I started a Useful Niche Authority Website late last year as a case study for others to follow and also for me to use as a blueprint to replicate. I purposely chose a niche I felt pretty sure would be successful so that others could create their own niches and passive income.
If you have been following, you know my site did OK out of the gate, making $80 in one of its first months, but then pretty much went nowhere for a few months due in part to Geo-targeting and also my lack of action.
Today I am super excited to share that there have been some very positive developments.
The Good News
The Site Will Easily Achieve Its Goal of $72/hr For The Hours I Put Into it!
In February it earned $95 – But since then traffic has tripled.
$300/month = No Worries (Or is there?)
Just a couple weeks ago the site was nowhere to be seen on Google.com.au… But then it suddenly cracked the top ten of Google in my key market – Australia for some keywords. I predict this should easily achieve my goal of $300/month. Or more importantly, earning $72/hour for the hours I put into it.
The Bad News: I believe I have attracted a follower in the exactly the same niche by writing about it here on this blog. At the time of writing he has organised a lower rate with my only affiliate.
Unfortunately this will likely result in reduced earnings but perhaps some good will result. In a tweet he indicated that he had plans to talk about his success. I hope so because this would at the very least validate the selection of my niche.
To give him the benefit of the doubt, I suppose it is possible there has been some remarkable coincidences – but regardless I thought I should tell you I have some competition that may impact results.
Lets get stuck into what seems to have worked for me so far, what failed and what I am doing;
The Foundation
I love building useful authority websites. The real keyword here is USEFUL.
Call me a scaredy-cat if you like but turnkey sites that can easily be replicated and struck down by Google for unknown reasons do actually scare the hell out of me. Kudos to you if this can work for you.
In business terms Warren Buffett calls it an “Economic Moat.” Think about building a castle. For defense purposes, castles had moats around them, separating them from the rest of the world. The bigger the moat, the better. This is true for economics and web based business alike. The larger the moat the greater the competitive advantage.
How to Build a Website with a Moat
I have talked about it at length before, but everything I see so far has further convinced me this is the right path to take. For me this all begins with a website’s or a blog’s utility or usefulness.
In summary, if you build something that people love, you get powerful links and do better in search engines with less effort – it’s that simple.
For more information on this, I wrote a post about finding an online niche based on what people love – and what you love – after receiving an e-mail from Irwin, a fellow “cubicle free” guy.
So far, my niche site hasn’t had many of these powerful links. Partially because it hasn’t even been on the map and partially due to my lack of action because I have been focusing on building a network of VAs who can take all of my websites to the next level.
That said, I do plan on getting these links for my useful niche website, as I will explain, but before that I want to tell you what I think worked.
Keywords
Much can be, and is, made of keywords, backlinks and SEO. It is true that it is easier to rank quickly and well if you do some keyword research. I also think this is something I got at least partially right. If we use the castle analogy again, this is like building your moat next to a rock quarry so that you have the tools to easily build a strong castle.
HOWEVER, even if you are in a super competitive industry it does not mean you can’t build a strong castle and rule supreme over all your lands; it just means that you have to be really useful and work at getting the links.
So, what should you do?
For me personally I want to make sure I have the usefulness part right first and foremost, but I also build some keyword competitiveness into my decision when choosing a niche.
Here’s the deal for you:
- If you want fast results, build a small moat with greater emphasis on keywords.
- If you want a roof over your head long into the future, build a big moat, placing greater emphasis on being useful.
Link Building
There is no doubt that high-quality links help. Interestingly I have also learned that you can very much still “game the system.” using more advanced techniques.
However, if I look at the strongest backlinks for almost all sites in this niche, they are not organic links but they are very well disguised from machines.
This has placed me in a moral dilemma: Play the gamers’ game, or a better game?
So far I am working on taking the highest ground possible – a better game – but I have to confess that my resolve was sorely tested, for a month or two.
What I have been doing
- Directories
- Guest Posting
- Random links (that make sense) from sites I own
I have submitted to some high-end directories – only six or so – with the help of my VA, and I will probably continue to seek more. I think this is a valid, although relatively low value, way to get some traction, but in the early days you just need to get noticed by Google if you have chosen your niche well enough.
