In this article: - Big brands dominate product review SEO rankings, but smaller independent affiliate sites can still rank well and receive substantial traffic. - Diversifying revenue sources, including subscriptions and advertising, can help businesses achieve long-term success and stability in the online space. - Amazon dominates a significant percentage of product review search results, but affiliate sites can still compete and rank well. - High-quality backlinks are crucial for search ranking success, but even lower-rated domains can succeed with the right content and strategy. - Optimizing individual pages for specific key phrases is more effective than homepage optimization. - While .com is the dominant domain extension, alternative extensions can still rank well and offer unique branding opportunities. - Exact-match domains are not as prevalent in search results as they used to be, and brandability is crucial for such domains. - Content marketing is critical for gaining visibility, credibility, and higher rankings in search results in the affiliate space.
Have you ever wondered what drives the success of top product review sites? How do they dominate search engine results, and what strategies are they using to stay ahead of the competition?
As an avid SEO and digital marketing enthusiast, I couldn’t resist diving deep into the world of product review SEO. I wanted to uncover the secrets behind these online powerhouses. Inspired by Greg Allsop’s incredible findings, this summary distills his insights.
In this summary, we’ll explore the top domains in the industry, the surprising impact of Amazon on search rankings, and the jaw-dropping success stories of affiliate marketers. Are you ready to uncover the hidden insights, trends, and tactics that make these sites soar above the rest?
SEO Insights for Review Sites
The article talks about a study that was done to find out which websites show up first when people search for product reviews online.
The study looked at 10,000 search results and found that big websites like Forbes and news sites usually show up first. But, there are still some smaller websites that appear in the search results.
Some key findings from the analysis include:
- The youngest ranking domain in the analysis was just 31 days old.
- Three brands, DotdashMeredith, Hearst, and Future, control 40 of the top 100 domains.
- The fifth most popular domain extension was .co, followed by .io and .digital.
- The top 100 domains, which comprised 1.1% of the sites in the analysis, held 70% of the first-place rankings.
- 141 of these independent affiliate sites receive more than 100,000 visitors per month from Google, according to Ahrefs.
- 47 independent affiliates receive more than 1 million visitors per month from search engines.
- The average number of visitors these 157 content-focused sites receive from Google is around 1.3 million per month.
This indicates that major brands dominate the affiliate SEO landscape, but there is still room for niche affiliate sites to rank well.
The study also found that some independent affiliate websites can get many visitors from Google. One example is Gear Patrol, which reviews backpacks, watches, and motorcycle boots. Another example is Smoked BBQ Source, which is about grilling and smoking meat.
These examples demonstrate that independent affiliate sites can still rank well and receive substantial traffic. This is even though the majority of top-ranking domains are owned by large site networks and public companies.
The article also talks about Wirecutter, a New York Times website. They make money through affiliate marketing, which means they get paid when people buy products they recommend.
Yet, Wirecutter has some other ways of making money not just affiliate marketing…
I. Wirecutter’s Record Quarter and Diverse Revenue Sources
Did you know that the NYTimes-owned Wirecutter just had its most successful quarter ever? This quarter generated 40% of NYTimes’ total affiliate revenue. It contributed significantly to the ‘Other revenue’ category, which is the income generated by a company from sources not part of its core business operations.
What’s the secret behind their success, you ask?
Well, it’s all about having diverse revenue sources, and Wirecutter has mastered the art of leveraging both subscriptions and advertising to reach new heights.
But there’s more to it than that. Their record-breaking quarter was fueled by a highly successful holiday shopping season, driving a massive influx of affiliate revenue.
While they didn’t disclose the exact amount from Wirecutter, it contributed to an impressive $72M ‘Other revenue’ segment.
Can you imagine the potential for your own online ventures when you diversify your revenue streams like that?
Speaking of diversifying revenue streams, one highly lucrative avenue to explore is leveraging your YouTube channel to generate substantial organic revenue. Find out how to optimize your channel and monetize your content effectively in our comprehensive guide on ‘How To Turn Your YouTube Channel Into Your Most Profitable Organic Revenue Stream?‘
Takeaway 1 on the importance of diversifying revenue sources to achieve long-term success and stability in the online space: By leveraging both subscriptions and advertising, along with a focus on affiliate revenue, a business can maximize its earnings potential and be more resilient to market changes.
II. Yahoo’s Product Review Participation
Yahoo may not be the first name that comes to mind when thinking of product review sites, but they’ve quietly entered the space with their In the Know brand.
Launched in 2020, In the Know covers a wide range of topics, including entertainment trends and beauty product updates. But they also delve into product recommendations, like their list of the most affordable knife sets on Amazon.
Many In The Know recommendation pieces don’t use review keywords, yet they still capture searchers’ attention.
So, what can you learn from Yahoo’s product review foray? It’s simple: a subtle approach can yield incredible results.
Takeaway 2: Even subtle approaches to content creation and keyword usage can have a significant impact in the product review space. By understanding your target audience’s needs and preferences, you can create content that appeals to them.
This content still ranks well in search results, even if you don’t rely heavily on traditional review keywords. This approach can open up new opportunities for capturing potential customers’ attention.
