But they made it through, and in this episode they talk about what they learned. They discuss concepts like affordances and signifiers, the language of how objects communicate what they do. They compare streaming service interfaces, debate the merits of old versus new technology, and talk through Jacob's experiences designing forms that actually work. There are tangents about rental cars, vintage cameras, and why some design decisions from decades ago are still with us today.

The conversation ranges from websites to everyday objects, touching on legacy constraints, cultural differences in design, and why sometimes simpler is genuinely better. By the end, you might start noticing design decisions everywhere… for better or worse.

Sites Discussed:
Rabbit Tech

Nothing Tech

Yale School of Art

Duolingo

To ask questions, or submit topics you'd like us to cover in the future, visit us at humanfriend.digital/pod/

Some websites get star ratings in Google search results. Others don't. Some searches give you answers without ever leaving Google's page. There's a reason for all of it.

In this episode of the Human Friend Digital Podcast, Jacob and Jeff break down schema - the structured data that helps search engines understand what your website is actually about. They explain rich snippets, those extra details that make some search results stand out. They cover knowledge graphs, the panels that answer questions directly on Google. And they get into zero-click searches, where visibility matters even when no one clicks through to your site.

The technical side of SEO can feel overwhelming, especially when terms like JSON and structured data get thrown around. However, understanding how search engines read your website is crucial for appearing in the right way. Jacob walks through the mechanics while Jeff asks the practical questions. By the end, you'll know why this invisible layer of code matters for your business's online visibility

LINKS:

• Schema - https://schema.org/
• Schema Testers
  • Google Validator - https://search.google.com/test/rich-results
  • Shema Vaidator - https://validator.schema.org/
• Schema Generator https://technicalseo.com/tools/schema-markup-generator/
• Types of Rich Snippets Available https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/structured-data/search-gallery
• Remove the first 50 results from a Google search result page:
  • Sadly almost all varieties of these tool have become obsolete after changes in Google. There is one still going, but it is a paid service. 
  • https://millionshort.com/
  • We are not affiliated with Million Short in any way.
  • Here’s the Wired article Jeff mentions:
    Million Short: A Search Engine for the Very Long Tail | WIRED

To ask questions, or submit topics you'd like us to cover in the future, visit us at humanfriend.digital/pod/

Links:

CEO of SpyFu’s post mentioned in the episode: Post | LinkedIn

Other articles worth reading:

Google Search rank and position tracking is a mess right now

The Future Of Rank Tracking Can Go Two Ways

To ask questions, or submit topics you'd like us to cover in the future, visit us at humanfriend.digital/pod/

In this episode of the Human Friend Digital Podcast, Jacob and Jeff talk with Allyson West, founder of the Cindependent Film Festival, about how one person’s search for belonging became an international arts movement.

Allyson left New York to return to Cincinnati for love, only to feel like she had traded her creative community for a city that didn’t know what to do with her. Cincinnati had theater, opera, ballet, murals—but not independent film. And so, rather than accept that loss, she began to write, to direct, and ultimately to build the community she was missing.

That effort became the Cindependent Film Festival. In its first year, just over 200 filmmakers and writers submitted their work; this year, more than 800 did the same, representing voices from over 30 countries around the globe. But the numbers aren’t the point: its deeper success lies in how it reframes film as community. Screenings are curated like conversations. Masterclasses invite learning, while after-parties invite connection. What makes Cindependent a gem for Cincinnati is its ethos: that film festivals are not just about films, but about the people who gather around them.

For Cincinnati, Cindependent filled a cultural gap. For Allyson, it gave back the sense of connection she thought she had left behind.

Links:

Cindependent Film Festival
2025 Programing
CindeFan Membership Program
2025 Cindependent Film Festival Trailer

To ask questions, or submit topics you'd like us to cover in the future, visit us at humanfriend.digital/pod/

When most people hear The Art of War, they picture battlefields—armies clashing, banners raised, empires in peril. But when Jacob opened it for the first time, he found something different. The book begins not with weapons, but with a list: benevolence, discipline, patience. Sun Tzu insists that a general must be kind before he can be strict. It’s an unexpected truth, that even in the language of war leadership begins with compassion.

