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Podcast episode number 14 is now live on iTunes. In this podcast episode I go over a survey I conducted to determine if my readers and customers were more interested in niche or authority websites and subsequently provide my own analysis between the two options and explain which direction I’m heading with my business model.
The results of the survey are in line with what I expected to see, but you’ll have to listen to the episode to find out what people are most interested in.
Items Discussed In This Episode:
Niche Websites
For the purposes of this podcast and to provide clarity overall. My definition of a niche website is one with 5 to 20 articles written (or outsourced) for a quickly built website that primarily targets one keyword. That keyword is typically used in the domain name as well.
Authority Websites
Higher quality websites that require more on going content creation or maintenance. These websites are designed to be the best in their niche by differentiating in one or multiple ways from their competitors. For example I built an authority site and sold it in a six figure deal see details here: “How I sold a website for six figures”
Niche Authority Websites
Niche websites that are built with more in mind than a single keyword, quick content creation and a gaming of Google’s search engines. These websites don’t require as frequent updates but embody many of the qualities found in authority websites such as high quality content, design etc but don’t typically require on going content creation and maintenance.
Google Algorithm Update History via SEOmoz
AdsenseFlippers exact match domain update
Niche Pursuits results from the exact match domain update
How to buy websites – real life example mentioned in podcast
How To Get The Podcast:
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Download the podcast MP3 here (Right Click + Save As)
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When you’re done listening please leave me an honest rating or review on iTunes – I really appreciate it and it helps to get more people to listen to the podcast. Currently each podcast episode receives well over 10,000 downloads and I’d love to get that up to 15,000+ downloads!
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{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
Definitely it pays in the long run to setup authority sites.
I think that now the best strategy is to build a website that is “the place to go” in a particular niche.
btw. do you think the addition of a forum to a blog would raise the level of authority of a website?
Ivan Tsukev recently posted..Синдромът „шарени бонбонки“ в Интернет и защо Pinterest е загуба на време (за сега)
I’m all about the Authority websites – glad to see 58% of people agree! Thanks for another excellent podcast Chris. Keep it up!
(P.S. just crossed 1000 email subscribers on my blog thanks to your help, three months before my goal! Thank you!)
Great podcast Chris.
Didn’t hear much about “niche authority” websites in the podcast though… How is that different from a pure authority website?
Michael recently posted..Targeting Your Marketing Message and Planning Your Ad Strategy
Hey Chris.
I appreciate the podcast topic. I’m at a similar crossroads myself and trying to psych myself up to do an authority site after years of success with niche sites. The irony is that I already have a couple of authority (passion) sites, but they don’t make much money. I was earning much more off my niche sites before the algo updates. I’m a bit hesitant to “build it and wait and see” with an authority site –it takes so much more work upfront with no guarantees. But I know it’s a safer bet than a niche site these days.
Celeste recently posted..Buy Leapfrog LeapPad Bundles for Christmas 2012 updated Sat Oct 27 2012 7:44 pm EDT
It’s always interesting to hear what direction you are taking Chris. I was one of the ones that voted ‘authority site’ as I have recently decided to move away from micro niche sites and towards authority sites too. Building up one in the male fitness space currently, it’s so far proving much more interesting than micro niche sites!
Daryl Mander recently posted..Authority-Niche Site Creation: 4 Lessons Learned
Interesting podcast Chris. It’s a good topic to debate. I’m new in this online world, I learn a lot of things in the past months from guys like you and i start to take some action. At one point I was just wondering what to do, to start with some niche sites t make a quick dollar or to go directly with an authority website.
So, glad to listen to your podcast because it kinda helped me to decide…I think I will take the authority websites way. In my opinion it will pay off on a long term.
I still wanna get involved a little with the Amazon. I saw that you make some nice money on this market. What would you advise me? To try it or not?
Anyways, thanks for the podcast and keep it up with the good job.
Great, great points in here Chris. I think everything is coming to a head, and we all need to stand back and think about what the end goal is when building out a site is. Are we building out a real business? Or a “stream of income” that could dry up depending on the shifting winds of the internet?
