About the Authority Site System Course

The Authority Site System is a course created by Gael Breton and Mark Webster, the team behind the website AuthorityHackers.com. The course is designed to teach marketers everything they need to know about creating authority sites. The course covers a wide range of topics, starting with basic niche research and ending with link building.

Is The Authority Site System worth the money? Keep reading the review to find out.

About Gael Breton and Mark Webster

The first thing we like to do before reviewing any course is look at the people behind the course. There's so much free information on the internet, so if you're going to pay for an online course, you better have a good reason. You want to make sure you are getting a course from reputable educators who have actually achieved what you are trying to achieve.

The Authority Site System course was created by internet markets Gael Breton and Mark Webster. Gael and Mark have been working together to create authority sites since 2013 and have since generated millions of dollars in revenue. Here are a few of the screenshots they share on their website:

Of course, anyone can fabricate a screenshot or use it out of context, so we don't rely on screenshots alone to determine credibility. You can start to understand if someone is legitimate or not by looking at the free content they provide on their website or social media channels and Mark and Gael are killing it in this area!

The free content on the Authority Hackers site is some of the best I've seen. They provide in-depth, actionable guides on a wide range of topics. No fluff, no BS - just high-quality information. We began to think, "if the free content is THIS good, how good is the premium course?" This leads to our review of The Authority Site System.

Authority Site System Pricing

Currently, the Authority Site System course is priced at a flat rate of $997. This is a one-time fee and there are no recurring payments (or payment plans).

When you pay for the course, you get access to the course itself as well as a handful of other bonuses, including:

Access to a video library of over 120 video lessons

Access to a live case study

Copy and paste templates

Access to a members-only FB community

Free access to all future updates

While the price is steep compared to other course, we find that the value is more important. If you learn nothing from a $99 course and start a successful business after buying a $997 course, which one was the better deal?

So, let's get to the course review.

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Authority Site System Curriculum

The Authority Site System is broken down into five key modules, preceded by one introduction module. The five core modules include:

The Authority Site Model and IM 101 Niche Research and Site Planning Site Setup Content Creation Link Building

Let's take a closer look at each of these modules.

The Authority Site Model

This module provides the foundation for the rest of the course. Think of this like an "Authority Sites 101" class. Gael and Mark explain what an authority site is in great detail. While I referred to this module as a "101" course, it's anything but basic.

A lot of other courses we've reviewed start with a lot of fluff. You end up watching over an hour of introductory content before you get to the meat of the course. The Authority Site System gets to the point right away.

I was particularly impressed by the level of detail in each of these videos. Furthermore, I was impressed by the amount of "pro tips" that were included in the course. Mark and Gael don't simply use textbook explanations. They explain how they do things which is exactly what you want in a course. For example, the course explains the three stages of authority sites and what site owners can expect at each stage. The "three-stage" model comes directly out of Mark and Gael's playbook.

All in all, this first module provides students with a strong foundation to build on as they progress through the upcoming modules.

Niche Research and Site Planning

The Authority Site System takes an entire module to explain the process of niche selection and site planning. As someone who has built authority sites before, I know just how important this is. If you build a site in the wrong niche, you're doomed from the start.

Once again, this course is incredibly thorough in explaining the considerations behind niche selection. The course offers actionable insights about what you should look for in a niche and why. Mark and Gael even take the time to walk you through a few examples with pros and cons.

After the course explains niche selection, Mark and Gael take students through the process of doing market research. This research process includes both quantitative and qualitative research as well as a live demonstration using the Ahrefs software. Here are a few things they cover:

Competitive Research

SEO Research

Advertising Research

Keyword Research

Link Building Research

Other Considerations (i.e. Seasonality)

Once the research lessons are complete, the module begins to focus on the planning stages of the authority site creation process. The course explains how you can begin finding keywords for your articles and how you can start planning your site's structure.

Site Setup

Once you've planned your project, it's time to start building your site. If you've never built a site before, the course teaches you everything you need to know. If you've built a site before, a lot of this information will be redundant, but there are some beneficial lessons in "best practices" that you can only learn from experience.

Here are some of the topics covered in this part of the course:

Picking a domain name

Setting up your hosting

Setting up Cloudflare

Installing WordPress

Choosing a WordPress theme

Choosing your site colors

Choosing your site fonts

Getting your logo designed (without breaking the bank)

Customizing your site's design and URL structure

Site design tips for better conversions

Setting up Analytics tools

Following suit from the previous modules, these lessons are incredibly thorough. For example, it would be easy to rush through a lesson on choosing a domain name, but Gael and Mark take a systematic approach to this process. They share best practices as well as a few tools you can use to come up with ideas.

For a beginner, this section is gold. This is the stuff I wish I knew when I was getting started.

Content Creation

After your site is set up, it's time to start creating content. Any search engine marketer knows you can't just throw a few articles on your site and hope to rank. You need to be strategic and deliberate.

The Authority Site System advocates for a very systematic approach to content creation and the course walks students through every step. Here are the basic steps:

Planning - Using article templates, creating guidelines, generating ideas, research, etc.

- Using article templates, creating guidelines, generating ideas, research, etc. Writing - How to write for search engines, how to hire writers, etc.

