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Edd 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• ChatGPT is limited by static datasets that become outdated (currently April 2023)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 about

Try Keywords People Use for free at keywordspeopleuse.com to find actual questions people ask online. Contact Edd at [email protected] or @channel5 on Twitter.

SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com

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You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tips

To 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 now

See Edd's personal site at edddawson.com

Ask me a question and get on the show Click here to record a question

Find Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & Twitter

Find KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use

"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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Google 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 questions

Please 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-tips

To 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 now

See Edd's personal site at edddawson.com

Ask me a question and get on the show Click here to record a question

Find Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & Twitter

Find KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use

"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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We 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 value

Connect 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-tips

To 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 now

See Edd's personal site at edddawson.com

Ask me a question and get on the show Click here to record a question

Find Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & Twitter

Find KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use

"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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Edd 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 changes

If 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-tips

To 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 now

See Edd's personal site at edddawson.com

Ask me a question and get on the show Click here to record a question

Find Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & Twitter

Find KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use

"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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Google 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 placement

Book 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-tips

To 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 now

See Edd's personal site at edddawson.com

Ask me a question and get on the show Click here to record a question

Find Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & Twitter

Find KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use

"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Send us a text

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-tips

To 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 now

See Edd's personal site at edddawson.com

Ask me a question and get on the show Click here to record a question

Find Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & Twitter

Find KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use

"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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Edd 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 replicate

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-tips

To 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 now

See Edd's personal site at edddawson.com

Ask me a question and get on the show Click here to record a question

Find Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & Twitter

Find KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use

"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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Edd 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 publishing

Try 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-tips

To 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 now

See Edd's personal site at edddawson.com

Ask me a question and get on the show Click here to record a question

Find Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & Twitter

Find KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use

"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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Link 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 results

If 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-tips

To 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 now

See Edd's personal site at edddawson.com

Ask me a question and get on the show Click here to record a question

Find Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & Twitter

Find KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use

"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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Edd Dawson explores why audience research delivers better SEO results than traditional keyword research. He breaks down how understanding your audience helps you find low-difficulty terms that convert better than competitive trophy keywords.

• High-volume keywords are often highly competitive and don't convert well
• Traditional keyword research leads to "trophy terms" with traffic but poor conversion rates
• Audience research helps identify specific needs of different customer segments
• Understanding demographic, psychographic, and behavioral factors is essential
• Different audience segments (like OAPs vs gamers) have entirely different content needs
• Long-tail keywords have lower search volumes but higher conversion rates
• Practical steps include surveys, social media listening, and analytics review
• Testing and iterating based on audience feedback improves results
• Tools like Keywords People Use help identify specific customer questions

You can find links to everything mentioned in the show notes. Connect with Edd on LinkedIn and Blue Sky, try Keywords People Use at keywordspeopleuse.com, or visit eddawson.com for consulting.

SEO Is Not That Hard is hosted by Edd Dawson and brought to you by KeywordsPeopleUse.com

Help feed the algorithm and leave a review at ratethispodcast.com/seo

You can get your free copy of my 101 Quick SEO Tips at: https://seotips.edddawson.com/101-quick-seo-tips

To 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 now

See Edd's personal site at edddawson.com

Ask me a question and get on the show Click here to record a question

Find Edd on Linkedin, Bluesky & Twitter

Find KeywordsPeopleUse on Twitter @kwds_ppl_use

"Werq" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/