The “Rank and Rent” model presents an alternative revenue stream for SEO professionals, involving the creation and ranking of websites which are then leased to businesses for ongoing income. This approach allows SEOs to leverage their expertise without traditional client management, offering a potentially steady income and scalability. The strategy can also involve selling the ranked website outright, potentially yielding a lump sum payment. Successful implementation relies on strong local SEO practices, particularly for businesses targeting geographically specific services.
The Rank and Rent Model
The core concept of Rank and Rent involves an SEO professional building and optimizing a website to rank highly in search results, then leasing access to that website – and the leads it generates – to a relevant business. The business benefits from immediate visibility and lead flow without the upfront investment and time commitment of SEO. The SEO professional receives recurring revenue through rental payments. An alternative to renting is selling the website after it has achieved a desirable ranking, with sales prices reportedly ranging from 24 to 36 times the average monthly rental amount. This sale may also offer preferential tax benefits depending on local tax codes.
Local SEO Considerations for Rank and Rent Websites
Local SEO is particularly crucial for Rank and Rent websites, especially those targeting businesses that serve a specific geographic area. The source materials emphasize the importance of city landing pages. A suggested template for creating these pages includes: identifying the target area using map-pack keywords and tools like Raven Tools Local Rank Tracker or Local Falcon; expanding the geographic scope beyond the initial area of influence; obtaining a Google Maps login; creating custom map directions with local landmarks; and developing content with relevant keywords and photographs, ensuring appropriate alt attributes for images.
Website Structure and On-Page Optimization
Optimizing website structure is vital for both search engine rankings and user experience. A pyramid structure is recommended, progressing from the homepage to category pages and then to specific rental product pages. Each product page should be reachable within three clicks from the homepage. Organizing rentals into logical categories and including a frequently asked questions (FAQ) page are also suggested best practices. Breadcrumb navigation can further enhance usability. This structure assists search engines in understanding the website’s offerings and improves indexing.
On-page SEO for individual rental products is also critical. The source materials do not detail specific on-page elements beyond the structural recommendations.
Keyword Research for Rental Businesses
Effective keyword research is the foundation of any successful SEO strategy, including Rank and Rent. The process involves identifying the search terms potential customers use when looking for rentals. Keyword research should focus on long-tail keywords that reflect specific rental offerings and locations. Examples provided include starting with core rental categories (camping gear, kayaks, bikes) and then expanding with geographic and product-specific modifiers (e.g., “kayak rental in [your city]”). The data indicates that the #1 position in search results receives an average of 27.6% of all clicks, while the #10 position receives only 2.4%, highlighting the importance of achieving high rankings.
The Evolving Search Landscape
Today’s search results are more complex than traditional organic listings. They now include paid search ads, shopping results, featured snippets, local map listings, related questions, visual content, and AI summaries. For rental businesses, appearing high in local search results is particularly important for securing bookings and increasing revenue.
Benefits for SEO Professionals
The Rank and Rent model offers several potential benefits for SEO professionals. It provides the opportunity for steady income without the demands of day-to-day client work. SEOs have greater freedom to implement their preferred best practices without client constraints and can make decisions without constant reporting. The model also allows for geo-arbitrage, enabling SEOs to target lucrative niches and regions regardless of their physical location. Furthermore, there is no inherent limit to the number of Rank and Rent sites an SEO can create, offering scalability.
Lead Generation and Rental Agreements
Once a website begins to rank and attract traffic, the SEO professional rents access to the website – and the associated leads – to a business. The source materials note the need for a “clever” approach to call forwarding and call tracking, as the SEO is not directly providing the service being requested by callers. Websites built for this purpose are often described as “incredibly generic” in their information. Alternatively, the SEO can sell the generated leads directly to local businesses.
Services Offered by SEO Professionals
Some SEO professionals offer Rank and Rent website development and optimization as a service. These services can provide hands-free lead generation, recurring revenue potential, a high return on investment, and scalability. The source materials highlight the value of a decade of experience in local SEO lead generation and the ability to quickly build authority and ranking power into local Rank and Rent sites.
Conclusion
The Rank and Rent model offers a viable alternative revenue stream for SEO professionals, particularly those with expertise in local SEO. Success hinges on strategic keyword research, optimized website structure, and a focus on ranking in local search results. The model provides benefits such as steady income, freedom from client management, and scalability. While the provided source material does not offer exhaustive detail on all aspects of the strategy, it establishes a foundational understanding of the core principles and potential advantages.