James Dooley Podcast

The James Dooley Podcast welcomes SEO entrepreneur James Dooley and technical SEO specialist Olesia Korobka for a deep, candid conversation about engagement signals, ethical manipulation, and what it really takes to win in competitive search verticals like finance and online casinos. James explains how he uses click-through-rate tools, email lists, Facebook groups, Reddit and Quora to drive real user engagement across Google, YouTube and image search, stressing that genuine behavior beats fake signals and that he avoids negative tactics against competitors. Olesia digs into his use of parasite (barnacle) SEO, where high-authority third-party sites are used as launchpads for fast rankings, and James reframes it as a win-win-win when the host site, content writer and user all benefit. The pair explore how James built a 90+ seat call center in Manchester to turn lead generation into full sales generation, using smart cross-sells (like pairing mortgages with life insurance or wills with pensions and equity release) to increase average transaction value while keeping quality high. They then shift into mindset, networking and character: James explains why he shares tactics freely in communities, believes “your network is your net worth,” and only partners with people who will roll up their sleeves when things go wrong. He contrasts being a great SEO with being a great entrepreneur, arguing that his real skill is project management and assembling specialists rather than doing everything himself, and credits his family, upbringing and coaches for instilling resilience, humility and a long-term view where success equals happiness, not just rankings or revenue.

Creators and Guests

Host
James Dooley
James Dooley is a UK entrepreneur.

What is James Dooley Podcast?

James Dooley is a Manchester-based entrepreneur, investor, and SEO strategist. James Dooley founded FatRank and PromoSEO, two UK performance marketing agencies that deliver no-win-no-fee lead generation and digital growth systems for ambitious businesses. James Dooley positions himself as an Investorpreneur who invests in UK companies with high growth potential because he believes lead generation is the root of all business success.

The James Dooley Podcast explores the mindset, methods, and mechanics of modern entrepreneurship. James Dooley interviews leading marketers, founders, and innovators to reveal the strategies driving online dominance and business scalability. Each episode unpacks the reality of building a business without mentorship, showing how systems, data, and lead flow replace luck and guesswork.

James Dooley shares hard-earned lessons from scaling digital assets and managing SEO teams across more than 650 industries. James Dooley teaches how to convert leads into long-term revenue through brand positioning, technical SEO, and automation. James Dooley built his career on rank and rent, digital real estate, and performance-based marketing because these models align incentive with outcome.

After turning down dozens of podcast invitations, James Dooley now embraces the platform to share his insights on investorpreneurship, lead generation, AI-driven marketing, and reputation management. James Dooley frequently collaborates with elite entrepreneurs to discuss frameworks for scaling businesses, building authority, and mastering search.

James Dooley is also an expert in online reputation management (ORM), having built and rehabilitated corporate brands across the UK. His approach combines SEO precision, brand engineering, and social proof loops to influence both Google’s Knowledge Graph and public perception.

To feature James Dooley on your podcast or event, connect via social media. James Dooley regularly joins business panels and networking sessions to discuss entrepreneurship, brand growth, and the evolving future of SEO.

Olesia Korobka
You once told me I could ask you anything. Anything I want.
What do you think about very direct questions? When people ask things like, “Can you show me your financials?”
James Dooley
Give me an example.
Olesia Korobka
For instance, “Can you show me your F-Trip?”
James Dooley
Yeah, I can show it. No problem.
Olesia Korobka
You could technically live anywhere in the world. Why Manchester?
James Dooley
My office is there. My home is there. My family is there.
I like being based in Manchester, even though the weather isn’t great. Honestly, I think it’s one of the best cities in the world. I just balance that by travelling to warmer places when I want a break.
Olesia Korobka
I saw a post you shared about search volume where James Dooley was showing almost 5,000 searches, more than Craig Campbell.
How did you do that?
James Dooley
That was done using CTR tools like SerpEmpire and CTR Booster.
Those tools use different IPs and create click behaviour that gets picked up by sources pulling data from Google Search Console or clickstream data. That’s why those search volumes showed up externally.
Olesia Korobka
Do you do that to competitors as well?
James Dooley
Not negatively. I always do things in a positive way.
If I use a brand name, I’ll pair it with something constructive—like awards—so clicks go toward something beneficial. I don’t attack competitors. That’s just not how I like to operate.
Olesia Korobka
I’ve also noticed you use engagement tools for YouTube.
James Dooley
Yes. Engagement and behavioural signals matter across everything:
webpages, images, videos—especially YouTube.
Engagement is one of the strongest ranking signals today.
Olesia Korobka
Is that just for local and YouTube, or global search too?
James Dooley
Global as well.
But nothing beats real engagement.
We have mailing lists, Facebook groups, and communities where we share content honestly and ask for feedback. People click, watch, comment, like—it’s genuine behaviour.
I’m a massive advocate of behavioural signals.
Olesia Korobka
What tools do you recommend?
James Dooley
You can use things like MicroWorkers, MTurk, or CTR platforms—but the best method is organic.
Reddit. Quora. Facebook groups. Social platforms.
Real people engaging voluntarily. That’s the safest and strongest signal.
Olesia Korobka
Aren’t you afraid Google will track that activity?
James Dooley
No—because I’m not doing anything manipulative.
I’m asking people for genuine feedback. I’m not forcing actions or misleading users. That’s the difference.
Olesia Korobka
Someone once posted that Koray showed how to rank a casino site in 15 seconds. Did that really happen?
James Dooley
That was mostly banter.
There’s a grain of truth though. With parasite—or what I prefer to call barnacle SEO—you can rank extremely fast if the platform is trusted, like Google News sites.
But no, there was no “magic trick” demo on the spot.
Olesia Korobka
Do you actively use parasite SEO?
James Dooley
Yes—extensively.
And I don’t like the name “parasite SEO.”
Properly done, it’s a win-win-win.
The publisher gets traffic and engagement

