SEO Is Not That Hard

Send us a textThe mystery behind Google's ranking algorithms often frustrates website owners, especially during core updates when traffic plummets without clear explanation. Many ask: "Why can't Google just tell us exactly what to do to rank well?" This episode tackles that fundamental question head-on, revealing surprising insights about why complete transparency might actually harm the web more than help it.Search rankings operate as a zero-sum game – only one site can occupy position one for any given search query. If Google provided a perfect optimization roadmap, websites with SEO resources would dominate results, while those without would never see the light of day. The podcast explores how this would create an arms race among optimizers, pushing right up to the boundaries of Google's guidelines while revealing little true quality difference between sites.Beyond practical concerns, complete SEO transparency would likely homogenize the web, stifling creativity and reducing diversity in how information is presented online. Using real examples like link building, Edd demonstrates how transparency would enable manipulation rather than reward quality. While acknowledging the pain of traffic losses (having experienced significant drops himself with previous websites), he makes a compelling case for why some level of SEO ambiguity serves everyone's interests in the long run.The episode concludes with a thoughtful reflection on the balance Google must strike – providing helpful guidance without creating a situation where search results become a predictable outcome of following a rigid formula. For SEO professionals and website owners alike, understanding this paradox shifts perspective from frustration to appreciation for the necessary complexity that keeps the web ecosystem functioning.SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textWhat could running a farm possibly teach us about search engine optimization? As it turns out, quite a lot. When my family purchased a neglected farm five years ago to support our passion for horses, I never expected it would revolutionize my perspective on digital marketing. Yet the similarities between nurturing land and growing website traffic proved remarkably insightful.The patience required when planting grass seed and waiting for pastures to develop mirrors the long-term mindset essential for SEO success. Just as I quickly learned that attacking overgrown ditches with a simple spade was futile across acres of land, I've discovered that proper digital tools make previously overwhelming tasks manageable and efficient. Both disciplines taught me hard lessons about when to handle tasks personally versus when to outsource to specialists or delegate routine work.Perhaps most transformative was discovering the power of automation. After spending countless hours manually carrying water across the farm, we tapped a spring and installed kilometers of piping for automatic distribution – a perfect parallel to how automating repetitive digital tasks creates freedom for strategic work. Similarly, the consequences of neglect compound in both fields; restoring neglected farm buildings and rehabilitating abandoned websites both require exponentially more effort than consistent maintenance. The wisdom shared by neighboring farmers proved as valuable as digital mentorship, while the fundamental truth remains constant: neither farming nor SEO rewards minimal effort with maximum results.Whether you're managing acres of land or thousands of keywords, these seven principles can transform your results. Ready to apply these farming lessons to your digital strategy? Explore KeywordsPeopleUse.com today to discover exactly what your audience is searching for and start planting the right content seeds for sustainable growth.SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textThe power of lead magnets lies in their ability to transform passive website traffic into valuable relationships. Ever watched visitors come to your site, consume content, and vanish without a trace? You're missing a crucial opportunity to build lasting connections with your audience.Lead magnets—free items or services offered in exchange for contact details—create a value exchange that benefits both sides. For website owners, they reveal who's engaging with your content and provide a direct line of communication for future offerings. For visitors, they deliver immediate value while opening the door to more personalized experiences. This symbiotic relationship strengthens engagement and dramatically increases your website's worth as a business asset.From simple PDF checklists and comprehensive guides to sophisticated tools like broadband speed trackers or freemium services, lead magnets can take countless forms. The most successful ones align perfectly with your audience's needs while requiring minimal friction to access. Free consultations, online courses, detailed case studies, and prize draws all serve as powerful incentives for visitors to share their contact information. The key is matching the right lead magnet to the right audience at the right moment in their journey through your site.Strategic implementation makes all the difference. Place your lead magnet offer at the precise moment when its value is most apparent—after someone has engaged with related content or shown interest in your subject area. Collect only essential information, send a thoughtful thank-you message, and always provide clear opt-out instructions to maintain trust. Don't limit yourself to a single lead magnet either; different offerings can target various audience segments and address multiple pain points. Ready to transform your passive website into an active marketing channel you control? The solution is simpler than you might think—start building your first lead magnet today.SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textEver wondered why some websites convert better than others, despite having similar products or content? The secret weapon might be carefully placed customer testimonials. This podcast episode dives deep into the undeniable power of social proof and how it transforms hesitant visitors into confident customers.Customer testimonials represent the next best thing to a personal recommendation from a trusted friend. When potential customers see others like them praising your offerings, it creates an immediate sense of trust that no amount of self-promotion can achieve. Beyond boosting conversions, testimonials also strengthen your website's E-E-A-T signals, making them a powerful SEO asset in the age of Google's helpful content updates.From finding existing reviews across social media and review platforms to implementing strategic request systems, this episode walks you through practical approaches to building your testimonial collection. Learn how KeywordsPeopleUse.com tripled their review submissions with a simple "mystery reward" technique, and discover how tools like Senja.io can streamline the entire process. The discussion also covers optimal placement strategies—putting the right testimonials in strategic locations across your digital touchpoints for maximum impact.Ready to harness the persuasive power of your customers' words? Subscribe to "SEO Is Not That Hard" for more actionable SEO strategies, and download my free 101 Quick SEO Tips from the show notes. Visit KeywordsPeopleUse.com today to discover the questions your potential customers are really asking online.SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textDangerous shortcuts rarely lead to lasting success in SEO. In this revealing episode, I pull back the curtain on Private Blog Networks (PBNs) – one of the most controversial black hat SEO techniques still in use today.Drawing from my 20+ years of experience building and monetizing websites, I explain exactly what PBNs are, how they operate, and why they continue to tempt SEO practitioners looking for quick ranking improvements. While I don't condemn those who venture into black hat territory, I share my personal philosophy of building for the long term rather than risking everything on techniques that violate Google's terms of service.We explore the mechanics of how PBNs are created, typically using expired domains with existing backlink profiles, and why they can