Welcome to our exclusive interview with Alek Asaduryan, a renowned SEO veteran and expert in building profitable affiliate content sites. With over six years of experience in the industry, Alek has honed his skills in content creation, SEO audits, and effective link building strategies.
In this interview, we had the opportunity to delve into his journey, uncover his process of choosing profitable niche sites, and gain insights into his content creation strategies.
Alek’s expertise in SEO and content site building shines through as he shares his valuable perspectives on the future of content sites in the AI era. With search engines incorporating AI technologies, Alek provides insights into how content creators can adapt and thrive in an ever-evolving landscape.
Furthermore, Alek reveals his favorite link-building methods, drawing from his vast experience in driving organic traffic and improving search engine rankings. His insights and practical advice provide a valuable resource for aspiring content site builders and SEO enthusiasts.
Join us as we explore the wisdom and expertise of Alek Asaduryan, uncovering the strategies and insights that have made him a respected figure in the SEO and content publishing industries.
Interview with Alek Asaduryan
Q. Could you share with us your journey as an SEO expert and how you developed your expertise in building content websites and SaaS?
Back in 2016, a buddy of mine requested my assistance with his website, which entailed optimizing around 500 articles using Yoast SEO. At the time, I was completely clueless about SEO, but he shared a few key insights regarding keyword placements in headings, subheadings, and so on. And I guess at that time, this was a way to optimize a website.
That was the spark that ignited my interest in the subject and inspired me to establish my own website. Gradually, I began to grasp the concept of SEO by learning from my own mistakes and successes.
Of course, copious amounts of reading and viewing numerous educational videos supplemented my learning journey.
Since that time, I’ve developed several content-rich websites and have provided assistance to hundreds of site developers, helping them enhance their rankings. I even had the opportunity to work as an in-house SEO specialist for a year in 2021, which allowed me to further expand my knowledge and skill set.
Q. When building a site, what specific steps do you follow to ensure its success? Are there any particular strategies or methodologies that you find effective in creating and launching successful websites?
As smaller publishers with brand-new websites, establishing topical authority is crucial for us. This is our primary strategy for standing toe-to-toe with behemoth websites like Forbes and TheWirecutter.
The approach is rather straightforward: become a comprehensive source on a specific topic by producing blog posts about every conceivable aspect within your niche or sub-niche. For instance, if your chosen area is bicycles, you could focus on e-bikes and aim to cover everything about this topic exhaustively.
By doing this, you leave Google with no other option but to regard you as an authority in the electric bike sphere and consequently boost your content visibility in the search results.
Q. As a content website builder, what are your favorite tools and themes that you utilize to build your websites? Are there any specific reasons why you prefer these tools?
I rely on a wide array of tools for my daily tasks, but my personal favorites include Ahrefs, LowFruits, ScreamingFrog, and Google Search Console.
When it comes to WordPress themes, I gravitate towards GeneratePress for all of my websites. This theme stands out due to its superior speed, user-friendly customization, and extensive online support.
Q. Could you share your content creation strategy for your sites? How do you ensure that your content stands out and resonates with the target audience in a competitive online space?
In this age of ChatGPT, having extraordinary content is more critical than ever to differentiate oneself. My primary strategy in this respect involves engaging experts who not only comprehend my niche but also possess a keen interest in writing about it.
To illustrate this with the cycling niche example, I seek writers who are incredibly passionate about cycling and regularly engage in bike riding. These individuals can often be found in niche-specific Facebook groups or on platforms like Reddit.
Q. In terms of monetization, what are your favorite strategies or networks, and why do you prefer them? Are there any specific advantages or success stories you can share related to these strategies?
I’m a staunch advocate for affiliate marketing and personally, I’m not a big fan of advertisements. However, I implement both strategies on my websites and they harmonize quite effectively. I’d estimate that about 80% of my revenue is derived from affiliate marketing, while ads contribute the remaining 20%.
Currently, my go-to ad network is Mediavine. Additionally, I collaborate with a multitude of brands and affiliate networks within the diverse niches I operate in. Here are a few examples: Amazon Associates, ShareAsale, AvantLink, and CJ Affiliate.
Q. How do you approach link building for your sites? What are your top three preferred link-building techniques for improving website authority and search rankings?
The topic of link building tends to stir up quite a bit of debate within our industry. Nevertheless, I believe that even in 2023, links continue to hold significant sway.