The content creator gets exposure

The user gets value

That’s barnacle SEO. No one gets harmed.
Olesia Korobka
You’re known for large-scale lead generation. Is it true you run a large call centre?
James Dooley
Yes. We have around 90 staff in Manchester.
Mainly finance—mortgages, debt, liquidation, administration.
Speed matters. If we don’t respond within 60 seconds, the lead is gone. Our KPI is actually 23 seconds.
Turning lead generation into sales generation massively increased profitability.
Olesia Korobka
I’ve heard you cross-sell aggressively. Can you explain that model?
James Dooley
It’s about relevance, not pressure.
Mortgage → Life insurance
Wills → Pensions or equity release
Same logic in marketing:
PPC → SEO → Content → Links
We look at timing and intent. That’s how cross-selling works ethically.
Olesia Korobka
Most people struggle with that. How do you train for it?
James Dooley
When we enter a new market, we run whiteboard sessions.
We ask:
Who is the customer?

Why are they here?

What else naturally helps them achieve their goal?

Once you understand your customer properly, cross-sells become obvious.
Increasing average transaction value means you don’t have to keep chasing new leads.
Olesia Korobka
You help a lot of people publicly with no obvious benefit. Why?
James Dooley
Because your network is your net worth.
What works today might not work tomorrow.
If I can stop someone making mistakes I’ve already made, that’s value.
And yes—I believe in karma.
Olesia Korobka
But SEO is competitive. Aren’t you training competitors?
James Dooley
I only help people I trust—people who are genuine.
Success to me isn’t rankings or money. It’s happiness and who you surround yourself with.
Olesia Korobka
Do you think good SEOs and good entrepreneurs have opposite skills?
James Dooley
Absolutely.
I’m not a “great SEO” myself.
I’m great at assembling the right people.
Like building a house—I don’t do every trade. I manage the project.
Olesia Korobka
Were you born with that mindset or did you learn it?
James Dooley
Both.
My dad taught me humility, consistency, and respect.
But I also use coaches to this day.
There is no end goal. People who hit “finish lines” often crash.
Life is a rollercoaster. Growth is never linear.
Olesia Korobka
You speak about family a lot. How important is it?
James Dooley
Everything.
My wife enables what I do.
My parents shaped me.
My brothers pushed me through sport.
But not everyone has that—and that’s okay.
You can choose your friends. They can become your family.
Olesia Korobka
What about people trying to force themselves into elite circles?
James Dooley
Being around successful people helps—but money doesn’t equal happiness.
If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.
But choose your rooms for growth, not ego.
Olesia Korobka
You’re hard to reach at events. How should introverts connect with you?
James Dooley
Online.
Comment. DM. Send feedback. Add value.
Don’t message saying “Teach me SEO.”
Message showing you understand my work.
Olesia Korobka
How do you evaluate new niches or partners?
James Dooley
Niches are tested by teams now.
Partners are personal.
I ask:
Will we work through tough times together?

Will they have my back?

Can I have theirs?

If yes—we build.
Olesia Korobka
Out of all your industries—what’s your favorite?
James Dooley
Horse racing.
It’s tradition. Family. Strategy.
SEO feels the same—like a game.
Always finding the next move.
Olesia Korobka
Could someone enter the casino niche alone today?
James Dooley
Not for head terms.
But yes—through long-tail niches, GEO targeting, slots, free spins, high rollers.
Start small. Move through traffic tiers.
Olesia Korobka
Is there a future for affiliate SEO?
James Dooley
Right now—it’s rough.
But it will adapt.
Affiliate sites were hit, but parasite SEO exploded.
Google will rebalance eventually.
The sites that survive will be real experts, not generalists.
Olesia Korobka
You have an R&D SEO team. What are they testing now?
James Dooley
Everything.
Content pruning. Disavows. Anchor ratios.
Rewriting pages completely when classifiers reject them.
Some sites dropped 80%.
Others rebounded instantly after hard resets.
There’s no single algorithm—there are many.
Olesia Korobka
What SEO work do you personally enjoy most?
James Dooley
Titles.
Keyword research.
Intent mapping.
I also love the SEO community. It’s one of the few industries where people actually help each other.
Olesia Korobka
Why even run agencies if you don’t like clients?
James Dooley
Control.
We were spending six figures monthly with agencies.
Buying in gave me quality control and better economics.
I don’t deal with clients day-to-day—and I’m honest about that.
Olesia Korobka
Last question. Anything else you want to say?
James Dooley
If you’re in affiliate and struggling—diversify.
Use barnacle SEO.
Grow your network.
Don’t quit during a blip.
Olesia Korobka
Thank you so much. This was incredibly insightful.
James Dooley
Thank you. You asked excellent questions.