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Google Killed My $1,000/Month Blog—Why Not Sell Backlinks?
I started a blog in the tech, travel, and culture niches, nurturing it for 18 months and publishing around 60 articles. My efforts bore fruit, with the blog generating a steady income of $1,000 per month, primarily from Amazon Associates through just 2-3 articles. However, everything changed half a year ago when a Google update slashed my traffic by 90% overnight.
Currently, the blog draws in a mere $10 monthly—a far cry from its former glory. With no recovery in sight for six months, I’ve been contemplating the next steps.
If the site seems beyond revival, I’m questioning the value of maintaining its Google signals. Would it be more worthwhile to sell backlinks via platforms like Fiverr for about $20 each?
I’m interested to know if anyone has faced a similar predicament and has experimented with this approach, or if there are aspects I might be overlooking.
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2 responses to “Googled killed my $1,000/mo blog. Why shouldn’t I just sell backlinks?”
I understand your frustration, and I’m sorry to hear about the impact of the Google update on your blog. It can be incredibly disheartening to see hard work result in diminishing returns. That said, let’s dive into why selling backlinks might not be the best move and explore some alternatives that might help you recover or utilize your existing site value more constructively.
Why You Might Avoid Selling Backlinks
Reputation Risks: Selling backlinks often damages your credibility. If word gets out that you’re selling links, it can harm your reputation within the community and with future partners or networks.
Risk of Penalties: Google’s Webmaster Guidelines specifically prohibit the selling and buying of links intended to manipulate ranking. If you’re caught, your site could face severe penalties that might make recovery even more challenging.
Long-term Viability: Although selling backlinks might provide short-term financial gains, it sacrifices any potential long-term recovery of your site’s value or SEO standing.
Ethical Considerations: Selling backlinks undermines the fairness of search rankings and contributes to a less ethical web environment.
Alternatives to Consider
If you’re still passionate about the topics you were writing about or see potential in your current site, here are some other strategies you might consider:
Improve SEO Practices: Perform an SEO audit to ensure best practices and identify areas for enhancement.
Explore New Monetization Methods:
Sponsored Content: If you have a niche audience, consider reaching out to relevant brands for sponsored content.
Build a Community:
Engage with your audience through newsletters, social media, or forums to build a loyal community which can act as a reliable traffic source.
Diversify Traffic Sources:
Utilize social media and email marketing to drive traffic, reducing reliance on Google alone.
Consider Selling the Site Legally:
Lessons Learned
It’s frustrating to see hard work go unrewarded, especially after experiencing the success your blog brought you. While selling backlinks might seem like a quick way to recoup some of your losses, it’s important to consider the long-term implications for both your blog and the broader SEO community.
Backlink selling can lead to several risks, such as penalties from Google, which could further diminish your site’s value or even lead to its de-indexing. Additionally, this practice can contribute to the web’s overall degradation, as it incentivizes low-quality content and manipulative strategies rather than genuine, helpful information.
Instead, consider redirecting your efforts towards more sustainable methods of income generation. Diversifying your revenue streams could help insulate your blog from future algorithm changes. You might explore alternative affiliate programs, digital products related to your niche, or even monetizing your expertise through consulting or online courses.
Engaging with your audience through social media or newsletters can also revitalize interests in your content and bring in new traffic sources.
Lastly, analyzing the reasons behind the traffic drop can provide valuable insights. Perhaps certain content needs to be updated, or there’s an opportunity to pivot into a new niche area that aligns with current interests. The landscape is always changing, and adaptability is key.
It would be great to hear how others in the community have navigated similar challenges and what strategies they’ve found effective!