VERY interesting thread you have started!
Understand that I am a noobie, so the questions may seem amateurish but I am a humble man.
On a brand new site that will use both curation and original content, would you suggest what type of SEO I start with as to properly make best use of your services after google locates me? My intent is to use YT & FB concurrently along with RSS after I have a few pages (10-20) of original content. Monetization would be Amazon and possibly a suitable quality CPA. This is not primarily intended as a review site, but more information and commentary/opinion. However there will be review to support the monetization on a +/- 20% of pages intentional schedule.
Obviously I am 'picking your brain', but with good intention for your support efforts to have good results. As stated earlier in the thread you can supply original quality content: I do feel a need to edit/veto anything that is actually going on my own site.
Am I too off the mark from your point of view?
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When starting with new site don't expect you will rank it (or make profit) in less then 3 motnhs.
Google doesn't want brand new sites to rank so fast. You need to prove them that you are doing quality (constant quality) over
time. It means adding new content and backlinks slowly on daily/weekly bases.
I'm talking about top niches and not some long tails that nobody targets and that can make just few cents per day.
In beginning try to use only unique content, try to have longer articles (500+ or 800+ words), with some images, etc..
Name images with your keywords (keyword.jpg), use keyword ALT tags..etc...ONPAGE SEO...
Don't add amazon or CPA before site is ranked well !!!
First you will show google that site is made just to make money.
And 2nd you will not make any money as it's not ranked.
Why adding duplicate content?
There is no reason for it at all.
If you want to save on paying for articles, then your business plan is not good.
You need to invest if you want to profit.
All new google is about adding value to internet and giving value to visitors.
So, write unique quality articles that will help visitor to solve some problems and as solution recommend amazon products.
That will not just help in ranking site in SE, but also bust conversion rate on page and give possibility that visitors will share your content around.
Add few unique articles to site, submit it to several top social bookmarking sites, wait few days, add one more and bookmark it (just with few bookmarks), make twitter profile, facebook page, buy FB likes for that page, twitter followers, retwitts...
That is how site naturally becomes popular. Add more content, wait...
Do some press distribution...add more content...
And then is time to start with link building...