Why Low-Quality Links Are Hurting SEO (And What to Do Instead)

In Conversation with Khanyile Dlamini

In this episode of E Coffee with Experts, Austin Willman sits down with Khanyile Dlamini, Sr. SEO Strategist at New Standard Digital and a seasoned SEO strategist with big-brand experience at companies like Grubhub and agencies like Single Grain. KD breaks down the truth behind AI overviews, LLM optimization, and how technical fundamentals still drive results in 2025.

From schema markup to LLM.txt files, we explore the essentials that help businesses stay visible in search. He shares how AI-powered tools like Replit are enabling agencies to build client-ready tools in minutes, why content repurposing is a must-have strategy, and how short-form video fits into “Search Everywhere Optimization.”

We also dive into what’s holding brands back, like low-quality link building, and the small, high-impact changes (think FAQs, key takeaways, and trust signals) that can lift traffic fast.

If you’re ready to adapt, automate, and amplify your SEO strategy, this conversation is your playbook for the year ahead.

TAKEAWAYS:

01

SEO is not dead; it has evolved with AI.

02

Technical SEO fundamentals remain crucial.

03

In-house teams have dedicated resources compared to agencies.

04

AI tools like Replit can streamline SEO processes.

05

Content production should be automated but reviewed by humans.

06

Diversifying content is essential for SEO success.

07

Link building should focus on quality over quantity.

08

Earned media is more valuable than purchased links.

09

Small changes can lead to significant traffic improvements.

10

Understanding customer profiles is key to effective content strategy.

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