Jeff remembered reading the book back in high school, when it felt like a relic from a distant age. Yet as they compared notes, its warnings felt strangely present. Sun Tzu wrote that the greatest danger of war was letting it drag on—stretching resources, breaking morale, eroding trust in leaders. Sitting here twenty-five centuries later, it reads less like a manual on troop movements and terrain, but more like a critique of our own age: corporations chasing endless growth, governments prolonging conflicts past reason, leaders mistaking endurance for ambition.

What lingers after the tactics and the talk of fire and wind isn’t the machinery of battle, it’s the philosophy beneath it. Power without balance collapses. Leadership without kindness corrodes. And patience, even in times of urgency, can be the difference between survival and ruin.

To ask questions, or submit topics you'd like us to cover in the future, visit us at humanfriend.digital/pod/

But in a way, they’re all about the same thing. Each term reveals the same tension: websites trying to organize themselves for machines without losing sight of real humans. The internet rewards clarity—clear signals, clean architecture, and distinct content. Overlap, clutter, and gimmicks only get in the way, and that’s when the algorithm stops looking at you altogether.

To ask questions, or submit topics you'd like us to cover in the future, visit us at humanfriend.digital/pod/

Pay-per-click didn’t break all at once: it just got crowded. What used to be cheap is now expensive, and no one seems to blink. The hands-on feel has faded, replaced by dashboards, defaults, and hoping the algorithm gets it right. It’s not a scandal. It’s just what happened.

And when small budgets don’t go far, and results feel out of reach, you start to ask different questions. Not just how to win the game, but whether it’s the right game to be playing at all.

Link:

WebX study:

https://www.webfx.com/ppc/pricing/

To ask questions, or submit topics you'd like us to cover in the future, visit us at humanfriend.digital/pod/

They walk through the three stages of the buyer’s journey—awareness, consideration, decision—using examples like shopping for a car or grabbing a Snickers bar at checkout. It’s not a theory-heavy conversation, more an exploration of how everyday decisions show up in search terms.

Along the way, they talk about how bad keyword targeting wastes money, why Jeep ads are all emotion, and what happens when a business shows up too late in the process.

It’s a conversation about strategy, but also about attention: where it starts, how it builds, and what businesses miss when they skip ahead.

Answer the Public:
https://answerthepublic.com/

To see visualizations of the Buyers Journey and Keyword Intentions, check out our blog post:
https://humanfriend.digital/on-the-journey-being-intentional-with-advertising-keywords/

To ask questions, or submit topics you'd like us to cover in the future, visit us at humanfriend.digital/pod/

Starting with the viral trend of AI-generated Studio Ghibli-style portraits, they explore the ethical gray areas around using AI to imitate human art. From there, the conversation widens: how AI-generated content is becoming harder to spot, and why tools like Hive Moderation are now necessary to catch subtle digital fingerprints left behind by AI models.

Jacob and Jeff also dive into the bigger picture—the responsibility of government regulation, the dangers of deepfakes in politics, and how AI’s role should be reshaped to solve real-world problems instead of replacing creativity. Their message is clear: AI isn’t going away, but we can—and should—fight to keep truth and trust alive.

Their advice for now? Equip yourself with AI detection tools. Learn to question what you see. And maybe, just maybe, don’t encourage the machine by giving it your clicks.

To ask questions, or submit topics you'd like us to cover in the future, visit us at humanfriend.digital/pod/

The answer, it turns out, is complicated. They explore how the landscape has changed—from the early days of keyword stuffing and link farms to today's crowded, AI-inflated search space. Jacob reflects on his roots in “white hat” SEO, a strategy focused on long-term trust and quality, and how that’s becoming harder to sell in a world hungry for instant results.

They talk black hats, gray hats, and why so many SEO promises now feel like digital snake oil. Most of all, they argue that SEO isn’t dead—it’s just no longer the star of the show. It’s the old sea dog on the crew, the one who knows how to tie every knot. Not flashy, but essential.

SEO isn’t your captain anymore—but ignore it, and you may just sink.

To ask questions, or submit topics you'd like us to cover in the future, visit us at humanfriend.digital/pod/

Jacob, steeped in Tolkien lore, explains why the Amazon series falls short—not because it lacks budget, but because it lacks the soul of the original works. He compares the First and Second Age to a slow simmer, full of long arcs and mythic scale, something a single season of TV struggles to capture.

