD. SEO is doing what it's been doing all along... Evolving.

What we call it today is Search Everywhere Optimization. The game is no longer just about ranking on Google. It’s about making sure your brand gets mentioned wherever people are searching, whether that’s on TikTok, LinkedIn, AI-powered tools like ChatGPT, or in traditional search engines.

We have a quote below from Chris McElroy SEO Agency, from a recent post we did on the topic of AI search optimization. AI search optimization is about adapting your strategy so you’re visible across other popular platforms buyers go for answers, because AI answers don't use traditional SEO as we know it. 

Here is a quote from a blog on Chris McElroy SEO Agency: 

So, what’s different about optimizing for AI search results? 

• In SEO, you have link building. In AI you are after brand mentions on trusted websites. AI doesn’t care whether it’s a link or not. You need people talking about your brand. Schema Markup can be used differently. Google only recognizes a few types of schema that it will consider including in rich snippets.  

• Schema.org has more than 700 types of schema markup. All of them can help AI understand the content of your website better. AI doesn’t care which ones are Google-approved. 

• You don’t have to go FAQ-crazy to do AEO. The structure of your headers can be changed a little to benefit your AI-SEO efforts. Try creating an H2 in the form of a question. Then answer it briefly in the paragraph just below it. You can write more paragraphs, but make sure you’ve provided a good answer in that first paragraph. 

• Google has stated that site speed is not a ranking factor for SEO. For AI, site speed is essential. It’s focused on providing answers to it’s users quickly. While Google might rank the better answer or content over the faster website, AI is going to give you the fastest best answer. - Chris McElroy SEO Agency

We Call it Search Everywhere Optimization

AI Search Optimization is a real, evolving layer on top of traditional SEO. It’s about more than tweaking keywords; it means optimizing for answer engines, brand mentions, conversational search, and the way people interact with AI-driven tools.

Here are the key ideas covered:

AI isn't replacing SEO, but it’s changing the rules. Now you have to think about voice search, AI assistants, and social platforms as search sources. Brand visibility becomes more critical than ever. It’s less about ranking first on Google and more about being mentioned or having your content surfaced by AI when relevant.

On-page + off-page tactics both matter in AI search optimization: your content needs to be customer-focused, ask & answer real questions, and use schema or structured data to help AI understand what you offer. Off-page, you need people talking about your brand on different popular platforms, whether it's through reviews, mentions, shares, or trusted citations.

Strategies like FAQ schema, portable content, conversational tone, entity/brand signals, and attention to speed and user experience all play a part.

Don’t wait until your digital presence gets left behind. If you want to stay visible everywhere your customers search, it’s time to adapt. Let’s build your Search Everywhere Optimization strategy. Book your free, no-obligation consultation with Chris McElroy SEO today!

Why Your Website Designer Should Know SEO and CRO

by Eric Brister - Chris McElroy SEO Agency

If Your Website Designer Doesn't Know SEO and CRO, He's Wasting Your Time

As a business owner, it's easy to get caught in the trap of thinking, "I need a website first." You know you need to attract clients and drive sales to your product or services. But the truth is, if you pour thousands into design, graphics, and slick animations, most of the time you'll realize later that you have no traffic, no leads, and no real strategy to fix it. And by then, the budget’s gone.

At Chris McElroy SEO Agency, we take a different approach. 

Your website should be a tool in a larger, strategic marketing plan. Not the centerpiece of it. We help clients think bigger: Who are you trying to reach? What’s your value proposition? How are you going to get found? How are you going to convince people to buy?

A website doesn’t answer those questions. A marketing plan does. And your website should be built around that plan from the ground up. 

A cold, hard fact: If your website designer doesn't know SEO, CRO, and your goals, value proposition, and target audience, he can't build your website right. All he can do is pretty you up and make more work for you later. Your website will sit there with no traffic.

Here's a quote from Chris McElroy SEO Agency, on the topic:

“Don’t create a marketing plan for your website. Create a website that fits into your marketing plan” — Chris McElroy SEO

Seriously. You should have a well-thought out marketing plan before you even think about building a website.

