From Number 14 to Number 4 in 7 Days - Case Study

[LookItsMeTerryG]

In the interest of helping you guys out, here's a case study of a client I picked up through my "Ask the SEO Guy Anything!" thread. I've withheld her website url and keywords at her request.

Situation: Site was a little over 6 years old, had been listed at number 14 for her main keyword for roughly 2 years. Hired several SEO firms and consultants through forums, craigslists, etc., was moved to number 14 and couldn't break the artificial ceiling. Was told the competition was too stiff, her budget ($xxx per month) wasn't going to be enough to compete. I told her it was.

What I did:

Onpage: Nothing.

Offpage:

* Created 16 web 2.0 properties (blogs, squidoo, hubpages, etc). Adhering to the linkwheel structure of 1 link to previous property created, 1 link to main site. However, the link to the other property was chosen at random by the automated software as to not leave as obvious of a footprint.

* All web 2.0 properties were bookmarked and pinged. All RSS feeds were submitted to the relevant RSS feed directories.

* Identified authority sites in the niche through DMOZ, Y! Directory, BOTW. Emailed. I ended up with 3 good in content links from this.

* Submitted and syndicated 1 press release announcing re-launch of the service. SEO visibility chosen where applicable. Link had to remain intact with anchor text.

* Acquired 1 Wikipedia link on the relevant page to her niche.

* Submitted to 30 niche directories w/ automated software.

* Signed up for google alert pertaining to the topic. Did roughly 2 blog comments per day for 5 days.

* Created a resource site. Keyword rich domain, 5 pages of 1,000 word unique content. 1 link to the main site from this property. Bookmarked to get indexed.

* Spun those 5 articles to 60% uniqueness, randomly shortened to 70% of total length and submitted to 20 directories.

That's essentially all that was done. The site first bumped to number 22 after about 48 hours, then went to 11, then 8, then 5, now sits at 4 and has been for 2 days. We'll be top 3 with another week.

While these results aren't 100% typical, they aren't out of the ordinary. Hope this helps you guys out and puts you on the right track!

Very informative.

[Red_Virus]

* Spun those 5 articles to 60% uniqueness, randomly shortened to 70% of total length and submitted to 20 directories.

How did you do this ? Please explain, was it some software for the spin.

[JMartin]

Good stuff.

What you study shows is that there isn't anything really magical or secretive about this (to those who read this forum well enough anyway), but it takes work—or hiring someone more qualified to do that work.

Good luck with cracking the top 3. Just a matter of time now.

[LookItsMeTerryG]

Yep, actually she's number 2. And happy. I won't be happy until she's number 1, but it'll take some time to get there.

[LookItsMeTerryG]

I can't edit the post for some reason. Keeps telling me my title was too long, anyway:

@ Red_Virus

Tons of software does this, my favorite = senuke. Which is what most of this case study was performed with.

[seoessex]

Well done.

Regarding the Dmoz and Yahoo listed sites, what kind of email did you send? Was it just aking for a link exchange?

[olamilekan2]

Awesome Results, congrats, May I ask how do you get a Wikipedia link. Thanks

[Shaun Lee]

How did you get a link from Wikipedia? O.Oa

[mikengo]

How competitive was the keyword?

[Yuds]

Wow, this was really awesome stuff.

Question for your regarding your use of SENUKE - did you create new accounts with a different email address at each web 2.0 property or did you just use one email to register all the accounts?

Does one need to go to great lengths to avoid having the same signup details at each web 2.0 page to avoid a footprint, or does it not matter?

Also, do you go to the lengths of filling out bios and profiles and such at the web 2.0 sites, or just register your accounts and post?

Thanks for your help!

[LookItsMeTerryG]

seoessex - Just an email, yes. Over the years I've gotten a really really nice email template to send out. It's not recips... I don't do those. Also, in regards to DMOZ, I'm an editor... so if I get a nice link from somewhere else, you know... I can beef it up a bit with a listing, if I feel so inclined.

olamilekan2 - Look for articles that need references and sources. Also, I've got a great tip that NOONE does for wiki that I'll put out there sometime, possibly in an upcoming ebook.

mikengo - Fairly competitive by anyones standards probably. Not easy by any means. Remember though, her site was already strong and old. It was a bit like the second page poaching thing that was going around... except I also used other sites.

