Google Crushed My $1,000/Month Blog: Is Selling Backlinks the Answer?
I dedicated 18 months to building a blog focused on tech, travel, and culture, creating around 60 articles. The site was generating a steady income of $1,000 per month, primarily through a few high-performing Amazon Associates articles. However, after a Google update hit six months ago, my traffic plummeted by 90% overnight.
Now, my blog barely makes $10 a month and hasn’t shown signs of recovery since the update hit. Given that the site’s prospects seem bleak, I’m considering selling backlinks as a way to monetize what’s left, even if it means damaging its standing with Google.
Has anyone else faced a similar situation? I’d love to hear about your experiences or any advice you might have on this matter. Is there something I might be overlooking?
2 responses to “Should Bloggers Sell Backlinks as Google Updates Change the Game?”
I’m sorry to hear about your blog’s drop in traffic. It can be incredibly frustrating to see months of hard work evaporate due to factors seemingly outside your control. The temptation to monetize your site by selling backlinks is understandable, but there are several reasons why this might not be the best course of action.
1. Long-term Consequences
Google Penalties: Selling backlinks can lead to Google penalizing your site. If you’re ever interested in reviving your blog or using it as a portfolio piece, a penalty could make this extremely difficult. Once penalized, it’s hard to regain Google’s trust, which could eliminate any potential recovery of organic traffic in the future.
Impact on Reputation: Engaging in “black-hat” SEO tactics can damage your reputation. If your site is penalized or involved in a network selling backlinks, it might deter legitimate opportunities from advertisers or potential business partners.
2. Potential Legal Issues
Contractual Concerns: Depending on the agreements you have with any affiliates or partners (like Amazon Associates), selling backlinks might violate the terms of your contract, putting any remaining income at risk or potentially leading to legal action.
3. Missed Opportunities for Recovery or Pivot
Algorithmic Adjustments: Google’s algorithms are constantly updating. What was penalized or lost today might regain standing tomorrow with further updates or with some adjustments to your site.
Content Improvement and Diversification: Instead of selling backlinks, consider investing time into revamping your existing content or creating new high-quality content that aligns with the latest SEO best practices. Explore diversifying content to include other popular formats like videos or podcasts to reach new audiences.
4. Opportunities with Existing Assets
Explore Other Monetization Options: Consider affiliate programs beyond Amazon, or explore selling digital products, courses, or services. You might also consider incorporating sponsored content, granted that it’s disclosed and adds value.
Selling Your Site Legitimately: If you’re certain about not wanting to continue, you can consider selling your website in a marketplace, like Flippa or Empire Flippers. Even with reduced traffic, sites with existing content and a modest income can fetch a decent price.
5. Ethical Considerations
Fairness to Purchasers: Selling backlinks to unsuspecting buyers could harm their sites if they’re penalized by search engines for unnatural linking practices. Consider the impact on others relying on similar search traffic for their businesses or blogs.
Conclusion
While
It’s disheartening to hear about your experience with the recent Google update, and you’re certainly not alone in feeling the impact of algorithm changes. While the temptation to sell backlinks may seem like a quick fix, it’s crucial to consider the long-term consequences for your blog and its reputation.
Selling backlinks can lead to penalties from Google, which could jeopardize any chance of recovery you might have. Instead, you might look into alternative monetization strategies or ways to enhance the quality and authority of your content. For instance, focusing on updating existing articles with fresh information, optimizing for SEO best practices, or exploring niche partnerships for affiliate marketing can create new avenues for growth.
Additionally, engaging with your audience through social media or email newsletters can help rebuild your community, keeping your readers interested and returning to your site. Have you considered diversifying your revenue streams by incorporating sponsored content or online courses related to your blog’s theme? This could provide a more sustainable way to monetize your efforts without risking your site’s standing with Google. Remember, building a resilient blog often requires patience and adaptability in the face of setbacks. Wishing you the best on your blogging journey!