III. Amazon’s Presence in Product Review Search Results
Ever wondered how much Amazon dominates the product review search landscape? Well, you’re in for a surprise.
In 10,000 individual keyphrases analyzed, Amazon ranked on the first page of search results for 31.4% of them.
In 10,000 individual keyphrases analyzed, Amazon ranked on the first page of search results for 31.4% of them.
But wait, there’s more!
When Amazon made it to the first page, they secured the number one ranking only 3% of the time.
They rank second 5.6% of the time, and third 7.7% of the time. So, while their presence is undeniably significant, they aren’t always the top dog.
Takeaway 3: Although Amazon has a significant presence in product review search results, they don’t always rank in the top positions. This insight shows that affiliate sites can still compete with Amazon and rank well in search results.
IV. Domain Rating and Backlink Profiles of Top Ranking Affiliate Sites
What does it take to join the top 500 affiliate sites? Domain Rating (DR) and backlink profiles?
Greg’s research shows the average DR of the top 500 domains was 78, showcasing the importance of high-quality backlinks for search ranking success.
But don’t lose hope if you’re just starting out or have a lower-rated domain. He found some low-rated domains (DR 50 or less) still pulling in huge search traffic, like a fitness niche site reaching an estimated 1.9 million people on Google each month.
The takeaway? While it’s essential to build a strong backlink profile, it’s also possible to achieve remarkable results even if your domain isn’t among the highest-rated. Keep pushing forward, and remember, quality matters.
One of the ways we achieve this is through the Ampifire effect, which involves sharing your content on big websites, podcasts, image directories, video platforms, and influential blogs to increase your brand’s fame and trustworthiness.
Takeaway 4 on the importance of having a high-quality backlink profile for ranking well in search results: Even lower-rated domains can succeed with the right content and strategy, so it’s crucial not to lose hope and keep working on improving your site’s quality and relevance.
V. Key Insights on Ranking Homepages vs. Internal Pages
What’s better, ranking your homepage or an internal page for specific keyphrases? Greg’s research uncovered some fascinating insights. He found that homepages appeared on Google’s first page in 3% of the 10,000 search results we analyzed. So, is it even worth trying to optimize your homepage for specific key phrases?
Well, the numbers suggest that focusing on optimizing individual pages for specific key phrases is a more fruitful strategy.
Internal pages have a much greater potential to rank well and target a wider range of search queries. So, when planning your content and SEO efforts, remember that individual pages can make all the difference.
Takeaway 5: Optimizing individual pages for specific key phrases is more effective than homepage optimization. Internal pages have a higher potential to rank well and target a wider range of search queries.
VI. Popularity and Influence of Domain Extensions
Among the thousands of domain extensions available today, which one is the most popular and influential?
Greg’s research shows that the .com extension still reigns supreme, with a whopping 89% of top-ranked domains using it. But what about the other extensions?
Some other popular domain extensions include .au, .edu, .ca, .gov, and .tv. While .com is the clear leader, it’s essential not to overlook the potential of these alternative extensions. They can still rank well and offer unique branding opportunities.
The key takeaway? Choose both your domain name and domain extension wisely, and don’t be afraid to think outside the .com box.
Takeaway 6: While the .com domain extension is dominant, it’s essential to consider alternative domain extensions as well. These alternative extensions can still rank well and offer unique branding opportunities, so don’t be afraid to think beyond .com when choosing a domain extension.
VII. Exact-Match Domains and Their Ranking Performance
Have you ever wondered how exact match domains perform in today’s search results?
Well, Detailed.com research uncovered that only 24 exact match domains ranked across 10,000 search results in 2023. Quite a small number, right?
Now, compare this to 2019, they found just 4 exact match domains in 1,000 search results. It’s interesting to note that while search results increased by 10X, exact match domains only increased by 6X.
But what about their brandability?
It turns out that only a single of the 24 exact match domains ranking was considered brandable, with maybe four more if we’re stretching it. The rest, unfortunately, came across as spammy and seemed chosen for targeted anchor text backlinks.
It’s crucial to prioritize brandability when selecting domain names for online ventures, as evident from the study, which aligns with the importance of building a strong online reputation discussed in the article ‘How To Fix Your Online Reputation & Get A Second Chance With Google.
Takeaway 7: Exact match domains are not as prevalent in search results as they used to be, and their growth rate is slower than the increase in search results.
Moreover, brandability is crucial for such domains, as many appear spammy and may not perform well in the long run. It’s essential to focus on creating a strong, memorable brand rather than relying on exact-match domains to achieve search engine visibility.
VIII. Harness Content Marketing for Success in Affiliate SERPs
In conclusion, the landscape of affiliate SERPs has evolved, and understanding the dynamics of this environment is crucial for businesses and marketers alike. As we’ve seen from the original Detailed.com article, diverse revenue sources, domain ratings, and domain extensions all play a role in shaping search results.
One key takeaway is the significance of content marketing in gaining visibility, credibility, and ultimately, higher rankings in search results. Producing high-quality, engaging, and informative content is now more critical than ever for both experienced marketers and newcomers to the affiliate space.
If you’re looking to improve your content marketing strategy and give your business a competitive edge, book an appointment with AmpiFire today.