Yuds - I don't use SENUKE much, but when I do, it's just 1 email. No expanded profiles or anything, sign up, wait a day, post. Do no more than 1 module per 2 days.

[Marigold]

Originally Posted by LookItsMeTerryG

In the interest of helping you guys out, here's a case study of a client I picked up through my "Ask the SEO Guy Anything!" thread. I've withheld her website url and keywords at her request.

Situation: Site was a little over 6 years old, had been listed at number 14 for her main keyword for roughly 2 years. Hired several SEO firms and consultants through forums, craigslists, etc., was moved to number 14 and couldn't break the artificial ceiling. Was told the competition was too stiff, her budget ( per month) wasn't going to be enough to compete. I told her it was.

What I did:

Onpage: Nothing.

Offpage:

* Created 16 web 2.0 properties (blogs, squidoo, hubpages, etc). Adhering to the linkwheel structure of 1 link to previous property created, 1 link to main site. However, the link to the other property was chosen at random by the automated software as to not leave as obvious of a footprint.

* All web 2.0 properties were bookmarked and pinged. All RSS feeds were submitted to the relevant RSS feed directories.

* Identified authority sites in the niche through DMOZ, Y! Directory, BOTW. Emailed. I ended up with 3 good in content links from this.

* Submitted and syndicated 1 press release announcing re-launch of the service. SEO visibility chosen where applicable. Link had to remain intact with anchor text.

* Acquired 1 Wikipedia link on the relevant page to her niche.

* Submitted to 30 niche directories w/ automated software.

* Signed up for google alert pertaining to the topic. Did roughly 2 blog comments per day for 5 days.

* Created a resource site. Keyword rich domain, 5 pages of 1,000 word unique content. 1 link to the main site from this property. Bookmarked to get indexed.

* Spun those 5 articles to 60% uniqueness, randomly shortened to 70% of total length and submitted to 20 directories.

That's essentially all that was done. The site first bumped to number 22 after about 48 hours, then went to 11, then 8, then 5, now sits at 4 and has been for 2 days. We'll be top 3 with another week.

While these results aren't 100% typical, they aren't out of the ordinary. Hope this helps you guys out and puts you on the right track!

That is lot of very valuable information on SEO for free.Thanks.I have a question.It is regarding the content you used for creating for the 16 web 2.0 properties.Are these contents related exactly to the keyword you were trying to optimize or generic.Are they unique content or spun? I mean if I am trying to rank for weight loss should all the web 2.0 contents be optimized for weight loss or in general for health and fitness?If they are all for weight loss are the articles spun or original?Your reply in this regard will be much appreciated.

[MarkR]

Terry,

Should I take the fact that you did nothing on-page to mean 1) the site was sufficiently optimized already, or 2) on-page SEO isn't as fruitful anymore, or 3) you're just more comfortable doing off-page SEO?

Mark

[LookItsMeTerryG]

Originally Posted by Marigold

That is lot of very valuable information on SEO for free.Thanks.I have a question.It is regarding the content you used for creating for the 16 web 2.0 properties.Are these contents related exactly to the keyword you were trying to optimize or generic.Are they unique content or spun? I mean if I am trying to rank for weight loss should all the web 2.0 contents be optimized for weight loss or in general for health and fitness?If they are all for weight loss are the articles spun or original?Your reply in this regard will be much appreciated.

The content was all related, but only as far as the same topic. More like health and fitness vs weight loss. The articles were spun from an original article that was unique.

@ MarkR - The site was sufficiently optimized. Strangely enough, on-page seo is seemingly more important now than it has been in the past 2-3 years.

[StevenSaliba]

Awesome stuff! it's all about playing smarter than your competition.

