Barry Schwartz & Olga Zarr talk SEO, Google updates, AI & more (a special episode).
This episode of the SEO Podcast by #SEOSLY features Barry Schwartz, an absolute SEO legend and probably the best known figure in SEO.
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PandoraInterview with Barry Schwartz (video)
I record both the audio and the video version of each episode. Here is the video version for you.
Interview with Barry Schwartz (audio)
You can listen to this episode of the SEO Podcast by #SEOSLY below.
Interview with Barry Schwartz (notes)
Here are more detailed notes from my interview with Barry Schwartz.
About Barry Schwartz
- Barry Schwartz has been writing about search engine optimization (SEO) for almost 20 years
- He runs the site Search Engine Roundtable, which highlights trends and news in the SEO space
- Barry also owns a software development company called Rusty Brick with over 15 employees
- He manages the business side at Rusty Brick – getting clients, overseeing projects, company operations
Tips & insights from Barry Schwartz
On efficiency & productivity
Barry emphasizes having a consistent daily routine for writing and reading about SEO. He sticks to writing for about an hour every day around the same time, usually starting at 6-7am. This consistency over years has made him incredibly fast at publishing content. Beyond routine, Barry is ruthless about removing any distractions or inefficient workflows. He limits email subscriptions and prefers RSS feeds, leverages automated tweet scheduling, and uses site change monitoring tools. He also advocates examining your workflows and finding small optimizations, whether using certain CMS features or triggers in CRM tools.
On SEO mindset
Barry cautions against simply pursuing a “checklist” approach to SEO, just trying to tick off boxes based on Google recommendations. He argues SEOs need to think more critically and understand why Google suggests best practices, not just blindly adopt them. The key is making your site truly best-in-class for users, not just chasing rankings. Barry believes if you create content so uniquely compelling that Google would be “embarrassed not to rank it,” the rankings will come. This passion and user focus is crucial.
On learning SEO
For beginners, Barry highlights the importance of hands-on practice – creating your own website to experiment with and learn SEO. Making mistakes on a personal site doesn’t carry real costs, allowing you to try things like meta tags, speed optimizations, content strategies and more. He thinks working at an agency accelerates learning too, being exposed to diverse sites and challenges. Beyond tools, Barry has voraciously read classic SEO books over the years, going back to fundamentals. Consuming niche podcasts also helps him stay on top of the latest developments.
Follow Barry Schwartz
- RustyBrick on YouTube
- Follow Barry Schwartz on Twitter
- Follow Barry Schwartz on LinkedIn
- Search Engine Roundtable
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