indeed provide short-term ranking boosts. But the real value comes in understanding the significant risks: Google's increasingly sophisticated detection systems, the potential for devastating penalties, and the substantial costs of maintaining these networks properly.For those who purchase links from third parties, I provide practical advice on how to identify PBN links before they harm your site. Look for websites featuring disconnected content topics filled with outbound links to unrelated industries – these are classic signs you're dealing with a risky link network that could eventually trigger manual or algorithmic penalties.Whether you're curious about black hat techniques or simply want to protect your website from risky backlinks, this episode equips you with essential knowledge for navigating the complex world of SEO. Subscribe now and share this episode with anyone who might be tempted by shortcuts in their search ranking journey – you might just save them from a future Google penalty!SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textTired of the endless chase for more traffic? Discover a smarter approach to affiliate marketing that can dramatically boost your revenue using visitors you already have.We dive deep into the world of Earnings Per Click (EPC) optimization – a strategy that lets you increase affiliate earnings without attracting a single new visitor. Learn how to identify which merchants are truly delivering value, why positioning matters more than you might think, and how to strategically place your highest-performing partners for maximum returns.This episode breaks down exactly how to analyze your affiliate reports to find golden opportunities hiding in plain sight. You'll discover why some merchants consistently outperform others and how to leverage these insights across your site. I share real examples from my experience running broadbandco.uk, where strategic merchant positioning based on EPC data significantly boosted our bottom line.Beyond the basics, we explore advanced techniques including page-level optimization strategies that account for different visitor intentions, seasonal adjustments to keep your earnings optimized year-round, and even how to build automated systems that continuously optimize your merchant positioning based on performance data.Whether you're just starting your affiliate marketing journey or managing established sites, this approach offers immediate potential for revenue growth. Stop leaving money on the table and start making your existing traffic work harder for you. Subscribe now and transform how you think about affiliate optimization!SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textWhat separates sustainable SEO success from devastating Google penalties? The answer often lies in your approach to backlinks. Drawing from two decades of website building experience, I share a deeply personal journey through the evolving landscape of link building – including painful lessons learned the hard way.Backlinks remain fundamental to Google's ranking algorithm, acting as votes of confidence from one site to another. But not all backlinks are created equal. I break down backlink strategies into three categories: the good (naturally acquired links that come without solicitation), the bad (paid links disguised to appear natural), and the ugly (blatantly manipulative tactics like comment spam and private blog networks).My own experience with Google's Penguin algorithm taught me that while aggressive link acquisition might work temporarily, the eventual cleanup process is exponentially more difficult than building quality links from the start. This episode isn't about judging different approaches – there's no moral high ground here, just practical considerations about risk versus reward. I've found that creating genuinely valuable content that naturally attracts links builds a sustainable foundation that withstands algorithm changes and eliminates sleepless nights worrying about penalties.Whether you're new to SEO or looking to refine your strategy, this episode provides clear guidance on building a backlink profile that stands the test of time. The path of natural link acquisition may require more patience and creativity, but the long-term benefits far outweigh the shortcuts. Ready to build authority without breaking Google's rules? This episode shows you how.SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textWhen Google penalties strike, panic often follows. Whether you've been hit by the recent massive core update or you're dealing with a mysterious traffic drop, knowing how to recover is crucial for your site's survival.Google penalties come in two distinct flavours, each requiring a different recovery approach. Manual penalties occur when an actual person from Google's web spam team reviews your site and finds violations of their terms of service. The silver lining? You'll receive specific notification through Search Console about what went wrong, giving you a clear path to fix the issues. Whether it's removing spammy content, addressing cloaking techniques, or disavowing problematic backlinks, the reconsideration process provides a structured way back into Google's good graces.Algorithmic penalties present a murkier challenge. These automated judgments come with no notification or reconsideration process, leaving you to play detective with your analytics and Google's limited update information. As someone who's personally recovered from algorithmic penalties, I can attest that patience becomes your greatest asset. Through careful analysis of affected pages, strategic improvements, and persistence, recovery is absolutely possible—sometimes resulting in traffic that exceeds pre-penalty levels. The key is avoiding rash decisions during active updates and learning from the community of others experiencing similar issues.Don't surrender to the myth that penalties mean permanent exile from search results. While the work required varies dramatically based on the severity of your violations, nearly every type of Google penalty has proven recoverable with the right approach. Have you been hit by a recent update? Share your experience and let's work through recovery strategies together!SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textHave you ever wondered what happens to all those valuable backlinks and search rankings when you delete a page or change your domain name? The answer lies in properly implemented 301 redirects – the unsung heroes of technical SEO.301 redirects function as your website's forwarding address, telling both browsers and search engines that content has permanently moved to a new location. More importantly, they transfer accumulated ranking signals like backlinks, history, and authority to the new URL. Without them, you risk throwing away years of hard-earned SEO equity.In this episode, I break down four critical scenarios where 301 redirects are absolutely essential: when removing outdated pages, when restructuring your website's URL hierarchy, when standardizing your www/non-www domain configuration, and during complete domain migrations. The last scenario is particularly crucial – failing to implement proper redirects during a domain change has caused countless websites to vanish from search results overnight.I also tackle the common question of how long redirects should remain active. While Google officially states that signals transfer fully after about a year, I recommend keeping them permanently. Even decades-old links continue to be crawled and pass value through properly maintained redirects. As I discovered at Broadband.Co.uk, links from as far back as 1996 were still being followed by Google's crawlers 25+ years later!Want to learn more about preserving your website's SEO value during changes? Subscribe to "SEO is Not That Hard" for practical advice that helps you maintain and grow your search visibility. And check out Keywords People Use to discover exactly what your audience is searching for online – try it free today at keywordspeopleuse.com.SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textStruggling to find that perfect business idea? You might be overlooking a remarkably simple solution. In this insightful episode, I share my battle-tested approach to generating winning ideas that has powered multiple