[uday1583]

I think we cannot apply this for new sites, say site with 6 years old etc, Isn't? How old that site? R u sure, still u r up there?

[jasonmorgan]

I think we cannot apply this for new sites, say site with 6 years old etc, Isn't? How old that site? R u sure, still u r up there?

You can absolutely use these exact methods for a new site.

you may experience a temp rank drop or sandboxing and the site may not climb as fast but the methods used can be used for any site.

Take a look at all of the different methods that are suggested around WF and roll them up into one big fat juicy backlinking campaign and you essentially have what Terry G did.

A link wheel -> blog commenting -> links from authority sites -> directory and article submissions -> pinging and rss submissions = success

the only thing missing is building up a bulk of backlinks to help cut through the easy competition. This is something that had probably already been done to get the site to #14 and wasn't necessary to give the site a final push to the top.

anyhoo... nice little blueprint

[timpears]

As uday1583 said, the site was 6 years old, so that had some influence. But I would assume that these steps can only help a new site to do better.

Can I ask you (the OP) what was the cost to the site owner for this service? I am definitely envious of the results. I spent three weeks on back linking a site and ended up with a little over 400 visitors a month and not a single Adsense click to show for it. I would be curious to know if this kind of service is viable for Adsense sites, as usually SEO work is not cheap, and Google is when sharing the revenue.

[mikkosant]

Thanks for the info.

If I were to create resource sites similar to the one you mentioned, would they need to be hosted on unique c-class ips?

Thanks

[warrior123]

Nice outline of steps -- thanks!

Which exact 16 web 2.0 properties did you use?

[JakeRhodes]

Hi Terry, thanks for the great advice!

I have a quick question though. What exactly is a "resource site", is it just a site providing basic information about the relevant niche?

[Work At Home]

Wow, great info. I should try working on my new site with these method this coming weekend. Thanks for the info.

[ebizman87]

Awesome information.I'm going to copy and save this thread in my lappie..

[lijogk]

how much is your daily earning from the site now

[FormerWageSlave]

Is there anything you would do differently from these steps with a brand new site? How about any alterations of the timing these steps were implemented? Penalties for doing things too fast, etc?

Thanks for your time.

[Si_P]

Do you add the RSS feed of the previous web2.0 properties in the link wheel each time you add a new property?

[Stephen Root]

Originally Posted by LookItsMeTerryG

What I did:

Onpage: Nothing.

Haha. That so proves the fact that onpage SEO really doesn't matter any more. Basic onpage SEO factors are just so common knowledge nowadays that even beginners do them right. Only internal linking structures matter when it comes to more advanced stuff.

[palobrian]

a very nice case study on offpage seo, thank you for sharing this with us. I find it very motivational!

[jenniferlcarter]

Terry I could definately use your help
do you think we could talk
jenniferlcarter
at
comcast
dot net

[kaizen0909]

I didnt get results like this in 3 months...

[JackPowers]

This is all something that everyone can do, which leads me to believe that it was really the 3 content links from authority sites that mattered. I know you are a DMOZ mod, did you use that to persuade the webmasters?

[tonyaphx]

It took me about 30 days to get to #1. I didn't even have a lot of backlinks. One thing people people don't relise is how important these 4 things are and if you have Market Samurai you will know what I am talking about. You get points with google if you have #1 your keyword in your domain #2 Keyword in the title #3 Keyword in description #4 Keyword in header tag. A lot of websites only do 1 or 2 out of the 4 things you add all 4 to your website you will start to rank. If you don't have your keyword in your domain then do all 3. I don't have the keyword in the domain for my site that is #1, but I do have the other 3 hope this helps some of you.

[Sandy Cormack]

Originally Posted by LookItsMeTerryG

* Created 16 web 2.0 properties (blogs, squidoo, hubpages, etc). Adhering to the linkwheel structure of 1 link to previous property created, 1 link to main site. However, the link to the other property was chosen at random by the automated software as to not leave as obvious of a footprint.

I don't get the notion of 'the link was chosen at random.' A wheel is a wheel, no matter what order the spokes are in.