Right now, however, I am working on guest posting with the help of my VAs. This should result in some very high-quality backlinks and traffic growth.
For me this is a two-step process:
- Researching and identifying the best opportunities with the help of a Generalist VA
- Publishing specialist high-end content with the help of Bloggers
Although very achievable, guest posting on quality sites is harder than it seems, which is why I have offered some pretty solid remuneration. In addition to some hand holding on how to get guest posting opportunities, I am also offering $100 to my two bloggers to get a guest post spot published for RSA Courses Online. My goal is to get five of six very high quality relationships (and links) established. The bloggers whom I have employed also have their own blogs and they have experiences perfectly aligned with the blogs we are targeting.
I see guest posting as the surest way that I can get awesome, relevant links, and I am throwing the kitchen sink at this. I am probably paying more than I need but I feel very confident that my investment of $200 – $400 or so will have an ROI measured in months.
Content
Another widely held belief is that you should generate shit loads of content. I do not think this is always necessary. No doubt the more content you have, the more chance you have of getting picked up in long tail searches.
That’s cool and the old way of thinking was, job done.
But here’s the problem:
Nowadays, someone landing on your site can be detrimental to your search results if they bounce. Google sees that, and it can mean game over. But, if you manage to grab their attention and they stay and make you some money – game on.
What should you do?
Whatever is right for your visitors.
What I have been doing
The niche I have chosen is pretty straight forward. I essentially seek to answer one question – Which training course will I do? I have slowly added a few pages over the last few months, and I will continue on this path. Right now it is super interesting to see what is actually working.
I have not worried too much about trying to rank for keywords. Rather, I focus on what people are searching and how can I help them.
The Google Autocomplete tool feature has been helpful but in the early days I also did some keyword research to make sure there was value in this niche and on the surface this seems to be working. In the early days all I want is highly targeted traffic that generates some traffic so that I can build authority for the site.
As the site gets older and I can see how traffic is flowing through the site, I will shift my focus on tightening up the conversion funnel. But for now I need to just assess what is happening already.
Bottom Line – hourly rate projections
By the end of next month I will know what the site has earned from all this lovely new traffic but its pretty easy to see that my goal will be achieved very soon.
Time Spent: (Budgeted hours prior to launch shown in brackets)
- Research into ideas and niche selection – 10 hours [10]
- Defining problems and solutions I could offer through the website – 5 hours [3]
- Additional checks to ensure potential to make money – 2 hours [0]
- Writing initial pages of content before launch (6 Pages) – 21 hours [30]
- Build initial website (AWeber) – 9 hours [10]
- Launch – 2 hours [0]
- Logo (99 Designs) – 2 hours
- Adding additional pages after launch (3 pages) – 19 hours
- Adding Video – 5 hours
- Squidoo Page – 3 hours
- Marketing – 25 hours (includes setting up Twitter and Google+)
Since Launch
- Looking for Affiliates – 2 hours
- New articles and update video – 12 hours
- Link building – 10 hours
- Managing VAs – 3 hours
Total Time Spent = 127 hours
Costs to Date:
- Hosting for one year (Bluehost) – $53.94 (shared with this blog)
- Premium Theme (Studiopress) – $39.99 (shared with this blog)
- Article (oDesk) – $6.66
- Logo (99Designs) – $99
- Content – (oDesk) $15
- Editing – (Elance) $12
- Guest Post Research – $24
Total Costs = $210.60 + 130 hours of my time
To work out the hourly rate I will earn for the hours I put into the site, I look at the projected earnings for the site and then apply a life of three years.
So, based on $300/month for 3 years:
300 x 3 x 12 months = $10,800
The $300/month looks highly attainable from what I know at this point. As you can see the total costs are a rounding error in the scheme of things.
My time is what is significant here and from now on I will be outsourcing, so that will help. But my costs will start to become slightly significant.
My budgeted time was 150 hours ($10,800 x 150 hours = $72/hr) – I think with another 20 hours of work and $300-$500 on Guest Posts and Editing, it is possible I will have a solid foundation.
My plan is just to spend a couple hours managing the VAs from here on out and to write some more content.