successful ventures.The breakthrough moment came when I realized we're all constantly having ideas—most of them forgettable, some potentially transformative—but without a system to capture them, they vanish into thin air. My journey began with nothing more sophisticated than a Moleskine notebook where I recorded every business concept, website opportunity, and content inspiration that crossed my mind. Each received its own page with a brief headline, supporting details, and date. The front pages became an organized index of possibilities.Though hundreds of ideas accumulated, most weren't viable due to skill, resource, or time constraints. But within this collection, patterns emerged. Certain concepts kept drawing me back, demanding further development. These became the foundation for my current websites and income streams—including KeywordsPeopleUse, which now serves thousands of daily users. The very podcast you're listening to began as a simple notation, an idea preserved rather than forgotten.This approach has evolved with my business. Now we use Trello boards where team members collaborate, comment, and help identify the most promising concepts. But the fundamental principle remains unchanged: record everything without immediate judgment.Ready to unlock your own breakthrough ideas? Start recording every thought today—using whatever system works for you—and watch as the truly valuable concepts naturally rise to the surface. Subscribe to the podcast for more practical SEO and business strategies, and visit KeywordsPeopleUse.com to try our tools free today.SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textEver wondered why your content isn't ranking despite targeting the right keywords? The answer might lie in a common SEO pitfall that many website owners unknowingly create: topic cannibalization.In this illuminating episode, SEO expert Edd Dawson tackles the crucial difference between keyword cannibalization and topic cannibalization—a distinction that can dramatically impact your search visibility. Drawing from his two decades of experience building and monetizing websites, Edd explains why simply using the same keyword across multiple pages isn't necessarily problematic. The real issue emerges when pages compete for the same user intent.Using practical examples from his experience running a broadband comparison site, Edd demonstrates how to create effective topic hierarchies that help Google understand your site structure. You'll learn how pages like "broadband for gamers" and "broadband for students" can coexist without cannibalizing each other, despite sharing primary keywords. Edd provides actionable strategies for organizing content, from proper internal linking techniques to knowing when to consolidate competing pages versus maintaining separate resources.Whether you're building a site from scratch or fixing existing cannibalization issues, this episode delivers clear guidance for creating content that Google can properly index and rank. Ready to stop your pages from competing with each other? Listen now, and discover how the right content architecture can transform your SEO results. Then book a free demo at keywordspeopleuse.com/demo to see how our tools can help you identify and organize the questions your audience is actually asking.SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textPulling back the curtain on one of SEO's most controversial techniques, this episode dives deep into website cloaking—showing search engines different content than what human visitors see. While firmly acknowledging this as a black hat approach I no longer practice or recommend, I explain why understanding these techniques creates more well-rounded SEO professionals who can identify manipulation.What exactly happens when websites serve different versions of content based on who's visiting? I break down the technical mechanics of cloaking, from user agent detection to sophisticated IP verification systems that aim to fool Google. You'll learn how cloakers distinguish between genuine Googlebot crawlers and competitors trying to uncover their tactics, complete with a fascinating historical perspective from the wild west days of SEO circa 2008-2009.The episode provides practical knowledge for those curious about detecting cloaking, with specific browser plugin suggestions that let you view websites as if you were Googlebot. This knowledge isn't about encouraging risky tactics but rather understanding the digital landscape fully. Whether you're an SEO professional looking to deepen your technical knowledge or simply curious about the mechanics behind search manipulation, this episode provides valuable context about why sustainable, white hat approaches ultimately build more valuable digital assets than shortcuts. Ready to understand the smoke and mirrors of black hat SEO without getting burned? This episode delivers the perfect balance of technical insight and ethical perspective.SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textWe dive into a counterintuitive yet powerful concept that can transform your product or website: improving by removing. Drawing from real-world experience with Keywords People Use, I share how simplifying our complex three-credit system down to a single universal credit structure dramatically enhanced user experience and understanding.When you build something from scratch, you understand every nuance and decision behind your creation. But your users don't have that context—they experience your product with fresh eyes, and what seems perfectly logical to you can be utterly confusing to them. This disconnect became apparent when we found ourselves struggling to explain our credit system to customers. The lesson was clear: the problem wasn't with our users' understanding; we had made the system too complicated.The strategic removal of complexity doesn't just make things easier to explain—it creates a more flexible, user-centered experience. Our case study demonstrates how consolidating multiple credit types allows users to allocate resources according to their specific needs rather than being constrained by artificial divisions. This principle extends beyond complex systems to everyday elements like sign-up forms, where removing unnecessary questions can significantly boost conversion rates without sacrificing important data collection.Whether you're running a large platform or a simple website, challenge yourself to view your creation through a beginner's eyes. What complexity can you remove? What barriers can you eliminate? The most powerful improvements often come not from adding new features but from thoughtfully taking things away. Book a free demo at keywordspeopleuse.com/demo to see our simplified system in action and discuss how these principles might apply to your own digital presence.SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textSEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textSEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textThe SEO landscape is undergoing a profound transformation driven by artificial intelligence, and staying ahead requires understanding how these changes impact traffic, revenue, and content strategy. Many website owners are noticing a curious trend: overall traffic numbers are declining, yet revenue remains stable. This pattern reveals a critical shift in how we should measure SEO success - quality now trumps quantity. While AI overviews and search assistants are absorbing top-of-funnel informational queries, users with purchase intent are still finding their way to the right websites and converting. This creates a significant challenge for sites monetized through display advertising, which depend directly on raw page views, but presents opportunities for those focused on sales and conversions.To thrive in this evolving environment, building genuine topical authority is essential. Creating deep, interconnected content clusters that demonstrate comprehensive expertise makes your site a reliable resource for AI systems to reference. The sites I've seen continue to perform well are those providing unique value by synthesizing hard-to-obtain data or offering insights that search engines cannot easily replicate. Remember that AI models still source their information from the open web, using many of the same signals search