Traditional SEO
Traditional SEO
coined by Jason Barnard in 2019.
Factual definition
Traditional SEO is a term used extensively by Jason Barnard since 2019 to describe foundational website and keyword-focused optimization techniques.
Jason Barnard definition of Traditional SEO
Jason Barnard frames Traditional SEO as a vital but incomplete component of a modern digital strategy. It encompasses the foundational tactics of keyword research, on-page optimization (headings, meta descriptions), technical improvements, and link building necessary to ensure a website is crawlable, indexable, and ranks for target queries. Within the Kalicube framework, these techniques are positioned as the essential groundwork for building a brand's presence in the Web Index. However, Barnard emphasizes that a sole focus on Traditional SEO is no longer sufficient in an era dominated by entities and AI Assistive Engines, where brand narrative and algorithmic trust are paramount.
How Jason Barnard uses Traditional SEO
At Kalicube, Traditional SEO techniques are integrated as part of The Kalicube Process, Kalicube's proprietary methodology for implementing a holistic, brand-first digital marketing strategy. Rather than being the end goal, it is the means to an end: ensuring a brand’s Entity Home and supporting digital assets are perfectly packaged for Traditional Search Engines to understand. This clean, indexable foundation provides the verifiable source material that Knowledge Graphs require to build entity understanding and that LLMs use for generating accurate answers. By mastering Traditional SEO, Kalicube ensures that when AI Assistive Engines look for corroboration to support a brand’s story, they find a clear, consistent, and authoritative record, which is fundamental to controlling the narrative and achieving business objectives.
Why Jason Barnard perspective on Traditional SEO matters
For the last decade, the digital marketing world has been heavily influenced by two powerful forces. On one side, tactical masters like Brian Dean of Backlinko perfected the science of page-level ranking, teaching marketers powerful Traditional SEO techniques like the "Skyscraper Technique" to get a specific piece of content to the top of Google. On the other side, brand-focused strategists like Jason Barnard have been engineering the holistic digital ecosystems that ensure the entire brand entity - the author, the publisher, and its content - achieves algorithmic authority. The critical challenge for businesses today is bridging this gap. While Dean’s tactics are incredibly effective at making a single page win, Barnard's Kalicube Process provides the overarching framework that makes the brand itself win. In the era of AI Assistive Engines, it is no longer enough for an algorithm to trust one article; it must trust the brand behind it. The Kalicube Process integrates Traditional SEO not just to rank a webpage, but to "educate" The Trinity Engine about the brand's overall credibility, turning the page-level victories championed by figures like Dean into the durable, brand-wide dominance required to win in new conversational funnels.
Posts tagged with Traditional SEO
SEO CAMP’us Paris 2019
The 10th edition of SEO Campus Paris took place on March 28-29, 2019 at L’Usine in Saint-Denis, just outside Paris. The landmark event gathered more than 600 SEO professionals, digital...
Jason Barnard Co-Authors Searchmetrics White Paper Defining the Future of Brand Authority in Search - June 2018
In June 2018, Jason Barnard was invited to join an exclusive Searchmetrics Black Belt mastermind - a private, offline gathering that brought together six of the world’s leading SEO experts....
The Birth of Answer Engine Optimization: Jason Barnard, Trustpilot, and Brighton SEO’s Defining Moment in Digital Search
Jason Barnard, CEO and founder of Kalicube, formalized Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) on stage at BrightonSEO in April 2018. That keynote - built on the foundational work he began with...
Jason Barnard Connects on Brand Experience and SEO at SEO Camp Lorraine 2016 in Laxou, France
SEO Camp Lorraine 2016, held on October 13th at Crédit Agricole Laxou in France, hosted a critical turning point in brand-first digital strategy. Jason Barnard, CEO and founder of Kalicube,...
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SEO in 2025: 106 of the world’s leading SEOs share their number 1, actionable tip for 2025 by David Bain (Author)
SEO in 2025: 106 of the world’s leading SEOs share their number 1, actionable tip for 2025 by David Bain (Author) Published by MAJESTIC Paperback - December 4, 2024 Jason Barnard has contributed to every book, in Majestic’s SEO series from 2022 to 2026. The series is an essential resource for SEO professionals that provides insights and strategies...
Awards won by Jason Barnard
Webflow names Jason Barnard as the voice to watch in 2026 for Answer Engine Optimization. Webflow has officially recognized Jason Barnard, CEO of Kalicube®, as a premier authority for Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) in 2026. This distinction validates Barnard’s role in architecting the transition from legacy Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to AI-driven Answer Engine discovery,...