Gael Breton and Mark Webster's Authority Hacker Review: Authority Site Uses and Alternative Models

What Are the Authority Hacker Pros and Cons?

What Is an Authority Site?

An authority site is a domain that search engines trust. It is a recognized source of valuable, reliable information. There are several factors that determine a website’s authority.

• Market Research - You need to study and have a deep understanding of your niche. Selecting the wrong one can lead to failure.
• Keyword Research - Find and identify the right keywords using tools like Ahrefs. Use them effectively by strategically including them in your content.
• Building Your Site - A lack of website-building knowledge can lead to a slow, outdated site. This will lower your rating. It is important to know which are the right tools and how to use them.
• Using AI Effectively - Use AI writing tools, like ChatGPT, to boost productivity and save time. However, not knowing how to use these AI tools properly can lead to poor content and lost rankings.
• Content Creation - Create valuable content, write for both readers and search engines. This will help you rank high. It is also important to keep up with Google’s frequent algorithm updates to know how to beat it.
• Navigating Google Updates - What works now may not work tomorrow. Google regularly updates their algorithm. You need to quickly adapt to any major changes that can shift your ranking.
• Monetization- Monetization is not only a way to make money with your site, but it can also help your ranking. Consider monetizing through affiliate marketing and/or paid subscriptions.
• Managing Resources - Creating a successful authority site requires logistical management skills. Not properly managing your entire domain can have large consequences.

What Are the Authority Hacker Reviews?

Authority Hacker has a Trustpilot profile with a 3.7 score. But only one 5-star review is visible. Why the rest of the reviews are hidden is anyone’s guess. Student reviews on Reddit are mostly positive. The reviews praise the course’s thorough training and Mark and Gael’s legitimacy.

A student of Authority Hacker replied to a Reddit thread on the legitimacy of the TASS course. They complimented the complete step-by-step training for beginners. The student was not in the affiliate program. But they highly recommended Authority Hacker as an SEO course.

Another Redditor, a follower of Authority Hacker, replied. They said Gael and Mark were legit experts in their field. The Redditor did not recommend any course. But they said Gael and Mark provide great value in their blogs and podcast.

Pilar Newman - Authority Hacker Pro With AI

Pilar Newman is a YouTuber, affiliate marketer, and ecommerce business owner. She said Authority Hacker Pro improved her SEO and content skills. What she learned greatly benefited her online business. The inclusion of AI training is what sold her on the program. She also said the private mastermind community offered valuable help. Pilar has made no criticism of Authority Hacker, but she has an affiliate link.

What Is Authority Hacker Pro?

Authority Hacker Core Web Vitals is a 30+ video course. It teaches how to build and fix sites that pass the Core Web Vitals test using WordPress and its plugins. The course also helps those with no web development experience increase site speed. Core Web Vitals is included in Authority Hacker Pro.

Authority Hacker Pro modules:

Authority Site System Blueprint

This foundational blueprint gives a detailed plan for building new authority sites. It covers using WordPress, getting them to rank on Google, and making money with affiliate links. The lesson covers niche selection, site-building tools, SEO, content writing, and branding. It includes Elementor Pro and GeneratePress.

Sniper Link Building Blueprint

In 20 video lessons, you will learn to get links from high-domain-rating sites. You will learn to create AI-assisted outreach emails. You will use automation tools for link building. You will also research high-quality link prospects.

AI Blueprint

Using AI to help with SEO is a growing trend in the digital marketing industry. This blueprint teaches you to use AI tools. Use them for content structuring and editing, without losing quality. AI does not fully replace content creation. Using AI alone is less effective.

Opt-ins and Email List Blueprint

This blueprint teaches advanced email marketing strategies. It covers email opt-ins and marketing funnels. You will also learn how to develop your own products for further monetization.

Shotgun Link Building Blueprint

Links that lead to your site are great for building authority. This blueprint teaches techniques for getting links back to your site. You will learn to guest post, run paid link campaigns, find prospects, and create outreach templates. You will also learn to deal with email delivery issues and outsource most of the work.

Awesome Review Writing Blueprint

A pro copywriter, Kevin, created this blueprint. It teaches how to write engaging and effective product reviews. You will learn to do preliminary research. You will learn copywriting techniques to boost conversions. You will also learn to close sales using reviews.

Core Web Vitals Blueprint

This blueprint will help WordPress users. It will improve site speed and core web vitals. This will boost user experience and Google ranking. You will learn to measure cover vitals, optimize ads, choose the best web hosts, and fix page speed errors.