engines have traditionally valued.During my recent break from regular podcasting, I've been experimenting with using AI to transform my podcast transcripts into a structured book format, developing new tools with RAG (Retrieval Augmented Generation), and using AI agents for rapid prototyping. These experiences mirror the broader lesson that success in both SEO and life requires persistence, continuous improvement, and adaptability. Want to discover how to optimize your content for this new era? Visit keywordspeopleuse.com to try our SEO intelligence platform and learn how to build genuine topical authority that performs in the age of AI.SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textSEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textStruggling with duplicate content issues? Feeling like your SEO efforts aren't paying off? The answer might lie in a commonly misunderstood SEO concept: canonicalization.In this episode, I break down what canonicalization actually means and why it's so crucial for your website's search performance. When search engines encounter the same content across multiple URLs, they get confused about which version to rank – leading to split link equity, wasted crawl budget, and potentially lower rankings. Through practical examples from e-commerce sites (where product pages can exist under numerous URLs due to filters and sorting options), you'll understand exactly why proper URL management matters.The heart of this episode focuses on implementation strategies that work. From the proper use of the rel="canonical" tag to maintaining consistency across your site architecture, I share battle-tested techniques developed over my 20+ years in SEO. You'll learn why even unique pages should have self-referencing canonical tags, how to handle content syndication across domains, and the importance of using absolute URLs in your canonical implementation.What sets this discussion apart are the real-world mistakes I've witnessed throughout my career – from the surprisingly common practice of canonicalizing all pages to the homepage to the subtle but damaging inconsistency in trailing slashes. Remember: Google treats canonical tags as hints, not directives, which means your broader SEO strategy must align with your canonicalization choices. Ready to consolidate your SEO power and stop confusing search engines? This episode gives you the knowledge to take action today. Subscribe now and discover how proper canonicalization can transform your search visibility.SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textTooltips might be the most underrated weapon in your SEO arsenal. Those little informational popups that appear when users hover over elements on your website aren't just helpful navigation aids—they're secret powerhouses for both user experience and search rankings.In this value-packed episode, I dive deep into exactly how tooltips enhance usability while simultaneously boosting your SEO efforts. You'll discover why these small interface elements reduce cognitive load, improve form completion rates, and enhance accessibility—all factors that contribute to better user engagement metrics that search engines love. I explain the direct SEO benefits: increased time on page, reduced bounce rates, improved click-through rates, and opportunities to naturally incorporate keywords that might not fit elsewhere in your content.The implementation details matter tremendously, and I walk you through best practices to ensure your tooltips work for both users and search engines. From using proper semantic HTML and ARIA attributes to ensuring mobile compatibility and maintaining consistent design, you'll learn how to avoid common pitfalls that could negate the SEO benefits of your tooltips. I even share a real-world example from my own platform, where tooltips solved a specific usability challenge with technical data tables.Whether you're optimizing an existing site or building a new one, this episode provides actionable insights into how these small interface elements can drive significant improvements in both user satisfaction and search rankings. Remember, SEO isn't just about keywords and backlinks—it's also about creating experiences that keep users engaged, and tooltips are an often-overlooked tool to accomplish exactly that. Ready to implement this strategy on your own site? Listen now for the complete guide.SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textAre Exact Match Domains truly harmful to your SEO efforts? In this revealing episode, I tackle one of the most misunderstood topics in search engine optimization—whether having keywords in your domain name helps or hurts your rankings.Drawing on my 20+ years of experience building and monetizing websites, I challenge the prevailing wisdom that Exact Match Domains (EMDs) are outdated relics of SEO past. The reality? Google's own documentation confirms they still consider domain keywords as ranking factors, just with dampeners to prevent over-optimization.I share my firsthand success with domains like Broadband.co.uk and recent experiments with local "rank and rent" sites that are performing well despite minimal content and backlinks—largely thanks to their descriptive domain names. You'll discover how major brands like Hotels.com and Pimlico Plumbers leveraged keyword-rich domains to build recognizable businesses while maintaining strong search visibility.For local business owners, this episode is particularly valuable as I explain why location-based descriptive domains can serve both as powerful branding tools and SEO assets. Even if you're skeptical about direct ranking benefits, I outline the indirect advantages EMDs provide through natural anchor text when others link to your site.Don't make domain decisions based on oversimplified SEO myths. Listen now to get the nuanced perspective you need, backed by Google's actual statements and real-world results. Ready to challenge what you thought you knew about domain selection? This episode just might change your entire approach to launching new websites.SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textSEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textCustomer feedback isn't just a nice-to-have—it's the heartbeat of effective product development. This episode dives deep into why responding to user insights should be your top priority for business growth and product improvement.Ever wondered what separates good products from truly great ones? The answer lies not in flashy features dreamed up in boardrooms, but in listening closely to the people who use your product daily. I share a compelling real-world example where our team at Keywords People Use turned around a new feature in less than 24 hours based on feedback from Carlos, one of our valued customers. His simple request revealed a use case we hadn't fully considered, despite being experts in our own product.The power of this approach can't be overstated. When users encounter friction points that prevent them from getting maximum value, they're revealing gold mines of opportunity. As I explain in this episode, even small tweaks based on customer insights can deliver enormous value. The "Download Uniques" feature we created solved not just Carlos's problem, but likely improved the experience for countless other users who hadn't voiced the same challenge.What makes customer feedback so potent is that it comes from people who have already demonstrated they value your product enough to pay for it. These aren't theoretical use cases—they're real problems experienced by real users trying to achieve real goals. By prioritizing these insights above internal feature ideas, you build a product that truly serves your market's needs rather than your assumptions about those needs.Ready to transform how you think about product development? Listen now to discover how to create multiple feedback channels for your users, how to evaluate which requests to prioritize, and why speed matters when implementing customer suggestions. Your users are your best product managers—are you listening to them?Book a free demo at keywordspeopleuse.com/demo to see how our tools can help you find and answer the questions your audience is actually asking online.SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textThe digital landscape shifts