• Who is your target audience?
• Have you created buyer personas
• Where do they spend most of their time?
• What is your value proposition?
• How do you intend on attracting them to your website and landing pages?
• Are you going to rely on social media, PPC, organic search or a little of all three?
• Who are your top competitors?
• What are they doing to attract customers?
• How will you make yourself stand out as better than they are?

You might not like me being blunt, but if you can’t answer that small subset of questions, you should be barred from talking with anyone about designing your website.

Learn more about the importance of SEO and CRO in website design here: Website Design and Marketing – Which Comes First?

What You Just Read (And Why It Matters)

Chris's agency's post walks you through the mindset shift every serious business owner needs to make: your website is not the business. It’s the tool. It also lays out key planning questions that will guide every decision you make, from content and SEO to PPC and design layout. 

Here's what you'll learn:

• How to build detailed buyer personas that reflect your real customers
• Why personas are the secret sauce behind high-converting content  
• How to make sure your writers are selling to the right people, with the right message, in the right tone
• And why this step matters before you ever start writing landing pages or blog posts

If you're not clear on who you're targeting or how you're reaching them (all covered in our marketing services), your site will never perform, no matter how good it looks. That’s why we recommend starting with a free consultation. We’ll help you map out your strategy before you touch a single line of code, and turn your website into a lead magnet that sends calls your way!

Click here to schedule your free consultation

Zero to On-Page SEO Expert in 3 Minutes

by Eric Brister - Chris McElroy SEO Agency

Zero to On-Page SEO Expert in 3 Minutes: How to Get Your Content to Perform Better

46% of all Google searches are local. That means nearly half of your potential customers are looking for nearby businesses right now.

SEO is what helps them find you in search results. But it’s only the first step. Rankings aren’t stable (just 17% of sites hold the same spot on desktop and mobile, while 37% drop when the search is mobile). And even if you manage to get perfect rankings, they still can’t make visitors stay, trust you, or buy.

Without clear copy, structure, and UX, SEO is just a word. 

You can also win clicks and still lose customers.

That’s why Chris McElroy SEO Agency combines smart SEO with CRO and user-first content to turn browsers into prospects and clicks into revenue.

In this guide, you’ll learn the core on-page SEO elements every small business needs and how to make them convert. If you follow this on-page SEO checklist, your pages will rank as high as possible in search results pages (SERPs), so you can start getting more prospects on your site. 

Ready to see how well your site could perform when it’s built to convert?

Book a free 15-minute consultation with Chris McElroy SEO today.

Benefits of On-Page SEO

You wouldn't think that on-page SEO was that complicated. And it's not. But the fact is, on-page SEO does more than help your site rank higher in search results. It creates a strong foundation that attracts the right visitors and gives them a seamless experience once they land on your site. When done correctly, it drives visibility and conversions, communicating all the right signals to prospects and to search engines.

Benefits of on-page SEO:

• Improved Search Visibility 
• Higher Quality Traffic 
• Better User Experience 
• Increased Engagement 
• Higher Conversion Rates
• Long-Term ROI 

Now, let's go over the on-page SEO factors that you need to pay attention to while you're writing your pages and blogs...

On-Page SEO Checklist

Search engines weigh dozens of on-page factors when deciding where to rank your content, and visitors form an impression of your business within seconds of landing on your site. This checklist gives you step-by-step instructions to cover every core element of on-page SEO. 

This includes keywords, technical setup, UX, media, links, and conversion tracking, so your content is optimized to rank as high as possible in search engines.

Use this checklist as a quick audit before launching any new page or blog post to give your content the best page performance possible.

