SEO Is Not That Hard

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 future of search has arrived, and it's not quite what many SEO professionals expected. In this eye-opening episode, we dive into a groundbreaking discovery about how AI search systems like ChatGPT determine which sources to trust and cite in their responses.A clever investigation has revealed that ChatGPT uses a method called Reciprocal Rank Fusion (RRF) to evaluate and rank content. When you ask ChatGPT a question, it doesn't just perform one search—it runs multiple related searches simultaneously and then combines the results using a surprisingly simple formula. The revelation completely upends traditional keyword-focused SEO strategies. Pages that rank moderately well for multiple related queries now outperform those that rank #1 for just one keyword.This confirms what we've been advocating for years: building comprehensive topic clusters and establishing genuine topical authority is far more valuable than chasing individual high-volume keywords. For content creators, this means focusing on addressing all the questions around a subject rather than creating narrowly-targeted content. The websites that position themselves as authoritative resources across a spectrum of related queries will increasingly find themselves cited as primary sources in AI-generated responses.Whether you're an SEO veteran or just starting to optimize your content, this episode provides crucial insights for navigating the evolving landscape where traditional search engines and AI platforms coexist. Listen now to understand how to position your content for success in this new era of search, and discover why consistently ranking well across multiple related queries is the new SEO gold standard.Link to original article : https://metehan.ai/blog/chatgpt-is-using-reciprocal-rank-fusion-rrf/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 happens when a 20-year veteran of SEO and affiliate marketing picks up a fresh perspective? Unexpected revenue discoveries, that's what.In this episode, I share my honest review of "The Payout Mafia" by Neil C and James Dooley—a collection of insights from fifteen successful affiliate marketers. While I'm not typically drawn to the flashy "robbing the bank" portrayal of our industry, the book's substance quickly overcame my initial hesitation.The real value comes from seeing where these diverse experts (spanning SEO, paid acquisition, email marketing, YouTube, and webinars) align in their approaches and where they diverge. This compilation revealed a critical blindspot in my own business practices around data monitoring—a realization that led to an immediate $5,000 monthly revenue increase on just one of my sites through a simple merchant placement adjustment.Perhaps most fascinating is how the book highlights the necessity of automation in today's affiliate landscape. Several contributors emphasize building systems that surface important metrics regularly, allowing for nimble optimization even when factors outside your control (like a merchant's external advertising) affect conversion rates. Their collective wisdom reinforces that success comes from consistent data vigilance rather than sporadic attention.Whether you're new to affiliate marketing or have decades of experience like me, "The Payout Mafia" offers practical strategies worth far more than its modest price tag. It's a powerful reminder that in this industry, the learning never stops—and sometimes the most valuable lessons come from unexpected sources.Want to hear more insights like this? Subscribe to "SEO Is Not That Hard" wherever you get your podcasts, and visit keywordspeopleusecom to discover how our SEO intelligence platform can help you understand what questions people are asking online and optimize your content accordingly.Link to book on Amazon:Amazon UKSEO 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 to Sparktoro report: https://sparktoro.com/blog/new-research-20-of-americans-use-ai-tools-10x-month-but-growth-is-slowing-and-traditional-search-hasnt-dipped/A digital revolution or much ado about nothing? The AI versus search debate has dominated SEO conversations lately, with doomsayers predicting the end of traditional search as we know it. But what's actually happening might surprise you.Drawing from the groundbreaking SparkToro and Datos report, this episode cuts through the hype to reveal unexpected trends in AI and search engine usage. While AI adoption has been significant—with 20% of Americans now classified as heavy users—the explosive growth we witnessed in 2023 is already plateauing. Meanwhile, traditional search engine usage remains remarkably steady, with 95% of Americans still using search engines monthly and the percentage of heavy search users actually increasing over the past year.The most fascinating insight? AI and search aren't locked in a zero-sum battle but instead appear to be complementary tools in most users' information discovery journeys. I share fascinating log file analysis from my own affiliate site showing that for every five Google visitors, we see approximately one AI crawler—yet our Google traffic continues to grow. This suggests AI users represent additional audience reach rather than cannibalised search traffic.For SEO professionals feeling anxious about AI's impact, this episode offers both reassurance and strategic direction. The fundamentals of quality content creation remain crucial, but understanding how to position your content for both discovery methods will be the true competitive advantage. Listen now to discover how to thrive in this evolving information ecosystem where AI and search coexist rather than compete.Have you integrated AI tools into your content strategy while maintaining your SEO focus? Share your experiences or questions about finding the right balance in this new landscape.