My only difference with you is that you are pretty heavy into link placement. It just worries me to put this much time and money into a truly long term project and take major risks like that. As careful as you are with footprints, this must be a concern of yours as well?
I'm really not into link placement as much as one would think; for this site in particular I have done little direct to the site although I do have a bunch of Web 2.0s prepped to unleash once I get a fair amount of content up. Maybe a total of 20 links to the whole site.
If you mean interlinking... yes, I'm a big proponent of that and probably should share some of that strategy as that is important. Give me a few days on that and I'll put something together that would make sense and is accurate as to what I do.
1. Do you monetize every page or at the upper levels of the hierarchy are you just trying to establish the structure and build authority for the more specific pages below? And if you are, how would you suggest to monetize the top level pages?
I do monetize every page... many do not have the same looking links, or even the same advertiser, but I almost never put up a page without expecting to make something off of it directly. I do like to mix up the monetization and that is a little extra work but I think it is more natural looking and certainly a better user experience.
2. Do you think it is beneficial or harmful to link from one silo to another if it seems appropriate in the writing? For example, when writing about a GM truck one might mention a Ford truck and link to a page in your Ford silo. Silo structure purists would say not to do that, but I know your theory is be a little bit random in one's approach.
I absolutely think it is beneficial... I know the purist disagree,
and they may be right, but I have seen (relating to your example), pages that talk about Ford trucks, rank for Chevy trucks doing that on my own sites. What I do works though. I would not diss those that think otherwise, but I've seen results from how I operate.
3. Pictures - I have been following this thread since shortly after you started it but I don't recall you mentioning a good source for images. Any thoughts on images when we are dealing with branded product?
I use Google images in the below process but also use shutterstock and istock at times when I am not feeling real parsimonious or not real happy about the Google results. To me, images are part of user experience and can help with the bounce rate so, although I am not the least bit artistic, I like to have them on 99% of the pages on my sites.
4. Love the thread. Would like to see you add some more detail on your link building.
I have not done much as to linking to the site yet but I will give a recap of what is in place in a day or so + talk about how I interlink as well. I don't have set plans as to backlinks usually as I
follow this process generally so knowing what comes next is a little bit of a mystery for me.
One question for you regarding your domain. If you would start with a fresh domain, would you consider having one or more site for 301 purpose, redirecting to your site? and why?
I would consider it, and have done it on many of my sites (I actually did it this AM for an employment site I own), as well as clients, but I do not do it always. If I think the links from the 301 would aid the site, I try it out and wait a few weeks to see the results but I don't always need that kind of boost.
I have to try and test each time before keeping the 301 in place as it is not always beneficial.