Content & Keywords

• Title Tag Optimized with Target Keyword 
• H1 Includes Keyword; Secondary Headings Use Variations 
• Primary Keyword in First 100 Words 
• Content Length and Depth Matches Intent 
• Natural Keyword Variations 

Technical On-Page Factors

• Meta Description Optimized 
• Image Alt Text Includes Keywords and Descriptions 
• URL Is Short, Descriptive, and Keyword-Friendly 
• Internal Linking to Relevant Pages 
• Schema Markup or Structured Data 

User Experience and Engagement

• Mobile-Friendly Formatting 
• Fast Load Speed 
• Clear CTAs Above and Below Fold 
• Readability 
• External Links to Credible Sources 

Conversion and Tracking

• Conversion-Focused CTA 
• Analytics Tracking Installed 
• Conversion Goals or Events Tracked 
• Social Share or Engagement Elements 
• Clear Trust Signals 

Our SEO and Content Marketing Services

At Chris McElroy SEO agency, we help small businesses build a powerful online presence that attracts the right traffic and turns it into real revenue. Our team combines strategic SEO services with conversion-focused content to create pages that rank, engage, and sell.

• On-Page and Technical SEO: We optimize every element of your site from titles and meta tags to site speed and mobile experience, boosting visibility and performance.
• Local SEO Campaigns: We strengthen your presence in local search results with optimized Google Business profiles, location-based content, and consistent citations.
• AI-Driven SEO Strategies: We use advanced AI tools to uncover content gaps, find high-value keywords, and create data-driven content strategies faster.
• Conversion-Focused Content Marketing: We craft blogs, landing pages, and site copy designed to engage visitors, build trust, and drive action.
• CRO (Conversion Rate Optimization): We refine page layouts, CTAs, and messaging to maximize the number of visitors who become paying customers.

Zero to On-Page SEO Expert in 3 Minutes: Final Thoughts

Strong SEO is how people find you. Clear, persuasive content is how they trust you. And user-focused design is how they become customers. When all three of these work together, your website becomes a fine-tuned growth engine for your business.

You don’t need more traffic that bounces. You need traffic that converts.

Take the First Step Toward Better Results! Start Turning Visits into Clicks! 

Click Here to Book Your Free 15-minute Consultation Now!

by Eric Brister - Chris McElroy SEO Agency

New Website Launch Checklist - SEO & Content Quick Start Guide

Launching a website is a high-five moment. That is until you realize Google doesn’t care how good it looks if you skip the backend essentials. That’s where most site owners drop the ball.

Whether you’re launching for a local plumbing business, a coaching brand, or a slick new SaaS product, the difference between a pretty website and one that actually gets traffic and converts comes down to this: post-launch SEO and content readiness.

You can’t afford to wing it. And frankly, neither can your clients.

At Chris McElroy SEO Agency, we're an Austin-based SEO agency that bridges sales psychology with search, and we've been perfecting this checklist for years. It’s not just about metadata, image optimization, and headings with keywords in them. It’s about making sure the page communicates with prospects on time and that search engines can see how you've curated the page, then making sure the entire site is click-ready, crawl-ready, and conversion-ready from day one.

This is a working blueprint that we use for real-world deployments on WordPress (Elementor Pro + SEOPress Pro), and it’s adaptable to any CMS or stack.

“With WordPress, Elementor Pro & SEOPress Pro, all of this is really easy… But your favorite tools work too.” ~ Chris McElroy, LeadGenerationAndSales.com

What’s On the New Website Launch Checklist?

If you’re launching a website and want more than just a pretty homepage, this checklist walks you through post-launch SEO, schema, speed, and content essentials; the exact things Chris McElroy’s agency uses to help clients turn browsers into buyers.

 Built for WordPress but flexible for any stack.

 Written by someone who actually gets sales with your content

Here's a quick overview of what's on our new website launch checklist:

• Meta Tags for All Pages
• Structured Schema Markup
• Content Quality and Keyword Use
• Image Optimization and Alt Text
• Technical SEO Setup and Verification
• Internal Linking and Sitemap Updates
• Mobile Responsiveness and Speed Checks
• Analytics, Indexing, and HTTPS Configuration
• Final QA on Devices, Browsers, and Caching

Read the full post here.