Editorial Blueprint

This blueprint is for scaling your content creation. You will learn to create guidelines for various post types. You’ll also learn to use Asana for task management and to manage a team of writers and editors.

Keyword Research Blueprint

Finding the right keywords is an integral part of SEO. This blueprint will teach you to find and use keywords. You will learn how to use tools like Ahrefs to explore keywords and monitor your competitors.

Shotgun Skyscraper Blueprint

The Skyscraper method is used to do mass outreach for link building. This blueprint will teach you how to do bulk outreach to get many links back to your site quickly.

Evergreen Funnels Blueprint

This blueprint teaches you how to create evergreen scarcity funnels. These funnels rely on urgency to drive the audience’s decision to buy. You will learn the funnel’s structure, to build sales pages, and retargeting strategies.

Selling Your Site Blueprint

If your authority site business has become very successful, you may decide to exit it for a large profit. This blueprint teaches you to prepare and sell your site. It covers valuation and finding buyers.

Affiliate Marketing Blueprint

This blueprint teaches you how to use sales funnels for affiliate marketing. This strategy will teach you to boost your offers and site authority. The blueprint also covers how to understand affiliate marketing metrics.

Email Marketing Blueprint

Email marketing is the main marketing method that Authority Hacker teaches. This blueprint will cover all aspects of email marketing. It will include list cleaning, promotional calendars, and conversion optimization techniques. It will also cover strategies to improve your email campaigns.

What Is The Authority Site System 3.0?

Authority Site System (TASS) is Authority Hackers’ flagship beginner course on building an authority website from scratch. The 2024 version, TASS 3.0, includes 15 modules with 196 video lessons. It covers keyword research, AI-generated imagery, and more. You get checklists, templates, and blueprints. You also get access to a support team and a private community.

Authority Site System 3.0 modules:

Module 1: The Authority Site Business Model 101

The introductory module will show you how authority sites really make money. You’ll learn the most efficient ways to generate revenue and what business models you can use.

Module 2: Finding Niches

Module 2 shows you how to put together a list of potential niches for your authority site. You will learn the most advanced ways of topic researching, such as the use of AI and ChatGPT.

Module 3: Qualifying Niches

Now that you have your niche list, you will learn how to pick a profitable one. Also discussed in the module is the use of expired domains to speed up the process.

Module 4: Site Planning

With your niche selected, you will plan the first version of your site. You will learn how to prepare a full topical map of the site you will be building.

Module 5: Site Setup

Module 5 is a step-by-step tutorial on how to set up your new site, including the domain name. You do not need any technical knowledge as you simply need to copy the steps in the demo.

Module 6: Branding

Module 6 teaches you to implement elements that will make your site look and feel like a trusted brand. You do not need any background in web design as all the tools are easy to use. Using AI to help brand your site is also taught in the module.

Module 7: Building Posts & Pages

Now that everything is set up, start creating your site’s structure. This is based on the topical map you made in Module 4. You will learn how to create the perfect site architecture with Module 7.

Module 8: Creating Info Content

Module 8 will show you how to create better content than your competitors. It will guide you after your site’s base is ready. You will learn how to give Google what it needs to determine your site’s authority.

Module 9: Writing Content: Step-by-Step

Writing for search engines is nothing like what you learned in school. Module 9 will guide you through writing an article. It covers keyword selection to apply finishing touches. You can then follow this step-by-step example and apply it to your content writing.

Module 10: Optimizing & Publishing Content

Module 10 will teach you to optimize your content to rank in Google’s top results. The module has many page optimization tricks that will help you achieve results.

Module 11: Initial Link Building

Now that you have published content, you will also need to start link building. Link building matters for ranking on Google. This module teaches you specific tactics to use in building links.

Module 12: Affiliate Setup

Now that everything is coming together, you can start monetizing your site. Module 12 will teach you how to set up affiliate links to maximize your earnings.

Module 13: Writing & Optimizing Commercial Content

Product reviews are one of the monetization strategies that you can use early on. Module 13 teaches you to write and optimize this type of commercial content.

Module 14: Advanced Tactics

You have what you need to create a monetized site. Now, you can learn advanced tactics to improve your site’s authority. This module covers advanced ways to boost traffic and improve monetization.

Bonus: Becoming an Authority

This bonus module is for TASS members to take their site to the next level. Authority Hacker will share the exact tactics they used to become the top authority in a niche.

What Is Authority Hacker Core Web Vitals?