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 textNavigating Google's algorithm updates can feel like wandering through a dense forest without a map. But what if there's a simple trail of breadcrumbs that could help guide both your users and search engines through your website? In this episode, I share a fascinating correlation I've noticed while analyzing sites affected by recent Google updates - many lack proper breadcrumb navigation.Breadcrumbs aren't just fairy tale elements; they're powerful navigation aids that show users exactly where they are within your site hierarchy. I'll walk you through exactly what breadcrumbs are, why they matter for user experience, and how they create logical internal linking structures that search engines love. You'll learn how this simple feature can transform how your content appears in search results through schema markup, potentially giving you an edge in the SERPs.Most surprising is how many site owners overlook this straightforward implementation despite its significant benefits. Whether you're recovering from algorithm impacts or simply strengthening your SEO foundation, breadcrumbs deserve your attention. Don't miss my invitation for a personal demo of KeywordsPeopleUse tools, where I can show you how to identify the questions your audience is actually asking online. Want to chat SEO or see how our tools can help you create more effective content? Book your free consultation at keywordspeopleuse.com/demo 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 textManaging SEO risk isn't just about playing it safe—it's about building something that lasts. After two decades in the industry, I've watched countless "guaranteed" tactics rise and fall, leaving digital casualties in their wake.The March 2024 Google core update highlights a fundamental truth: while both white hat and black hat tactics can work, understanding the associated risks is crucial. When my team at BroadbandCoUK lost 99% of our Google traffic after the Penguin update, we narrowly avoided collapse. Recovery took well over a year—a timeline that would bankrupt many businesses dependent on organic traffic.Today's controversial tactics, particularly AI content generation without significant human oversight, mirror previous patterns. Google has signalled its intentions clearly, and with thousands of brilliant engineers working on detection, it's only a matter of time before automated penalties become more sophisticated. The short-term gains simply aren't worth the long-term vulnerability for those building lasting digital assets.What many SEO influencers won't tell you is that black hat techniques create significant complications for future business opportunities. During the sale of BroadbandCoUK, I had to provide warranties about our past SEO practices—had we engaged in manipulative tactics, the entire transaction would have been jeopardized. This rarely discussed reality affects your ability to build genuine brand value or exit your business successfully.Want to ensure your content strategy stands the test of time? Book a free demo at keywordspeopleuse.com/demo where I'll show you how to discover and answer the questions your audience is actually asking. Let's build something sustainable together that won't collapse with the next algorithm update.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 textConventional wisdom tells us faster is better in digital experiences, but what if slowing things down could actually increase user satisfaction and conversions? This episode explores the fascinating "Labor Illusion" concept – a psychological principle where users place higher value on services when they can see the work being done, even if it means waiting longer for results.I share how at Keywords People Use, we've transitioned from quick AI-based keyword clustering to more sophisticated SERP clustering that takes longer but delivers dramatically better results. This change sparked internal discussions about how to handle the waiting period for users, leading us to examine the labor illusion principle more deeply.The evidence is compelling. Harvard research confirms that users not only accept but prefer transparent waiting experiences for complex processes over instantaneous results. I detail our own real-world experiment with BroadbandUK where implementing this principle increased conversions by a remarkable 25%. Though postcode searches could return results instantly, adding a brief interstitial screen that explained the search process transformed user perception completely.This counterintuitive finding has powerful implications for websites offering any kind of search or processing function. By thoughtfully implementing transparent waiting experiences – showing users exactly what's happening behind the scenes – you transform a potential negative (waiting) into a demonstration of value and thoroughness. The key is transparency: don't just make users wait, show them why they're waiting and what value they're getting from that wait. Ready to see how this might apply to your content strategy? Book a free demo at keywordspeopleuse.com/demo where we can explore these concepts with your specific needs in mind.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 textWondering how many questions you should answer on each page of your website? The answer might surprise you.In this best-of episode from SEO Is Not That Hard, I dive into the strategic approach to organizing content based on user questions. Rather than guessing which questions to group together or creating endless single-question pages, I reveal how keyword clustering offers a data-driven solution that aligns with Google's understanding of content relationships.Keyword clustering analyzes which URLs Google ranks for multiple related questions, showing you exactly which topics belong together. When searching for "jigsaw puzzles," for instance, questions naturally cluster around themes like "brain health benefits," "jigsaws for dementia," and "best puzzles for children." Each cluster represents a comprehensive content opportunity rather than dozens of thin, single-question pages.I walk you through practical examples of how to identify these clusters using Keywords People Use, explaining why outlier questions should become seed keywords for deeper research rather than standalone content. You'll learn why mechanically listing questions with answers creates a poor user experience, and how crafting comprehensive content that naturally addresses all clustered questions delivers superior results for both readers and search engines.This approach eliminates the guesswork from your content strategy, ensuring you're creating pages that match how Google already understands topic relationships. Whether you're new to SEO or looking to refine your content approach, this episode provides actionable insights into creating valuable, well-organized content that ranks.Ready to transform how you approach question-based content? Book a free, personal demo at keywordspeopleuse.com/demo where I'll show you how to find and organize the exact questions your audience is asking about any topic.