In this episode of Chat With Sean, I’m joined by Tamara Novitovic, Head of SEO at the Bazoom Group and international SEO speaker. Tamara shares her insights into the evolving landscape of link building, the role of AI in search, and practical advice for building backlinks that matter in 2026 and beyond.

We discuss how backlinks continue to play a role in both traditional SEO and AI-driven search models, why context is critical, and how to navigate modern link-building strategies in an era where AI models and LLMs are increasingly influencing visibility. Tamara also shares her perspective on guest posting, buying links safely, and the importance of publisher relationships in digital PR and outreach.

Tamara discusses:

- How backlinks retain their importance through context and authority signals

- The evolving influence of AI and LLMs on backlink evaluation

- Safe strategies for purchasing or earning links

- How to prioritise high-quality publishers and measure link effectiveness

Topics covered include:

- The difference between traditional SEO signals and AI-powered evaluation of backlinks

- Contextual relevance: why the page and surrounding content matter more than anchors

- Hybrid link-building strategies: balancing high-authority links with LLM-optimized approaches

- How AI search tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini interact with backlinks

- Best practices for guest posts, PR links, and content-driven link building

- Insights from large-scale case studies analysing millions of URLs

- Key SEO events to attend for learning and networking in 2026

In this episode of Chat With Sean, I’m joined by Vince Moreau, an enterprise SEO consultant at Botify. Vince shares his insights into AI-driven search, the role of AI bots in crawling and indexing content, and practical advice for maintaining SEO best practices in an AI-first landscape.

We explore how AI is changing the way search engines interpret content, how to think about user experience versus technical optimisation, and what SEOs should focus on to stay ahead. Vince also breaks down AI bots from OpenAI and Google, how they interact with websites, and the subtle ways brands can ensure their content is accessible and properly indexed.

Vince discusses:

- Why good SEO practices remain effective in an AI-driven search environment

- How AI bots crawl websites and why first-party data matters

- Common website issues that hinder AI indexing (e.g., JavaScript dependencies, hidden content)

- How to structure content to improve both user experience and AI understanding

Topics covered include:

- The fundamentals of AI search optimisation and why it mirrors traditional SEO

- How AI bots like GPT Bot, OAI Search Bot, and ChatGPT User interact with sites

- Practical advice for product pages, accordions, and structured data

- The evolving influence of platforms like Reddit, YouTube, and LinkedIn on AI search

- How SEOs can maintain trust and authority in an increasingly AI-driven search ecosystem

In this episode of Chat With Sean, I’m joined by Sarunporn (Jean) Dejsuvan, Organic Performance Account Director at MG OMD and UK Search Rising Star winner. Jean shares her inspiring journey from starting in SEO with little knowledge to becoming an SEO director in just over two years. We discuss the rapidly changing SEO landscape, the role of AI in search optimisation, and how to manage client expectations in today’s evolving market.

Jean also looks into the importance of setting realistic expectations with clients, building a foundation for SEO success, and how AI tools can improve SEO reporting and workflow efficiency. She provides insight into SEO maturity and the shifts taking place in the industry, highlighting the increasing importance of AI-driven tools and brand visibility.

Jean discusses:

- Her journey from SEO newbie to SEO director in two years

- The growing role of AI in SEO and how to leverage AI tools for better optimisation

- Client relationship management: How to set expectations and deal with difficult clients

- The importance of SEO maturity and focusing on foundational improvements first

Topics covered include:

- SEO career growth: Key lessons for new SEOs looking to level up quickly

- AI in SEO: How AI is reshaping SEO workflows and reporting

- Best practices for setting realistic SEO goals and managing client expectations

- How to approach SEO audits and prioritise issues based on client needs

- The importance of brand visibility and trustworthiness in AI-driven search results

Thank you to our partner, SEO Gets, the easy-to-use analytics and reporting tool for your GSC & GA4 data. Be sure to check out the tool and use code search10 for 10% off: https://seogets.com/