Tom Dupuis Interview On SEO, Affiliate Marketing & More

It’s been an extended whereas since we printed a brand new interview on our bloggers interview collection.

There are lots of people who ask me “how do I develop my affiliate gross sales, enhance my web site pace, and what running a blog instruments to make use of?”.

In right now’s interview with Tom Dupuis, you’re going to search out solutions to all of these questions. 

Tom Dupuis is the founding father of On-line Media Masters, the place you may uncover WordPress pace and search engine optimisation tutorials.

If you happen to’re seeking to enhance your web site’s search engine optimisation and put together for the upcoming Google’s Core Internet Vitals replace, you need to positively take a look at this interview.

So are you prepared? Let’s soar into the interview of Tom Dupuis.

Interview With Tom Dupuis from On-line Media Masters

1. Hello Tom, welcome to BloggersPassion. Are you able to please introduce your self to our viewers?

Hey all, I’m Tom – the man behind onlinemediamasters.com.

I began my weblog on the finish of faculty in 2011. I write about WordPress pace optimization and earn cash by referring individuals to speed-related companies (internet hosting, CDNs, cache plugins, and so forth).

My affiliate revenue is 6 figures, but it surely wasn’t all the time like that. I used to be broke for a few years doing tedious net design and search engine optimisation work for shoppers. I acquired my break in 2016 after I began taking my weblog severely by creating extra in-depth content material. 

Google lastly determined the content material deserved to rank and my search engine optimisation site visitors tripled in about 1 week. I used to be dwelling with my dad and mom on the time and instantly packed my stuff and moved to Denver, Colorado the identical week.

Since then, I’ve been persevering with to develop site visitors and monetize my weblog. I used to be awarded SiteGround’s affiliate of the month in July 2017 (though I don’t promote them anymore). 

I’ve additionally carried out webinars with Cloudways and have been talked about by Neil Patel and different authority websites. Now I’m specializing in serving to individuals with core net vitals.

Key takeaway: Tom has been doing affiliate internet marketing since 2011 (round 10 years). Identical to most different profitable affiliate entrepreneurs, Tom additionally used the ability of “in-depth content material” to succeed.

2. If you happen to needed to begin once more in running a blog, what would you do otherwise?

I want I had created extra YouTube movies. I see loads of YouTubers who aren’t giving good data however nonetheless in all probability earn more money than me. I additionally really feel like it may be a lot simpler to rank movies than weblog posts.

I additionally want I had began prior to the top of faculty. If you happen to’re simply considering of beginning a weblog, simply do it and soar it to it. 

You’ll be able to all the time change your area, internet hosting, theme, even your area of interest. However the secret’s to begin studying and get some hands-on expertise operating as quickly as potential.

Lastly, I want I hadn’t made the error of hiring an affordable hyperlink builder. Within the quick time period, my rankings improved and I positively acquired some enterprise from it. 

However finally, as soon as Google (and I) acquired smarter, we realized these hyperlinks weren’t prime quality and it was a ache to try to take away them. This was after my site visitors dropped tremendously, which I consider was as a result of low-quality hyperlinks.

Key takeaway: YouTube is the second largest search engine after Google. If you wish to fast-track your running a blog success, don’t ignore YouTube.

3. If you got $100,000, how would you make investments it to develop your weblog?

I’d rent a videographer to assist me create tremendous high-quality YouTube movies, rent somebody to assist me create a web based course, and rent a content material author. I’d additionally take into account hiring a developer to create a plugin.

Key takeaway: Tom REALLY needs to take his YouTube advertising and marketing technique to the subsequent degree! Investing your cash in rising your online business ALWAYS offers excessive returns. 

4. What’s your favourite site visitors supply? Why?

search engine optimisation. You don’t should pay for promoting and it may be very constant. You simply want to remain on prime of Google’s core algorithm updates and continually enhance your content material.

Key takeaway: search engine optimisation is the holy grail of selling. If carried out proper, search engine optimisation may help you generate big earnings and site visitors.

5. What instruments do you MOSTLY use for affiliate internet marketing and search engine optimisation?

Rank Math for my search engine optimisation plugin and Thirsty Associates for managing affiliate hyperlinks. I exploit the Search Console for monitoring primary search engine optimisation metrics. I don’t use any particular software program in any other case, not even Ahrefs or Semrush, however I in all probability ought to.

Key takeaway: We love Semrush too. You’ll be able to seize a 30-day free trial of Semrush from right here.

6. What are your strategies to optimize a WordPress website for core net vitals?

That’s what I weblog about – higher make this good!

I’ve an extensive guide on WordPress pace and am additionally in the course of creating one particularly for almost each suggestion in Lighthouse.