They imagine a better show: a True Detective-style anthology based on Tolkien’s deeper writings—tight, mythic, and focused.

And along the way, they touch on The Hobbit films, the strengths of The Lord of the Rings adaptations, and even the tax policy of Gondor (or lack thereof), comparing Tolkien’s high myth to George R.R. Martin’s grounded realism in A Song of Ice and Fire.

It’s part literary critique, part nerdy celebration, and part heartfelt frustration.

To ask questions, or submit topics you'd like us to cover in the future, visit us at humanfriend.digital/pod/

They discuss the impact of link rot on everything from SEO rankings to Supreme Court opinions, where nearly half of referenced links are now dead. Tools like the Wayback Machine offer a glimpse into lost pages, but most websites aren’t archived, meaning crucial information disappears forever.

To combat link rot, Jacob recommends 301 redirects for site updates, SEMrush for monitoring broken links, and periodic audits to preserve credibility. In the end, the episode is a reminder that the internet, despite its vastness, is more fragile than we think.

Links:

SEM Rush:

https://www.semrush.com/ 

Way Back Machine:

http://web.archive.org/ 

Broken link checker. Org:

https://www.brokenlinkcheck.com/ 

SwiperJS:

https://swiperjs.com/

Flickity:

https://flickity.metafizzy.co/ 

To ask questions, or submit topics you'd like us to cover in the future, visit us at humanfriend.digital/pod/

Jacob explains that while this trend helps users find quick answers, it reduces traffic to informational websites. Businesses that rely on blogs or educational content may see fewer visitors, while commercial and transactional websites remain less affected since Google can’t complete purchases on their behalf.
They discuss strategies for adapting to this shift, such as optimizing content for SERP features (Search Engine Results-page Features– like FAQs and knowledge panels) to increase visibility. The key takeaway? Websites may get fewer clicks, but the visitors who do click will be more engaged.

Looking ahead, Jacob predicts AI-powered search assistants will further change how people interact with the web, making Artificial Intelligence Optimization (AIO) the next big challenge.

Links:
https://www.semrush.com/ 

To ask questions, or submit topics you'd like us to cover in the future, visit us at humanfriend.digital/pod/

Jacob emphasizes the importance of optimizing images for faster load times and better user experience. Whether using Photoshop, online tools, or server-side solutions, selecting the right format can significantly improve website speed and efficiency. It’s a must-listen for anyone managing a website.

Links:

Adobe Illustrator:

https://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator.html 

Adobe Bridge:

https://www.adobe.com/products/bridge.html 

Adobe Photoshop:

https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.html 

Image Optim:

https://imageoptim.com/mac

https://imageoptim.com/online - for a non Mac alternative

Canva:

https://www.canva.com/ 

NitroPack:

https://nitropack.io/ 

Cloudflare:

https://www.cloudflare.com/

To ask questions, or submit topics you'd like us to cover in the future, visit us at humanfriend.digital/pod/

To ask questions, or submit topics you'd like us to cover in the future, visit us at humanfriend.digital/pod/

Jacob breaks it down simply: HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) is the structure, the bones of any website. CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) adds beauty, controlling colors, fonts, and layouts. JavaScript is the nervous system that creates interactivity, like complex outcomes based on user interactions, countdown timers, or form validations.

The discussion touches on the evolution of web building, with tools like WordPress and Squarespace making coding optional for many users. But Jacob emphasizes the importance of understanding these languages if you want a site that’s truly customized and efficient. He also introduces resources like Codecademy for learning and platforms like CodePen and Stack Overflow for problem-solving and inspiration.

For anyone curious about what makes a website tick—or how to make theirs stand out—this episode serves as a roadmap to the foundational languages of the web.

Code Academy:

https://www.codecademy.com

CodePen:

https://codepen.io

Stack Overflow:

https://stackoverflow.com

To ask questions, or submit topics you'd like us to cover in the future, visit us at humanfriend.digital/pod/

To ask questions, or submit topics you'd like us to cover in the future, visit us at humanfriend.digital/pod/

To ask questions, or submit topics you'd like us to cover in the future, visit us at humanfriend.digital/pod/

To ask questions, or submit topics you'd like us to cover in the future, visit us at humanfriend.digital/pod/

To ask questions, or submit topics you'd like us to cover in the future, visit us at humanfriend.digital/pod/

The conversation highlights the importance of competition in determining keyword difficulty. It’s not just about how relevant your content is—it’s about how many others are vying for the same spot. Ranking for a competitive term like "SEO marketing" is like trying to win a national chess tournament, whereas targeting a niche like "cat trees" offers more room to succeed.

