How to Build Links Fast for a New Site! | James Dooley
Listen on your favourite platform
| Platform | Link |
|---|---|
| YouTube | Listen on YouTube → |
What Does “How to Build Links Fast for a New Site! | James Dooley” Talk About?
This episode of the James Dooley Podcast features James Dooley and Karl Hudson diving deep into how to build a personal brand and grow a professional network within the SEO industry. They discuss the realities of networking at major industry events like BrightonSEO, Chiang Mai SEO, SEO Mastery Summit, and PubCon, sharing personal stories about how showing up and talking to strangers has led to real business partnerships. James shares a memorable story about a man who followed him around an afterparty in Vietnam, only to later become a major business partner, illustrating how a single act of courage can change the trajectory of a career.
The hosts also explore the mindset behind effective networking, including the concept of being a Go-Giver, a philosophy drawn from the book of the same name. They argue that consistently offering value without expecting immediate returns is the most reliable way to build lasting professional relationships. Practical tactics are covered throughout, such as competing with friends to see who can meet the most people at an event, leaving thoughtful comments on YouTube videos, starting a podcast, and becoming exceptionally skilled in one specific area like server logs, schema, or topical authority so that others naturally refer business your way.
Karl Hudson opens up about his own struggles as a naturally introverted person who found networking difficult when he first started attending events around ten years ago at Diggity's mastermind. Both hosts emphasize that the barrier to networking is almost entirely psychological and that the only way to improve is to practice. They make clear that even experienced networkers like themselves are constantly pushing to do more, reinforcing the idea that growth in this area is never finished.
“I never want to be the smartest person in the room — if I am, I'm in the wrong room.”
— James Dooley
Who Are the Guests on “How to Build Links Fast for a New Site! | James Dooley”?
James Dooley is a well-known figure in the SEO industry, recognized for his expertise in digital marketing, link building, and personal branding. Throughout this episode he demonstrates a breadth of knowledge across multiple SEO disciplines while also showing a strong grasp of relationship-building strategies that have directly contributed to his business growth. His storytelling approach and willingness to share personal anecdotes make complex ideas around networking and authority-building highly accessible.
Karl Hudson is James Dooley's co-host and a long-time collaborator in the SEO space. Karl brings a grounded, relatable perspective to the conversation, openly discussing his naturally introverted personality and how he overcame shyness to become an effective networker after attending events like Diggity's mastermind roughly a decade ago. His honest self-reflection adds credibility to the practical advice shared throughout the episode.
What Are the Key Takeaways From “How to Build Links Fast for a New Site! | James Dooley”?
Here are the key points discussed in this episode:
- Networking at industry events like BrightonSEO and Chiang Mai SEO can lead directly to business partnerships, as James Dooley's Vietnam afterparty story demonstrates.
- Introverts can become effective networkers by treating it as a skill that improves with deliberate practice, not an innate personality trait.
- Becoming exceptionally skilled in one specific area such as server logs, schema, or digital PR makes you referable and helps you stand out from generalists.
- Adopting a Go-Giver mindset — consistently offering value without expecting immediate returns — accelerates both relationship-building and personal learning.
- Attending events with the goal of meeting new people rather than spending time with existing contacts dramatically increases the value you get from conferences.
“If you consistently give value, people naturally reciprocate. Networking can grow your business by 10–100%. It can be huge.”
— James Dooley
Is “How to Build Links Fast for a New Site! | James Dooley” Worth Listening To?
This episode is worth listening to for anyone who has ever felt paralyzed by the idea of networking or dismissed it as something that only works for naturally outgoing people. James and Karl bring a rare honesty to the topic, with Karl admitting he was shy and struggled at his first events, which makes their advice feel earned rather than theoretical. The specific tactics they share, from competing with friends to meet the most people at an event to leaving thoughtful YouTube comments to build a presence before meeting someone in person, are immediately actionable and grounded in real experience.
What makes this episode particularly valuable is the underlying philosophy the hosts return to repeatedly: giving without expectation. The discussion around the Go-Giver framework and how it applies to SEO networking is genuinely insightful, especially the point that giving advice often reveals gaps in your own knowledge that the other person then fills. For SEO professionals at any stage of their career, this episode reframes networking not as a social chore but as one of the highest-leverage activities available to grow both knowledge and business.
Who Should Listen to “How to Build Links Fast for a New Site! | James Dooley”?
This episode is ideal for:
- SEO professionals looking to grow their personal brand and expand their industry connections
- Introverted digital marketers who struggle with in-person networking at conferences and events
- Freelancers and agency owners who want to generate more referrals and business partnerships through relationship-building
- Early-career SEOs trying to understand how to position themselves as a specialist rather than a generalist
Where Can You Listen to James Dooley Podcast?