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 SEO professionals succeed while others struggle, despite seemingly similar strategies? The answer might lie in something surprisingly simple: reading Google's guidelines.In this illuminating episode of SEO Is Not That Hard, Edd Dawson breaks down why Google's Search Essentials (formerly Webmaster Guidelines) and Quality Rater Guidelines should be required reading for everyone from SEO beginners to seasoned experts. With Google driving nearly 70% of all website traffic, understanding their rulebook isn't optional—it's fundamental.Dawson expertly navigates the recent simplification of Google's guidelines, explaining how they've evolved as Google's technology has advanced. He walks through the three critical components: technical requirements that make your site visible to Google, spam policies that help you avoid penalties, and best practices for improving your search presence. But he doesn't stop there. He delves into the more comprehensive Quality Rater Guidelines—the document that reveals how Google trains human evaluators to assess website quality, particularly regarding Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trust (E-E-A-T).What sets this episode apart is Dawson's refreshingly balanced perspective. He doesn't advocate for strictly following Google's rules or for deliberately breaking them. Instead, he emphasizes understanding where the boundaries lie so you can make informed decisions based on your own risk tolerance and business goals. He expresses frustration with SEO educators who promote tactics without transparently discussing their alignment with Google's guidelines, leaving website owners unable to properly assess risk.Ready to level up your SEO knowledge and make more strategic decisions? Listen now, and don't forget to subscribe for more insights that demystify the world of search engine optimization. Want personalized help finding the questions your audience is asking? Book a free demo with Edd at keywordspeopleusecom/demo.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 understand why your content strategy suddenly stopped working in 2022? The answer may lie in a revolutionary concept from a Google patent called "information gain" – and it's transforming how search results work.In this eye-opening episode, I dive deep into Google's "Contextual Estimation of Link Information Gain" patent and how it's likely powering the recent helpful content updates that have confused so many SEO professionals. This algorithm calculates how much new information a page brings compared to what you've already seen – constantly recalibrating search results to ensure you're not seeing the same information repeatedly packaged in different ways.The revelation explains why once-popular strategies like the "skyscraper technique" are falling flat. These approaches, which essentially aggregate existing knowledge from top-ranking pages, provide zero information gain. Similarly, AI-generated content, which averages out existing information rather than creating anything truly new, fails the information gain test. It even clarifies Reddit's surprising rise in search visibility – those personal experiences represent genuine information gain despite quality issues.This paradigm shift demands a complete rethinking of content creation. Rather than asking "How can I cover this topic better than everyone else?" we now must ask "What new information can I bring that doesn't exist elsewhere?" The implications are profound for anyone creating content online.Ready to adapt your strategy to this new reality? Subscribe to SEO Is Not That Hard for more insights that keep you ahead of the curve. And if you'd like to see how our tools at KeywordsPeopleUse.com can help you find and answer the questions your audience is actually asking, book a free demo with me at keywordspeopleuse.com/demo.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 textFeeling buried under an avalanche of keywords? You're not alone. Keyword overwhelm affects even experienced content creators, leading to paralysis and poor content planning decisions. This episode tackles this common challenge head-on with practical solutions that will transform your approach to SEO.The problem typically begins when traditional keyword research tools generate thousands of similar keywords, leaving you wondering: Should I create a separate page for each keyword? Which ones should I prioritise? How do I organise all this information? The good news is there's a much simpler approach that produces better results.Keyword clustering forms the foundation of this solution, helping you identify which keywords naturally belong together based on search intent. But the real game-changer comes when you shift your focus from keywords to questions. By using clustering to identify thematic areas, then researching the specific questions people ask about those themes, you'll create content that directly addresses user needs while naturally incorporating relevant keywords. This question-based approach aligns perfectly with how people actually use search engines and how Google evaluates content quality.Ready to escape keyword overwhelm and create more effective content? Listen now to learn exactly how to implement this strategy, and discover why answering questions builds more topical authority than chasing individual keywords. For a personal demonstration of how our tools at KeywordsPeopleUse can help you find and organise the questions your audience is asking, book a free one-on-one video call at keywordspeopleuse.com/demo.