I definitely think when you build up “niche authority” or “authority” sites, success builds up and cascades on itself. Whereas building up smaller “niche” sites creates ever-growing and cascading chaos.
Jeff Carson recently posted..WFAP 004: Interview With Richard Phillips, Author of Rho Agenda Trilogy – A Meteoric Kindle Success Story
Great podcast. I’m really glad that you explained the difference between Niche and Authority sites. I’ve been reading various forums and blogs in this space for a 6-9 months, and no one, imo, has explained it as easily as you did.
Given your switch to a more “labor intensive” style of website, the authority site, in terms of income are you focusing on
- building your ad income with the major ad networks?
- cold calling/cold emailing businesses within the niche for ad placement?
- promoting your own products within the niche to the traffic you get?
- being an e-commerce portal and making affiliate/ppc style of income?
Also, given that you do have some failed niche sites, can you convert those sites to “niche authority” sites by adding more content?
Thanks
Chris
I really like your take on what an authority site means to you when it comes to promoting it. Building a “real” marketing plan is definitely an important aspect of an authority site, not just throwing back-links at it.
As someone that has successfully built both niche and authority sites I enjoy your take on the current Niche vs Authority discussion.
Jon @ Authority Website Income recently posted..Authority Site Monetization Strategy Rev0
i think niche website as we know em will die out slowly. in the end there will be small authority sites (which need not that much work and updates) and big authority sites (which need a lot of work and updates) like u said in ur podcast.
the thing with niche sites atm is that u need more and more time for less and less money in topics that don’t even interest you. so at some point they will not be economical anymore, even with the most specialized programs and tricks that r available.
so what is the difference between the old niche sites and the new small authority sites? i think it will be the quality. they will not be built for search engines alone anymore, they will be built for humans (and with good seo). they won’t just have content to have content, they will have great content for humans (that helps em or that they can enjoy). they won’t just have backlinks to have backlinks, they will have backlinks that humans click because they want to know more (aka “real” marketing).
It’s definitely getting tougher. I’m finding that almost all of the content I’ve put out in the last month hasn’t ranked. It’s like Google is stuck or has frozen their index. Sigh. I guess all we can do is keep on at it.
Rose recently posted..How does Zujava work?
Hi Chris- looking forward to this new direction you are taking with authority websites. So appreciate your straightforward and practical approach. Feel this strategy can also help us serve our clients outside of this industry expand their businesses, as well.
Great podcast Chris and it really helps me a lot. It is really important to consider on how to build a niche for your website. Thank you so much for sharing this!
Wenie Langacre recently posted..Celebrate Our Australian Heritage with Heritage Doors
Hey Chris,
I’m definitely going for authority sites – broader in scope and can potentially reach out to more people. Sounds more exciting at the very least.
Anyway it seems like these days alot of online marketers are going the ‘video’ approach (i.e. posting videos on their blogs in addition to content and podcasts etc). What do you think about that and will you be going in that direction as well?
Best,
Jack
Jack @ RichJack.com recently posted..Should you borrow money, get loans, to go to college?
I enjoyed the Podcast. I run a few Amazon Turnkey Style websites, I’m trying to make authoritative. Only making nickles, dimes and pennies with them. I’ll have to SEO tweek them, get more ad/social media exposure and post high ranking keyword articles. But, I need money fast.
Therefore I’m learning more about niche sites for the moment. At the same time, I want to make more money from Amazon. Currently looking into Azonsnichetheme.com via CB Engine.com
Bruce recently posted..The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich
wirelesshdmi.net is not in top pages anymore. is reviewzon the reason? whats the new strategy?
Just found your website Chris, and listened to your interesting podcast, my interest in affiliate marketing is only weeks old and still trying to get my head around the different ways to go forward.
I have a stock photography website and am looking at the best way to increase the income (very little money in the photos) still lots more to read on your site, thanks for the content!
Chris
I really enjoy listening to the podcast and find you normally give me ideas/thoughts I hadn’t thought of. Hope your planning more podcasts as I enjoy listening to them on my way to work (I haven’t found managed to earn the big bucks on my site just yet)
Fingers crossed more podcasts are on the way soon
Ed
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