About SEOLeverage - The SEO Podcast for Online Business Owners
Gert Mellak is an AI SEO Consultant, marketer, and AI advisor. On his podcast he talks about how online businesses can leverage marketing tactics, strategies and AI workflows to be more efficient at growing their brand.
Ep 144 - Digital PR in the Age of AI: How Mentions Drive Visibility with Natalie Severt
In episode 144 of the SEOLeverage Podcast, Gert Mellak (https://seoleverage.com/about/) and Natalie Severt delve into the intricacies of digital PR and earned media. They discuss the importance of building relationships with journalists, the process of reverse engineering PR campaigns, and the significance of frequency and budgeting in digital PR efforts. The conversation also highlights the need to manage expectations and leverage social media platforms to enhance brand visibility.
Key Takeaways
Earned media is crucial for brand visibility.
Building relationships with journalists is key.
Start with smaller publications to build credibility.
Local media can be a great starting point.
Reverse engineering helps in crafting effective pitches.
Frequency of outreach is essential for success.
Budgeting for PR campaigns requires careful planning.
Expectations should be managed realistically.
Social media platforms can enhance digital PR efforts.
Good content is the foundation of successful PR.
Podcast Highlights
00:00 Introduction to Digital PR and Earned Media
02:25 Building Relationships for Earned Media
05:05 The Process of Pitching to Journalists
07:49 Leveraging Seasonal Trends in PR
10:21 Frequency and Budgeting for Digital PR Campaigns
12:56 Managing Expectations in Digital PR
16:14 The Role of Social Media in Digital PR
21:32 Creating Quality Content for Visibility
25:52 Conclusion and Key Takeaways
Guest Website Info:
Name: Natalie Severt
Role: Director, Marketing at Intelligent Relations
Website - https://intelligentrelations.com/
Connect with Gert Mellak:
Website: https://seoleverage.com/
Email: info@seoleverage.com
13 Nov 2025TRANSCRIPT
Ep 143 - Navigating AI in Website Design: The Future of Smarter and More Personalized Sites with Greg Merrilees
In episode 143 of the SEOLeverage Podcast, Gert Mellak (https://seoleverage.com/about/) and Greg Merrilees discuss the evolving landscape of website design, particularly in the context of e-commerce. They explore the integration of AI in website development, the importance of understanding client needs, and the best practices for designing effective product pages.
The discussion also highlights the significance of personalization and the need for continuous improvement in website design to enhance user experience and conversion rates.
Key Takeaways:
AI tools can help new businesses quickly establish an online presence.
Established businesses should not replace their existing websites with AI-generated ones.
Understanding client needs is crucial for effective website design.
Product pages should provide comprehensive information to aid conversion.
Learning from industry leaders can inform better design practices.
Differentiation from competitors is essential for brand success.
Personalization is becoming an expectation in online shopping experiences.
Iterative design and testing can lead to significant improvements in conversion rates.
Podcast Highlights
02:30 AI and Website Fundamentals
Greg explains that while AI tools can help beginners create quick test sites, established businesses shouldn't rely on AI alone. Successful websites need strong brand positioning, trust-building design, and a deep understanding of user behavior.
09:30 E-Commerce Design Mistakes and Fixes
Greg points out common e-commerce mistakes like thin product pages or missing proof elements. He emphasizes adding "Why Choose Us" sections, testimonials, use cases, sticky CTAs, and comparison charts to build trust, extend time on page, and increase conversions.
15:45 Why You're Not Amazon
Greg reminds listeners: don't copy Amazon. Amazon works because of its brand power and customer trust. Smaller or challenger brands should focus on storytelling, differentiation, emotional connection, and visual hierarchy.
20:50 Personalization and AI Interaction
Both Gert and Greg explore AI-driven personalization using tools like Delphi, an interactive chatbot that guides visitors toward the right offer. Greg highlights how small touches—like using a visitor's name in forms or emails—can dramatically boost engagement and conversion rates.
29:40 Redesign Strategy and Continuous Optimization
Greg advises businesses to study competitors regularly, use AI analysis tools for insights, and avoid full redesigns that could alienate loyal users. Instead, he recommends small, data-backed updates for steady growth.
Guest Website Info:
Name: Greg Merrilees
Role: Founder of Studio1 Design
Website - https://studio1design.com/
Connect with Gert Mellak:
Website: https://seoleverage.com/
Email: info@seoleverage.com
6 Jun 2025
142 - How to Build a Brand That Sells: Strategies for E-Commerce and Service Businesses with Kristina Rajzer
Brand strategist Kristina Rajzer discusses with Gert Mellak how personal branding builds trust and loyalty, especially for small businesses, and supports SEO and AI-driven search visibility in this interview.
Inside a recent episode
Ep 144 - Digital PR in the Age of AI: How Mentions Drive Visibility with Natalie Severt
Published 2 Feb 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] How do you see the work on those other platforms that are not necessarily news outlets be part of of a digital PR strategy? Yes. This is very interesting. It's very hard to do this right because yeah, Reddit is definitely one that the chat GPT, for example, really like Sans. Like as you said, LinkedIn YouTube has always been a part of SEO. So that's like the side point. But these new ones, you know, it used to be that those were closed systems and that what you did there sort of stayed there. Now it is. It is showing up and I think very much the same rules apply from, you know, in terms of marketing. […]
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