Has Google Places killed the rent a site model?

by Bazbo

Posted: 13 years ago 28 replies

OFFLINE MARKETING

I wanted to use the rent a site model for my offline biz - build a site with an SEO optimized URL, put quality content on it, build links and get it ranking high, and then rent it to a business owner who either doesn't have a site, or whose site doesn't rank well.

To get started, I built a site in the home services niche (plumber), in one of America's 20 biggest cities. In a few weeks, I had it ranking on the first page, and in a few months, I had it to the #2 organic position. It has since been #1 for a few weeks at a time, then back to #2, then back to #1, etc. I have not tried to rent it out yet, as I want to make sure I know what I'm doing.

However, organic rankings are now appearing below 3 to 7 huge GP listings which take up most of the monitor, which means it might as well be on page 2. On a good day, I get 1 or 2 clicks, whereas I used to get 10 a day before the massive changes to GP.

I've recently bought a few courses on ranking in GP. However, there are a ton of necessary tasks that aren't really feasible for a URL that isn't owned by a business. Getting several dozen reviews, having an actual physical address that's not a UPS store, etc.

Has Google just killed my plan for renting local biz sites?

Is there a way around this Google focus on GP that still allows for the rent a site model?

I'm feeling very discouraged right now, frankly.

Any feedback, ideas, suggestions, etc., are greatly appreciated!

#google #killed #model #places #rent #site

Sean D Kelly 13 years ago

Gotta adapt with the times brother, maybe you could sell it as first page google ranking instead of #1 or #2. Or if you cant beat em join em!
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LudVanDaal 13 years ago

I think people are still visiting the other ranked on #1 page sites. But yes, GP has the majority of the traffic
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mrtrance 13 years ago

I have a dentist site that sits at #1 spot above the new G places 7 listings. I think you can outrank a G places listing with better onpage and offpage of your actual site since that comes into play much more than just having a GP listing.
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Sparkreflection 13 years ago

My friend, I’m really sorry for your dashing hopes. Looking to different kwds it’s obvious that G still ranks very high some websites that are not connected with GP. I am sure that you can still climb on #1 position investing more in your SEO, but the bigger question is related with the future, as they may change the rules and amplify even more the importance of being listed in GP. Nobody knows, but as you are so close to #1 you may want to check every detail on your on page elements and also diversify your off page SEO strategy. I encourage you to invest more in GP and change your strategy in time, but don’t give up with this website right now.

Is it an established website? In the first 3 months it is normal to record this “dance” between different positions, but once G will see that your SEO efforts are constantly, they may reward you for a longer time.
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DiegoC 13 years ago

Hey Spark,

How about if I have a domain e.g Plumber.net, can a rent a site be implemented but more for the local business such as Plumber.net/Miami or Miami.Plumber.net in different cities. Of course different tel# and address?

Thanks D
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loganquinn 13 years ago

Bazbo,

I have several HUNDRED number 1 rankings ABOVE the Google Plus Box in many countries, and despite a few bumps here and there NONE of those rankings have moved at all.

Don't feel discouraged. I'm guessing you either did something Spammy or your content / links weren't good enough.

My advice: Get some high quality, high PR one way text links from relevant sites. If your rankings slip it's usually because your links aren't strong enough.

-Logan
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vndnbrgj 13 years ago

I have never done the rent-a-site model as I thought it was a waste of time.

However, why don't you make it part of a Local Search Package. Find a plumber that doesn't have a website. Then offer to do their GP page, and allow them to rent the website, for a specified amount per month.
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alanborcic 13 years ago

Speaking of rent-a-site model, what do you put for contact information?
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- blissk 13 years ago
  
  Rent a Site Model still viable EVEN if below Google Places Maps depending on the niche and demand.
  
  You have luxury that google places listings currently don't - Meta Description!
  Make that as enticing as possible so users click on it.
  
  -Anand
  
  Thanks
  
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- Russell Hall 13 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by alanborcic
  
  Speaking of rent-a-site model, what do you put for contact information?
  
  You can set up a Google number or use a service such as Vumber where you can control and track every call and have proof of contact activity to share with your clients or show to prospective clients to prove traffic and conversions.
  
  As far as physical address. You can get yourself a serviced offices address or use a PO Box address (e.g PO Box 729) which you convert to "Suite 729/ bla bla bla".
  
  Hope that helps
  
  Russell
  
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VegasGreg

13 years ago

When you rent the site, integrate the site with the renters Google Places listing for increased results.

If they don't have a GP listing, sell them one with the rental or increase the rental fee and create their listing as an add-on.

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Rob Richards

13 years ago

I agree with Greg.

I am still using the Rent-a-site model and loving it!. I see the lack of a viable GP listing as a no-brainer upsell to a business that isn't on the 1st page of Goo.

Build their GP listing, continue with traditional ranking techniques for the website, add their their website to the GP listing and voila! You'll be at the Top Of The 7 Box!

The key to success here is targeting the right biz to rent the site to. Find one that isn't anywhere near the 1st page for Organic and Google Places and you've got 2 sales in one.

Keep at it!

Rob

Originally Posted by VegasGreg

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Summertime Dress

13 years ago

I see the lack of a viable GP listing as a no-brainer upsell to a business that isn't on the 1st page of Goo.

Build their GP listing, continue with traditional ranking techniques for the website, add their their website to the GP listing and voila! You'll be at the Top Of The 7 Box!