constantly, and zero-click searches represent one of the most significant evolutions in how users interact with search engines. This eye-opening episode tackles the phenomenon where Google provides answers directly in search results—no clicking required.What exactly are zero-click searches? Whether appearing as featured snippets, knowledge panels, or quick answer boxes, these results fulfill user intent instantly. While this might initially sound alarming for website owners watching their traffic metrics, Ed Dawson offers a refreshingly pragmatic perspective: not all traffic is created equal. Those simple queries generating zero-click results often wouldn't have produced meaningful engagement anyway.The podcast explores practical strategies for thriving in this new reality. By optimizing for featured snippets, you position your brand as an authority even without immediate clicks. Focusing on high-intent, long-tail keywords captures users further along the purchase journey. Creating rich, comprehensive content demonstrates your expertise to both search engines and users seeking deeper information. Most importantly, Ed emphasizes that success metrics should shift from raw visitor counts to quality engagement and conversions—because ultimately, "they can't purchase off of zero-click."Ready to adapt your SEO strategy for this evolving search landscape? Book a free demo at keywordspeopleuse.com/demo to discover how finding and answering the questions your audience actually asks can transform your content strategy and help you thrive despite—or even because of—zero-click searches.SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textWe've compiled 101 quick SEO tips from Edd Dawson's popular series into one comprehensive episode to help you improve your website rankings. This collection covers everything from technical foundations to content strategy and link building techniques.• Make your website as fast as possible because Google hates slow sites and so do your users• Ensure new pages are linked from existing ones so Google can find and index them• Always use HTTPS for your site to improve security and trust signals• Backlinks from other websites help you rank better, but avoid buying links• Put your target keywords in H1 tags and page titles for clear topic signals• Focus on answering actual user questions rather than chasing keyword volume• Don't worry about keyword density – focus on covering topics naturally• Internal links help provide context and help users discover more content• Check Google Search Console for insights on indexing and keyword performance• Be patient – building traffic and authority takes time, but persistence pays off• Target long-tail traffic when starting a new site to build rankings faster• Use Google Trends to see how topics change in popularity over time• Create evergreen content that continues generating traffic long-term• Focus on quality over quantity when building backlinks• Make your site mobile-responsive as Google uses mobile-first indexing• Test different page versions with A/B testing to improve conversion rates• Try Microsoft Clarity to see how real users interact with your siteSEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textEdd Dawson explores why Google is a superior source for SEO data compared to ChatGPT, explaining how Google's real-time web model and user behavior data provides more accurate keyword research. Despite ChatGPT's usefulness for content creation and coding assistance, it lacks understanding of web relationships and user search behavior, making it unreliable for SEO tasks like keyword clustering.• ChatGPT is limited by static datasets that become outdated (currently April 2023)• ChatGPT lacks understanding of how websites relate to each other and how users search• Google possesses real-time crawl data, actual search queries, and user behavior insights• Keywords People Use developed a superior keyword clustering tool by reverse-engineering Google search results• Testing showed Google-mined data consistently outperforms ChatGPT for keyword relationships• ChatGPT remains valuable for content creation after determining what to write aboutTry Keywords People Use for free at keywordspeopleuse.com to find actual questions people ask online. Contact Edd at podcast@keywordspeopleuse.com or @channel5 on Twitter.SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textGoogle patents offer an unparalleled glimpse into how search actually works, yet few SEO professionals take advantage of this valuable resource. Edd Dawson explains how exploring Google's patent database can reveal the mechanisms behind search features and help cut through common SEO myths.• Google has over 100,000 patents, many directly related to search functionality• Patents require public disclosure of technical information, providing rare transparency• Patent documents can be challenging but rewarding to read after a few attempts• PatentsGoogle.com and SEObyTheSea.com are excellent starting resources• A 2015 patent explains exactly how the "People Also Ask" feature works• Google maintains a question database organized by topics and subjects• PAA questions are ranked by frequency and relevance to the search query• Understanding patents helps develop better SEO tools and content strategies• Exercise caution: not everything patented gets implemented, and vice versa• Keywords People Use tool leverages patent insights to visualize PAA questionsPlease subscribe and share. SEO is Not that Hard is brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com, the solution to finding the questions people ask online.SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textWe explore the often overlooked power of internal linking for both SEO strategy and user experience, covering everything from basic definitions to advanced implementation tactics.• Internal links are hyperlinks connecting pages within the same website• They serve two main purposes: enhancing user navigation and helping search engines crawl and understand site structure• Proper internal linking prevents "orphan pages" that search engines struggle to find and index• Internal links establish site hierarchy and help distribute page rank from high-authority pages• Best practices include using proper HTML elements, descriptive anchor text, and linking contextually relevant content• Common mistakes include vague anchor text, over-optimization, and neglecting to update links after site changes• Balance is crucial—too many links can overwhelm users and dilute SEO valueConnect with me on LinkedIn and Blue Sky by searching for Edd Dawson. Try our SEO intelligence platform at keywordspeopleuse.com where we help you discover questions people ask online, organize keywords into topical groups, and optimize your content with personalized advice. For consulting, visit www.eddawson.com.SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textEdd Dawson shares his twenty years of experience on the importance of diversification for SEO professionals and website owners. He draws from his personal journey of recovering from the Google Penguin update that decimated his site traffic to explain why having multiple income streams provides security during algorithm changes and business challenges.• Diversification means splitting risk across multiple income streams or traffic sources• When Broadband.co.uk was hit by Penguin in 2012, alternative businesses provided a financial lifeline• Selling Broadband.co.uk became possible because Edd had already diversified with other affiliate sites• Starting small experiments is better than making all-in bets when diversifying• Google remains the largest source of outbound clicks despite recent algorithm changes• SEO is an ongoing learning process requiring adaptation to industry changesIf you'd like a personal demo of our tools at Keywords People Use, book a free, no-obligation one-on-one video call with me at keywordspeopleuse.com/demo where I'll show you how we can help you level up your content by finding and answering the questions your audience actually has.SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textGoogle Tag Manager simplifies website management by allowing you to add and modify tracking codes without editing your site's code directly. This one-time implementation saves time and reduces errors while providing advanced functionality through triggers and variables.