Back when I first started Internet marketing, I had a number of micro niche sites set up.
If you’re a brand newbie to all this, a micro niche site is simply a website that focuses on a specific keyword and has only a handful of pages. There are no regular updates.
For the most part it’s set and forget.
Pre-Panda days these sites were crazy easy to rank on the first page of Google. And you could easily be raking in $$$ in no time. How? Through affiliate sales and advertising.
The key was to find a long tail keyword with a good number of monthly searches and low competition.
After Google unleashed their cuddly beasts of affiliate destruction, I pretty much lost all my first page ranks for the microsites I had.
Fortunately for me the foundation of my online ventures has always been to position myself as a product vendor.
Anyway, there are two schools of thought when it comes to micro niche sites.
Many marketers claim they still work to great effect. Churning out $1000+ paychecks per month from a single site.
And it doesn’t take much time, money or effort to set up.
Purchase a domain, get hosting, set up WordPress and pay a freelancer a small sum to write a few articles for you.
But there’s a risk involved that I feel is completely out of your control.
And that’s Google. With a micro niche site your income is dependent on the latest algorithm update.
Should they find that your content sucks and doesn’t deliver value, and that you’re only online to make money… Bam. It’s gone.
That’s why I like to look at the bigger picture.
Becoming An Authority
Rather than spending time on micro niche sites, I shifted to an authority site. This blog.
By doing so I’m able to accomplish several things:
1. Screw Google
With an authority site you don’t have to depend on Google to get a good rank. You don’t have to fear their next algorithm update and potential slap. You’re delivering quality content and creating real backlinks. No spammy crap. No blackhat tricks.
And as long as you continue on this path, Google will be more than happy to keep you onboard.
Remember, their goal is to improve their user experience. That means showing them only websites that answer the users’ search query. As long as your site is in line with that goal, you’ve got nothing to worry about.
2. Genuinely help others
Now the posts on this blog are targeted at delivering value to both aspiring and established internet marketers based on my personal experience. I don’t claim to be an expert in anything. I simply share my knowledge.
If it has affected you positively in any way, then I’m happy. If not, then, well, 🙁
3. Build Relationships
Through this site, whether you’re a passive reader or active commenter, you’re able to get to know me. Whether or not you want me to get to know you is totally in your hands. I’ve connected with many people who have found me through this blog, who have gone on to be good friends and even profitable business partners. Whatever it is, having an authority site allows readers to connect with you. And as we all know, people only do business with people they like, know and trust.
4. Establish my personal brand
Prior to this blog, I was kinda underground. People found out about me through people who knew people who knew me. Not much of a reach. But now I’m pretty much “out there” for public consumption. And because of that…
5. Increase conversions & sales
Do I have to explain this?
Look, building an authority site takes time and effort. But unless you wanna be running around like a headless chicken the next time Google releases Kitten, Puppy and Honey Badger, you need to position yourself as an authority.
Because when you become an authority in your niche, people will come to you.
Rather than looking for customers, customers will be looking for you. Asking for the release of your next product. Pre-ordering your stuff. Taking action on whatever it is you want them to take action on.
It’s a long-term plan. Just like list building. That will pay off and bring you huge returns in the future.