Ready to Launch Smarter?

Don’t let traffic slip through the cracks when you've got CRO and SEO experts waiting to help you do everything right! Get the conversions your business deserves with us today!

Schedule a Free 15-Minute Consultation

• Chris McElroy SEO | 512‑789‑2249
• Local SEO. CRO. Real Results.

Easy Elementor Pro Sticky Header and Sticky Jump Links Tutorial

 

Easy Elementor Pro Sticky Header and Sticky Jump Links Tutorial

Writing copy for business owners online has taught me one simple truth: if people can’t find what they want fast, they leave. They're just in a hurry, and don't have time for maybe. Back in my door-to-door days, that meant a slammed door. Today, it means a click to your competitor’s site. Same problem, different century. 

But on our clients' sites, that's not happening. 

We use Elementor Pro’s sticky headers and sticky jump links in our content architecture all the time. Think of them both as friendly salesman who never walk away... They are always in view, and always ready to guide your visitor exactly where they want to go. They look sharp, they create a good user experience, and more importantly, they don't leave people searching around your site when they need to navigate, though you really want to pick one or the other. Using sticky headers and sticky jump links on the same page is probably a little too much.

In this quick tutorial, I’ll show you how to set them both up step-by-step. It’s straightforward, it works on desktop and mobile, and it’s one more quick skill you can pick up to give your site that “why didn’t I do this sooner” polish.

And if you want to take it a step further, turning those shiny headers and links into actual leads and sales, book a free 15-minute consultation with us at Chris McElroy SEO. 

We’ll show you how to turn your website into a clean-cut, user focused lead generating machine.

Now, let's make your headers or jump links stay for the show and help people...

Step-by-Step Guide to Make an Elementor Pro Sticky Menu

Ok, Elementor Pro sticky headers are not that hard to create. Let’s make your menu behave like it’s supposed to. A sticky menu isn’t about showing off some flashy effect; it’s about keeping your most important navigation glued right where your visitors need it.

Follow the following easy steps to create Elementor Pro sticky headers that stick to the top, look professional on any device, and keeps people moving toward the good stuff instead of wandering off:

1. Open Elementor Editor:

   Navigate to your WordPress Dashboard.
   Go to Pages and open the page you want to edit with Elementor.

2. Select the Header Section:

   In the Elementor editor, click on the header section (where your menu is located).

3. Go to "Advanced" Settings:

   On the left panel, click on the "Advanced" tab.

4. Enable Sticky Header:

   Scroll down to Motion Effects (under Advanced settings). Find the Sticky option and set it to Top for desktop, tablet, or mobile. Check or uncheck each device where you want it to stick.

5. Additional Sticky Options:

   Offset: Add 10–20px to avoid a "jumping" effect. Z-index: Set a high number (e.g., 999) so the menu stays above all content. Sticky on Scroll Up: Enable if you want the menu to reappear only when users scroll up.

6. Publish/Update:

   Click Update to save the changes.

Too confusing? Leave your content architecture to the pros at Chris McElroy SEO Agency!

Schedule a call today!

How to Make the Anchor Links in Your Page Into a Sticky Menu

Keeping visitors engaged on your site isn’t just about good design, it’s about smart navigation. Turning your anchor links into a sticky menu makes it effortless for people to jump straight to the sections they care about without endless scrolling. \

The result? 

A smoother user experience, longer time on page, and fewer visitors clicking away out of frustration. Plus, a sticky menu puts your key content and CTAs front and center at all times, which means more clicks, more leads, and more conversions.

1. Step 1: Add a Section for the Sticky Menu

   1. Open your page in Elementor Editor.
   2. Click the plus (+) icon to add a new section.
   3. Choose a single-column layout.
   4. Drag a Text Editor Widget, Button Widgets, or an Icon List Widget into the section to create your jump links.

2. Step 2: Create the Jump Links

   1. Create anchor links using CSS IDs:
   Click the section where you want the link to jump to (e.g., the floor plans container).
   Go to the Advanced Tab.
   In the CSS ID field, enter an ID (e.g., floor-plans).
   