• Requires only a one-time code placement on your website• Eliminates the need to edit site code when adding new tracking services• Particularly valuable for non-developers or those without direct site access• Includes powerful conditional triggers for specific events and actions• Works with Google Analytics, Facebook pixels, Google Ads tracking, and more• Useful for both small websites and enterprise-level implementations• Reduces technical errors from incorrect code placementBook a free, no-obligation one-on-one video call with me at keywordspeopleuse.com/demo to see how our tools can help you find and answer your audience's questions. You can also download my free 101 quick SEO tips from the show notes.SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textSEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textEdd Dawson shares his 20-year journey building and selling broadband.co.uk, offering insights into affiliate marketing success and navigating major Google updates like Penguin and Panda. He reveals the data-driven strategies that led to a life-changing business exit during COVID in 2021.• Building broadband.co.uk as one of the UK's first comparison sites by identifying a gap in the market for postcode-specific broadband availability tools• Developing a successful affiliate model focused on aggregating data and creating genuine user value through tools and educational content• Surviving Google's Penguin update in 2013, which decimated rankings overnight but led to a stronger, content-focused strategy• Successfully exiting the business in 2021 to Genie Ventures after diversifying into other niche comparison sites• Current focus on AI opportunities, developing tools like Keywords People Use, and building solutions that aggregate different data sources• Predictions that Google will remain dominant longer than many expect, while emphasizing the importance of quality traffic over volume• Advice for affiliate marketers: focus on creating unique, data-driven solutions that AI overviews cannot easily replicateSEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textEdd Dawson challenges the common SEO approach of targeting high-volume keywords, arguing that website owners should focus on building topical authority by comprehensively answering questions instead. This best-of episode demonstrates why obsessing over search volume metrics can distract from creating truly useful content that naturally ranks for a variety of keywords.• Search volume tools often show zero volume for specific questions people actually search for• Websites should first and foremost be useful by answering people's real questions• Building topical authority means covering a subject in depth through answering related questions• When you answer questions thoroughly, you naturally rank for keywords you never specifically targeted• Even successful websites started imperfectly—the key is to begin and improve over time• Building a website is like fitness training—you must start using those content creation "muscles" to develop them• Don't get paralyzed by over-planning or seeking perfection before publishingTry Keywords People Use for free at KeywordsPeopleUse.com to find the questions people are actually asking online.SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textLink building and link buying are fundamentally different approaches with vastly different risks for your SEO strategy. Google's original PageRank algorithm used backlinks as genuine votes of confidence, which is why artificially manipulating this system through paid links violates their guidelines.• Link buying is transactional and violates Google's terms of service• Google considers backlinks as votes of confidence between websites• Penguin update specifically targeted websites buying backlinks• Legitimate link building involves PR and outreach without payment• Digital PR is acceptable as long as no money changes hands• Paying an agency for link building services is fine if they use white hat methods• Be wary of agencies guaranteeing exact numbers of backlinks• Even simple Twitter outreach can generate legitimate backlinks• Good content naturally attracts links once you start the ball rolling• Natural link building takes time but creates sustainable resultsIf you'd like a personal demo of our tools at Keywords People Use, you can book a free, no obligation one-on-one video call with me where I show you how we can help you level up your content by finding and answering the questions your audience actually have. You can also ask me any SEO questions you have. Just go to keywordspeopleuse.com/demo where you can pick a time and date that suits you.SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textEdd Dawson explores why audience research delivers better SEO results than traditional keyword research. He breaks down how understanding your audience helps you find low-difficulty terms that convert better than competitive trophy keywords.• High-volume keywords are often highly competitive and don't convert well• Traditional keyword research leads to "trophy terms" with traffic but poor conversion rates• Audience research helps identify specific needs of different customer segments• Understanding demographic, psychographic, and behavioral factors is essential• Different audience segments (like OAPs vs gamers) have entirely different content needs• Long-tail keywords have lower search volumes but higher conversion rates• Practical steps include surveys, social media listening, and analytics review• Testing and iterating based on audience feedback improves results• Tools like Keywords People Use help identify specific customer questionsYou can find links to everything mentioned in the show notes. Connect with Edd on LinkedIn and Blue Sky, try Keywords People Use at keywordspeopleuse.com, or visit eddawson.com for consulting.SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textFAQs are powerful engagement tools that can significantly boost your website's performance and SEO rankings. Research shows FAQs can generate over 20% of a page's engagement, outperforming even testimonials when implemented strategically.• Wood burner example demonstrates how answering questions builds authority and expertise• Recent studies show FAQs are the most engaged-with elements on websites• Strategic FAQ placement (with links from above the fold) increases user interaction• Answering real questions people actually ask is crucial for effectiveness• Question-based content strategy improves Google rankings by addressing search intent• Google values on-page engagement metrics according to API leaks• Answering questions prevents users from leaving your site to find information elsewhereBook a free, no-obligation one-on-one demo with Edd at keywordspeopleusecom/demo to discover how Keywords People Use can help you find and answer the questions your audience is actually asking. You can also email podcast@keywordspeopleusecom or find Edd on Twitter @channel5.SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textEdd Dawson shares a smart competitor research tip from Freddie Chatt that can help improve your website's traffic and rankings. When researching competitors, look beyond the high authority sites at the top and focus on sites with lower domain authority that still rank in the top 10.• Sites with lower domain authority ranking high are succeeding because of their content, not just their backlinks• These lower-authority sites provide valuable insights into effective content strategies• Edd competed against billion-pound companies like Money Supermarket with his much smaller team• Look at both the content structure and specific backlinks to the ranking pages• Finding smaller sites in the rankings shows the true benchmark needed to reach page one• Following Freddie Chatt on LinkedIn provides more insights into this approachBook a free, no-obligation one-on-one video call with Edd at keywordspeopleuse.com/demo to get a personal demo of Keywords People Use tools and ask any SEO questions you have.SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textEdd Dawson explores the complex world of expired domains and auction purchases for SEO value, sharing a detailed case study of a domain that appeared valuable but had significant hidden issues. Although initially impressive with 2,554 backlinks from 377 domains including Telegraph and Wikipedia, a thorough investigation revealed multiple points where the domain likely lost its link equity.