Backlinks Still Matter More Than Ever

E976: Nebojša "Vujo" Vujinović - the SEO entrepreneur Wired once called the "AI clickbait king" - joins the show.

Vujo has spent more than 20 years building websites, buying expired domains, and experimenting with search engine optimization. Today he runs a massive network of nearly 9,000 websites and a team of around 30 people managing content, links, and SEO campaigns across many industries.

In this conversation, Vujo explains how his system works, how he evaluates expired domains, and how he has adapted his strategy as Google updates, AI tools, and search behavior continue to change.

The discussion covers the practical side of running a large-scale SEO operation, including domain acquisition, content workflows, monetization models, and the risks of operating in gray areas of search.

Edward and Vujo also talk about the Wired article that made him famous, the backlash he received from the SEO community, and how that publicity led to both opportunities and major setbacks with partners like Amazon and Mediavine.

Topics discussed: - How Vujo built a network of nearly 9,000 websites - Why expired domains can still work for SEO - How to evaluate a domain before buying it - What metrics actually matter when analyzing backlinks - Why domain authority and DR can be misleading - The real impact of recent Google updates on expired domains - How Vujo structures and manages thousands of sites - Why Amazon affiliate sites have become much harder to run - His monetization model using sponsored articles - How display advertising contributes to his revenue - How he sells backlinks and sponsored placements - How his team produces 300 to 400 articles per day - The role AI plays in content production today - Why most AI content still requires heavy human review - How his content pipeline works from research to publishing - Why backlinks are still critical for ranking - How brand signals and user experience affect SEO today - His controversial tactics like CTR manipulation and expired domain redirects - Strategies for recovering from Google penalties - The Wired article that labeled him the "AI clickbait king" - Why the SEO community reacted strongly to his interview - The story behind buying the former website of the Pope - Why he refused to sell the domain despite large offers - His view on AI's role in the future of publishing

About Nebojša "Vujo" Vujinović Vujo is an SEO entrepreneur from Serbia who started building websites more than two decades ago. His business focuses on expired domain acquisition, large-scale content publishing, and SEO services for companies across multiple industries.

He previously worked as a DJ and music producer before moving fully into the online business world.

About The Edward Show The Edward Show is a daily podcast about online business, SEO, entrepreneurship, and the systems behind building and scaling internet companies.

This episode is part of Edward's daily podcast streak, recorded 976 days in a row without missing a day.

New episodes every day.

⭐️ Nebojša "Vujo" Vujinović on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nebojsa-vujinovic-vujo/ ⭐️ Nebojša "Vujo" Vujinović's agency - https://shantel.co/ ⭐️ The Wired article - https://www.wired.com/story/confessions-of-an-ai-clickbait-kingpin/

💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/

00 AI Clickbait Kingpin Intro 03:13 Nine Thousand Sites 08:00 Pope Domain Auction 15:39 Wired Backlash Fallout 24:20 Expired Domain Checklist 36:24 301 Page Transfer Trick 42:59 Monetization Mix Explained 50:52 AI Content Pipeline 01:42 Backlinks Still Matter 01:16:16 Tools & Hosting Workflow 01:21:53 Internal Linking Rules 01:40:23 Criticism Viral Stories 01:56:36 CTR Manipulation Signals 02:07:19 Google Penalty Recovery Playbook 02:12:41 Final Wrap Up

The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/

#searchengineoptimization #seo #aiseo #digitalmarketing