Authority Hacker Core Web Vitals is a 30+ video course. It teaches how to use WordPress plugins to optimize site speed and pass Google’s Core Web Vitals. It’s for users with no web development experience and is included in Authority Hacker Pro.

What Is Authority Hacker Affiliate Program?

Authority Hacker has an affiliate program. You can earn up to $1,979 in commission per sale. To join the affiliate program, you have to meet the requirements before applying. The application process can take 7 days for approval. The requirements required are as follows:

Who Is Authority Hacker For?

• Beginners who want to learn how to create authority sites as a business or for their business. The Authority Site System course teaches you how to build an authority site from the ground up.
• Experienced and advanced marketers who already have a website. Authority Hacker Pro teaches advanced tactics on SEO, email marketing, and link building.
• Established website owners who want to understand and pass the Core Web Vitals.

Who Is Mark Webster?

Mark Webster is a British online marketer and the co-founder of Authority Hacker. He launched his first profitable site in 2008 and has since been optimizing websites. He has a reputation as the tech side half of Authority Hacker. Mark has a master’s in business studies from the University of Edinburgh. He was a project manager at an IT firm, Zurich, and a digital marketing firm, Accentix. In 2010, he co-founded the digital marketing firm Higher Click with Gael Breton while in Budapest. Higher Click was acquired in 2015.

Who Is Gael Breton?

Gael Breton is a Hungarian web designer and the co-founder of Authority Hacker. He has over 10 years of experience in building and growing websites. He has worked with Fortune 500 companies. Gael has a business degree from HKUST and a marketing degree from NEOMA. In 2009, he was an SEO manager at LoveClients INC. Then, he co-founded Higher Click with Mark Webster.

How To Make Money With SEO?

There are many ways to make money with SEO . Besides using SEO to sell your products, promote affiliate offers, you can use other business models. Some popular examples include:

• Local Lead Generation: Help small businesses increase their online visibility. You can charge per lead or a monthly retainer. It’s a high-ROI model with low competition.
• Freelance SEO Consulting: Offer your expertise to clients on platforms like Upwork. Start with competitive pricing and increase it as you gain success stories.
• Teach SEO: Create and sell online courses on platforms like Udemy. Focus on practical techniques and real-world examples to attract students.
• Start an SEO Agency: Build a team and define your services. Then, scale up by offering complete SEO solutions to businesses.

What Are Some Authority Hacker Alternatives?

• Nathan Gotch’s Gotch SEO Academy — A structured SEO training/coaching program that teaches white-hat fundamentals (technical, on-page, off-page) and agency-ready processes through a two-phase framework.
• Ryan Stewart’s The Blueprint Training — An advanced, operations-driven SEO curriculum for agencies covering content audits, keyword gap analysis, link building, reporting, and SOPs.
• Ian Nuttall’s Practical Programmatic SEO — A specialty course on scaling organic traffic by converting structured data into hundreds of SEO-optimized pages via templates for long-tail rankings.

Final Verdict: Can Authority Hacker Help You Build a Sustainable Business Model?

Authority Hacker can help you build a sustainable business model if you’re focused on long-term SEO, email marketing, and affiliate monetization. It offers a structured path for beginners and pros to build high-quality digital assets. However, authority sites depend heavily on staying current with Google updates and investing in expensive tools. While the model works, it requires constant content production and algorithm vigilance.

Is Local Lead Generation a Smarter Application of SEO Skills Than Authority Sites?

In my experience, local lead generation is a smarter application of SEO than building authority sites because you create a long-term digital asset that continues earning with minimal effort.

Comparing authority sites to local lead generation is like Pokédex completion versus Curiosity rover. The Pokédex demands nonstop hunting for every entry, new zones, and endless updates. It’s just like how authority sites require constant publishing of deep topic clusters and refreshing posts so rankings don’t fade. Curiosity sends back steady data for long stretches on autopilot after the initial calibration. Likewise, local lead generation sites deliver leads passively with minimal daily input.

Does Local Lead Generation Build Time and Financial Freedom?

Local lead generation builds time and financial freedom because you own the asset, keep the revenue, and control the entire process. Once your site ranks, the traffic turns into leads you can rent out for predictable monthly income. No affiliate links. No chasing Google updates. No content hamster wheel.

A client of mine is Winter Haven Elite Roofing, 321 3rd St SW Winter Haven, FL 33880, 863-622-8988, https://winterhaveneliteroofs.com/. I earned $2,885 from 5% commissions in the month that 5 of my leads closed for $57,700.

If you want a leaner way to turn SEO into passive income, check out the local lead generation business model.