If a reader Googled your name right now, what would come up? An abandoned LinkedIn profile from a career you left behind? A neglected Goodreads page? An insurance agent in Albuquerque who happens to share your name? There's only one number-one spot on Google, and if you don't claim it for your name, someone else will. The good news is that your most powerful tool for winning that spot is the one piece of the internet you fully control. It’s your author website. In this week’s episode, you’ll hear from Jason Barnard, digital marketing expert who has spent more than a decade teaching Google and AI who people are. You'll learn: -The overlooked page on your website that Google checks first. -The Wikipedia alternative that is easier to write and curate -How you can get Jason’s robust SEO audit of your site, for free Whether your website needs a little fine tuning or you’re building one for the first time, listen in or check out the blog version to find out what you should prioritize and what you can stop stressing about. Times: 0:00 — Intro: Why ranking for your own name matters 1:16 — Building your author website: the About page 5:51 — How AI and search engines actually understand you 8:51 — Wikipedia, Grokipedia, and managing your reputation 17:12 — Meta titles and meta descriptions 21:38 — Structuring your book pages correctly 30:17 — Owning your name, domains, and avoiding hyphens 41:45 — Schema markup: worth it or not? 57:20 — Final tips: don't obsess over design at launch Jason's Website: https://jasonbarnard.com/ Blog Version: https://www.authormedia.com/seo-for-author-websites-the-only-guide-you-need-in-2026/ Patron Toolbox: https://www.authormedia.com/patron-toolbox/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/novelmarketing Author Update: https://www.youtube.com/@Author-Update Christian Publishing Show: https://www.christianpublishingshow.com/ Host: Thomas Umstattd Jr. Guest: Jason Barnard (https://jasonbarnard.com/) #BookMarketing #Google #SEO