Currently, I’m not engaged in any active link building campaigns, but when I do, I tend to gravitate toward Help a Reporter Out (HARO) outreach and guest posting. In my experience, these two strategies have proven to be the most effective.
Q. Have you utilized aged domain site-building techniques in your affiliate marketing endeavors? If so, how has this contributed to your success? If not, could you explain why you haven’t explored this approach and provide any reasons for that?
Regrettably, I haven’t put that strategy to the test. I’m aware that many individuals vouch for the effectiveness of aged domains, but personally, I don’t have any experience in that area.
Q. What are your thoughts on the future of affiliate marketing? Are there any emerging trends or technologies that you believe will shape the industry? Are there specific areas or niches that you see offering significant opportunities for affiliate marketers in the coming years?
Ever since Google unveiled its Search Generated Entity (SGE) experience, there’s been a common assumption that content websites and affiliate marketing are on the decline (yet again). However, I beg to differ for several reasons.
For instance, SGE is relatively slow to load, it will only impact a small percentage of search queries, and user adoption is likely to be quite gradual.
Q. Have you considered using AI writing tools in your content creation process, similar to how Annie and other affiliate marketers have adopted them? If so, what advice do you have for others looking to integrate AI writing tools into their workflow?
Personally, I utilize a paid account with ChatGPT-4 and occasionally employ the AIPRM Chrome extension to discover intriguing prompts. This is currently the sole tool I rely on for AI content creation.
The reason is, I embarked on a new experimental website project this past January, with the intent of populating it solely with AI-generated content. It’ll be interesting to observe how it pans out.
Q. Could you provide an overview of the SEO audit service you offer? What sets your SEO audit service apart from other providers in the industry?
The SEO audit service I provide is incredibly beneficial for website owners, as I personally scrutinize their websites with a keen eye. It’s quite common for me to spot irksome errors, such as nofollow attributes or jumbled canonical tags, that often go unnoticed by site developers during their routine tasks.
Typically, I also conduct a ScreamingFrog audit and manually examine the link profile using Ahrefs. Furthermore, employing a few advanced search operators on Google often yields valuable insights.
Q. In your experience, what are some common SEO mistakes or pitfalls that website owners should avoid? How can they rectify these issues effectively?
A frequently encountered issue is the lack of an ‘About’ page. In my opinion, considering the importance of E-E-A-T (Expertise, Experience, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) in the current digital landscape, maintaining a substantial ‘About’ page is essential.
Another pet peeve of mine is witnessing an excess of intrusive ads on the homepage. The homepage should be an aesthetically pleasing space that aids in fostering trust and acquiring backlinks.
Q. How do you stay updated with the latest SEO trends and algorithm changes? Are there any resources or communities you recommend for staying informed in the SEO industry?
I voraciously consume a multitude of articles daily. My go-to source for news is SearchEngineLand, while I glean additional insights by actively engaging with individuals on Twitter.
Q. What advice would you give to someone starting a new SEO campaign or looking to improve their existing SEO efforts to achieve maximum results and organic growth?
The key lesson I strive to impart to others is that genuine understanding stems from practical testing and experimentation. I encourage them not to shy away from exploring new tactics or strategies.
In conclusion, our interview with Alek Asaduryan has shed light on the world of SEO, affiliate content sites, and the evolving landscape of AI-driven search engines. Alek’s journey and expertise offer valuable insights for aspiring content creators and SEO professionals.
Alek’s process of choosing profitable niche sites and his content creation strategies provide a roadmap for success in the competitive digital landscape.
As the industry evolves, Alek emphasizes the importance of adapting to the inclusion of AI technologies in search engine algorithms, ensuring content sites remain relevant and engaging for searchers.
Additionally, Alek’s favorite link building techniques serve as valuable tools for driving organic traffic and improving search engine rankings.
From building authoritative backlinks to leveraging strategic partnerships, his insights provide a competitive edge in the ever-changing world of SEO.
We extend our gratitude to Alek Asaduryan for sharing his wisdom and experiences, offering invaluable guidance to those looking to excel in content site building and SEO. May the insights gained from this interview inspire and empower you on your journey to success in the digital realm.
Where you can find me…
Website: alek-asaduryan.com newsletter.alek-asaduryan.com
Linkedln: linkedin.com/in/alek-asaduryan-bb058925/?ref=alek-asaduryan.com
Twitter: twitter.com/Ldnbox
