24 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
24 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Neil Patel's 100k food blog project

by Eoon
20 replies
I'm sure most of you already know about Neil Patel's new venture - to make a website that will be bringing home 100k/month in one years time.

I presume that anybody with a shred of experience didn't expect things to unfold as he described, but to me, even the first post about finding an aged domain by "asking people in the niche if they'll sell" shows too much of back end stuff.

I wonder how in the world did he think these things (like the recent high quality exchange links to that exact domain JUST before he got it for a 100 bucks) will go without being noticed?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not reproaching him, I'm just trying to understand how the mind of a great marketer works.

Any thoughts?
#100k #blog #food #neil #patel #project
  • Profile picture of the author nettiapina
    Not sure if this is a SEO topic, but a generic marketing one.

    I don't pay much attention to Patel because he tends to get "whacky" when it comes to SEO. However, I'd be interested to hear how he's going to monetize the site, and what he describes as the most important steps.

    It's a tad dishonest for him to claim that he's not using his clout and fame. He's linking to the site, and already has had backlinks to his article.

    This might also be just a publicity stunt. There would not be much shame in defeat with a project you've come up yourself.
    Signature
    Links in signature will not help your SEO. Not on this site, and not on any other forum.
    Who told me this? An ex Google web spam engineer.

    What's your excuse?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9978546].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Eoon
      I do see it as a stunt, as well, but then again imagine two years from now he'll be "the man" for the endless stream of newbies as the man who did what they dream of.

      This kind of discussions, like the fact that he has obtained a domain from 1998 for a 100 bucks and has been obviously prepping it for this over the last few months or more, will be drowned in the noise.

      I'm sure he had all those other things he proposed prepped as well, so people picking one is, I suspect, a mere illusion.

      Gotta give him this...the whole thing is smart...

      What do you mean "whacky" when it comes to SEO?
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9979851].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author nettiapina
        Originally Posted by Eoon View Post

        I do see it as a stunt, as well, but then again imagine two years from now he'll be "the man" for the endless stream of newbies as the man who did what they dream of.
        Well, he's already "the man". Internet entrepreneur rock star. Even in my books, and I take everything he says with a grain of salt.

        Originally Posted by Eoon View Post

        What do you mean "whacky" when it comes to SEO?
        He believes in social signals. And not only that, but he's one of the leading apologists for that belief. And by "social signals" I mean the magical, unexplained connection between some random social media property and Google search. This fairly often colours his SEO posts.
        Signature
        Links in signature will not help your SEO. Not on this site, and not on any other forum.
        Who told me this? An ex Google web spam engineer.

        What's your excuse?
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9980245].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author DubDubDubDot
      Originally Posted by nettiapina View Post

      This might also be just a publicity stunt.
      Of course it is. The success is pre-determined. Neil is probably just setting himself to join the growing list of gooroos with "income report" blogs.

      Of course, all of the income reports on those blogs are fake, fake, fake, but the people who read those kind of blogs will believe anything.

      Originally Posted by JensSteyaert View Post

      he's a well known entrepreneur.
      Well known to who? Outside of the relatively small "internet marketing" community nobody would have any clue who he is.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9991226].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author JensSteyaert
    Well the fact that he's doing it himself makes this basically a worthless case study, because there's no way he won't benefit from the fact that he's a well known entrepreneur.

    Still it will be interestig to see how he goes about monetizing the site and maybe learn a thing or two, but nothing more.
    Signature

    Join ADZbuzz Here:

    ADZbuzz Social Network And Content Discovery Platform

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9980084].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author wally247
      Originally Posted by JensSteyaert View Post

      Well the fact that he's doing it himself makes this basically a worthless case study, because there's no way he won't benefit from the fact that he's a well known entrepreneur.

      Still it will be interestig to see how he goes about monetizing the site and maybe learn a thing or two, but nothing more.
      He says he won't be using any of his influence, but I guess you never know. The thing is though...a nutrition blogger who is passionate about what they do will not give him a lot of link love just because he is a well-known marketer. They want insanely good information, not another nutrition blog with the same old information.
      Signature
      Skype
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9980105].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Eoon
        The "using his name" is a moot point.