Apart from writing content for the site, like a host at a party, my plan is to make sure that the drinks are flowing and good things are happening from here on.
Conclusion
With website building, as with castle building, quality wins. Dig your moat deep and wide and take time to get it right if you want it to last. No castle was built in a day, so a little patience can go a long way in helping your niche website stand the test of time.
I also learned that if you give the keys to the whole village, you will likely get some guests.
Want to make some real money online yourself through niche websites that are useful?
I really want to help you with your niche.
I am think about creating a private group where I can be more revealing and give you one-on-one assistance. At this stage I am planning to charge a fee for this service but if you email me in the next 72 hours I will guarantee you free access to the group.
Email me if you are interested in joining this group quinn @ CubicleFree.com Subject:NICHE MASTERMIND GROUP and tell me what you hope to learn.
Tell me what you think.
Is it worth continuing this case study?
Would you prefer one-on-one assistance and more transparency?
What would you like to know about from this case study?
Thank you so much for reading! Now I want to hear from you – email or comments please.
Sammy says
Hi Quinn, Thanks for the update – it is good to see things on the positive side. Do you think niche selection is most important or is it the other elements you mention here? I am trying to make some money so i appreciate your advice. Sam
cubiclefree says
Hi Sam, Thank you for the comment and question! If you are trying to build a long term profitable business then niche selection is highly important and also related. Check out the article I wrote about for niche selection – https://www.cubiclefree.com/finding-your-profitable-online-niche/ – it is what I used to decide on this niche. Quinn
Big Mike says
Quinn,
you cant worry about competition as im sure you realise. Just have to learn from it an move on. Keep on trucking bro! Good stuff here!
cubiclefree says
Thanks Big Mike – Thats the right attitude! Truthfully, sometimes wonder if I was a little silly 🙂 but your comments make it all worth while. Quinn
Theodore Nwangene says
I’m happy with you stats so far Quinn,
You’re really trying. I know that once you continue providing value, the competition will not have much impact on you.
Just keep the ball rolling and i assure you that you’ll soon arrive at your goal and even exceed it.
Kudos man.
cubiclefree says
Thanks Theodore! You are right.
More Value = More Income Potential for sure.
How are you doing with your site?
Quinn
Untemplater says
I agree producing quality content is worth the time and effort. There’s so much competition on the web these days because the barriers to entry are so low.
cubiclefree says
Thanks for the comment Sydney. I recently discovered your blog and I love it!
You raise a good point about low barriers to entry.
There is also so much opportunity to add value too that I really think its the only way to go.
Quinton Hamp says
Dude! I love how you track your hours! Time=Money.
I’d hate to know how many hours of mine the last Penguin update destroyed. But, hey, it was a learning experience for me.
Good luck! Hey, at least if you know what works, you can replicate it easier on your next project!
– The other, less famous, Q
cubiclefree says
Thanks Q! 🙂 Really glad to hear that you like the Time = Money focus.
Thats also why I love outsourcing too.
I am definitely going through a steep learning curve as well post Panda and Penguin but the really cool part is that things that work now make much better sense.
Quinn
Irwin says
Quinn,
SOLID post – I love the analogy about a moat and a website, true indeed!
Also, your breakdown of ‘time spent’ is valuable because it reminds us how valuable our time REALLY is. Most of us (me included) don’t initially associate our time with money in the beginning of a project such as building a website and it’s easy to forget sometimes.
It appears things are going great with your VA which is fantastic! Speaking of VA’s, I’m going to start my search for one shortly and I’m going to follow your guide to make it happen. It’s great when you use a quality product to help solve a problem, but it’s even better when you know the person that made it is trustworthy and used it firsthand to get great results.
It’s always a pleasure reading your updates. Talk to you soon.
Irwin
cubiclefree says
Thanks for the comment Irwin.
Terrific to hear you are using the “5 Steps”! The results I am getting are simply amazing.
There are some other hidden benefits I have not spoken about;
1) They help you to focus on the right things (by defining the scope for each activity)
2) Accelerate successes and fails (fails lead to success of course)
Love your point about the importance of being seen as trustworthy. This is a big focus for me in all my sites now and I am really only just learning how to achieve it. I do think it is a game changer too.
Quinn