With the growth of AI and LLMs like ChatGPT, the question "Is Google dying?" is often being asked. In this episode, James Lawrence sits down with Rocket’s Head of SEO, Joe Alder, to cut through the hype and discuss the facts about how AI is impacting SEO and search traffic in 2025. The conversation is backed by Australian-first research from Rocket’s SEO team.

Also discussed are the similarities and differences as it relates to SEO and AIO. Whether you're a CMO under pressure to ‘AI everything’ or an in-house marketer navigating new search norms, this is your guide to what’s actually changing and importantly, what is not.

• The current landscape - a reality check on AI traffic and its actual impact on search behaviour
• How Google remains resilient amid AI growth
• AI Overviews - What they are and who they impact
• 6 practical strategies to rank in LLMs that actually work
• The importance of doing good SEO
• How to optimise technical SEO
• Why high-quality content creation matters
• How to structure for ranking high
• How to build brand authority
• How to monitor and adapt to the changing landscape
• The future - How AI and SEO will change in the next 1-5 years

Joe Alder is the Head of SEO at Rocket, where he leads all SEO services and projects. He has over 8 years of experience in implementing complex SEO campaigns and driving tangible results for B2C, B2B and government organisations. Over the course of his career, he has worked for notable brands such as Amazon, Qudos, P&O Cruises, PE Nation, Fujitsu, and Coates, among others.

You can follow Joe on LinkedIn.

Access our free webinar with AdNews on AI and SEO in 2025.

James Lawrence LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameslawrenceoz/

Smarter Marketer Website: https://rocketagency.com.au/smarter-marketer-podcast

Rocket Agency Website: https://rocketagency.com.au/

Rocket Agency LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rocket-agency-pty-ltd/

Hardcover: https://amzn.to/30O63kg

Kindle: https://amzn.to/2ZqfCWm

This is the definitive podcast for Australian marketers. Join Rocket Agency Co-Founder and best-selling author, James Lawrence in conversation with marketers, leaders, and thinkers about what it takes to be a smarter and more successful marketer.

In-house marketers and agency leaders don’t always speak the same language - but when they do, the results can be game-changing.

In this episode, host James Lawrence sits down with Drew McLellan, CEO of the Agency Management Institute, to unpack what makes agency relationships thrive or fail. Whether you're managing one agency or several, or considering switching partners altogether, this episode is for anyone wanting to bridge the in-house/agency gap.

• The top reason agency-client relationships break down: (communication) and how to fix
• How in-house marketers can improve agency performance through more transparency
• Why caring (and showing it) really matters to agencies
• The red flags that indicate when it’s time to walk away from your agency
• Why investing in building a true partnership with your agency pays off

Drew McLellan has worked in advertising for 25+ years and started his own agency, McLellan Marketing Group in 1995 after a five-year stint at Y&R. He also owns and runs the Agency Management Institute (AMI), which is a consultancy for small to medium-sized agencies that has been helping agency owners grow their agencies since the early 90s. Drew’s agency was a member of the organization for years before Drew acquired AMI and began to run it full-time. Drew’s often interviewed/quoted in Entrepreneur Magazine, New York Times, CNN, BusinessWeek, and many others. The Wall Street Journal calls him “one of 10 bloggers every entrepreneur should read.

You can follow Drew on LinkedIn.

James Lawrence LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameslawrenceoz/

Smarter Marketer Website: https://rocketagency.com.au/smarter-marketer-podcast

Rocket Agency Website: https://rocketagency.com.au/

Rocket Agency LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rocket-agency-pty-ltd/

Hardcover: https://amzn.to/30O63kg

Kindle: https://amzn.to/2ZqfCWm

This is the definitive podcast for Australian marketers. Join Rocket Agency Co-Founder and best-selling author, James Lawrence in conversation with marketers, leaders, and thinkers about what it takes to be a smarter and more successful marketer.

People don’t buy luxury for utility. In high-end markets, purchase decisions are driven by emotion, identity and status - not features or price points. For marketers in the high-end space, this changes everything.

In this episode of Smarter Marketer, Giverny Reid - Director at creative property marketing firm &Only and former Creative and Marketing Director at Crown Group - breaks down what actually drives demand in premium categories.

• What sets luxury marketing apart from traditional marketing
• Why legacy and brand credibility matter more than ever
• How to genuinely harness scarcity and FOMO without any tricks
• Why real-world experiences still dominate in luxury and property marketing
• Using digital, AI and emerging technologies like AR/VR to spark desire
• Where most marketers get high-end marketing wrong

Giverny Reid is the Director of creative property marketing firm &Only, bringing over 15 years of experience in building and positioning premium brands in the luxury space. Previously, she was the Creative and Marketing Director at Crown Group, where she played a key role in shaping one of Australia’s most recognised luxury property brands.

Giverny’s work has earned her recognition across the industry, including being named ‘Marketer of the Year’ by realestate.com.au in 2022. She’s also been a finalist in the B&T Under 30 Awards for Design and has led major brand and event campaigns across Australia.

You can follow Giverny on LinkedIn.

James Lawrence LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameslawrenceoz/

Smarter Marketer Website: https://rocketagency.com.au/smarter-marketer-podcast

Rocket Agency Website: https://rocketagency.com.au/

Rocket Agency LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rocket-agency-pty-ltd/

Hardcover: https://amzn.to/30O63kg

Kindle: https://amzn.to/2ZqfCWm

This is the definitive podcast for Australian marketers. Join Rocket Agency Co-Founder and best-selling author, James Lawrence in conversation with marketers, leaders, and thinkers about what it takes to be a smarter and more successful marketer.