        That's what I was talking about, he won't have to because the site is obviously prepped to rank organically over time with ,let's be subtle and say, "gray" tactics.

        My point is - he won't need a link from a chef blog or website, not even "linkable content"...just well written posts with properly researched content and good on page aimed at long tail. If you take a look at the links, they are already being built or were built just before he started it, even from Chinese link exhange platforms - and great links, too, with some great metrics.

        And guess what, he'll rank without really needing the organic links.

        And monetizing it? How in the world would anybody know if the reports he'll be putting out are legit.

        For me, this is a very good thing, because it finally goot rid of that little voice in the back of my head saying "you're just not good enough, see what this guy is doing with completely clean stuff"...it's liberating...

        I'll just have to see Rand Fishkin building a pbn and I can die in piece
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9980223].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author wally247
    I think Neil is great and I am curious to see how this goes. He says he won't be using his name to get any special treatment, and to that I say good luck. I run a nutrition blog and it's not easy. People who are super passionate about nutrition (like me) very simply are not going to be linking to some new blog with a bunch of "top 10 ways to lose weight" with the same tired tips that are not working for much of America.
    Signature
    Skype
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9980103].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author DIABL0
    Eoon...thanks for posting. I don't follow Neil, but I will follow this.

    wally247...what's your blog, if you don't mind saying?

    I'm in the process of starting a nutritional blog. I've found a doctor that's also a registered dietitian and does a lot of work in the weight loss field to research/write my articles. They will all be based on science / human clinical trials. I'm doing this as a prelude to possibly starting a nutritional supplement company later on.
    Signature
    How to Build LARGE EMAIL LISTS on a Budget and MONETIZE Like a PRO
    20+ Years Exp . . . . . . . . . . . . Email - CPA - PPL
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9980468].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author wally247
      Originally Posted by DIABL0 View Post

      Eoon...thanks for posting. I don't follow Neil, but I will follow this.

      wally247...what's your blog, if you don't mind saying?
      Sorry, I just got this. I am going to be rebranding soon, but for now my site is theweightlosslie.com

      I am very opinionated about weight loss because I followed what 99.999% of "experts" say and was fat. I am learning more towards nutrition than "weight loss" specifically but love writing about all of it!
      Signature
      Skype
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9991143].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Eoon
    I'm not sure what kind of food blog he'll be going for - food, like in "health" or food like "cuisine" and if it's the later I can tell you this from experience - that's the least responsive crowd I've encountered.

    They are all nice and polite but very skimpy as sooon as you mention links I have a half a dozen amazon affiliate websites that I built over time in different areas and that was the least effective outreach campaign. Same effort, one of the other sites 30+ links - food blogs 1. I still don't know why that is...

    Anyway, that's besides the point. I have no doubt people will be trying to do the exact same wondering why it's not working. It's with these people in mind that I started the thread...
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9980510].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author DIABL0
      Originally Posted by Eoon View Post

      I'm not sure what kind of food blog he'll be going for - food, like in "health" or food like "cuisine" and if it's the later I can tell you this from experience - that's the least responsive crowd I've encountered.

      They are all nice and polite but very skimpy as sooon as you mention links I have a half a dozen amazon affiliate websites that I built over time in different areas and that was the least effective outreach campaign. Same effort, one of the other sites 30+ links - food blogs 1. I still don't know why that is...

      Anyway, that's besides the point. I have no doubt people will be trying to do the exact same wondering why it's not working. It's with these people in mind that I started the thread...
      If the goal is $100K per month, I would think it is health.
      Signature
      How to Build LARGE EMAIL LISTS on a Budget and MONETIZE Like a PRO
      20+ Years Exp . . . . . . . . . . . . Email - CPA - PPL
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9980527].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author wally247
      Originally Posted by Eoon View Post

      I'm not sure what kind of food blog he'll be going for - food, like in "health" or food like "cuisine" and if it's the later I can tell you this from experience - that's the least responsive crowd I've encountered.

      They are all nice and polite but very skimpy as sooon as you mention links I have a half a dozen amazon affiliate websites that I built over time in different areas and that was the least effective outreach campaign. Same effort, one of the other sites 30+ links - food blogs 1. I still don't know why that is...

      Anyway, that's besides the point. I have no doubt people will be trying to do the exact same wondering why it's not working. It's with these people in mind that I started the thread...