• Domain had been 301 redirected by its original owner for four years (2016-2020)• After expiration in 2020, it was purchased and displayed "domain for sale" for a year• New owner created fake "business acquisition" scenario to try preserving link equity• Domain sold for less than £100 despite seemingly valuable metrics• Buying expired domains carries risk of inheriting Google penalties• Thorough investigation of domain history is crucial before purchasingTry Keywords People Use today for free at keywordspeopleuse.com - the solution to finding the questions people ask online. Get in touch on Twitter @Channel5 or email podcast@keywordspeopleuse.com.SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textWe explore how to revolutionize your content strategy with keyword clustering, a powerful technique for grouping related keywords to target them on a single page rather than creating multiple competing pages.• Keyword clustering helps prevent content cannibalization while creating more topically relevant pages• Traditional clustering methods using AI like ChatGPT often create imprecise clusters with limitations• Our data-driven approach analyzes Google's own search results to identify true keyword relationships• The method works by finding which URLs rank for multiple related keywords and creating clusters based on these connections• We've launched a new tool at KeywordsPeopleUse.com that automates this process for any language and location• You can try clustering up to 500 keywords for free to see how your target topics naturally group together• Adjust clustering parameters to create tighter or looser keyword groupings based on your content needs• This is the first step toward building complete topical maps for comprehensive site authorityTry it today for free at keywordspeopleuse.com. If you want to get in touch you can email me at podcast@keywordspeopleuse.com.SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textCreating interactive tools is one of the most effective ways to earn natural backlinks because people link to content they cannot easily replicate themselves. This episode explores how tools differ from standard content and why they generate links automatically when they provide unique value.• Tools that perform complex functions or aggregate difficult-to-collect data naturally attract links without outreach• Real examples include a broadband postcode checker and speed test that have generated thousands of organic backlinks• The "People Also Ask" crawler on KeywordsPeopleUse.com demonstrates how useful tools create a snowball effect of increasing links• Even simple tools can generate significant links when they save users time or provide unique insights• Tools don't have to be technically complex - the key is creating something that solves a specific problem in your niche• Developers on platforms like Upwork can build your tool idea without requiring personal technical skills• Well-designed tools pay for themselves through monetization via affiliate links, subscriptions, or display ads• Tools represent an investment rather than an expense, generating both links and revenue over timeTry Keywords People Use today for free at keywordspeopleuse.com. If you want to get in touch or have any questions, I'd love to hear from you, you can email me at podcast@keywordspeopleuse.com.SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textGuest posting can lead to Google penalties if links aren't properly managed, as demonstrated by Niche Site Lady's recent manual penalty despite her claims of never buying links.• Guest posting provides content to other websites while including backlinks to your own site• Google considers guest posting purely for link building purposes as algorithm manipulation• Google requires guest post links to use "nofollow" attributes to avoid appearing manipulative• Niche Site Lady received a manual link penalty despite only having five legitimate guest posts• Manual penalties involve human review while algorithmic penalties are automatically applied• High-profile site owners may be at greater risk of being targeted to send a message to the community• Press releases and naturally earned links are considered legitimate when third parties decide independently to include them• The key difference is whether there's an arrangement between sites specifically for link exchangeTry KeywordsPeopleUse.com today for free to find the questions people ask online. Contact me on Twitter @Channel5 or email podcast@keywordspeopleuse.com with any questions.SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textThe Rank and Rent model represents a promising SEO monetization strategy for 2023, allowing marketers to build websites targeting local service niches and sell the resulting leads to service providers.• Focus on service niches that don't monetize well with traditional methods like plumbing, roofing, or carpet cleaning• Target businesses that rely on leads and aren't typically SEO-savvy themselves• Individual leads can be extremely valuable when the service has high profit margins• Competition is lower in these niches compared to affiliate-heavy keywords• Effective sites focus on informational content answering common questions• Include prominent quote forms to capture leads effectively • Potential earnings range from £500 to £20,000 per year per site• Scale by creating multiple sites or using programmatic SEO for different locations• Main challenge is finding businesses willing to purchase leads• Most practitioners sell leads in bundles rather than individually• Act quickly as competition is likely to increase as the model becomes more popularTry Keywords People Use today for free at keywordspeopleuse.com to find the questions people are asking about your niche.SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textProgrammatic SEO offers a powerful strategy for creating web pages at scale through automation rather than manual creation. This approach uses templates and databases to generate location-specific or variable-based content that would be too time-consuming to create individually.• Airbnb exemplifies programmatic SEO with their location-specific pet-friendly rental pages• Two key elements: page templates that remain consistent and databases that provide variable content• Modern tools like Lpagery allow implementation without coding skills using simple spreadsheets• Building and maintaining a quality database is often the most challenging aspect• Avoid creating low-quality "doorway pages" that could trigger Google penalties• Proper implementation allows efficient scaling while maintaining useful content for users• Best results come from combining programmatic pages with traditional long-form content• Internal linking and site authority are crucial for getting programmatic pages indexedTry Keywords People Use today for free at keywordspeopleuse.com to find the questions people ask online. Contact Edd on Twitter at @channel5 or email podcast@keywordspeopleuse.com with any questions.SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textGoogle's EEAT (Experience, Expertise, Authority, Trust) evaluation likely works through sophisticated AI that analyzes writing patterns rather than just author bios. Two key Google patents reveal how the search engine might classify both authors and websites based on writing style fingerprints compared against established experts.• EEAT stands for Experience, Expertise, Authority and Trust—factors used in Google's Quality Rater Guidelines• Google added "Experience" to EAT in 2022, recognizing the value of firsthand knowledge• Author bios are likely insufficient for demonstrating EEAT as they're easily fabricated• The "Generating Author Vectors" patent identifies writing style fingerprints to classify authors• The "Website Representation Vectors" patent categorizes sites within niches by expertise level• AI models trained on human quality rater feedback can recognize patterns matching genuine experts• Topical authority requires comprehensive content coverage and writing at the appropriate expertise level• Simple solutions like adding author bios won't overcome content that doesn't match expert writing patternsTry Keywords People Use today for free at keywordspeopleuse.com to find the questions people are asking online.SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textEdd Dawson discusses a question-based approach to online marketing that outperforms traditional keyword methods. Questions reveal deeper insights about audiences and their needs, creating stronger content that builds authority across various marketing disciplines.