[Project] Rank a free blog on page 1 for 'car insurance'

[33centsaday]

Project Status as of 9/12/11
1. Pages of content: 26
2. Pages indexed: 26
3. Backlinks: 0
4. Income: $0.76


Some of you may have followed along with my first project: The $100/day AdSense Challenge that I started back in December 2010. Although I haven't yet reached my ultimate goals for that project it has been worth the effort as the site is now something I'm happy to have in my portfolio.

With summer winding down I think it's time to kick off a new project/experiment/challenge whatever you want to call it and share my progress with and ask for hints and tips from my good friends here at WF

My Experience
I'm currently generating about 9,000 pageviews per month and making $200-$300/month. So I'm not an expert by any means but I'm not a total noob either.

Project
As the title suggests my ultimate goal for this project is to rank this site (car insurance) on page 1 in google's serps for its main keyword. A tall order considering it is an insanely competitive term with over 6 million broad and 800,000 exact searches per month!

Rules
#1 - There's only one rule: Everything has to be free. No paid hosting, no paid tools, no paid ads, no paid outsourcing.

Traffic
The main targeted traffic source is organic google search.

Monetization
I'm using Adsense as the main income stream.

Finally, I will be mirroring the updates to this thread on my money blog and posting pics there as I did with my last challenge.

[ichl13]

lol, no offence but I dont think you can pull this off

[arnie19]

As the title suggests my ultimate goal for this project is to rank this site (car insurance) on page 1 in google's serps for its main keyword. A tall order considering it is an insanely competitive term with over 6 million broad and 800,000 exact searches per month!

Dude, how did you compute these? are they local in your place or in general? I've checked your competition for "car insurance" and it was:

Broad: 142,000,000
exact: 88,000,000

Using blogspot, IMHO, I'm not sure if you can do it on blogspot considering those competition. Also, I am targeting that keyword as well. I am currently sitting on page 2 with a tendency of getting to page 3 then page 2.

Anyway, I would love to see the result and I'll be waiting for you.

[nicktyler]

That is not going to be easy. I wish you luck. You might need it.

[33centsaday]

arnie, I was quoting the # of searches according to Google's Keyword Tool. For competing pages your numbers are the same as mine.

And it's OK if I don't reach my goal. The point of this project is to push my personal envelope and to learn. Besides, even a small slice of a big pie is $$$

[Hardik Jogi]

Very ambitious project. Keyword has 823,000 exact monthly searches. If you can rank your website number 1 in google for only couple of months, i bet you will have enough money to retire.

I can see this url as number 1 :
gieco.com
It is pr 7 domain with about 200,000 backlinks. Big company with millions in marketing budget. Almost impossible to out compete.

Even the website ranking on number 9 is pr5 and 20,000 backlinks, 15000 index pages and 12 yr old age.

I think you are just wasting time if you aren't an expert in SEO.


Here is my rough plan :

1) Keyword in the domain with suffix - I mean - carinsurancex.com , carinsurancey.com, carinsurancex.blogspot.com etc
2) Proper on page optimization - Have 10,000+ words article optimized for the keyword on the page that you want to rank for
3) Try to rank for inner page like : carinsurancex.com/insurance/car-insurance-online
4) 4 high pr homepage backlinks per day right from the starting. Continue this for next 5 months - Thus, 600 high pr homepage links
5) In the mean while, lots of backlinks and syndication of your posts is needed. Join 4-5 blog submission and syndication network. Submit posts cont. for next 5 months.
6) Social media - have 1000s of facebook like, tweets, retweets, +1, digg votes etc - about 5000+ social links per month
7) Also 1 press release per week which gets syndicated to at least 50 websites.
8) Build authority of the site by posting 100-200 other unique post on the site - All internally linked.

If you can't get to page 2/page 1 within 5 months, leave it.

[John Moore]

This will be a true David vs Goliath battle.

[arnie19]

And it's OK if I don't reach my goal. The point of this project is to push my personal envelope and to learn. Besides, even a small slice of a big pie is $$$

Yes that is a good point of view. even if you don't reached page 1, you'll still ranked for some other terms which in turn will make you dominant to others. And for sure, with this niche, it is not just a small slice of $$$. It is enough to satisfy our stomach. lol

This will be a true David vs Goliath battle.

