Shows
SEO Is Not That HardBest of : Own Your Branded SearchSend us a textAre affiliate websites stealing your hard-earned customers by ranking for your brand name plus "coupon code" searches? This eye-opening episode reveals a critical blind spot in many brands' SEO strategies.Drawing inspiration from SEO veteran Carl Hendy's expertise, Edd Dawson explains why controlling your branded search experience is essential for businesses of any size. When potential customers search for your brand plus terms like "discount code" or "voucher code," they've already decided to purchase from you—so why let affiliate sites intercept them at the final stage of their journey?
2025-09-1212 minSEO Is Not That HardBest of : Just read Google's GuidelinesSend 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 ev...
2025-08-2209 minSEO Is Not That HardBest of : Why I love a good GlossarySend 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...
2025-08-0810 minSEO Is Not That HardBest of : Avoiding Keyword Cannibalization: Structuring Content for SEO SuccessSend 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 us...
2025-07-0712 minSEO Is Not That HardBest of : All 101 Quick SEO Tips Compilation Megapod.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 bu...
2025-06-061h 36SEO Is Not That HardBest of : SEO data sources - ChatGPT vs GoogleSend 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...
2025-06-0414 minSEO Is Not That HardBest of : Google PatentsSend 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 e...
2025-06-0213 minSEO Is Not That HardBest of : Internal LinkingSend 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 tex...
2025-05-3015 minSEO Is Not That HardBest of : DiversificationSend 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 o...
2025-05-2813 minSEO Is Not That HardEdd Guests on the Market Movers PodcastSend 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 201...
2025-05-2150 minSEO Is Not That HardBest of : Why you shouldn't chase keyword search volumeSend 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 questi...
2025-05-1909 minSEO Is Not That HardBest of : Audience Research is better than Keyword ResearchSend us a textEdd Dawson explores why audience research delivers better SEO results than traditional keyword research. He breaks down how understanding your audience helps you find low-difficulty terms that convert better than competitive trophy keywords.• High-volume keywords are often highly competitive and don't convert well• Traditional keyword research leads to "trophy terms" with traffic but poor conversion rates• Audience research helps identify specific needs of different customer segments• Understanding demographic, psychographic, and behavioral factors is essential• Different audience segments (like OAPs vs gamers) have entirely different content needs• Long-tail ke...
2025-05-1412 minSEO Is Not That HardBest of : FAQ's increase engagementSend us a textFAQs are powerful engagement tools that can significantly boost your website's performance and SEO rankings. Research shows FAQs can generate over 20% of a page's engagement, outperforming even testimonials when implemented strategically.• Wood burner example demonstrates how answering questions builds authority and expertise• Recent studies show FAQs are the most engaged-with elements on websites• Strategic FAQ placement (with links from above the fold) increases user interaction• Answering real questions people actually ask is crucial for effectiveness• Question-based content strategy improves Google rankings by addressing search intent• Google values on-pa...
2025-05-1209 minSEO Is Not That HardBest of : Neat Competitor Research TipSend us a textEdd Dawson shares a smart competitor research tip from Freddie Chatt that can help improve your website's traffic and rankings. When researching competitors, look beyond the high authority sites at the top and focus on sites with lower domain authority that still rank in the top 10.• Sites with lower domain authority ranking high are succeeding because of their content, not just their backlinks• These lower-authority sites provide valuable insights into effective content strategies• Edd competed against billion-pound companies like Money Supermarket with his much smaller team• Look at both the...
2025-05-0907 minSEO Is Not That HardBest of : Evaluating expired domains and domains at auctionSend us a textEdd Dawson explores the complex world of expired domains and auction purchases for SEO value, sharing a detailed case study of a domain that appeared valuable but had significant hidden issues. Although initially impressive with 2,554 backlinks from 377 domains including Telegraph and Wikipedia, a thorough investigation revealed multiple points where the domain likely lost its link equity.• Domain had been 301 redirected by its original owner for four years (2016-2020)• After expiration in 2020, it was purchased and displayed "domain for sale" for a year• New owner created fake "business acquisition" scenario to try...
2025-05-0713 minSEO Is Not That HardBest of : Questions Not KeywordsSend us a textEdd Dawson discusses a question-based approach to online marketing that outperforms traditional keyword methods. Questions reveal deeper insights about audiences and their needs, creating stronger content that builds authority across various marketing disciplines.• Questions form the foundation for stronger SEO content clusters and topical authority• PPC specialists improve landing pages by addressing objections found in customer questions• Copywriters gain deeper understanding of new topics through question research• Agencies impress clients by demonstrating thorough understanding of audience concerns• Content creators overcome writer's block with clear direction from question banks...
2025-04-2110 minSEO Is Not That HardMy Current Tool StackSend us a textThe SEO landscape continues to evolve rapidly, with AI tools revolutionizing how professionals approach optimization strategies and workflow efficiency. Edd Dawson revisits his SEO tool stack from 18 months ago, highlighting the dramatic shift toward incorporating Large Language Models like ChatGPT and Claude into daily operations.• Comparison between current tool usage and tools mentioned 18 months ago• Large Language Models now essential for research, coding assistance, and strategy planning• Google Search Console data increasingly vital for identifying content gaps• Keywords People Use platform integrates with GSC to provide enhanced data insights...
