The recent Google Algorithm caused an upheaval in the webmaster spaces all over the Internet. Visit any related forum, and you would see someone or the other complaining about drop in rankings and more. I myself was a victim of the “Vince Change”.My traffic overnight fell by as much as 80%, in spite of the fact that I had not cheated “The Database of Intentions“. I don’t fret anymore about it. It is over.
The question that obviously comes up now is, how can a website grow and thrive in the current situation that Google has created? Any average webmaster would decide to just close shop and walk away in such a situation. It is a normal behavior, because every webmaster cannot afford to become the next brand.
Here is a simple pointer. Every authority website out there started their journey being a nobody. You have to go through the same route too. I refuse to believe in so-called Social Media Guru’s like Jack Humphrey and others who show people pipe dreams about becoming famous and skyrocketing from 0 to 10,000 visitors in a matter of few months. They may have achieved it, but to convince people that they can duplicate the process is nothing but a way to fill their own pockets with undeserving money. Yes, you can definitely do it if you have the resources, mainly finance, or you are exceptionally creative and come up with a genius idea.
Sadly, the average webmaster is nowhere close to both. For the average webmaster, it is a matter of building his/her portfolio one by one/step-by-step. I will attempt to provide a basic blueprint that you can utilize to develop your fortunes online through web content development. It contains the post development steps, assuming you already have a website. Feel free to modify it to your situation.
1. Develop a Goal - I am positive you have heard this before, but notice what I said. I did not say have a goal, but Develop a Goal. Our field is so dynamic that even at 2 A.M in the morning you should be prepared to make a change or an adjustment to your blueprint. Our motto “To Adapt is to Thrive“. I initially wanted to say “To Adapt is to Survive“, but you and I do not want to merely survive. We want to Thrive.
The scenario I am talking comes after you have done your keyword research, decided on the market you want to invade and conquer, etc. Once you know what you want and how you are going to do it (if you do already), set a time frame for each step of your journey. Let the time frame be flexible. If it, for example requires 5 days to prepare the content, extend it by 3 days and make it 8. It helps you avoid disappointments.
2. Content Development – Popular and yes, successful Niche Marketers out there will tell you that it is okay not to update your site and work on the back-end (off-page SEO) to develop a passive source of income. This may have been true till yesterday. In my honest opinion, this will not hold true for long. Google, in my strongest opinion is developing a new meaning and definition to the phrase “Website Authority”. A part of it is the on-going maintenance of your website. Develop content constantly, no matter how slow and how little. Maintain a pattern in your posting, be it daily, bi-weekly or even once a week. Maintain it.
3. Off-page S.E.O – Maybe, I should repeat what Matt Cutts said. Search Engine Optimization is not Spam. Matt Cutts always speaks 50% of what he actually wants to say. So, I guess Search Engine Optimization is not Spam, and you can definitely build backlinks manually, but moderately. Here again, the key is to develop a pattern and stick to it. Also, an important point. For every 1 strong backlink, try and get at least 3-4 weak backlinks. This will maintain the natural picture in Google’s eye for your website. I am not saying, Google is stupid. They are not. There is a limit that they are willing to let you go in your off-page endeavors.the 1:4 ratio should keep it balanced.
Lastly, do not expect a rise in the SERPs in a week, or even a month. Do not concern yourself with it. It will happen when it has to happen. The moment you start thinking about it, your motivations will start shrinking. Human nature.
4. Your Behavior – A very big contributor towards the natural growth of your website. There will be times in your journey, when you will want to push the limit, just once, and then again, and then again, until you push your luck totally. Let this not be the case with you. When a similar situation occurs, remind yourself you are not in this game for short term pocket money, but for long term benefit. Remind yourself you are, through your website, contributing to the overall growth of the Internet as a better place to acquire information.
Bite your tongue, but do not bite your foot. Not sure if you understand that, but simply put, do not make haste. If your initial goal was to establish yourself within a year, then extend it to 2 years; and keep working relentlessly.
I may add to this post when I have something concrete to add. I will be extending the psychological aspect to your success in another post. It is as important, if not as the technical details.