      If he's going for "food" or "recipes" I think he'll do ok as long as the site is different from the other billion recipe sites. If it's weight loss or diets or any of that I wish him luck. There are 2 kinds of people who write about weight loss type issues.

      There are people who are insanely passionate and people who post "top 5 ways to lose 5 pounds" type junk articles. The passionate people won't link to garbage posts that are the same rehashed stuff and the links from the rest of them aren't really very helpful.
      Signature
      Skype
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9991153].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Ellac
    I can already see whats going to happen.

    Keeping in mind that he is no established expert on food,
    He is going to produce content that he self-declares as high quality.
    Produce videos on his topics.
    Build a mailing list that explodes.
    Articles and videos will magically go viral.
    Google magically ranks his site.
    People buy products through a funnel by magic.

    Anyone will be able to achieve that. No magicians needed.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9980624].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author satrap
    Just the fact that he announced this project is enough of a promotion for him and will definitely help in making the site a success.

    I tend to agree with others, it is no case study if you are using your already famous platform and connection to take a site from zero to 100k.

    Unless its a case study for how you can take a site from zero to 100K IF you already have a massive amount of experience, networking, money, and promotional platforms.

    If you don't fall in that category, than it isn't a case study for your type.
    Signature
    60 Awesome Ways to Make Money Without a Job
    .................................
    Check out my blog Survey Satrap featuring honest reviews of paid survey sites.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9991165].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Brent Stangel
    Well known to who? Outside of the relatively small "internet marketing" community nobody would have any clue who he is.
    I've been "inside" said community for eight years and this is the first I've ever heard of the man.

    Possibly not as famous as he'd have some believe?
    Signature
    Get Off The Warrior Forum Now & Don't Come Back If You Want To Succeed!
    All The Real Marketers Are Gone. There's Nothing Left But Weak, Sniveling Wanna-Bees!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9991510].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author nettiapina
      Originally Posted by Brent Stangel View Post

      I've been "inside" said community for eight years and this is the first I've ever heard of the man.

      Possibly not as famous as he'd have some believe?
      I'm pretty sure he's not active in this "IM community" that you're talking about. Most people who deal with marketing aren't. This is a weird little bubble.

      You've heard about CrazyEgg or KISSmetrics, right? If he can honestly describe himself as founder of two quite high-profile SaaS companies it's very likely that he's known in some circles. Maybe it's marketing, or startup, or tech, or whatever.

      The marketplace is so crowded that there's always going to be chores of moderately well-known guys who you've never heard of.
      Signature
      Links in signature will not help your SEO. Not on this site, and not on any other forum.
      Who told me this? An ex Google web spam engineer.

      What's your excuse?
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9994297].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author byalik
      Originally Posted by Brent Stangel View Post

      I've been "inside" said community for eight years and this is the first I've ever heard of the man.

      Possibly not as famous as he'd have some believe?
      You win the award for most ignorant comment of 2015. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Patel_(entrepreneur)
      Signature
      Start/Buy an online business
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9994880].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author KirkMcD
        Originally Posted by byalik View Post

        You win the award for most ignorant comment of 2015. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Patel_(entrepreneur)
        No, still never heard of him.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9994903].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author Eoon
          It really does not matter if somebody's heard of the guy or not.

          The gist of the thread as I see it was supposed to be the fact that this project changed the way I look at things. Call me stupid, but I really considered this guy to be the go-to guy when it comes to "all-white" strategies.

          I guess now I know why I never really knew how to implement his courses or advise, because there was always something omitted.

          Unless you have the capital or the ingenuity to develop something unique, the methods of making real money online involve some "gray" areas.

          As I said, for me, it's liberating because I don't feel like like I am scrapping the pits of internet marketing while somebody smarter is making big money completely legit with no shady stuff...

          Some facts are obvious to anybody that knows anything about the business:

          1) what he's saying is not what he's doing with his project
          2) there will be no way to know if he'll be making the huge dough he's talking about

          It feels good, like seeing Lebron dunking using a ladder. It makes you feel better about the fact that you can't dunk and if, at some point, you do use a ladder to dunk, there'll be no regrets.
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9995857].message }}

Trending Topics