You can listen to James Dooley Podcast on all major podcast platforms:
- Apple Podcasts – Search for “James Dooley Podcast” in the Podcasts app
- Spotify – Available on Spotify for free
- Amazon Music / Audible – Listen through your Amazon account
- Overcast – For iOS users who prefer a dedicated podcast app
- Pocket Casts – Cross-platform podcast player
You can also subscribe using the RSS feed: https://feeds.transistor.fm/james-dooley-podcast
What Are Listeners Saying About This Episode?
“The story about the guy following James around at the Vietnam afterparty and eventually becoming a business partner hit differently. It made me realize how many opportunities I've probably walked away from because I didn't want to seem annoying. Really practical episode with tactics I started using at the next event I attended.”
“Karl admitting he was naturally shy and used to struggle with networking is the most relatable thing I've heard on an SEO podcast. The tip about competing with a friend to see who can talk to the most people at an event is so simple but it completely changes the dynamic. Already recommended this to two people on my team.”
“The Go-Giver segment really resonated with me. I've always networked transactionally and wondered why it never seemed to build momentum. James explaining how giving advice actually accelerates your own learning because the other person fills your gaps was a genuine lightbulb moment. Great episode.”
James Dooley: There’s no magic conference you attend where you suddenly become best friends with everyone. You just have to jump in. A game we used to play was competing with each other to see who could talk to the most people at an event. When I’m networking, I’m always trying to push myself — even when people say I’m doing a great job with personal branding, I feel like I could do better. If you consistently give value, people naturally reciprocate. Networking can grow your business by 10–100%. It can be huge. Karl Hudson: We get asked about this all the time. You see us networking everywhere, but when I started—around 10 years ago at Diggity’s mastermind—I struggled. I’m naturally shy and prefer working behind a screen. But once you practice, you get better at simply saying hello, grabbing a beer or a coffee, and starting a conversation. Networking genuinely multiplies your results. You're a great networker, by the way — I always look up to how much you do it. At events, we don’t even speak to each other until the evening because we’re both so busy meeting people. James Dooley:
Someone asked: “How do I improve my personal brand and network in the SEO industry like you and Kasra?”
The short answer: you just have to start. There’s no secret conference that magically solves everything — you turn up and talk to people.
I’ll give an example. In Vietnam, at an afterparty, there was a guy following me around all night. I was exhausted, and he was like my shadow. I didn’t know who he was. The next day I looked at his business card — turns out he owned a massive white-label agency. Today he’s one of my business partners. If he didn’t have the courage to come up to me, none of that would’ve happened.
The point is: networking works, but only if you actually start. If you're introverted, you still have to take the first step. You’re not a tree — you can move. If you want to network more, network more.
Choose events near you: BrightonSEO (UK), Chiang Mai SEO (Asia), SEO Mastery Summit, PubCon, SEO on the Beach, Spring Training, etc. Or buy mentorship calls — mentors can help you identify who to connect with based on your strengths and weaknesses. I don’t care about “black hat vs white hat.” We’re all trying to rank #1. As long as you understand risk tolerance, focus on learning. Karl Hudson:
A fun tactic is competing with your friends: “Who can talk to the most people today?”
Also, no offence, but when we go to events, I do not want to talk to you — I speak to you every day. I want to meet new people because you don’t know what you don’t know. Sometimes someone mentions something and I’m like, “What does that mean?” Then suddenly I’m learning something powerful. You always think you could improve. And that mindset is what keeps you progressing. James Dooley: Exactly. I never want to be the smartest person in the room — if I am, I’m in the wrong room. What works in one niche may not work in another. Semantic SEO might be overkill for local. Digital PR might be essential for gambling but not needed for small local businesses. You learn these nuances by networking and sharing tests. If you’re a helpful, genuine person, people will naturally want to share back. And when 10 people each test 10% of what they need, and everyone shares results, everyone moves 10 times faster. Be a Go-Giver. The more you give, the more you receive — sometimes instantly, sometimes years later. When I give advice, sometimes I discover I was missing a detail, and the other person teaches me something in return. Giving accelerates your own learning. Karl Hudson: Yes — keep giving. People eventually reciprocate. And reading The Go-Giver made this even clearer. James Dooley: If you want people to know you, be consistent with engagement. Comment on their YouTube videos. Leave thoughtful feedback. Over time they’ll notice you, check your profile, and start engaging back. Start a podcast — most SEOs will happily come on. Offer value for free — fix something on someone’s site, write an article, improve a video intro. That foot in the door can turn into referrals. Become brilliant at one thing — server logs, internal links, schema, digital PR, topical authority — anything. If you’re a jack-of-all-trades, you blend in. If you're exceptional at something specific, people refer business to you. Karl Hudson: Deliver value and people will naturally want to spend time with you. James Dooley: Exactly. Deliver value, be consistent, and take action.
Creators & Guests
Host
James Dooley is a UK entrepreneur.