Tracking where your keywords rank in Google is a critical part of running an affiliate marketing business. In this episode, Mark shares his complete setup for monitoring website rankings across all of his sites using Rank Tracker software, a VPN, and a dedicated Mac Mini server. He also answers listener questions about whether small affiliate sites still work and how many sites you should manage.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

• Why keyword rank tracking matters and the challenge of recurring costs
• How Rank Tracker provides unlimited keyword tracking for a fixed price
• Mark's Mac Mini server setup with VPN rotation to avoid Google captcha blocks
• Whether small affiliate sites still generate meaningful income
• The optimal number of sites to manage at different experience levels

Show Notes

• Quick Twitter tips for increasing discoverability using broad hashtags and the Click to Tweet tool for generating buzz at conferences and presentations.
• Answers to a mystery caller's questions: yes, small affiliate sites still work. Income ranges from Mark's Corn Sheller site at $30/month to Rankings Institute members earning thousands per month. Mark manages about 10 sites and recommends beginners focus on one or two at most.
• The problem with online rank tracking services: steep monthly rates, poor scaling across many sites and keywords, and accumulating recurring costs that create cash flow pressure for new businesses.
• Mark's recommended solution: Rank Tracker from the SEO Power Suite, which tracks unlimited keywords with a one-time purchase, integrates with Google Analytics, and maintains historical trend data.
• How to run Rank Tracker on a dedicated Mac Mini server with VPN IP rotation (changing every 5 minutes) and automatic captcha solving to update keywords overnight without triggering Google's bot protection.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

• Rank Tracker by Link-Assistant (SEO Power Suite)

What's Changed Since This Episode

The rank tracking landscape has evolved significantly since 2014. Google Search Console now provides much better ranking data including average position, impressions, and click-through rates. Tools like Ahrefs, Semrush, and SE Ranking bundle rank tracking with comprehensive SEO analysis at more competitive price points. The VPN-and-captcha approach still works but is less necessary given these alternatives. Mark's core advice about avoiding unnecessary recurring costs when starting out remains excellent — use free tiers of Google Search Console and Ahrefs Webmaster Tools before committing to paid subscriptions.

Listen and Subscribe

Listen to Late Night Internet Marketing on Apple Podcasts or subscribe at latenightim.com/internet-marketing-podcast/. Have a question for Mark? Call the digital recorder at 214-444-8655 or drop a comment below.