Welcome to Market Movers: Building Brands and Links with Linkifi! Your go-to podcast for transforming your business into an unforgettable brand where branding meets SEO and link-building. I’m Chris Panteli, Co-Founder and CEO of Linkifi, and I’m joined by my co-host and Co-Founder, Nick Biggs. In this episode, we welcome Josh Peacock, founder of SEO for Hire and Paid Media Jobs, who has helped over 100 top-tier agencies build elite marketing teams across SEO and paid media. Josh reveals what clients are really looking for today, how AI is reshaping recruitment, and why SEO roles are booming—despite the constant “SEO is dead” noise. We dive into how his agency offers 12-month satisfaction guarantees, the evolution of hiring expectations, and the traits modern SEOs must have to land roles at the most demanding agencies.   Key Talking Points: ✅ Why SEO Is Not Dead – Hiring demand is stronger than ever, especially for strategic and AI-fluent SEOs ✅ SEO Strategist > SEO Specialist – Why full-stack SEO strategists with business acumen are the new top hire ✅ The Rise of Soft Skills – Why clear communication, business impact awareness, and client-facing skills are now essential ✅ AI-Enhanced Hiring – Candidates must show real use cases of AI tools, not just claim ChatGPT experience ✅ Experimentation as a Skill – The best candidates show a test-and-learn mindset and aren't afraid to break things ✅ Digital PR Is Going Global – Why US and AU markets are finally catching up with the UK on digital PR hiring ✅ The New Skillset Barbell – Combining creative virality and automation systems is now a hiring superpower ✅ Emerging Talent Markets – Why Josh is bullish on South African, UK, and South American SEO operators ✅ Content Hiring is Changing – Fewer bulk writers, more strategic creators with high editorial judgment ✅ Client Comms as a Differentiator – Why SEOs who can speak the business language are more in demand than ever   Quotes from Josh Peacock: 📢 “If SEO were dead, I wouldn’t be hiring senior roles every week—this is the busiest we’ve ever been.” 📢 “We offer a 12-month placement guarantee. If the candidate leaves at 11.5 months, we replace them for free.” 📢 “The best candidates don’t just show up—they screen-share custom GPTs they’ve built to solve real business problems.” 📢 “Gone are the days of ticking a few boxes. SEOs now need to directly impact the bottom line.” 📢 “We're entering a golden era where the rules haven’t been written yet. That’s huge opportunity for those who test, learn, and adapt.” 📢 “The UK still has the sharpest SEO talent—but we're relocating them globally now.”   Actionable Insights for Listeners: 🚀 Don’t Just Apply—Demonstrate – Share real-world examples of AI tools or automations you’ve built 📈 Build Business Acumen – Know how your SEO efforts reduce churn, increase signups, or improve LTV 🧠 Adopt the Barbell Skillset – Combine creative instincts with technical automation skills to stand out 🔍 Prepare for Multi-Platform Search – Companies are looking for SEOs who understand LLMs, Reddit SEO, and YouTube optimization 🗣 Embrace Communication – Being able to clearly explain SEO to non-SEOs is now a competitive advantage 🌍 Hire Globally, Vet Deeply – South Africa, South America, and Eastern Europe are rising talent hubs—but communication matters 📝 Content Strategy Is Shifting – High-volume writing is down; strategic content creation and repurposing are up 🔗 Invest in Digital PR – Link earning and brand mentions are more valuable than ever in AI-led ranking environments   About Josh Peacock: Josh Peacock is the founder of SEO4Hire and Paid Media Jobs, agencies built to help digital marketing companies find elite SEO and paid media talent that actually performs. With a background in sales and recruitment, and clients ranging from startups to Fortune 500 firms, Josh is reshaping how performance-focused teams are built in the age of AI.   🌐 Hire elite SEO & media talent: → SEO for Hire → Paid Medi