Can This Be Done Without The Need To "Slave" Over It Indefinitely?

As with any site, it comes down to keywords. When you say "high in the SERPs" it already is, most likely, but for which keywords? It's gotta be keywords people actually search for on a regular basis or it's doing you no good.

There's no reason to believe a site promoting through affiliate links would be any different. So much depends on proper keyword choices and then optimization (which includes backlinks).

I guess what I'm saying is, you almost always have to engage in backlink building. Some keywords will require a consistent program, while others are more "set and forget."

The real trick (and it took me a LONG time to get this and then to learn how to do it) is finding those rare gems that get a lot of searches AND don't have much competition. Find a few of those keywords and you're sitting on a goldmine.

John

Of course it depends, as people mentioned, but I can tell you that in many cases it is completely possible to park a site at the top of the results and have it more or less stay there long term. I have a site that's been #2 for a fairly large keyword for over a year with practically no additional links added. Every once in a while, if I'm thinking about it, I'll add a few links from a social site or something. The better job you do up front, the longer it will stay put. Also keep in mind that as your domain gets older it starts to gain age authority, which helps as well.

Had a site in top 4 results on Google for over 9 years, never did one iota of backlinking for it. People "out on the internet" linked to it from a dozen or so sites over the years, but that was it.

It was for a pretty small niche product. Very particular, not a lot of competing type products, but it was a physical product that a number of retailers sold. We beat out all the other retailers consistently for 9 years.

So yes, it is possible.

How?

(1) Talk about your product!! Provide details. Why do you like it? Why do other customers like it? Describe it in detail, so if your image is broken the viewer can draw a mental picture based on your description.

(2) BE PERTINENT. If your product remains pertinent over time -- doesn't become outdated over time, with outdated information or referring to past events -- then it will still sound like a current product today. (For instance, we sold coffee mugs. The coffee mugs were as cool, lovely and useful on May 1st 2004 as they were on May 1st 2008. So we wrote our content in a way that sounded like we were talking about it today, knowing that in 3 months it would still be the same product and have the same appeal.)

If you are selling a product that will age, or become out-dated, then it is by nature going to drop for more generic keywords because the newer stuff will take its place.

Your mileage may vary of course. This is what worked for us.

MW

I too have a site that's been sitting at the top of the search engines since about a month after I started it. You can do it, but like others have said, it's easiest if it's not a very competitive niche.

Love,
Shannon

Generally you will only slip because of 2 things.

1. A competitor out-keywords you

2. The terms you are keyworded for become less popular