2025-04-1115 minSEO Is Not That HardHow to find when and how Google is crawling your siteSend us a textEdd Dawson reveals how to use Google Search Console's Crawl Stats Report to monitor website health and optimize crawlability. This often-overlooked tool provides essential insights into how Google interacts with your site, helping you detect issues before they become major problems.• Access the Crawl Stats Report via Settings in Google Search Console• Monitor total crawl requests, response time, download size, and crawl errors• Regular review helps detect issues before they impact search performance• Server response time influences how frequently Google crawls your site• Fixing 404 and server errors promptly p...
2025-04-0711 minSEO Is Not That HardGROWTH Framework - Step 6 : Hone & RepeatSend us a textEdd Dawson reveals the final step of his Growth Framework: "hone and repeat," detailing how to build a sustainable SEO flywheel through continuous improvement and iteration. This comprehensive guide represents the culmination of 20+ years of SEO experience, showing how to transform one-time optimization into a self-reinforcing cycle of ongoing growth.• SEO requires continuous attention due to evolving search algorithms and user behaviors• Regular content updates prevent staleness and keep your site relevant to current search trends• The flywheel effect creates cumulative gains where each improvement fuels further success• Practica...
2025-04-0414 minSEO Is Not That HardThe AI Take on the GROWTH FrameworkSend us a textEdd shares a fascinating experiment where his SEO Growth Framework was fed into Google's Notebook LM AI tool, resulting in a surprisingly accurate AI-generated conversation about the methodology.• Google's Notebook LM creates podcast-style dialogues between AI voices based on content you provide• The AI conversation accurately captured almost the entire Growth Framework (G-R-O-W-T)• The framework breaks down as Gather (finding audience questions), Refine (clustering questions by theme)• Optimize (creating content that answers questions), Watch (monitoring performance), Tune (refining strategy)• Final framework steps Hone and Repeat will be covered in...
2025-03-3125 minSEO Is Not That HardWhen is a zero volume keyword NOT a zero volume keyword?Send us a textUnlock the underestimated power of zero volume keywords and transform your content strategy with insights you won't hear from mainstream SEO advice. Join me, Edd Dawson, as I uncover the hidden potential of seemingly insignificant keywords, challenging the conventional focus on high-volume metrics. By tapping into the richness of detailed topic coverage, you can capture a multitude of related keywords, even those you haven't considered yet. Discover how Google's understanding of synonyms and related queries can elevate your SEO game, offering a fresh perspective on building traffic and authority.Explore practical...
2025-02-2608 minSEO Is Not That HardGROWTH Framework - Step 1 : GatherSend us a textSee the work in progress: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1u-L6JjxG3OsVzjL9xxU8qNPYGbtmqNDLplugN4dzJkY/edit?usp=sharingUnlock the secrets of SEO growth and elevate your online presence with the GROWTH framework, where mastering user intent is key. Join me, Edd Dawson, as we explore the first critical step: "Gather." You'll discover how mining the questions users ask online, from platforms like Google's People Also Ask, Reddit, and Quora, can skyrocket your content's relevance and authority. Learn how to build an expansive keyword list that...
2025-02-2115 minSEO Is Not That HardConversational SearchSend us a textWhat if your approach to SEO could be completely transformed by the power of conversational search? Discover how AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Bing Copilot, and Google Gemini are reshaping the SEO landscape with their ability to engage in dynamic, context-aware interactions. Join me, Edd Dawson, as we unpack the mechanics behind this shift from traditional keyword searches to AI-driven dialogues, exploring the profound implications for SEO strategies. Uncover the secrets to adapting in this fast-paced environment, with insights into context retention, natural language understanding, and the potential challenges, such as declining click-through rates...
2025-02-1715 minSEO Is Not That HardEdd Guests on Podcasting AmplifiedSend us a textLink to Podcasting Amplified - https://claricast.com/podcasting-amplified/Unlock the secrets to boosting your podcast's visibility and engagement as we sit down with Edd Dawson, the brain behind "SEO is Not That Hard." As a leading voice in the SEO industry, Edd shares his wealth of knowledge on how to leverage SEO for elevating your podcast game. From understanding listener search behaviors to ranking on Google and even optimizing for AI platforms like ChatGPT, this episode is packed with insights that promise to transform how your content...
2025-02-1034 minSEO Is Not That HardHow Martin Lewis Drives Massive Traffic—and What SEOs Can LearnSend us a textWhat happens when a financial guru's advice sends shockwaves through the digital world? Join me, Edd Dawson, as I unravel the remarkable influence of Martin Lewis, the UK's consumer finance authority, whose TV program on saving money caused an unexpected surge in traffic to my UK-based websites. With a focus on mobile phones, broadband, and energy, discover how his consumer-first approach and transparency have earned him the trust of millions. We'll explore his journey from financial journalist to the powerhouse behind MoneySavingExpert.com, and understand why his advice is a goldmine not just...
2025-01-2715 min