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 businesses grow exponentially while others struggle to gain traction? The secret might lie in how they leverage their existing customers. Referral marketing transforms satisfied customers into powerful advocates by creating win-win situations that benefit everyone involved. Unlike traditional affiliate programs where only promoters receive rewards, effective referral systems incentivize both sides of the equation. When Dropbox implemented their groundbreaking referral program in 2009, they didn't offer cash – they gave extra storage space to both parties, aligning rewards perfectly with their product value. This strategy catapulted them to extraordinary growth as users eagerly shared with friends and colleagues to unlock more free storage.Similarly, Octopus Energy's £50 dual credit system demonstrates how direct financial rewards can drive significant referral activity in consumer markets. The psychology behind these programs is fascinating – even highly satisfied customers rarely promote products unprompted, but given the right incentive structure, they become enthusiastic promoters. The trust factor cannot be overstated; recommendations from personal connections convert at dramatically higher rates than traditional advertising, making referral programs incredibly cost-effective customer acquisition channels.For businesses considering implementing referral systems, the key lies in designing rewards that meaningfully connect to your product experience while making sharing frictionless. The most powerful programs create a virtuous cycle where new customers immediately understand the referral mechanism because they've just benefited from it themselves. Curious about implementing a referral program for your business? Book a free demo at keywordspeopleuse.com/demo where you can discuss your specific needs and get personalized SEO guidance.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 how to get influential websites linking to yours without begging or paying? The secret might be right in front of you: human psychology.Link building through "EgoBait" taps into a fundamental truth about human nature - we all pay attention when someone talks about us. In this episode, I break down how creating content specifically designed to showcase others can become your most powerful link building strategy. Rather than hoping random content attracts backlinks, EgoBait deliberately targets potential linkers by featuring them prominently.I walk you through the three most effective EgoBait formats: interviews with industry influencers, expert roundup posts that feature multiple voices, and creating awards that companies love to showcase. Each approach leverages the natural tendency of people and organizations to share positive recognition. You'll learn exactly how to execute these strategies, from approaching influencers for interviews to creating award programs that companies will proudly display on their websites.The beauty of EgoBait is its win-win nature. Your featured subjects get positive exposure and promotion, while you earn valuable backlinks that boost your SEO. But success hinges on two critical elements: genuinely valuable content that makes your subjects look good, and effective follow-up that encourages sharing without appearing transactional. Master these elements, and you'll transform your link building efforts from frustrating cold outreach to a natural extension of relationship building.Ready to try a link building approach that actually works? Listen now to discover how to create content that others naturally want to share, and watch your backlink profile grow without the usual struggle. Have you tried EgoBait strategies before? I'd love to hear your results!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 textA bombshell revelation from a recent Google API documentation leak has potentially exposed the inner workings of how the search giant evaluates links. In this eye-opening episode, I explore what I'm calling Google's "Actual Surfer" model – a sophisticated evolution of their PageRank system that may completely transform how we think about link building.The leaked data suggests Google categorizes every link in its index into three quality tiers: high, medium, and low. Most importantly, real user traffic data collected through Chrome appears to determine which tier a page belongs to. Pages receiving significant verifiable traffic get classified as high-quality, while those with minimal or no traffic fall into the low-quality bucket where their links are effectively ignored for ranking purposes.This revelation carries profound implications for SEO practitioners. Traditional link building schemes involving private blog networks or artificially created websites receiving no real human traffic are likely completely devalued. Meanwhile, Digital PR efforts securing placements on high-traffic publications may be significantly more valuable than previously thought – even when those links carry the nofollow attribute. Google's updated stance on treating nofollow as a "hint" rather than a directive suddenly makes perfect sense in this context – they may pass ranking value through nofollow links that appear on highly-trafficked pages in contextually relevant positions.Ready to adapt your SEO strategy to this new understanding of how Google evaluates links? Book a free, no-obligation demo at KeywordsPeopleUse.com/demo where I can personally show you how our tools help you find and answer the questions your audience actually has – the foundation of creating truly valuable content that earns meaningful links.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 textDiscover the hidden power of glossaries for supercharging both your website's user experience and SEO performance. Drawing from over two decades of website building and monetisation experience, Edd Dawson reveals how adding a comprehensive glossary to Keywords People Use transformed into an unexpected SEO powerhouse.What began as a solution for explaining complex SEO terminology without repetition has evolved into a robust resource containing over 300 definitions and 20,000 words. Edd walks through the surprising benefits this seemingly simple content addition delivered, from keeping users engaged on-site to establishing strong topical authority with search engines.The glossary strategy works on multiple levels: it provides seamless user experiences by preventing visitors from navigating away to search for definitions, creates powerful internal linking opportunities, helps establish your site as an authoritative resource, and even attracts natural backlinks from other websites. For content creators, building a glossary also serves as excellent writing practice and a springboard for developing more comprehensive content ideas.Whether you're running an e-commerce store, business website, or content-driven platform, Edd's practical insights will help you implement this underutilized strategy for your own site. He shares real examples from his SEO glossary (available at keywordspeopleuse.com/seo/glossary) and offers specific tips for structuring and expanding your own terminology resource. Ready to boost your site's authority while delivering more value to your audience? Book a free demo with Edd at keywordspeopleuse.com/demo to discuss how Keywords People Use can help you discover exactly what your audience is searching for.