Surely it is. Though if ever fairy google casts its wand to david, it'll be able to outrank goliath. lol anyway, I am in the part of "Vs" so I've been to david and ready to be goliath at any time.

[ericnelsonator]

All I can say is.. Best of Luck would love to see how this goes.. subscribed!

[Jack Chase]

That sounds incredibly difficult... David vs Goliath for sure!

Good luck though - I will be watching this thread to see how you do.

[mmsearch]

wow - this looks insanely difficult - i wish you the best of luck

[InTheMaking]

Your chances of ranking on the 1st page are -1000%. Seriously..

Don't bother wasting any time on it, move along to something 100x easier.

[chukcha]

Ohh.. this is going to be fun.
Looks like you have balls to challenge big guys in the open, which is good but it takes more than just balls to get there.
The most interesting part that you want to do it for free.
0 investment with this competition it's like being Matt Cuts and live in Utopian world where you wait when people discover you and bookmark you.
Well either way it's going to be a good lesson for you.
I wish you the best and keep us posted.

[timpears]

Good luck to you.

I started something similar a few days ago. I started in the health niche though. I am using AdSense for my monetization. So I hope that we can get on the first page of Google if not to #1. I would be satisfied with $10 a day, or even $5 for that matter.

[arnie19]

I started something similar a few days ago. I started in the health niche though. I am using AdSense for my monetization. So I hope that we can get on the first page of Google if not to #1. I would be satisfied with $10 a day, or even $5 for that matter.

Same here. I also started a health niche and under pilot mode. lol. 5$ to $10 a day is not bad to start or even for a 1 site earning.

By the way, if your back link methods does not work with your site. Use it to your competitors. ooopss.. that's a dirty trick. lol..

[Michael Nguyen]

If you're doing using free methods, I promise you will fail. Ask anyone that knows anything about seo, when you're competing for big keywords, you will always need $$$. Don't waste your time, not worth it.

[UMS]

While I admire your ambition, you really don't have a hope in hell getting to page 1.

However, it will still be an interesting project to see exactly where you can get ranked.

I think if you can get anywhere in the top 50, you will be doing very well.

[arnie19]

If you're doing using free methods, I promise you will fail. Ask anyone that knows anything about seo, when you're competing for big keywords, you will always need $$$. Don't waste your time, not worth it.

I agree. I am actually subscribed to this tools:

-senuke
-uaw
-buildmyrank
-linkvana
-scrapebox

and doing some manual backlinking for high quality backlinks but I was just able to reach page 2 or almost page 1. But ranks dances and I usually play to page 2 and three and sometimes page 4.. take note: this is for keyword "car insurance" which I am working with for over 7 months..

[patrich]

Its definitely ambitious! Not something I would go after, although I do not think that it is impossible. And in all reality, you probably have a better chance ranking for that term with a blogspot domain than a new domain. Simply because of the domain authority of blogspot.

Seriously though, this is a project that would take at least a year, if not more. Probably a very large budget, but you would make a fortune in the top 10.

[yukon]

I would be more concerned If blogger doesn't like the CPA.

I would go with Adsense since Google owns both blogger & Adsense.

I kinda doubt you'll hit page #1 for the target keyword, still you'll pick up a few long-tail keywords.

[33centsaday]

Originally Posted by yukon

I would be more concerned If blogger doesn't like the CPA.

I would go with Adsense since Google owns both blogger & Adsense.

Originally I was going to use adsense, but what about invalid clicks from forum members? If a bunch of WF members check out the site and decide to click ads but don't buy anything I'd imagine adsense wouldn't be too happy about that.

[chukcha]

Would you mind to share your strategy and how are you going to achieve this results?

[blogworker]

Rules
#1 - There's only one rule: Everything has to be free. No paid hosting, no paid tools, no paid ads, no paid outsourcing.

i have a question, what is your income source? just want to get the top one position?
what will you do later?
and, even all things are free,can it be easy to get the top one position?