• Optimize fonts – internet hosting them domestically, check preloading them, add font-display: swap, and take away fonts/weights you don’t use. This will additionally enhance your CLS rating.
• Optimize LCP component – that is normally a picture or background picture. Make it smaller, take into account a next-gen format (e.g. WebP), and preload it.
• Optimize CSS + JavaScript – attempt Autoptimize and Async JavaScript particularly if in case you have render-blocking sources. Even should you already use a cache plugin to optimize CSS/JS, these may help.
• Optimize third-party code – host fonts/analytics/GTM domestically. Prefetch third-party domains and delay non-critical JavaScript (i.e. feedback) utilizing WP Rocket or Flying Scripts. Don’t add third-party code except you actually need it.
• Skip shared internet hosting – go straight to the cloud particularly in case your TTFB is excessive. I’m a fan of Cloudways DigitalOcean who’s popping out with premium DO droplets (quickly). LiteSpeed and GridPane are strong selections too. Reap the benefits of optimizations in your internet hosting account (server-side caching, Redis, PHP 8.0, and so forth).
• Use an asset unloading plugin – use Asset CleanUp or Perfmatters to disable issues the place they don’t must load. Can take a while, however positively value it.
• Eliminate Elementor and Divi – they add a lot of CSS/JS and make your total website bloated. Core net vitals appear to punish websites with heavy JavaScript. If you happen to don’t need to utterly take away it, at the very least laborious code your header, menus, sidebar, and footer in order that they don’t depend on a web page builder. Unload unused belongings from web page builders (i.e. with Asset CleanUp) and make the most of the experimental options if utilizing Elementor. Attempt Oxygen, GeneratePress, Gutenberg, or Kadence.
• Use a strong CDN – attempt Cloudflare’s APO or BunnyCDN, they’ll typically offer you higher outcomes than different CDNs.
• Make parts in your viewport sooner – don’t load heavy JavaScript above the fold (i.e. advertisements), exclude above the fold pictures from the lazy load, laborious code your menu, and optimize your LCP picture.
• Reap the benefits of preload, preconnect, prefetch – preconnect third-party fonts and CDN URL, preload LCP picture and fonts, and prefetch third-party domains.

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7. What are your prime three suggestions for rookies to extend affiliate gross sales in 2023?

1. Use coupon codes in YouTube movies – many associates like Cloudways and HostGator are prepared to give you a customized coupon code. You’ll be able to point out this to your readers and in the event that they use it, you get credit score for the sale with out viewers even having to click on an affiliate hyperlink. It saves them cash, and it could positively enhance your gross sales.
2. Do unique analysis – many websites simply regurgitate data that’s already on the market. Give you new concepts and options – be unique. Don’t simply copy data that’s already on the market. Run some checks, put it in a chart, and create higher content material like Backlinko.
3. Be a part of Fb Teams – Anil’s group has loads of polls on the most effective internet hosting, greatest CDN, greatest cache plugin, and so forth. Attempt recommending the highest merchandise you understand persons are pleased with, not simply those with the best commissions.

Key takeaway: Coupons, creating informative content material, and utilizing Fb teams to search out what your target market needs – these three issues can simply show you how to enhance your affiliate gross sales.

8. What do you assume is the BIGGEST mistake most affiliate internet marketing rookies make?

They rush content material. Even prime websites like Kinsta or WP Rocket (who’ve a crew of content material writers) solely publish 1 article each 2-3 days, but it surely’s normally an incredible one and you may inform they spent loads of time on it. 

Google your key phrase and ensure your content material is healthier than whoever’s within the prime outcomes. While you publish an article try to be saying “yeah, that is actual and other people will share/hyperlink to it.”

You additionally must be revisiting outdated posts and updating content material there too.

Key takeaway: All the time give #1 precedence to “high quality content material”. Creating one epic put up is healthier than ten mediocre articles.

9. What are your prime THREE suggestions for rookies who need to construct a money-making weblog in 2023?

1. Choose a distinct segment you’re keen about – should you’re simply in it for the cash and don’t take pleasure in what you’re doing, you’re going to burn out rapidly. Spend your life doing one thing you take pleasure in.
2. Don’t all the time select associates with the best commissions – I used to be enticed to advertise WPEngine since they provide $200/sale, however they’re not your best option and I don’t assume my readers would purchase it. And I didn’t need to steer individuals in the best path. The associates you suggest have a big impact on whether or not readers belief you – many individuals can sniff out an affiliate who is just in it for the cash.
3. Don’t overextend – As an alternative of “digital advertising and marketing” you may simply need to write about net design. As an alternative of net design, you may simply need to write about WordPress web site design. As an alternative of WordPress web site design, you may simply need to write about Gutenberg, Elementor, or Oxygen. The purpose is, you don’t should do every thing. Do one thing and get actually good at it. This is applicable to what you’re running a blog about in addition to the companies you supply. Slender down your area of interest.

Key takeaway: Do what you like, choose solely these merchandise which might be useful to your viewers and deal with a small area of interest!

10. Are you able to describe your every day routine as a digital marketer? What number of hours do you’re employed in a day?

Typically I’ll work 10 hours/day, different instances I’ll take a 2-week trip. If I’m actually enthusiastic about what I’m doing, I’ll get up, make a espresso, and go straight to work. 

These days, I’ll spend 5 days/week going to the gymnasium. I can keep up working late, too. There’s all the time time for some video video games too 🙂

11. What are your future plans with On-line Media Masters?

I would like On-line Media Masters to be the go-to supply for bettering WordPress pace and core net vitals. I additionally need to create extra YouTube movies and finally, a web based course. And naturally, make my website even sooner and look nicer.

12. What are your favourite blogs? Please point out any three of your favourite blogs that you simply learn commonly?

• Backlinko
• WP Pace Issues
• WP Rocket

13. What’s your favourite search engine optimisation technique to develop your weblog’s search rankings? 

All the time begin a weblog put up by making a desk of contents. This makes you extra organized and there are numerous advantages on your readers in addition to search engine optimisation. You’ll be able to create a TOC in HTML/CSS or use the Fortunate Desk Of Contents plugin. 

This encourages longer, in-depth content material, lets individuals hyperlink to particular sections in your put up, and provides you a greater likelihood of being awarded “listing featured snippets” in Google.

Key takeaway: Use the table of contents plugin should you’re on WordPress. It’s a simple means so as to add the desk of contents.

Ultimate ideas on the interview with Tom Dupuis

Tom is constant together with his weblog posting schedule. He typically creates in-depth and informative weblog posts. That’s why he’s in a position to generate a lot of income and site visitors to his weblog.

Have you ever loved our interview with Tom Dupuis from On-line Media Masters?. Have any questions? Tell us within the feedback. If you happen to like our blogger’s interview collection, please share it with others.