   
   2. Add links in the sticky menu:
   In the Text Editor Widget, Button Widget, or Icon List Widget, enter the jump link: #floor-plans
   Repeat this for all sections (e.g., #map, #renderings, #faq).

3. Step 3: Make the Menu Sticky

   1. Select the sticky menu section.
   2. Go to the Advanced Tab → Motion Effects.
   3. Under Sticky, choose Top.
   4. In the Offset field, enter a value (e.g., 80) to leave space for headers.
   5. Enable Sticky on Desktop, Tablet, or Mobile (as needed).
   6. Set a Z-index (e.g., 100) to make sure the menu stays above other elements.
   
   
   Add a "Scroll to Top" Link: Add an extra button or icon in the menu that links to #top to let users quickly scroll back to the top.

Want the Full Package? Your Developer, Salesperson, and Writer All in One

So you’ve made it through the nitty-gritty of sticky headers and jump links. Great! But if you’re ready to quit juggling five different freelancers and want one pro who can build, sell, and convert all in one go. look no further. At Chris McElroy SEO Agency, we've been building brands, turning clicks into paying customers, and closing deals online since the '90s. 

Ready to get the full package and stop leaving money on the table? Let’s chat.

How to Improve Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) and Turn More Clicks into Customers

Your website copy should be a closer, not a greeter. Anyone can say “Welcome!” But if that’s all your site is doing, you’re basically waving people in and then letting them wander out without buying a thing. In CRO terms, the magic isn’t in the hello—it’s in the handshake that seals the deal.

That’s where the real sales flow comes in. 

Just like a good salesperson has three moves: the opening, the pitch, and the close. Your marketing funnel works the same way:

• The Opening: Everything that happens before they land on your site. Ads, social posts, email teasers... All set the tone and expectation.
• The Pitch: Your on-page content delivers the value, builds trust, answers doubts, and keeps them reading.
• The Close: Clear, confident calls-to-action that make it nearly impossible to walk away without taking the next step.

 

When all three of these pieces are in sync, your website doesn’t just “get leads” anymore. It strategically turns them into buyers.

You Need People With Sales Experience To Help You Make More Sales

Content is your salesperson on the web.

You wouldn’t hire a salesperson that doesn’t know how to close, so why hire someone to write your website content that doesn’t know how to close?

Conversion rate optimization is more than just copywriting. It involves the entire sales funnel. 

Think of your marketing plan as a sales pitch.

Everything you do off of your website, social media posts, PPC ads and more are the "INTRODUCTION” part of your sales pitch.

Your website copy is the “BODY” of your sales pitch, including your value proposition, trust & authority signals, and addresses their need.

YOUR CALLS-TO-ACTION ARE THE CLOSE.

   

Chris McElroy SEO      Share This Post!

Here’s the thing… If you thought content marketing was about creating valuable content to attract prospects, you’re right. But what happens when they get to your site depends on your closer.

Here's What Chris McElroy SEO Agency Knows About Converting Your Visitors:

Conversion Funnel Playbook (4 Layers)

• Foundation: Competitor analysis: find what works and where we can win. Technical optimization: fast, mobile-ready, clean code.

• Introduction (Pre-Click): Answer marketing: address real questions up front. Story hooks: spark emotion and curiosity. Message match: align ads/posts to the landing page.

• Body (On-Page): Page structure: guide attention to outcomes. Visual design: every graphic has a job. Copywriting: E-E-A-T in plain sight, plus a clear value prop.

• Close (Action): Calls to action: direct, obvious, and everywhere they belong. Friction removal: fewer fields, clearer steps, instant proof.

Why It Matters if Your Copywriters Know How to Convert?

Because sending leads to a site that can’t convert is like throwing a party and forgetting the booze.

Want some real figures? 

Drop what you’re doing and schedule a consultation with Chris McElroy SEO. We’ll be the best thing to ever happen to your revenue.