Jacob also emphasizes the power of long-tail keywords, which are longer, more specific phrases with lower competition. They may not have as much search volume, but they can be much easier to rank for.

As always, it’s a balance of effort and strategy. If you’re a small business, you’ll want to focus on niche markets with lower keyword difficulty. It’s about picking the right race—and knowing how to run it.

SEM Rush

https://www.semrush.com

To ask questions, or submit topics you'd like us to cover in the future, visit us at humanfriend.digital/pod/

Jacob explains the key factors that impact whether or not a site gets indexed. Things like “no index” tags, technical issues, or even slow Google response times can affect how quickly (or if) your site gets added to Google’s vast database. Tools like Google Search Console can help monitor this, but it’s a slow and often frustrating process—likened to the DMV of the internet.

They also touch on best practices like using proper meta tags, URL structures, and schema markup to ensure that your site is not only indexed but indexed correctly. Jacob and Jeffrey make it clear: if your site isn’t indexed, it’s as good as invisible online.

Google Search Console:
https://search.google.com/search-console

Yoast:
https://yoast.com/

IndexNow:
https://indexnow.org/

Schema:
https://schema.org/

Schema JSON Creation Tool:
https://technicalseo.com/tools/schema-markup-generator/

Test Your Schema Before Going Live:
https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/structured-data

To ask questions, or submit topics you'd like us to cover in the future, visit us at humanfriend.digital/pod/

We also give a special shoutout to the little-known heroes of internet privacy, like the team at Let’s Encrypt, who have made SSL certificates accessible to everyone. Whether you're a seasoned web developer or just curious about what happens behind the scenes when you click on a URL, we’ve got you covered.

Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

• Let’s Encrypt – Free SSL certificates for securing websites.
• WP Engine – Managed WordPress hosting platform with built-in CMS and SSL options.
• Cloudflare – A popular Content Delivery Network (CDN) for faster websites.

To ask questions, or submit topics you'd like us to cover in the future, visit us at humanfriend.digital/pod/

To ask questions, or submit topics you'd like us to cover in the future, visit us at humanfriend.digital/pod/

In this episode of the Human Friend Digital Podcast, Jacob and Jeffrey dive into the challenges and opportunities of moving toward a cookie-less world in online advertising. Building on last week’s conversation, they explore how cookies have evolved from simple trackers to invasive tools that gather extensive user data, raising serious privacy concerns.

Jacob reintroduces Plausible Analytics, a privacy-friendly alternative to Google Analytics that avoids cookies by using temporary user IDs based on device and behavior data. The discussion also covers the use of UTM tracking, an old-school method that allows advertisers to measure campaign effectiveness without relying on cookies.

The episode emphasizes the importance of businesses taking steps to protect user privacy now, even before regulations catch up. It’s a practical guide for those looking to stay ethical while still gaining valuable insights in digital marketing.

UTM Builder:
https://utmbuilder.net/

Plausible Analytics:
https://plausible.io/

The Wired article that Started our Conversation: https://www.wired.com/story/webxray-online-privacy-violations

Link to Last Week’s Episode:
https://humanfriend.digital/webxray-and-the-fight-for-digital-privacy/

To ask questions, or submit topics you'd like us to cover in the future, visit us at humanfriend.digital/pod/

In this episode of the Human Friend Digital Podcast, Jacob and Jeffrey dive into the world of online privacy, sparked by a revealing Wired article about webXray. This tool, developed by former Google engineer Tim Libert, uncovers the hidden ways our data is tracked across the web. It’s a powerful resource that gives users– and regulators– a clearer view of how their information is being collected and used.

As they discuss the article, the conversation turns to the troubling reality of how big tech companies handle privacy– or rather, how they often don't. The hosts highlight that companies would rather pay fines than actually protect user data. They also point out how U.S. privacy laws lag behind those in Europe, leaving American users vulnerable to more invasive tracking practices, and explore the ethical implications of tracking cookies and the need for businesses to rethink their approach to data collection.