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 created something valuable completely by accident? That's exactly what happened when I stumbled upon the "binge bank strategy" without even knowing it existed. Through consistently publishing short, digestible 5-15 minute podcast episodes about SEO topics, I unexpectedly built a library of content that new listeners could easily binge through once they discovered my show. The analytics don't lie – when someone finds an episode they connect with, they often download multiple back-catalog episodes in quick succession. The beauty lies in the format: just as 20-minute TV episodes are easier to binge than hour-long dramas, these brief SEO lessons create a low commitment barrier that makes saying "just one more" almost irresistible.What makes this approach powerful is that it removes the pressure of creating viral hits. Instead, you focus on consistent value, knowing that when your ideal audience eventually discovers you, they'll have a wealth of content waiting for them. This accidental strategy transformed my podcast from a personal speaking exercise into a genuine resource that's helped countless SEO practitioners. The connections formed with listeners who've binged through episodes have provided invaluable feedback and relationships I never anticipated.Whether you're creating podcasts, videos, blog posts, or any other content format, consider building your own binge bank. The cumulative value grows over time, and as I've discovered, sometimes the best content strategies aren't meticulously planned – they emerge naturally from consistent delivery of value. Ready to start building your own content library that people can't stop consuming? Book a free demo at keywordspeopleuse.com/demo and I'll help you discover the questions your audience is truly 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 textThe digital landscape is changing dramatically with the rise of AI-powered search, but are the core principles of SEO still relevant? Drawing on over 20 years of experience in the field, I share my observations on what truly matters for search visibility in this evolving environment.Despite the anxiety surrounding large language models like ChatGPT and Claude, my experience shows that businesses selling physical products and websites offering unique, specialized information continue to thrive. While sites monetizing basic factual content through display advertising have suffered, those providing genuine value remain resilient against AI disruption.The fundamentals of SEO have adapted rather than disappeared. High-quality, comprehensive content that answers the question behind the question is more crucial than ever as AI systems need authoritative sources to cite. Experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness signals help AI models identify reliable information sources. Technical foundations ensure your content can be found and understood by various crawlers, while semantic SEO and topical authority have replaced simple keyword targeting—building content clusters that demonstrate deep expertise across entire subjects positions you as the definitive resource in your field.What's changing isn't whether these principles matter, but how they function in the search ecosystem. Rather than just driving traffic, your authority now determines whether you'll be cited within AI responses and recommended when users need to take action beyond information gathering. By focusing on creating genuinely valuable resources within your subject area, you're building a foundation that will serve your business regardless of how search technology evolves.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 with link building for your website? You're not alone. While backlinks remain crucial for SEO success, finding ethical, effective ways to acquire them can feel like an impossible task. That's why this episode uncovers a brilliant link building strategy that surprisingly few marketers utilize: creating your own awards program.Most website owners approach awards from the wrong angle - entering competitions in hopes of winning recognition and maybe scoring a backlink from the award organizer. But there's a far more powerful approach, as demonstrated by companies like uSwitch. By becoming an award-giver rather than an award-seeker, you can generate dozens of high-quality, relevant backlinks from the very companies and products you want to be associated with.The strategy works across virtually any industry or niche. E-commerce sites can create product category awards, service businesses can recognize excellence in their sector, and content sites can acknowledge top resources. When implemented properly, award recipients eagerly display your badges on their websites, issue press releases mentioning your recognition, and link back to your awards pages - all voluntarily and enthusiastically.The beauty of this approach lies in its alignment with Google's guidelines. Unlike buying links or engaging in manipulative practices, award programs generate natural, editorially-given backlinks while simultaneously establishing your site as an authority in your space. Whether you implement a simple digital badge system or go all-out with physical awards and ceremonies, this strategy delivers exceptional value compared to riskier link building tactics.Ready to transform your link building strategy? Listen now to discover how to implement an awards program that builds your authority and backlink profile simultaneously. Then subscribe and share this episode to help others discover that SEO truly is not that hard.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 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/