Most Businesses Are Doing SEO Wrong — Here’s How to Fix It (w/ Jesse Ringer)
In this episode, host Reed Hansen, Chief Growth Officer at MarketSurge, sits down with Jesse Ringer, founder and CEO of Method and Metric — a creative, data-driven SEO agency helping brands grow through strategy, ethics, and innovation.
Jesse’s not your average SEO guy. With over a decade of experience transforming how businesses think about search, he’s known for turning complex algorithms into simple, actionable growth strategies that actually move the needle.
Together, Reed and Jesse unpack:
💡 Why most businesses are wasting their SEO efforts
📊 How to think about search like a strategist, not a spammer
🤖 What AI is really changing (and what still matters most)
📈 How to track SEO success using metrics that drive real growth
🌐 Why SEO today is more accessible than ever for small businesses
💡 Why most businesses are wasting their SEO efforts
📊 How to think about search like a strategist, not a spammer
🤖 What AI is really changing (and what still matters most)
📈 How to track SEO success using metrics that drive real growth
🌐 Why SEO today is more accessible than ever for small businesses
🔥 Episode Highlights
00:00 – Welcome to Inside Marketing with MarketSurge
02:15 – Jesse’s journey from copywriting to SEO (and how data built his confidence)
06:40 – The “Mad Men” effect: What Don Draper would be doing in 2025
08:10 – The democratization of technology and data
13:00 – The biggest misconceptions about SEO in 2025
17:45 – How AI is reshaping search and how to adapt
22:30 – What metrics actually matter (and which ones to ignore)
29:10 – The accessibility of SEO for small and medium-sized businesses
36:20 – Why the SEO community is one of the most collaborative in marketing
40:00 – How to connect with Jesse and Method and Metric
02:15 – Jesse’s journey from copywriting to SEO (and how data built his confidence)
06:40 – The “Mad Men” effect: What Don Draper would be doing in 2025
08:10 – The democratization of technology and data
13:00 – The biggest misconceptions about SEO in 2025
17:45 – How AI is reshaping search and how to adapt
22:30 – What metrics actually matter (and which ones to ignore)
29:10 – The accessibility of SEO for small and medium-sized businesses
36:20 – Why the SEO community is one of the most collaborative in marketing
40:00 – How to connect with Jesse and Method and Metric
🧠 Key Takeaways
- SEO isn’t just about rankings — it’s about results and relevance.
- AI won’t replace SEO, but it’s reshaping how we think about visibility and content.
- The best metrics go beyond traffic — think revenue, conversions, and engagement.
- Small businesses have more SEO power than ever with modern tools and strategy.
- Data doesn’t kill creativity — it fuels it.
🔗 Connect with Jesse Ringer
🌐 Website: https://methodandmetric.com
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesseringer/?originalSubdomain=ca
💬 BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/jringer604.bsky.social
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesseringer/?originalSubdomain=ca
💬 BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/jringer604.bsky.social
🚀 Connect with MarketSurge
🌐 Website: https://marketsurge.io
🎯 Book a Strategy Call: https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee
🎙️ Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio
🐦 X / Twitter: https://x.com/marketsurging
🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@marketsurge-q7q
🎯 Book a Strategy Call: https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee
🎙️ Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio
🐦 X / Twitter: https://x.com/marketsurging
🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@marketsurge-q7q
Creators and Guests
Host
Reed Hansen
Reed Hansen is a seasoned digital marketing executive with a proven track record of driving business growth through innovative strategies. As the Chief Growth Officer at MarketSurge, he focuses on leveraging AI-powered marketing tools to help businesses scale efficiently. Reed's expertise spans from leading startups to Fortune 500 companies, making him a recognized authority in the digital marketing space. His unique ability to combine data-driven insights with creative solutions has been instrumental in achieving remarkable sales growth for his clients.