[blogworker]

Rules
#1 - There's only one rule: Everything has to be free. No paid hosting, no paid tools, no paid ads, no paid outsourcing.

i have a question, what is your income source? just want to get the top one position?
what will you do later?
and, even all things are free,can it be easy to get the top one position?

[33centsaday]

Originally Posted by blogworker

i have a question, what is your income source? just want to get the top one position?
what will you do later?
and, even all things are free,can it be easy to get the top one position?

As mentioned in the OP I'm monetizing with a CPA offer.

No it won't be easy, in fact as many have stated, it's probably impossible. But that's not the point. The point is to do my best and to learn something in the process (and make money of course!)

[33centsaday]

Originally Posted by chukcha

Would you mind to share your strategy and how are you going to achieve this results?

Haven't got a clue. I liked hardik's suggestion only problem is I have no idea how to get 4 high pr home page links a day or 5,000+ social links a month

[Oranges]

Bwahahahahah!
Car Insurance? Seriously? Really? Forget it ASAP!

[MrAQ]

Interesting project and I have subscribed to the thread. Regarding the free rule, I am sure you know, but nothing is free. It either is going to be time or money.

[markowe]

I would be most interested in heariing how much long-tail traffic you can pick up in the attempt, because that alone might make it worthwhile - a few $20+ clicks/conversions per day, sure, why not? I have pondered tackling an 'impossible' niche for the same reason so will follow with interest

[owenlee]

is a nice try here..is not easy job but im sure it takes time for it to rank on page one...as long as you know SEO and provide unique content plus work extra harder as compare to those who are already one first page then you might have some success...

but what i can say one is going to take a long time...so good luck...

[arnie19]

i dnt think it is practical because - 1) the keyword is really competitive.
2) blog is new

It is not possible if you can provide 1000 unique high quality content monthly though. And if you will use $$$$ then surely you will rank. however, miracles happen. praise the lord. lol

[Aaron Egan]

I don't mean to sound negative as I love your enthusiasm but honestly. You can't. And won't. If you started now and committed energy to it every day for the next 10 years then you MIGHT get to page 2 or 3. You're up against actual insurance companies with million dollar marketing budgets. Be smarter with your time and resources and focus your energy on something that will make you money. You've got a good start with your couple of hundred bucks monthly revenue. Build on it.

[yukon]

Originally Posted by arnie19

It is not possible if you can provide 1000 unique high quality content monthly though. And if you will use $$$$ then surely you will rank. however, miracles happen. praise the lord. lol

That doesn't make any sense.

Based on that logic, only people with money can rank a web page. This is the web dude, not a store on 5th Avenue, lol!

If OP has the time for seo, a page can be ranked. They won't get #1 for car insurance, but they will pick up a few long-tail keywords while trying to target the keyword car insurance.

If the Adsense pays the same for short or long-tail, does it really matter which one OP ranks for? Just grab more long-tails to generate more traffic.

[Matt.Lake]

Another thing to bear in mind is that even if you were to rank on the first page for "car insurance"... it wouldn't be long before you'd receive a manual review with a keyword like that. At least I would of thought so.

You can bet your ass your fellow competition will be aware that you've suddenly appeared and will go about displacing you... possibly reporting your site to Google. This is one of the most profitable keywords for Google on the Internet we're talking about here. The chances are, your site won't be the sort that Google would deem the most relevant and useful to a user searching for car insurance... and adjust your ranking accordingly.

But as others have said, it will make for an interesting experiment and you could no doubt make some decent money off the long tail traffic.

[software248]

This is quite the challange but it really depends on your mindset and how much time you are going to add to this site. To be quite honet i don't think you can do it, this is mainly because all those "car insurance" sites that are in page one usually spend thousands of dollars on SEO.

Are you able to produce better results than these big SEO companies?

We will just have to see.

Good Luck

[bigwillstyle]

This will be a great challenge but, as I've always have heard where there's a Will there is a way. Good Luck!

[arnie19]

That doesn't make any sense.

