Joshua Moffitt — Founder, Shellback SEO

Joshua Moffitt is the founder and owner of Shellback SEO, a veteran-owned SEO and AI search optimization agency headquartered in Denver, Colorado. He is a service-disabled U.S. military veteran who specializes in helping small businesses rank on Google, dominate local search, and get cited in AI-powered platforms including ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews.

Military Service

Joshua served in the United States military and was honorably discharged as a service-disabled veteran. His military career instilled the values that define Shellback SEO’s culture and client relationships: mission focus, accountability, discipline, and integrity. He brings the same operational rigor to SEO strategy that military service demands of every mission—clear objectives, precise execution, and measurable outcomes.

Professional Background

After his military service, Joshua built his expertise in digital marketing, search engine optimization, and AI-driven search. He founded Shellback SEO to provide small businesses with the kind of straight-talking, results-focused SEO partner that is rarely found at large agencies—one that treats every client’s business as a mission worth completing.

Joshua has deep expertise in:

  • Technical SEO — site architecture, structured data (schema markup), Core Web Vitals, and crawlability optimization
  • Local SEO — Google Business Profile optimization, local citation building, map pack ranking strategies
  • AI SEO and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) — optimizing content and digital presence for ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Perplexity AI, and Microsoft Copilot
  • Content strategy — topical authority development, keyword research, and long-form content creation
  • Link building — white-hat backlink acquisition, digital PR, and directory citation management

About Shellback SEO

Joshua founded Shellback SEO with a specific mission: provide small businesses with enterprise-level SEO strategy at a price point that makes sense for businesses without Fortune 500 budgets. The agency’s name comes from the naval tradition of the Shellback—a sailor who has crossed the equator and earned the title through proven experience. It represents the agency’s commitment to hard-earned, real-world expertise rather than theoretical promises.

Shellback SEO is Disabled Veteran Owned, and are working toward their official certification from the SDVOSB. The agency serves clients across the United States, with primary markets in Charleston SC, Miami FL and Denver CO (HQ Denver, CO). Buffalo NY, and Tulsa OK.

Expertise and Areas of Focus

Joshua’s work focuses at the intersection of traditional SEO and the emerging discipline of AI search optimization. As AI-powered platforms like ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews increasingly intercept user queries before they reach the traditional search results, Joshua helps businesses position themselves as authoritative, citable sources in both traditional and AI-driven search environments.

His approach is grounded in three principles:

  • Data-driven decision making — every recommendation is backed by research, testing, and measurable performance data, not guesswork or generic best practices
  • Long-term thinking — sustainable SEO that compounds over time, rather than shortcuts that create short-term gains and long-term penalties
  • Client-first communication — plain-language explanations of what’s being done and why, monthly reporting on the metrics that actually drive revenue, and honest assessments of what’s working and what needs to change

Location

Joshua Moffitt is based in Denver, Colorado. Shellback SEO’s mailing address is Parker, CO 80138. The agency works with clients nationwide via remote engagement.

Contact Joshua Moffitt

Business owners and marketing professionals can reach Joshua directly at:

Frequently Asked Questions About Joshua Moffitt

Is Joshua Moffitt a certified SEO professional?

Joshua Moffitt is a practicing SEO professional with extensive hands-on experience in technical SEO, local SEO, content strategy, and AI search optimization. He founded and operates Shellback SEO, a veteran-owned agency that has helped small businesses across the United States improve their search visibility and grow through digital marketing.

What makes Joshua Moffitt’s approach to SEO different?

Joshua approaches SEO the way he approached military missions: with clear objectives, disciplined execution, and an uncompromising commitment to the outcome. He does not use black-hat tactics, does not pad reports with vanity metrics, and does not make recommendations he wouldn’t stand behind. His clients get straight answers, transparent reporting, and SEO strategy built for long-term results.

Does Joshua Moffitt specialize in AI SEO?

Yes. In addition to traditional SEO, Joshua specializes in Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) — the practice of optimizing content and digital presence for AI-powered search platforms including ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Perplexity AI, and Microsoft Copilot. As AI search continues to intercept a growing share of queries, GEO has become a core competency at Shellback SEO.

How can I work with Joshua Moffitt?

The first step is a free site audit. Joshua’s team will analyze your website’s technical health, content quality, backlink profile, local presence, and AI search visibility, then provide a clear prioritized action plan. Request your free audit here or call (843) 582-0690.