Despite the grim realities, the episode shines a light on the potential for change. Tools like webXray offer a path toward greater transparency and accountability. Jacob and Jeffrey emphasize that businesses should start embracing ethical digital marketing strategies now, before they’re forced to by regulation.

In the end, this episode isn’t just an exploration of privacy issues– it’s a call to action. It challenges listeners to think critically about how their data is used and to push for stronger protections in the digital landscape.


Wired Article:
https://www.wired.com/story/webxray-online-privacy-violations

webXray:
https://webxray.ai/

Link to our Episode on Web Analytics:
https://humanfriend.digital/an-intro-to-website-analytics-tools/

GDPR:
https://gdpr-info.eu/

CAN-SPAM Act:
https://www.fcc.gov/general/can-spam

Target Pregnancy Story:
https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/19/magazine/shopping-habits.html

NASA and Boeing Starliner Issues:
https://www.npr.org/2024/08/08/nx-s1-5067763/nasa-delays-next-crew-launch-to-buy-time-at-the-space-station-for-troubled-starliner

To ask questions, or submit topics you'd like us to cover in the future, visit us at humanfriend.digital/pod/

To ask questions, or submit topics you'd like us to cover in the future, visit us at humanfriend.digital/pod/

To ask questions, or submit topics you'd like us to cover in the future, visit us at humanfriend.digital/pod/

To ask questions, or submit topics you'd like us to cover in the future, visit us at humanfriend.digital/pod/

To ask questions, or submit topics you'd like us to cover in the future, visit us at humanfriend.digital/pod/

To ask questions, or submit topics you'd like us to cover in the future, visit us at humanfriend.digital/pod/

Hello there; we invite you to listen to our new series, "Acronym Soup." Join Jacob and Jeffrey as they navigate the often-confusing world of digital marketing acronyms: SEO, SEM, and SERP.

Jacob starts by demystifying SEO --Search Engine Optimization -- the ways to get your site to show up on search engines. Then, Jeffrey jumps in, sharing his early escapades with SEM --Search Engine Marketing -- which can feel like paying tolls on the digital freeway. Lastly, they break down SERP -- Search Engine Results Page -- where and how all your hard work is displayed.

With plenty of humor and insightful advice, they attempt to make these complex concepts accessible and entertaining. Whether you're new to digital marketing or a seasoned pro, this episode has valuable tips and laughs along the way. Hit play and enjoy!

To ask questions, or submit topics you'd like us to cover in the future, visit us at humanfriend.digital/pod/

In this episode of the Human Friend Digital Podcast, Jacob and Jeffrey discuss the timelines involved in SEO. They explain that SEO is an organic process influenced by market competition. Results can vary from quick improvements to a longer, more challenging journey. Key points include the importance of understanding competition, having realistic expectations, and integrating SEO into a broader marketing strategy. For small businesses, combining quality content creation, community engagement, and tools like Google Search Console is essential for building a strong online presence and improving search rankings. Tune in for more SEO insights and digital marketing tips.

Tools Mentioned
https://search.google.com/search-console/about

https://www.indexnow.org/

To ask questions, or submit topics you'd like us to cover in the future, visit us at humanfriend.digital/pod/

In the latest episode of the Human Friend Digital Podcast, Jacob Meyer and Jeffrey Caruso discuss the importance of analytics tools for businesses. They highlight Google Analytics and compare it with the more privacy-friendly Plausible Analytics, examining their usefulness in small vs large businesses. They also discuss SEMrush for search engine positioning and Microsoft Clarity for heat-mapping. Additionally, they touch on the future role of AI in enhancing data sampling and simplifying data interpretation.

Tools mentioned:

Google Analytics: https://analytics.google.com

Plausible: https://plausible.io

SEMrush: https://www.semrush.com]

Microsoft Clarity: https://clarity.microsoft.com

Looker Studio: https://lookerstudio.google.com

Agency Analytics: https://www.agencyanalytics.com

To ask questions, or submit topics you'd like us to cover in the future, visit us at humanfriend.digital/pod/

To ask questions, or submit topics you'd like us to cover in the future, visit us at humanfriend.digital/pod/

To ask questions, or submit topics you'd like us to cover in the future, visit us at humanfriend.digital/pod/

To ask questions, or submit topics you'd like us to cover in the future, visit us at humanfriend.digital/pod/