Based on that logic, only people with money can rank a web page. This is the web dude, not a store on 5th Avenue, lol!

If OP has the time for seo, a page can be ranked. They won't get #1 for car insurance, but they will pick up a few long-tail keywords while trying to target the keyword car insurance.

If the Adsense pays the same for short or long-tail, does it really matter which one OP ranks for? Just grab more long-tails to generate more traffic.

I was just saying that it is impossible for that keyword. Just looking the competition level of it, even I who had been targeting that for more than a year haven't got a chance to step to page 1. I was able to get my site a PR3 but wasn't able to get to top 3. lol Anyway, that is just me. I'm not sure about him.

[33centsaday]

Originally Posted by arnie19

I was just saying that it is impossible for that keyword. Just looking the competition level of it, even I who had been targeting that for more than a year haven't got a chance to step to page 1. I was able to get my site a PR3 but wasn't able to get to top 3. lol Anyway, that is just me. I'm not sure about him.

FWIW I think you've done an awesome job getting to page 2 in a year. Probably a lot better than what I'll do

[BlakeM]

Judging by your competition, I think you will manage to get to page 3 with a good bit of effort, but your blog will need time to age.

Page 2 is possible after a long time of consistent effort, but even then I'm left wondering if a free blog can manage for this keyword. I just don't think that a free blog fits well with the keyword "car insurance" and I'm not sure if G will like that much.

I truly believe page 1 is impossible for a free blog, or any new website for that matter. Everyone on the first page (at least for me) is an actual insurance company.

Either way, I am interested to see the results. Good Luck!

[TheFBGuy]

Hahahahaha, sorry for laughing, but I am pleading with you to please re-consider this project. Even using Bl@ckh@t methods, it's going to take a very long time to just get to page 1 for that keyword, but you on the other hand want to do for absolutely free?? You have 00000.00% chance of making this a successful project. If you value time, please don't do this, lol.

If you seek knowledge, this is not a wise way of getting it. Build niche blogs and just make money through accumulation. Niche blog + niche blog + niche blog ... building a solid business and learning as well.

[Targeted Traffic]

Hey...in this field...everything is possible...it may just need a lot of hardwork though
Best of Luck!

[dagaul101]

Nice challenge, it would be interesting to see how you fare with no paid outsourcing for such a competitive keyword

[StoneWilson]

I also think it would be a difficult job to promote such a highly competitive keyword in page 1, but who know, there are always exceptions, hope you can success!

[33centsaday]

Brief update for you good folks.

I officially launched this project on September 1 2011. So far the site has been indexed along with 1 inner page. I have 5 pages of content all of which have been pinged.

There have been 61 visitors between Aug 30 and Sep 2, all referrals from WF and cuinlalaland.

I am currently targeting the long tail keyword "cheap car insurance quote" which has an exact match monthly search of 2400 and about 2 million competing pages.

[MoSound Productions]

that's a nice start, 61 visitors in the first 2 days that you've launched the site, good work

[JSProjects]

Originally Posted by ichl13

lol, no offence but I dont think you can pull this off

If he does, he'll have no problem offering SEO services at almost any price.

This is nearly an impossible task.

[33centsaday]

So I bookmarked the main page and pinged those links. And today I have a little more news to share. The site has attracted its first google search hit as well as picking up a bit of social traffic.

But more important than that...DRUM ROLL...

It got its first adsense click! Yeaaa...76 cents...wooo LOL

[satrap]

Originally Posted by ichl13

lol, no offence but I dont think you can pull this off

I disagree! It is possible to rank for any keyword using a free blog. However, it takes a lot of work and dedication, especially since you have to do everything without spending any money.

It may take a long time to get there, but I truly believe you can do that with any niche, no matter how big and competitive the niche/keyword is.

I will be looking forward to updates from your project.

[Mike Anthony]

I was thinking briefly of helping you out until I saw the phrase "free blog". Sorry - makes absolutely zero sense. If by some miracle you ranked number one the next day the blog company could yank the page.

[nbw]

Waste of time if you ask me.

Better to create dozens of pages around very low competition long tail car insurance keywords.