My dearest friend, and most hated enemy (or enema as I like to call him) Alex Whalley challenged me. The challenge? He said I could not get on the first page of Google for the keyphrase “Make Money Blogging”. Keep in mind that this is my target phrase and it has over 12 million results now. The first site on their is ProBlogger, and I intend to knock them down and replace their listing with mine (nothing personal to Darren Rowse, but this is business).

I am stating this challenge publicly because I want it to hold me accountable and keep me on course. I will post my updates right here to let you know what I am doing and the results I am getting. I plan to own that first page within 3 months!

How do I intend to do this?

If you recently noticed, I released a web template called “Ghostly Acres” the other day. That template was released under creative commons and can be used for personal or commercial purposes. The only catch is the footer link requirement which links to this blog with my anchor text. I invite you to download this template and use it as you wish.

The reason why I did this is because I have previously tried this experiment on another website I was marketing at the time. I released it on an open source web design site under the same terms, and it was downloaded over 180 times. I used “Chicago Web Design” as my anchor text and easily killed it within 3 weeks. I am not taking any chances this time, and I am releasing multiple web templates. I may even release a few WordPress themes if I get around to it.

This technique is called Google Bombing, and it is a well known method. Funny thing… most people think that this method was “patched” by Google but unfortunately their algorithm relies heavily on outside factors such as links. There is no reason for Google to de-index me because I am not doing anything bad. In addition, I have build up many backlinks to this blog with other anchor texts, so an advance in this specific phrase wouldn’t look improper. It also matches the title of my blog, and more specifically, the niche. So again, I am 100% relevant to this phrase. The only difference between me and ProBlogger is that Darren has had since 2002 to build up his links and his reputation. I have only had since February of 2010.

Aside from the whole google bomb thing, I still blog hop and write articles everywhere. Expect my request to guest post on your blog or at a blog near you icon wink I have been challenged by Alex Whalley!

BOOKMARK THIS PAGE

I will be updating you on the progress on this specific blog post. Make sure you bookmark it now and intend to check it here and there.

UPDATE #1 October 29th 2010 @ 2:49 PM CST

Last night when I wrote and scheduled this post, I was at #83 for my target keyphrase. I just checked and I am now at #65. Keep in mind that this may be just Google shifting around because of my recent template release which has already been downloaded a huge number of times. I am keeping an eye on my ranking for the keywords and will update accordingly.

MakeMoneyBlogging I have been challenged by Alex Whalley!

UPDATE #2 November 6th 2010 @ 12:01 AM CST

I spent a large chunk of the day today (or last night depending on how you look at the time) hand submitting this blog to maybe 200 directories. I used my anchor text every single time, and switched the description and keywords on the listings here and there.

I believe it took me a few hours, and half of them were PR6 directories. These links should all be approved in sprinkles over the next month. I will probably submit another couple hundred tomorrow. Luckily, I have the holy grail of a directory list with a huge number of free directories (maybe 1,000 or so).

All of these links, paired with the links from the free template(s) I released or am releasing should really take a huge bite out of the ranking I am trying to achieve for make money blogging.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

I have gotten to the #3 spot on Google for “make money blogging” right under problogger and nicheblogger. See below for yourself! I did this in under 2 weeks time. If you cannot see the image below, access it directly at http://www.brandonconnell.com/makemoneyblogging.gif or of course do a Google search.

makemoneyblogging I have been challenged by Alex Whalley!

I have been challenged by Alex Whalley!

About the author

Brandon Connell wrote 404 articles on this blog.

I am an author, blogger, investor, musician, and internet marketer among other things. I believe that one person can do many things in life. Check out my local search marketing company at Leads2LocalSearch.com when you are done browsing here.

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