How To Create An Authority Site - Solid Site Foundation

[blackmint]

Very Valuable info.
Rep+

 

[Zso]

Great post mate.

This is roughly the same setup I use for my authority sites.

The only thing here I haven't been able to figure out is the main page issue.

Like take my main site for example - basically just a blog about internet marketing.

Its not about news... but the main factor of my site that brings people to it is the blog... so if I change the main page to be something other than a blog won't that kill my SEO.

Maybe I just need to optimize it better/come up with an awesome design.

Thanks,
Brandon

Hi motzart,

If it's a niche specific site I will create a static homepage that is usually with an image or two, 1000 words of content and links to all the other keyword pages. This is when I build sites on evergreen content and I have static pages for long time.

As in your case, I wouldn't call it an issue, you actually got it right because if you have a blog or news type of site, where content can't be static and articles are posted on a daily basis, then you need to show your last posts on the homepage.

For evergreen content niche sites another idea that would work is to create a static homepage like mentioned above and link to the other keyword pages but also create a blog section where you add longtail targeted articles.

 

[monty505]

nicely done, some of the stuff is really valuable, thanks

 

[KHer0]

Amazing Guide.. Love it. I just have my issues with Wordpress as I like to be in total control over my site. Other than that I like every thing else

So, you start with 60 articles. And added 2 - 3 articles a day till you reach another 200 articles.

You forgot to mention Keyword Research. What your thoughts about it

 

[Aty]

Nice share, appreciate the effort.

+rep

 

[tom.toykam]

Absolutely epic post. Thanks!

 

[Emp1!]

This information is extra valuable:

A trick that might increase your earnings by ten times is to make use of the exit-intent technology. When a visitor tries to close the page it's possible to say you lost it. However, that's one of the best moments to show a pop-up. The exit-intent technology detects when a visitor runs with the pointer over the close or back button. You can show them an opt in form (promise them a freebie if they sign up) or offer them something you think they might be interested in - such as more info regarding the topic, interesting facts, attractive images, a call to action... Be creative, if it's done right you can earn good money out of yesterdays lost visitors. Read more about it at BounceExchange. Search for a wp plugin that uses this new technology, I've coded myself a nice piece of plugin but I'm sure you can find something good for this by using Google.

I strongly suggest people here to look at this site (and look at the source code). This share only worth +rep (to the OP, not me).

OP, would it be too much to ask to see one of your website?

If not, np, I still love this thread

 

[Zso]

Valuable information all in one place, thanks +9.

Regarding content, do you go for evergreen niches or whats hot at some point? Or you combine both?

I'm only looking at high potential keywords, if I can't get it in the range of earnings that I want then I will just skip it.

Any niche can be good as long as it satisfies your earnings expectation. With the longtail strategy you can get traffic from all niches, be it low competition or high competition.

 

[ok888]

Wow very detailed


I cant wait to read more about this and I would love to take a look at one of your successful sites

Im in the MFA game as well for quite awhile

Thanks a ton for sharing I hope you ll keep sharing

 

[krishnacode360]

Nice share . Really this post has given me a solid approach towards building an authority site. I am following 80% of the steps mentioned by ZSO. This post has added me more info so that I can make my sites even better than the existing ones. I have ranked niches sites by building web2.0's & authority sites by only posting content about 600 words unique SEO articles.

I have few doubts.
1) I dont know this coding and all. I am using word fence plugin for protecting my site from hackers. Is it enough to secure my site?

2)For news sites how do you build backlinks for main keywords aart from long tail keywords which rank easily.

3)My sites have few errors & warnings in W3C . I dont know how solve them. How can I clear those warnings?

 

[Emp1!]

OP I really want to thank you. You make me work for the 2 or 3 last evening.

I moved all my DNS on InternetBs (seems more reliable than other reg.) and started to move my websites on a new host (a cloud server). I went from very very busy server with loading > 6 sec (I let it happen in the first place...) to less than 2 sec (no joke). I am pretty happy with this result since they load adsense too...

I knew nothing about Linux and put it together in 2 or 3 days. It is very easy to do it and I recommend people which do not want to play with Linux to TRY and DO IT. Loading time and hosting cost are 10 times better now. Google some keywords like linux, nginx, mysql, php 5.4 to find awesome tutorii to get you started.

I also took time to install a valid w3c template (studiopress default) and created a pretty basic sub-template. Very, very basic work here. I replaced my 15 plugins lists by yours. It does the same job more or less.

I also changed how my Azon Aff. websites work: rather than using very hard to configure (and impossible to maintain) plugin that "check the price and product availability on amazon", I replaced it with a BIG BUTTON that let Amazon do the work (simply pointing to a search query on amazon with "title of the website + title of the post"). It is 100% automatic. Also AdSense integration is now 100% automatic (im using the first template you provided).

I also find the "BounceExchange" technology and will try to create the plugin this evening. By the way, the firm behind BounceExchange made an IPO for $1.25m. They are very smart since this technology is just a 40 lines JS + some back-office interface.

And last but not least, please, make another thread OP

 

[djadstar]

Brilliant article. Lots of people seem to go for the vanity keywords, long tail is the way forward especially with hummingbird. Most long tail you will have no idea you are targeting yet start ranking for it. That's how you know you've done a good job. Good content is the key, produce good content and the money will come.

Brilliant guide by the way

 

[brooktroutballer]

Well done! I learned a few things myself. I need all the tips I can get after a hard day yesterday of being bitch slapped by penguin. Will put some of these tips to use when/if I have to rebuild my sites.
Rep+ added

 

[Bucketbot]

What do you think about premium CDN's like MAXCDN? Is something like that worth it for a wordpress site that doesn't load very fast?

The free cloudflare hasn't been that great at all. It more or less shits out too often.

 

[T2tkid]

I have added thanks and +rep, but i felt it is not enough for this valuable information you have shared here. I have saved this in a notepad incase it ever get lost. And if i ever get enough money to build one money making authority website. I know where to run to.
Thank you very much!

 

[Emp1!]

@BucketBot, you should be able to handle 100 simultaneous "clients" (connected users) with $20 month server. If you have poor performance with few simultaneous hits, you should work on your server before updating to max CDN.

You can profit from the awesome promotion run by amazon: 1 year of EC2 (cloud server) for free.

About Max CDN: really good bang for your buck (if your server is OK).

 

[foodtrip]

Amazing guide. +rep

I just made a copy of this post on my hard drive. Very very good information.

 

[Bucketbot]

You can profit from the awesome promotion run by amazon: 1 year of EC2 (cloud server) for free.

Thanks for the heads up on that Azon cloud deal. Load time hovers around 3-4 secs without a CDN. I think a paid service might cut that in half.

 

[GamingOn]

I would say Wordpress SEO by Yoast > All In One SEO Pack

But mainly because a trick I do the allin one seo pack puts capitals for my tags and that messes up the trick.

 

[Freeopkiller]

Excellent Post Op. Thank you for taking the time to post and share this information. Looking forward to starting my own, great foundation. Thanks.. +rep