 

AI Impact on Search Engine Optimization and Why SEOs Should Be Changing with It

AI has been shaking up the way people search, and if you’ve been wondering what that means for your brand, you’re in the right place. AI impact on search engine optimization is not about SEO being dead or replaced. It’s about SEO expanding. Instead of just worrying about rankings in Google, you now have to think about visibility in AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Copilot, and Google’s own AI Overviews.

Here’s a section from the original post that puts it simply:

“At the end of the day, all of these acronyms point to one idea: You need to create better, clearer, more useful, higher quality content and help machines understand what you offer. No smoke and mirrors. Just better strategy, smarter structure, and consistent visibility across both traditional and AI-driven platforms.” - Chris McElroy SEO Agency

What This Post Teaches You?

The post makes one thing clear: AI SEO, or Generative Engine Optimization, is not science fiction. It’s the natural next step in the marketing world. 

This educational breakdown includes:

• AI Acronyms Explained: GEO, AIO AEO, LLM SEO, SGE: what they are and why they matter.
• Content Quality First: It’s not about tricks or hacks, it’s about building clarity and authority.
• Brand Mentions Over Rankings: AI search doesn’t rank sites; it mentions brands based on relevance.
• Visibility Everywhere: Content should be distributed across websites, social platforms, videos, directories, and AI-friendly formats.
• Practical Steps: Repurposing posts, adding schema, using entity linking, and maximizing existing content.

Instead of selling buzzwords, this approach focuses on strategies that actually generate leads and sales—because being visible without converting doesn’t mean much.

Why AI Impact on Search Engine Optimization Matters Now

In the end, this isn’t about throwing away everything you know. It’s about adapting. AI-driven search has expanded the playing field, and brands that understand how to show up consistently across Google, social platforms, and AI tools are the ones that win.

If you want to stay ahead, don’t just think about page one rankings. Think about where your brand name appears when people ask AI for answers. That’s the real AI impact on search engine optimization, and it’s where you should be aiming your AI search optimization strategy.

Schedule a 15 Minute Consultation Here
 

Checklist for Human Blog Writers: Have All of These Checkpoints with You and AI Can't Even Compete

 

Checklist for Human Blog Writers: Have All of These Checkpoints with You and AI Can't Even Compete

If you’ve been watching the digital marketing space lately, you’ve seen AI-generated content everywhere. It’s faster, cheaper, and flooding search results daily. But here’s the thing most people forget: search engines, readers, and even AI itself all still rely on something AI hasn’t mastered...the human mind.

That’s why today, we’re spotlighting a section from Chris McElroy SEO’s Human Blog Writer Checklist 2025; a post that should be mandatory reading for anyone serious about ranking and converting in 2025. Chris has been in the trenches for decades, outlasting every algorithm update and content fad. What he shares here is a reminder that your brain, experience, and creativity are still your biggest competitive advantages.

Here’s one of my favorite parts from his post:

"Human Blog Writers Do It Better

ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, Gemini, if you’re reading this, don’t be too insulted. But human blog writers are much better at blogging than you are. Here’s a few reasons why…

Emotion: AI has a problem understanding, connecting with, and responding sensitively to human feelings. Sorry, my AI buddies, human skills include: persuasion, self-awareness, ethics, listening, storytelling, and sales.

• Complexity: AI is weak at navigating ambiguous, broad-context challenges with holistic problem-solving. Human blog writers have complex problem-solving, sense-making, risk management, strategy, vision, and intuition.

Creativity: AI doesn’t have the ability to generate original, novel ideas and solutions. Human blog writers have imagination, ideation, aesthetic judgment, lateral thinking, artistic expression, and curiosity.

Sorry AI, human blog writers beat blogs written by AI in too many ways to ignore. I had to include a section about AI since this checklist is for 2025." - Chris McElroy SEO

And here's what that means to you if you're a company or website owner who is weighing your options on whether or not to go with human writers or AI. 

