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#95 A Deep Dive into SEO Strategies with Tim Prestianni

“The answers to all your questions are right there. Search for what you’re looking for, and the engine will show you what needs to be there.” -Tim Prestianni
Tim Prestianni is the Senior Manager of SEO at National University, where he specializes in driving targeted organic traffic, leads, and conversions through innovative SEO and SEM strategies. With a rich background in both agency and in-house settings, Timothy has extensive experience across various industries. He is also a recognized public speaker, sharing his expertise and insights at industry events and conferences. In this interview, Tim and Andrew delve into the evolution of SEO, strategies, and future trends in digital marketing.

About the Episode

Exploring SEO, AI, and the Future of Digital Marketing

What is National University?

National University has been around since the seventies. Initially founded to serve military members overseas by providing them the opportunity to earn degrees while deployed, the institution has evolved significantly since then. Nowadays, National University offers on-campus classes and is strongly branching out into the online education industry as well.

Tim’s Role at National University

Tim plays a pivotal role at National University as the Senior Manager of SEO. This position entails overseeing search engine optimization strategies to ensure the institution reaches its target audience effectively.

Journey into SEO

Andrew: I want to hear a little bit about your history in SEO. And I asked this because I’ve spoken to a lot of new digital marketers, students who might want to be marketers. Why did SEO become your expertise?

Tim: I think it became my expertise because when back in like 2010, 2011, me and a buddy of mine started a company.

Back in those days, mobile phones had tiny screens and websites were not responsive. Tim and his partner came up with the innovative idea of creating mobile-friendly websites. However, they faced significant pushback from potential clients who didn’t see the need for a mobile presence.

Challenges and Learning SEO

The duo struggled to expand their audience online due to budget constraints, as marketing agencies laughed them out the door. Determined to succeed, Tim took matters into his own hands:

“I’m just gonna figure out how to do this myself. So I went home and just started googling and started learning, following people who were doing it, grabbing little tips, and made a bunch of little websites and did a bunch of testing.”

Though this didn’t help their initial business, it sparked Tim’s passion for SEO, leading to his current role.

Changes in SEO: Past, Present, and Future

Andrew: I want to hear your thoughts on how SEO has changed specifically in the last year. And how has the game of SEO shifted because of LLMs emerging?

Tim: Back when I first started, it was really easy to get yourself ranked. Even until about four years ago, it was fairly easy to get a website ranked.

With the rise of AI and the surge of online content, it has become crucial to anticipate user needs in SEO. Instead of merely answering the initial query, you must think three steps ahead. For instance, if someone searches for “oil for a 1992 Toyota Camry,” you should also provide information on the oil filter, required tools, and potential metrics.

The Impact of AI on SEO

AI engines crawl websites, building a knowledge base that helps generate search features. To stay relevant, SEO professionals must evolve their skills continually.

Adapting to Changes in SEO

As an SEO professional, how do you keep up to ensure you’re still in demand?

Tim shared his active approach:

“I have about four or five little websites on the side that I play with all the time just to see what happens.”

By experimenting with different strategies and staying engaged with the SEO community, Tim remains at the forefront of industry changes. He also emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and sharing knowledge with peers.

Constant Learning and Networking

Tim invests in SEO courses, even if he knows most of the content, as they may offer new insights or innovative ideas. Collaborating with other SEOs helps him stay updated and maintain a cutting-edge approach.

Understanding SEO Metrics

“The metrics that drive revenue, such as qualified leads or sales, are the most important.”

Instead of focusing solely on traffic, Tim highlights the need to understand the funnel, including lower, mid, and upper funnel content. This approach ensures continuity and builds trust with potential customers.

Building Trust Through Content

Creating content with SEO in mind from the beginning is critical. Tim’s team at National University developed a comprehensive content brief outline, providing writers with titles, URL structures, subheadings, and keywords. This process ensures the content aligns with SEO strategies from inception.

Choosing the Right SEO Strategy

When is the right time for a business to incorporate an SEO strategy into their marketing plan?

Tim explains that understanding the business goals and reverse engineering them into an SEO strategy is essential. Aligning SEO efforts with business objectives ensures targeted traffic and effective results.

Starting with a Solid Foundation

For new websites, having a proper structure and on-page tags from the start is crucial. A solid foundation makes it easier to build successful SEO campaigns, avoiding the need for extensive corrections later.

Looking Ahead: Marketing Trends in 2024

Tim is keen to see how Google’s generative search evolves and its impact on SEO. Understanding user adoption and the dynamics of generative search results will be crucial.

“A lot of studies show that the AI-generated search results often pull from unexpected places, not just the top-ranked results.”

Formulating Strategies for the Future

By analyzing the AI search results and incorporating successful elements from lower-ranked pages, SEO professionals can adapt their strategies to stay ahead.

Andrew: What is your perfect world of what happens when this is rolled out?

Tim humorously responds: It goes away.

However, he recognizes that businesses with strong mid and lower funnel content may fare better. Adapting to changes and continually assessing the impact of high funnel content on conversions will be key.

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