Starting out in Australia

[FreeBetTips]

Hi everyone,

First post here at GPWA. I have just started an Australian sportsbook portal, which when finished will be providing reviews of free bets, bookmaker reviews, app/mobile reviews, recommendations for bookmakers for certain sports, and a daily blog with betting tips and information about where you can get money back specials etc.

I think my plans for the site are quite ambitious overall. I work full time and at night spend my time writing the content. I'm not a great web designer or graphics designer but am trying to focus on getting the content right. I am using Wix, which may have been a mistake, but I am signed up now so I am committed for a while. For SEO it seems okay. For the future, if I start making an income I have a proper web designer lined up.

I am currently getting between 10 and 35 impressions per day on Google - but zero hits. I am not yet in the top 100 sites for my best key words - "free bets". My site has been up for about 2 weeks, and has approx 20 completed pages with 250+ words.

I am wanting to know from people that are more experienced if perhaps I have my priorities in order. What I am currently doing is, in order:

-> Finishing main site content, and getting half reasonable graphics in
-> Getting bookies on board as affiliates (I have so far 12/13 in Australia, with Betfair holding out so far)
-> Ensuring blog has regular content, but as I am doing main site content it is not as much as I would like
-> Focusing on user experience rather than revenue raising (e.g my adds/links are relevant to the content, not placed all over the site)

Then, after I finish the main site content, I will
-> SEO properly all images on pages as well as proper page Titles and descriptions that are currently lacking
-> Focus on getting blog running with more detail
-> Establishing regular Twitter and Facebook feed/interaction, perhaps a Youtube account
-> Look elsewhere for obtaining backlinks to my site
-> Use a free $75 google adwords voucher that I have
-> Slowly improve the content on site as I learn to write better and more effectively for my audience
-> Try and make the site run faster

So, does it sound like I am doing the right sorts of things for someone who has a new site? Am I missing something? Am I behind the 8-ball?

My aim is to get to a high page rank for the term "free bets" and "bonus bets" - any recommendations for sportsbook portal owners?

Sorry for the convoluted post. I am extremely keen to learn, to hear any and all tips that anyone has.

Thanks

[DanHorvat]

1. Do keyword research. A lot of it.
2. Decide which keywords / keyword groups your site will cover and how.
3. Come up with site structure. Navigation, pages, etc.
4. Create timeless content. The reviews, recommendations, bonus lists etc.
5. Create timely content. A lot of it, on a regular basis.

Forget about Google for now. Don't check your stats again until June. Be patient and don't burn yourself out.

[Scampi]

Then, after I finish the main site content, I will
-> <acronym title="Search Engine Optimization">SEO</acronym> properly all images on pages as well as proper page Titles and descriptions that are currently lacking

I think you could do that as you go along, especially the page titles and alt tags as it's not too much additional work.

DanHorvat's advice for keyword research is very important, you may want to start with longer keywords than 'free bets'. The competition for that one will be fierce.

It's good you have a plan, and the more you write, the easier it will become.

[TheGooner]

Are you familiar with the Australian market and licensing conditions?

"Free Bets" and similar inducements are not allowed to be offered to residents of NSW, Vic, WA and SA. So the main rationale, keyword target, and name of your site is invalid for the majority of Australians - not a good start.

[FreeBetTips]

Hi guys,

Thanks all for your responses. Dan your advice is very sensible and I will be definitely taking that on board.

Gooner, I am familiar with (as I am a consumer in) the market, but I had not really thought much about the impact of that. You make a good point - thank you. Definitely an interesting point that I need to consider...

[RacingJim]

Don't you also need some sort of business license to trade in Australia from abroad? (assuming you are from outside of Australia yourself).

[FreeBetTips]

Don't you also need some sort of business license to trade in Australia from abroad? (assuming you are from outside of Australia yourself).

I am Aussie. As for a business licence, this is required if you have a .com.au or .net.au or .org.au domain name. If you don't use those domain names you can just add it to your taxable income.

I have had a chat to my partner about this and we are taking a step back and looking at what we really want to achieve out of our site. We are taking a more long term approach and focussing on getting a better design and more permanent content up first.

Appreciate your input guys, thank you.

[wonderpunter]

If you are serious about making this a fulltime job then ditch wix, as you grow you will change, over and over again you will need more customization as you lean more, you can start ranking for some long tail keywords pretty quick if you put out lots of unique quality content, fulltime you should be able to put out around 10 good articles per day, and that will bring you results if you base it on certain games, leagues etc