Michele Cioce, Senior SEO Specialist
👤 About Me
I’m Michele Cioce, a Senior SEO Specialist with over a decade of experience in search engine optimization, managing visibility for editorial platforms, and developing integrated digital strategies. I work as a Senior in-house SEO for a communications agency based in Puglia (Italy) that also operates local news outlets—a unique environment that allows me to blend technical SEO with the dynamic demands of both editorial publishing and B2B/B2C clients.
An Integrated Approach: SEO, Security, and Artificial Intelligence
Over the years, I’ve chosen to move beyond traditional SEO by integrating Cybersecurity and Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) into my workflow. Today, every strategy I design combines SEO best practices with digital risk assessment and competitive intelligence—not only to drive visibility but also to ensure data security and protect online reputation.
🔍 SEO: The Strategic Core of Modern Digital Marketing
SEO is no longer a static discipline centered on keywords and meta tags. It has evolved into the central nervous system of digital marketing, influencing content, site architecture, user experience, security, and even data governance. In my daily work with editorial platforms and diverse clients, I’ve seen how mature SEO strategies go far beyond “being found.” They anticipate shifts in user behavior, interpret search intent before queries are even typed, and adapt in real time to algorithm updates and evolving search interfaces—from classic SERPs to AI-driven conversational experiences.
It’s this ability to act as a bridge between technology, content, and users that makes SEO indispensable in any serious digital strategy. And to remain effective, it must keep evolving—embracing new paradigms like Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), aligning with cybersecurity, and leveraging artificial intelligence not as a shortcut, but as a precision tool.
🛡️ Digital Security: A Natural Extension of SEO
I’ve always viewed website security not as a separate concern, but as an intrinsic dimension of organic visibility. A compromised site loses user trust and faces penalties from search engines. That’s why I’ve deepened my expertise in web-focused cybersecurity, embedding security audits, vulnerability monitoring, and risk assessments directly into my SEO strategies. Additionally, I apply OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) methodologies not only to analyze competitors but also to detect accidental data exposures, information leaks, or disinformation campaigns that could harm a brand’s online reputation. In my view, the SEO of the future must be secure to be effective.
🤖 Artificial Intelligence: Especially Local AI
The rise of Large Language Models (LLMs) has fundamentally reshaped how users search for and consume information. In response, I’ve specialized in prompt engineering and Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), crafting content that answers real user questions clearly, authoritatively, and in a structured way. But I don’t rely solely on proprietary cloud-based models. I actively use open-source and open-weights models—such as those from the Llama, Mistral, and Qwen families—running them locally via efficient frameworks like llama.cpp. This allows me to experiment, test, and generate even sensitive content without ever sending data to third-party platforms.
In an era where data privacy is a strategic asset, the ability to run AI locally isn’t just a technical detail—it’s a cornerstone of responsible digital governance.
🧠 An Integrated Approach for a Transforming Ecosystem
My work is guided by a simple yet powerful idea: online visibility isn’t built with isolated tools, but through strategic synergies. SEO, AEO, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence are not separate domains—they are interconnected levers that, when carefully orchestrated, deliver lasting results. I stay constantly updated—not to chase trends, but to deeply understand the transformations shaping the digital landscape. My goal remains consistent: to help brands and professionals establish authoritative visibility, safeguard their reputation, and grow sustainably—even in the age of conversational AI and increasingly personalized search experiences.
🧙♂️ Creator of Unique Digital Tools
I firmly believe that innovation in digital marketing must translate into tangible tools—not just theories or abstract frameworks. For this reason, I personally conceived and developed the original tools featured on SEO PROOF in the “My Tools” section:
Each of these tools was born from a real need that emerged in my day-to-day work: simplifying complex research, structuring strategies based on reliable data, creating user personas with contextual intelligence, tracking and sharing SEO tasks, or verifying a website’s technical and reputational integrity. I built them by combining my multidisciplinary expertise, guided by one core principle: solving real problems in smart, ethical, and accessible ways.
Originally designed to optimize my own workflow, I decided to release them publicly because I believe knowledge and tools should serve the wider community. Some are standalone web apps; others are WordPress plugins—all crafted to empower professionals who want to go beyond generic, off-the-shelf solutions and build a more authoritative, secure, and distinctive online presence.
My commitment is to keep developing new tools—always at the forefront of innovation—that pragmatically integrate SEO, AEO, security, and AI. Because today, true competitive advantage lies not just in knowing what to do, but in having the right tools to do it better, faster, and securely.
If you’d like to exchange ideas, collaborate, or simply follow the evolution of my journey, I invite you to connect with me on LinkedIn. I’d be happy to engage with colleagues, professionals, and fellow enthusiasts who, like me, see digital not just as a field of application—but as a continuous ground for innovation.