Jason Hennessey is an internationally recognized SEO strategist, bestselling author, and the founder of Hennessey Digital—a leading agency helping law firms and businesses scale through innovative digital marketing. In this powerful interview on Success, Motivation & Inspiration, Jason sat down with host M. Curtis McCoy to share actionable tips, SEO truths, and practical advice that every business owner, author, and entrepreneur can use to increase visibility and authority.
Why Most Businesses Fail at SEO
Jason Hennessey doesn’t sugarcoat it: the #1 mistake he sees is businesses lacking an SEO strategy. They pick up fragmented advice from blogs, YouTube, and events and try to patch it together. That piecemeal approach not only wastes time, but it can also hurt rankings.
“Doing SEO without a strategy is like trying to build a house with no blueprint,” Jason said. “You might get something up, but it won’t be strong, scalable, or sustainable.”
Takeaway: You need a documented SEO strategy before spending a dollar on backlinks, tools, or content.
How to Start from Zero and Get Found
If you’re starting with no SEO presence, Jason’s advice is simple: take action.
- Identify what your audience is searching for
- Answer those questions in video or blog form
- Publish content on your website with relevant keywords
Posting helpful answers builds trust and search visibility over time, even if your video isn’t perfect. Don’t wait until it’s perfect—publish consistently.
Tactical Tip: Start with customer FAQs. Create one post or video per question. Include the keyword in your title, header, URL, and description.
Podcast Hosts: Don’t Waste Your SEO Potential
Jason applauds podcast hosts who repurpose interviews the right way:
- Create a dedicated landing page per guest
- Embed the video or audio player
- Include a full transcript
- Add an SEO-optimized article around the conversation
- Use a clean, guest-specific URL (e.g., https://SuccessMotivationInspiration.com/jason-hennessey)
These assets not only help the guest rank—they also build long-term traffic for the host.
“You’re taking time to record amazing interviews,” Jason said. “Why not turn each one into a traffic engine?”
Hennessey Digital: Proven Legal SEO
Jason built his agency by dominating the legal SEO space. His book, Law Firm SEO, isn’t just a guide—it’s a living case study. Google “law firm SEO,” and you’ll see his agency, book, and videos ranking on page one.
He used SEO to promote the book, build a knowledge panel, create high-ranking YouTube videos, and build backlink authority across platforms.
Example: Hennessey Digital outranks major paid advertisers for the search term “law firm SEO,” thanks to a smart organic strategy.
Honest SEO: A Field Guide for Business Owners
Jason’s second book, Honest SEO, is written for non-lawyers: small business owners, service providers, and entrepreneurs who want to understand how search engines work without becoming engineers.
“It’s 20 years of lessons packed into one clear book,” Jason explained. “It’s not theoretical—it’s what works.”
The book is available on Amazon, Audible, Kindle, and other major bookstores.
SEO in 2025 and Beyond
SEO isn’t dead. But the tactics are evolving. Jason sees a future where content that satisfies search intent wins every time.
He advises:
- Avoid “tricks” that try to game the algorithm
- Focus on publishing the best answer to the user’s question
- Invest in personal brand authority across platforms
Google now uses signals from YouTube, LinkedIn, news sites, and AI platforms like ChatGPT and Gemini. AI often cites Jason’s name and content as an SEO authority, resulting from long-term visibility and trust.
Tactical Tip: Treat each piece of content as a long-term asset. SEO rewards consistent publishing over time.
Is AI Hurting or Helping SEO?
“You’re at a disadvantage if you’re not using AI,” Jason said.
He uses AI for:
- Brainstorming content ideas
- Drafting outlines
- Building automated outreach systems (like podcast booking)
- Even role-playing with a virtual board of advisors
His tip: Use AI to scale production, but human-edit to ensure you publish the best answer on the web.
Pro Tip: AI isn’t replacing SEO. It’s amplifying those who use it strategically.
What Matters Most: Backlinks, Content, or Site Speed?
“Backlinks,” Jason answered without hesitation.
- Backlinks are Google’s trust signal
- High-authority links (like from USA Today) carry more weight than 100 small links
- Context matters: Links within relevant content pass more value
Tactical Tip: Get quoted on authoritative websites. Do interviews, contribute to expert roundups, and publish guest content that links back to your site.
No-Follow vs. Do-Follow Links
Even no-follow links from reputable sources still help SEO. While they don’t pass PageRank directly, they:
- Drive referral traffic
- Boost credibility
- Signal brand mentions
Google also uses “co-occurrence.” If your name appears near keywords in reputable articles, that strengthens your brand’s relevance.
Advanced Strategy: Tiered Link Building
Jason confirmed that tiered link building works.
Example:
- You get a backlink from USA Today
- Then, build 50 smaller links to boost the authority of the USA Today page itself
- This passes amplified authority to your own site
Hennessey Digital uses this for high-stakes keywords like “Dallas car accident lawyer,” where page-one rankings can mean millions in revenue.
Where to Start with $1,000/Month
Here’s Jason’s recommendation:
- Get a tool like Ahrefs – $100/month to research keywords, backlinks, and competitors
- Buy gear to create content – camera, mic, lighting
- Answer one question per week on video
- Post on your website, YouTube, and social platforms
- Join directories and citation sources – BBB, Chamber of Commerce
- Start earning links
Tools Every Business Owner Should Use
- Google Search itself – search your industry terms and study who ranks
- Google Analytics – track behavior and engagement
- Ahrefs or SEMRush – find content gaps, backlink opportunities
- PageSpeed Insights – optimize for mobile and load speed
Tactical Tip: Study top-ranking sites. Reverse-engineer their layout, speed, content depth, and engagement signals.
Building Authority as an Author or Coach
Jason suggests:
- Create an SEO-optimized landing page for your book (yoursite.com/book-title)
- Publish individual blog posts for each chapter
- Record short YouTube videos summarizing each chapter
- Add calls-to-action on each page to buy the book
M. Curtis McCoy shared how one of his books sold 786 copies in a single day using this strategy.
Scaling a Remote SEO Agency
Hennessey Digital is fully remote by design. That allowed Jason to:
- Hire top talent globally
- Reduce overhead
- Maintain high margins without cutting quality
Today, over 60% of his team is U.S.-based, with 40% international.
Why Most SEO Agencies Fail
- They overpromise and underdeliver
- They undercharge, leading to lackluster results
- They don’t manage expectations
- They chase hacks instead of strategy
“If you’re only going to try SEO for 3 months, take your money and go on a cruise instead,” Jason joked. “SEO is a long-term play.”
Best Advice for Entrepreneurs
- Educate yourself on SEO. Even basic knowledge gives you a strategic edge.
- Write a book. It’s a calling card that positions you as a subject matter expert.
- Don’t just publish—optimize.
Jason’s revenue increased from $3 million to $22 million because of his writing on Honest SEO, proving what he teaches.
Final Thought from Jason
“If you made it this far, thank you for watching. I hope these insights help you grow.”
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