Azeem Ahmad

Hi! An intro: I'm Azeem 👋🏾 Nice to meet you! About me: 👉🏾 Global Digital Marketing Lead 💻 👉🏾 International Conference Speaker 🎤 👉🏾 Host of Top 10 rated 'Azeem Digital Asks' podcast 🎙️ 👉🏾 Featured in "Think With Google" on AI/Ads 👉🏾 Fitness enthusiast 💪🏾 Would love to connect with you!

Finally. No more "Sorry, I don't understand."

Something I shared on LI, after an event this week: Most of us are chasing the shiny new object, however I'm *still* speaking to people who are being challenged to deliver XX number of links per month, or XX number of blogs per month, and when asked why, there's no answer, or reason.

AI Mode just landed in the UK. Excited to get hands on. If you haven't diversified your traffic sources, you could be at risk of being left behind. blog.google/around-the-g...

Marketers in the US: "Look at all of these cool new AI features!" Marketers in the UK: "Nothing beats a Jet2 holiday!" #IYKYK

"You don’t need more data. You don’t need to test for certainty. You need conviction." A great post from Jono, recommended reading 👇🏾

A lot of the industry is realising the value of Digital PR, certainly when it comes to AIOs, etc. However, many aren't questioning why some companies are still giving individuals/teams monthly/quarterly link targets. It was never a volume game.

I fear we've passed the point of no return with AI generated content. A lot of things I'm reading daily I'm second guessing, and when checking, they display one or more telltale signs of likely not being written by a human.

At #recommerce25 today giving a session with superheroes such as @crystalontheweb.bsky.social @aleyda.bsky.social - amazing event so far!

Not a big fan of the latest Android update/OS. Search bar has moved and there's no way to restore it. A quick Google shows many others share the same frustration. Classic example of not understanding customers and moving things for the sake of differentiation.

Question: if someone took health/fitness advice from AI, and got seriously hurt, or worse - who is to blame? (Context: I'm seeing lots of pretend fitness influencers share largely AI driven garbage fitness plans that could seriously hurt people if they aren't careful.)

Is it the year of Voice Search yet? Asking for a friend.

Next on my reading list for 2025. This one's quite popular and comes highly recommended by many people. Have you read it? Thoughts, if so? Excited to learn about the non business applications e.g in sport.

Fun fact, 'cheap as kettles' is a phrase I literally just made up. Also, it does not rhyme. 🫠

I set up email alerts for my name/mentions a while ago. Almost once a week I'll get something in my inbox that a namesake is in court for something or other, and I'm immediately racked with guilt over a 2p sweet I accidentally took without paying for as a child.

One of the many reasons why @lilyray.nyc is a credit to this industry is that in her visuals during her session @brightonseo.com - she ensured that those who are sadly no longer with us are still remembered. Deliberately not saying too much more as some are yet to see the session. TY, Lily!

I wonder how often AIO pulls in incorrect information these days - does anyone track this? Example below, conversational query regarding changes at Disneyland Paris, information pulled from official website lists changes being made in California. #SEO

Closing out @brightonseo.com is a brilliant person I'm very proud to call a friend @lilyray.nyc - loving this deck theme! Love this slide about the cycle of SEO. So true. #BrightonSEO

Brilliant talk #BrightonSEO with a personal story from Clive Loseby on accessibility. Kudos to @brightonseo.com for putting this on the main stage. So often we forget to make websites accessible to the disabled, & having seen how disabled people access the web, it's something we should all look at!

Brutal F45 session at 6am to start Day 2 of @brightonseo.com (yes I was the first one there 🤣) Exercising the body before the mind. Ready for another brilliant day! #BrightonSEO

Wonderful pre @brightonseo.com run along the beachfront and chat with @chris-green.net - nice way to get warmed up for the event! #brightonseo

@brightonseo.com Friends, where can I find more info on the seafront runs please?

Back in the game after some time away. Looking forward to attending @brightonseo.com after missing two in a row! If you're around, do say hello! 👋🏾 Looking forward to catching up with friends old and new.

I got to a 505 day streak and then threw in the towel, as it was becoming more of a chore than it was enjoyable. Freedom.

Fun fact: ended up getting quite sick and had to take time out to rest, a throat and chest infection took me right out. Back in the game now, a reminder to take care of yourselves too, one I very much needed! The first week back at the gym after two off...is painful.

Wonderful to be back in Greece 🇬🇷 for a conference. The downside unfortunately, is that having done US>UK>EU in such a short space of time has wreaked havoc on my body clock. 🫠 However, Greek pastries are a great fix for this!

US friends, if any of you are planning to visit the UK soon, drop in my DMs please, have a small favour to ask. Thanks!

Just dropped into Bluesky to wish everyone a happy 958th day of January. 😭🫠

Absolutely loved delivering a session for #CarnegieConf at Disney World, Florida today! Proper bucket list moment. I woke up this morning and ran around the boardwalk while the sun rose. So lucky to be able to do this. Thank you for having me!

Blown away by lovely messages and support from friends in the industry. Thank you so much. Fingers crossed for an optimistic start to 2025 🤞🏾 ..oh, and the snow to disappear too. Not a fan. ❄️🥶

For those who didn't see on LI, some news: I'll be seeking a new role in 2025. 📣 Looking for a seasoned global digital marketing leader with a track record of success? I've led teams to double-digit growth & spoken at major industry events. Get in touch if you want to discuss 2025 opportunities!

Advice please: a friend of mine has had their WhatsApp number taken over by a sc*mmer, and they're asking all of his contacts for money. When he tries to reclaim his number, he's told that he's locked out for 9 hours. Meanwhile the scammers are free to continue. Is there anything he can do?

Final competitive fitness competition of the calendar year completed at the weekend - ATHX Individual. A punishing test over 3 rounds of strength, endurance, and metcon. Pleased to equal my best deadlift PB and complete each round. Outside of work, this stuff keeps me grounded.

Over at the bird place, in the past 3 days I've had (at least) 6 different "one time only" offers to get a 40% discount to join Premium. It's not "one time" if you send it multiple times...

Ok friends, you know what time it is. In honour of it being a holiday period for our friends in the states, no Friday SEO question this week. Instead, tell me all about how you spent your holiday period (if you celebrate) and if not, what are you most looking forward to this weekend?

Happy Thanksgiving to my friends in the US and abroad! I hope you have a wonderful time with your families and friends. ❤️

The obsession with trying to shoehorn AI into areas of this industry that would genuinely benefit more from human output will always fascinate me. There are areas where it can genuinely help and make a difference, but simply prompting things like "write me a 2000 word article on [topic]" is not it.

Things that are certain in life: Death Taxes People driving in the cold mornings without clearing their windscreens properly.

I hope this is the start of improving the quality/diversity of results served in the SERPs. There's one website in particular (who I think we all know) that could potentially fall foul of this. Thanks for sharing Glenn!

Only been here a day, but scrolling through my feed I'm seeing constructive industry conversations, people helping each other, strong SEO advice, and also #BrightonSEO is being live posted again. Dare I say it...have the marketing/SEO community found a new permanent home? 🤞🏾🤞🏾🤞🏾

Ok, Bluesky. I'm here. This is my first...wait. What do they call posts here, Skies? Blues? Something else?