• Questions form the foundation for stronger SEO content clusters and topical authority• PPC specialists improve landing pages by addressing objections found in customer questions• Copywriters gain deeper understanding of new topics through question research• Agencies impress clients by demonstrating thorough understanding of audience concerns• Content creators overcome writer's block with clear direction from question banks• SaaS businesses identify product improvements and competitive advantages• E-commerce sites build necessary topical authority and improve conversion rates• Brands discover what customers won't ask directly but will search online• PR professionals identify emerging issues and opportunities fasterTry KeywordsPeopleUse.com today for free to find the questions people ask online. Get in touch at podcast@keywordspeopleuse.com or find Edd at Channel5 on Twitter.SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textSEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textSite architecture stands as the foundation for building topical authority, with proper structure helping both users and search engines understand relationships between content pieces. Topical clusters serve as the strategic framework for organizing website content in a way that builds authority over time.• Randomly posting content without strategic architecture makes it difficult for Google to understand your site• Topical clusters focus on specific areas that can be broken down into related subtopics• Pillar pages cover broad topics while cluster pages address specific subtopics• Internal linking between pillar and cluster pages creates signals for Google about content relationships• New sites should target long-tail keywords in cluster pages first to build authority• Well-structured sites gain authority from the bottom up as cluster pages pass strength to pillar pages• Architecture helps users navigate content and find relevant information more easilyVisit keywordspeopleuse.com – the solution to finding questions people ask online. Try it today for free and see why thousands use it daily. Get in touch at podcast@keywordspeople.com or find Edd on Twitter at Channel 5.SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textWe explore how a creative marketing approach using the 'curiosity gap' at Brighton SEO conference generated over 1000 new users without speaking to anyone.• Springtime-related change in podcast schedule with some best-of episodes coming up• Explanation of Brighton SEO conference and our minimal sponsorship package• Implementation of the curiosity gap principle using a scratch card promotion• Every conference attendee was a winner of at least something valuable• QR code strategy that converted curiosity into account creation• Extraordinary results with over 1000 new users from a single flyer• How this approach outperformed traditional conference marketing tacticsTry Keywords People Use today for free at keywordspeopleuse.com and discover the questions people are asking online. Get in touch with questions at podcast@keywordspeopleuse.com or find me on Twitter @Channel5.SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textThe SEO landscape continues to evolve rapidly, with AI tools revolutionizing how professionals approach optimization strategies and workflow efficiency. Edd Dawson revisits his SEO tool stack from 18 months ago, highlighting the dramatic shift toward incorporating Large Language Models like ChatGPT and Claude into daily operations.• Comparison between current tool usage and tools mentioned 18 months ago• Large Language Models now essential for research, coding assistance, and strategy planning• Google Search Console data increasingly vital for identifying content gaps• Keywords People Use platform integrates with GSC to provide enhanced data insights• N8n.com workflow automation tool creates efficiencies when combined with AI• Explanation for why traditional SEO tools like Ahrefs and SEMrush aren't necessary for Edd's approach• Focus on using tools that align with a philosophy that SEO fundamentals matter more than complex toolsetsSEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textWe dive into the world of branded search, exploring what it is, why it matters for your SEO strategy, and practical tactics to build a stronger brand presence that Google recognizes and rewards.• Branded search refers to queries where users include your brand name in their search terms• Strong branded search signals to Google that your brand has credibility and authority in your niche• Branded searches typically enjoy higher click-through rates than generic queries• Google uses branded search patterns to identify and trust your site as a legitimate brand• Building branded search requires a consistent brand identity across all channels• Include your brand name in marketing materials, social media, and website optimization• High-quality content that integrates your brand naturally helps drive brand recognition• Monitor branded search metrics to track effectiveness of your branding effortsSEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textEdd Dawson reveals how to use Google Search Console's Crawl Stats Report to monitor website health and optimize crawlability. This often-overlooked tool provides essential insights into how Google interacts with your site, helping you detect issues before they become major problems.• Access the Crawl Stats Report via Settings in Google Search Console• Monitor total crawl requests, response time, download size, and crawl errors• Regular review helps detect issues before they impact search performance• Server response time influences how frequently Google crawls your site• Fixing 404 and server errors promptly prevents indexing problems• Large sites can use this data to optimize crawl budget allocation• Look for changes in crawl patterns after major website updates• Server performance insights help identify needed speed optimizationsRate and review the podcast at ratethispodcast.com/seo to help us reach more people. Try our SEO intelligence platform at keywordspeopleuse.com to discover questions people ask online and optimize your content to build traffic and authority.SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a textEdd Dawson reveals the final step of his Growth Framework: "hone and repeat," detailing how to build a sustainable SEO flywheel through continuous improvement and iteration. This comprehensive guide represents the culmination of 20+ years of SEO experience, showing how to transform one-time optimization into a self-reinforcing cycle of ongoing growth.• SEO requires continuous attention due to evolving search algorithms and user behaviors• Regular content updates prevent staleness and keep your site relevant to current search trends• The flywheel effect creates cumulative gains where each improvement fuels further success• Practical iteration includes data-driven updates, content expansion, and experimentation• Systematic content audits should be scheduled at regular intervals• Documenting changes helps track what strategies work best over time• The Growth Framework includes six integrated steps: gather, refine, optimize, watch, tune, and hone/repeatLink to the work in progress: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1u-L6JjxG3OsVzjL9xxU8qNPYGbtmqNDLplugN4dzJkY/edit?usp=sharingSEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tipsTo get a personal no-obligation demo of how KeywordsPeopleUse could help you boost your SEO and get a 7 day FREE trial of our Standard Plan book a demo with me nowSee Edd's personal site at edddawson.comAsk me a question and get on the show Click here to record a questionFind Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & TwitterFind KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/