Creating an SEO strategy for an affiliate website is different when you do it back then than you do it now. At present, it is actually harder to get a ranking for an affiliate-oriented website. If you could go back in time and explain the things that you need to do to rank in the 2012 search engine results pages to the things you should do as an affiliate manager in 1998, it would definitely be a culture shock for you.
Affiliate marketing has definitely evolved and its evolution is not technology-based but is really based on fundamentals. It is actually strategy based. But the question is: how do you create an affiliate strategy that has already evolved? From time to time, specifics will definitely change but there are some standards that remain the same in spite of the same topic or niche.
Have a Brand-able Domain
Certainly, you must get keywords in there if possible. However, with the emphasis on brands today in Google algorithm, you don’t need to have another keyword-laden domain. You will need a very unique name if you are expecting for Google to throw the branding signals which they are looking for.
Very Unique Content
“Technically” unique content and “conceptually” unique content is different from each other from a user perspective as far as search engines are concerned. You have to learn the difference and place your content firmly on the conceptually unique side. Social sites indicate that no one wants to share about “cheap widgets but instead they want to share “14 things you never knew you could do with widgets.”
User Generated Content
The web right now has the ability for users to leave reviews. It goes a long way to add value and offer up unique content that their website has. Blog comments are a great way for users to engage, creating the user-based signals of a popular site that is well-loved by Google. There are many websites out there that are willing to allow users to have a voice. You just need to be one of them because people will eventually go to some places that will allow them to interact.
Creating POD or Point of Difference
Many people think that Google doesn’t like affiliate sites, which is not true. What Google doesn’t like is crappy affiliate sites that do not adjust their site-building strategies since 1998.
To build an affiliate site that does not only survive the current (as well as future) search engine algorithms and also flourished in them means creating a brand which offers valuable content and gives consumers a chance to say their piece.
It gives you a chance to create opportunities in link building and social strategies that will not be available with the old affiliate sites. You need a solid SEO strategy that concentrates on making your affiliate-based site a very valuable resource for information, products and services in your niche.
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