Why Human Blog Writers Still Outperform AI in 2025

There is no shortage of AI tools promising to write your blogs faster and cheaper. But if you care about originality, rankings, and conversions, there is still no replacement for a skilled human blog writer. As Chris McElroy of Chris McElroy SEO Agency points out, decades in sales and brand building prove one thing: the human advantage is real and it wins every time.

Here Are the Benefits of Human Blog Writers:

• Emotion: Connect authentically, persuade effectively, and respond with self-awareness, empathy, and real storytelling skill.
• Complexity: Navigate broad and challenging situations with strategy, vision, risk management, and nuanced problem-solving.
• Creativity: Produce original and novel ideas with imagination, lateral thinking, aesthetic judgment, and curiosity.
• Resilience: Maintain and grow rankings through major algorithm updates by delivering original and high-quality content.
• Long-Term Value: Stand out as AI-generated content floods the web, increasing the value of genuine human work.
• Trust and EEAT: Build credibility with lived experience, expertise, authoritative insights, and trustworthiness.
• Conversion Power: Apply buyer psychology to craft calls to action that feel natural and persuasive, not robotic.

Schedule a Consultation with a Seasoned Human Writer

Here's Your Winning Checklist for Human Blog Writers

There’s a ton of content online teaching you SEO, copywriting, content management, and other basic core skills to get you started as a writer, but the real gurus in the writing industry seem like they are all too busy to share. Here’s what Chris McElroy from Chris McElroy SEO Agency has picked up in 35+ years of sales and brand building; hard-earned insights that separate professional human writers from AI-generated content. If you want to keep your content ranking, converting, and valuable in the long run, this is the stuff to pay attention to.

Before Writing:

• Choose a Unique Angle: Research competitors and find gaps. Avoid regurgitating trending noise.
• Select Strategic Keywords: Focus on main and related phrases aligned with audience intent and business goals.
• Know the WHY: Have a clear problem to solve or benefit to deliver with every post.
• Evaluate Competitor Weaknesses: Identify ranking gaps and underdeveloped sections you can outperform.
• Plan EEAT: Show real Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness through examples, data, and credibility signals.
• Use AI as a Research Assistant Only: Never as the lead creator. Let it suggest ideas, but you drive the structure and messaging.

While Writing

• Hook Early: Address the reader’s problem and tease your solution in the opening.
• Strategic Header Usage: Place main and related keywords naturally in headers and first sentences under them.
• Write to a Skeptical Friend: Be clear, conversational, and persuasive.
• Be Actually Helpful: Deliver on your headline’s promise with actionable value.
• Internal & External Linking: Add one relevant internal link and one helpful external link per post.
• Calls to Action with Restraint: Include CTAs that match the content’s intent without spamming.
• SEO-Optimized Media: Use compelling header images, keyword-conscious file names, accurate alt text, and clear descriptions.

After Writing

• Grammar & Clarity Check: Use tools, but keep your voice intact.
• Plagiarism Scan: Ensure originality, even in common phrasing.
• AI Detection Scan: Avoid false flags that could hurt rankings later.
• Category & Tag Discipline: One category, 3–5 focused tags.
• Compelling Meta Description: Make it a click magnet in search results.
• Final CRO Pass: Re-read with the question, “Would this make my target reader take the next step?"

Ready to Turn Every Page of Your Website into a BEAST Sales Machine?

If you want your content to rank high and convert, you need more than generic AI copy. You need strategy, precision, and a proven approach to Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO). That is where our Website Content Writers Checklist comes in it gives you a clear, repeatable process to create content that connects with readers, satisfies search engines, and drives measurable results.

Your next blog post should not be just another piece of content. It should be a sales asset, a trust builder, and a long-term ranking machine. Let us help you make that happen.

Schedule a Consultation with a Seasoned Human Writer

Integrated Content Marketing Strategy: Search Everywhere, Convert Anywhere

 

Integrated Content Marketing Strategy: Search Everywhere, Convert Anywhere

Still chasing Google rankings like it’s 2015? That’s like showing up to a championship game with last season’s playbook. 