Hey Rob, how do you get around the fact that if the client were to ever drop their website rental, they'd have to also remove it from GP and could potentially affect their GP ranking...do you offer this information as a disclaimer along with the upsell?

Thanks

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MaxReferrals 13 years ago

You'll never game the mighty G with Places. Like someone said here, on-page and off-page play much heavier into it. Places can change, but good components of rank will continue to play a greater factor.
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club20coaching 13 years ago

I would have to agree with one of the statements that was made up above. It's really true, you will not be Google so you really do have to join them. But let's be honest, there are always can be changes within the algorithm of Google and nobody's ever going to understand it so we just have to figure out where Google's had it in join them as they move their. I definitely agree with you though, but you have to hold in mind that recently bing.com has taken about 30% of the search market share and I personally believe this is because when people are searching on Google, they're really looking for articles of information more than just a name and phone number of a business. Does anybody agree with that?
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kenmichaels 13 years ago

Summertime,

I use a model similar to Rob it appears. For me when working with the client I separate the places listing and my lease site. I only target businesses that already have a website and fit a certain criteria. When doing their places listing that is for "their" website. If they stop paying me for their leased site which is a lead capture page they still keep their places listing.
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- Summertime Dress 13 years ago
  
  So, how would you suggest in Bazbo's case...he's got a rental that's ready...what if the prospect also want the GP? Disclaimer or other option?
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
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  WildGale 13 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Summertime Dress
  
  So, how would you suggest in Bazbo's case...he's got a rental that's ready...what if the prospect also want the GP? Disclaimer or other option?
  
  Make them a basic website along with the GP package if they don't already have a website
  
  Thanks
  
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kenmichaels 13 years ago

Well for me I only target businesses that have a website. I find it an easier sell for my other services as well as my lead gen site lease/rental. If they didn't already have a website then I guess in that case you could charge to make them one and tie that places listing in with that like Wildgale suggested.

However, I strongly as in never deal with businesses that don't at least have a website at a minimum. Not saying you or someone else shouldn't I just find it to be a much, much harder sale for me to make.

To try and be more clear with Bazbo's case.... having a rental ready to go. I would find businesses on the 2nd, 3rd,4th etc pages on google that have a site already. I would use either the lead gen if it has a good ranking and getting traffic already that I can show, or I would use having no google places listing as a door opener. I would sell in this example the lead gen page then as a separate upsell I would offer to create a places listing for their business and I would use their main website they already have listed. So no need for a disclaimer after they pay for that it's tied to their website, if they stop paying it still belongs to them. I know others rent the places listing, I chose not to.
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amylimcd

13 years ago

I tested a rent a site model and was worried about the google places listings as well - there are three top listings, then 7 local listings and then my site shows up at the bottom of Page One.

Because GP is out of my control- I just focused on just getting the overall traffic numbers up. What I did was add more pages with related keywords + local modifier.

I do not like to cold call, so I just created a data sheet of the traffic and the keyword searches and wrote a few personalized emails to potential businesses (that were paying for PPC for those keywords).

For several of them, the traffic and keywords definitely got their interest and they were interested in options for leveraging my site for their business. So, I think if you can show targeted traffic, despite Google's local listings, you can create a viable business model.

Amy
PS- Now I am dealing with the page falling on and off page one (I think because of the recent algorithm changes) so I want to work a little more on ranking stability before taking anyone's money. Traffic drops a lot when you fall to Page Two.

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Summertime Dress

13 years ago

Amy (or anyone), what would be the benefit(s) in paying for a rental on page 1 IF the prospect is already paying for PPC traffic on page 1? Wouldn't this be a logical objection?

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hommi_16

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Summertime Dress

Amy (or anyone), what would be the benefit(s) in paying for a rental on page 1 IF the prospect is already paying for PPC traffic on page 1? Wouldn't this be a logical objection?

I think that you can make a couple of arguments to that objection. First of all, with PPC you can ask them how much they spend on it monthly and then you can offer them to rent your site for less than what they are spending on their PPC campaign. Second, it never hurts to have more traffic and running both PPC and having organic results will increase their traffic. Thirdly, if your site is at the top for certain keywords you can convince them to stop paying for those specific keywords (cause they will occupy top spot organic) and focus the PPC on other terms that your site may not be optimized for.

Hope this helps.

Peter

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Jimian 13 years ago

You can still beat 'em by selecting different keywords...
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AppsFromHome

13 years ago

What I have done is targeted niches that do not utilize Google places to rank easily for #1 then rent out ad space to local businesses. This can be done with a little research and takes GP out of the equation. Even for terms related to real estate and homes for sale in a certain area there are NO MAP and NO GP meaning I have a high quality, high traffic site that pleases clients.

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cagwatson 13 years ago

i know this is an older thread so apologies for the bump, but im trying to work out how to price/model my own rent-a-site, can anyone give any tips/advice on how to structure this, particulalry what to charge per ad etc?
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AussieT

13 years ago

Originally Posted by SDotSpells

So do you still use a local modifier e.g. keyword +city?

Could you give a couple of examples?

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Charles Harper 13 years ago

Actually, it is alive and well if you can rank a site above Places.

CT
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crock 13 years ago

I just ranked a clients site above everything except the A spot in google places THIS WEEK. I will be above the A spot soon enough.
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Has Google Places killed the rent a site model?

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