The world of SEO is filled with unique, inspiring stories.
Kevin Miller is the man behind these stories, and has spent years bringing websites to the top of the Google ranks.
One of his personal projects, The Word Counter, is a testament to his SEO expertise and can teach us many lessons from the field.
What makes The Word Counter such a great SEO showcase? In just one year, Miller built over 1,000 referring domains to the website, in addition to a number of technical accomplishments and methods of monetization.
Here’s how Miller brought The Word Counter from another unassuming website to an SEO powerhouse with an unignorable footprint on the web.
Why Referring Domains Matter
SEO pros know the significance of referring domains, sometimes called linking domains, but here’s a quick breakdown.
A referring domain is a site that contains one or more links to your website, which can be analyzed in a backlink profile.
Since most referring domains have multiple links to another site, this means that unique domains are arguably more valuable than backlinks themselves. The more referring domains, the better.
“With every new referring domain, you have an opportunity to add dozens of new backlinks to your catalog within a short timeframe,” said Miller. “Earning that first link is the toughest, but from there, the momentum picks up.”
Considering the challenges of gaining just one referring domain, building a library of over 1,000 to a single site is more than just an admirable feat – it’s a masterclass in SEO.
The Core Value
Amassing this number of references and backlinks in one year is no accident.
Miller employed a series of SEO and backlink-building best practices to keep the links flowing and add multiple new domains to his roster each day.
But first, he began by creating a valuable linkable asset, which remains at the core of The Word Counter website – a simple but effective web application that counts words with a few twists.
“I know that a word counter is not a groundbreaking idea, but I wanted this tool to include quality-of-life features that copywriters and marketers would appreciate and use,” said Miller.
For example, The Word Counter allows writers to track the length of their text for specific formats like Tweets, Facebook posts, and Google meta descriptions.
The Word Counter also features an array of grammar tools, randomizers, and an FAQ section that converts word length to page length, whether single or double spaced. Writers can track keywords in action, and discover how long a passage will take to speak or read.
All these features help marketers, writers, and presenters get the message across with precision every time.
“That has been the main factor in the success of the blog – it’s actually useful,” Miller continued. “When you start with a valuable product or app, everything else falls into place more easily.”
Miller’s Method to Build Links
Given the convenience and value of the Word Counter site, it would have likely earned backlinks naturally over time. However, Miller wanted to accelerate the process by employing some effective link-building strategies.
Reaching out to webmasters and publications for links was Miller’s first move, which had a dual purpose of earning links and attracting attention to the site.
Miller is also a big proponent of reporter outreach, a technique that will backlinks for a website by answering questions from journalists to give them material worth reporting. His connections in the world of PR, marketing, and journalism helped him earn backlinks quickly and effectively, without wasting time.
“Building backlinks is great, but unless you can do it efficiently, you aren’t maximizing your resources or the potential of your site,” Miller explained. “Create a system you can rely on and repeat until it’s a self-perpetuating machine. That’s what we preach at my company, GR0.”
In the meantime, The Word Counter became a blog of its own, which further boosted the website’s ranking and sparked more organic traffic from across the web.
Now, visitors can read a wide range of snappy, engaging articles related to marketing, writing, grammar, or just random topics and buzzwords worth knowing.
“If something is in the popular culture and getting clicks out there, why not write an article and get a piece of that traffic to your site?” said Miller. “Quality is important when writing, but don’t underestimate the power of quantity to earn backlinks and referring domains.”
Monetization, Momentum, and More
As The Word Counter gained traction, Miller looked for more ways to grow his network and bring that backlink total ever higher.
He tapped into industry directories, expanded his reach to non-profits and educational institutions, and leveraged his connections with writers and reporters to keep the content flowing.
Miller also turned his website into a source of inside knowledge and expertise for writers, making it a must-bookmark page for anyone in the space.
Establishing his website as an authority helped take things to the next level on the Google algorithm.
“Grammar tips, common questions, articles about the history of writing and language – these are just little things that add value to the site and keep readers coming back for more,” said Miller. “Plus, we fill these pages with links and often get new referring domains in return, which always has an upside.”
Miller has also monetized his site with ads, created an email newsletter, and opened up the site with contact information for interested contributors or potential partnerships.
“It seems like a never-ending project, but the hard part is over!” Miller said.
Experience and Applied Knowledge
The Word Counter is just one example of Miller’s finely-tuned SEO skillset and his abilities to seemingly build backlinks out of thin air.
Through his experience with this blog and many others, he has earned his reputation as one of the best SEO strategists and thought leaders in the field.
“This blog is the perfect example of a simple idea becoming something so much bigger, just by applying key principles and being consistent over time,” said Miller.
Miller now works as the CEO of GR0, a Los Angeles-based marketing agency that offers content writing, on-site optimization, and performance PR services.