Here's the problem with using the old SEO:

Search is evolving. Your customers aren’t just Googling anymore. They’re querying ChatGPT and Copilot like fiends, discovering brands on Instagram, and getting product suggestions from their fridge. (...of all things:/) 

Bottom line... If your strategy stops at SEO, you’re missing the bigger picture.

Welcome to the Content Convergence Era. 

Integrated Content Marketing is about strategic market saturation. Meeting your audience across every digital touchpoint and guiding them toward action. It’s not just visibility. It’s influence.

You don’t need more traffic. You need traction. 

You need presence in the places people actually make decisions. That’s what Integrated Content Marketing delivers: strategic saturation across platforms, devices, and moments. It’s not about being seen. It’s about being seen everywhere, and then knowing what to say to people to drive action once you get their attention.

And if you want to know how it’s done, look no further than Chris McElroy SEO.

He’s been building conversion ecosystems since the internet had training wheels. With over 25 years in sales and 25 in digital strategy, Chris McElroy SEO doesn’t just optimize. They get you paid. Web dev, CRO, SEO, content strategy, they've been connecting the dots before most marketers knew there were dots to connect.

This blog and infographic break it all down. Not just what Integrated Content Marketing is, but how to use it to dominate the digital landscape.

"What Do You Mean By Topical Content?

 

It’s the central piece of content for your integrated content marketing strategy.

That initial piece of content, whether it’s a web page or a blog post has to be very informative, thoroughly covering your topic. It should be evergreen content so that it won’t become obsolete any time soon. It should be segmented for each subtopic it covers. It should be optimized for both SEO and higher conversion rates.

You could create it yourself, however, you may want to hire a professional copywriter that understands how to create a page that will be the hub of a content cluster. Planning the central page of the cluster is the most important part of both your on-site content cluster and your waterfall content strategy off-site.

Remember, the hub for your content cluster can be a web page or a blog post. It works the same way." - Chris McElroy SEO

What the Infographic Reveals: The 10-Step Content Convergence Blueprint

The infographic below breaks down the tactical roadmap behind Integrated Content Marketing. It outlines exactly how to write valuable content, build powerful content clusters our of subtopics, and then repurpose your content to get your brand seen across different platforms, formats, and search behaviors.

Here’s what it covers:

1. Topical Content: Start with cornerstone, evergreen pages that establish authority and topical relevance.
2. Content Clustering: Break down your main topic into subtopics and build dedicated pages for each.
3. Blog Post Clusters: Write comprehensive blog posts, then create supporting posts around subtopics that link back to the core.
4. Refurbishing: Go beyond reposting. Adapt your content for different channels and audiences.
5. Brand Visibility: Amplify your brand presence across search, social, and AI platforms. Be everywhere.
6. Text Repurposing: Use quotes, summaries, and intros to repackage your content in bite-sized formats.
7. Infographics: Turn written content into visual assets that simplify and amplify your message.
8. Short-Form & Video: Use your phone, screen capture, or AI tools to create engaging video content—no studio required.
9. Pitch Decks & Presentations: Reformat your content into slide decks for outreach, sales, or internal alignment.
10. Platform Optimization: Identify where your audience spends time and tailor your content for each platform’s native style.

Visibility Doesn't Get You a Home Run Anymore. It Doesn't Even Get You to Third Base. This is Why Having a Seasoned Pro Building Your Brand is So Important.

Again, Integrated Content Marketing is about creating a strategic content ecosystem that meets your audience wherever they search, scroll, or speak, and then guides them toward action.

With over 40 years of combined experience and a passion for helping businesses achieve success online, Chris McElroy SEO's approach to Integrated Content Marketing is built for the modern web. It’s not just SEO. It’s saturation with purpose. Visibility with influence. And content that converts. Something agencies that treat you like a number and crank out deliverables could never deliver.

Ready to stop chasing rankings and start owning your market?

Let’s talk! Book an appointment with Chris McElroy SEO here.