- How to write for search engines, how to hire writers, etc. Posting - How to format posts, how to insert affiliate links (the right way), choosing titles, adding images, SEO optimizations, etc

Once again, this is a module I wish I saw when I was first getting started. The content covered ranges from beginner-intermediate. I also like how Gael and Mark take a really practical approach to content creation. They approach the content as the site's product, therefore, they view it a component of the business. They also preach a healthy blend of "content is king" AND "off-site SEO is necessary." This leads to the next module.

Link Building

The link building section explains what marketers need to do after they have built a site and created content. Most reputable SEO's know that links are essential to any SEO plan. While some "gurus" preach that content is king, the Authority Hackers team recognizes that you need great content AND great links.

The link building section of the course is primarily focused on building links through outreach. Once again, Gael and Mark outline a well-structured system for this method. They explain their process as well as the tools they use to facilitate their outreach initiatives. Topics include:

Planning your outreach strategy

Finding outreach targets

Crafting outreach emails

Using outreach templates and automations

Negotiating link placements

Tracking your outreach efforts

The process is thorough, well explained, and practical.

My only critique would be that this module primarily focuses on a single link-building strategy. Since the Authority Hackers team is a proponent of link building, I would have expected them to cover some more link building methods. Outreach is definitely one of the more powerful link building strategies, but I don't believe that most sites should only use outreach. It would have been nice if the Authority Site System course included a few other strategies such as blog commenting, forum posting, directory posting, PBNs, etc.

How is the Course Quality?

A great course can be compromised by poor production quality. There's nothing more frustrating than coming across some killer lessons that are hard to follow due to poor recording quality or lack of organization. Fortunately, that is NOT the case with the Authority Site System course. This course is well-produced and well-organized.

Each section follows a logical progression and the lessons are backed by high quality screen recordings and slides. There are even custom graphics that are used to better explain some of the processes discussed.

Does The Authority Site System Deliver?

Overall, this is one of the best courses we've reviewed on this subject matter. There are a lot of different ways to approach the content covered in these types of courses. Since authority sites technically fall under the category of passive income, many educators water down the content to attract a broader audience.

As someone who has built Authority Sites that generate substantial revenues, I was very impressed by this course. It is incredibly thorough and, more importantly, the videos teach real lessons that are accurate and actionable.

The Authority Hackers team avoids bold promises. You won't find any claims about how this course can help you "generate $5,123/month on autopilot." It was refreshing to see a team that created a course designed for real internet entrepreneurs instead of the get-rich-quick crowd.

Overall, the course definitely delivers what is promised in the marketing materials.

Who is the Course Best For?

The Authority Site System caters to marketers of all skill levels. If, hypothetically, you were to remove the price tag, I think everyone who is interested in authority sites would rate this course highly. That said, the course is $997, which isn't cheap, so there are a few other considerations.

Everyone's situations are different and our opinions are somewhat subjective. Ultimately, you need to decide if this course is right for you, but here are some considerations:

If you are completely new to building authority sites, you should start by studying free resources on the internet (the Authority Hackers website is a good starting point). Take some time to familiarize yourself with the industry and start playing around with building sites. Once you have some basic experience, you may consider purchasing the course. If you are going to buy any course, this should be the one.

If you have some experience with authority sites but do not make a full-time living from them, this course is a great resource to help take your income to the next level. If you are already making some money from authority sites, it's easier to justify paying the $997. The course will help you correct your mistakes and learn new strategies to expand your existing marketing efforts.

If you are an experienced authority site builder and you already have profitable sites (i.e. $2,000+ profit/month), this course offers a unique benefit. It can help you become more organized and purposeful with your strategy, particularly if you want to start building new sites. Some of the information may be redundant but the "system" itself will help you approach authority site building as a business model instead of a hobby.

Is the Authority Site System Course Worth the Money?

Once again, this answer is somewhat subjective. $997 holds different values for different people.

Let me lead by saying that, with regards to the quality of the education, the course is worth the money. Deciding whether or not to purchase it comes down to opportunity costs.

If you are just getting started and only have a few grand to your name, $997 is a lot to spend on a course. The course will provide some invaluable lessons, but you may be better off using your budget to learn and make mistakes of your own. With $997, you can buy hosting, domains, content, links, graphics, etc. If your someone who is comfortable doing research on forums, social media sites, and blogs, don't rush into an expensive purchase at the beginning of your journey.

If you can afford the $997, the course is a no-brainer. This truly is a proven system created by credible professionals in the space.

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Comparison to Alternatives

Overall, the Authority Site System deserves a "best in class" award. There is no better course for learning how to build authority sites from start to finish.

This course is built on the most effective methodology and provides the most comprehensive curriculum.

There is no better course on building authority sites.

If your more interested in learning about specific topics related to the authority site creation process, you may prefer a more focused course. For example, Brian Dean provides a far more comprehensive course on link building BUT it is pricey and it does not cover things like niche research, monetization strategies, and site setup.

The Final Verdict

The Authority Site System is an excellent course for anyone looking to build authority sites like the pros. While the price tag may be steep, professionals in the space know the value of a good system. A good authority site can cover the cost of the course in perpetuity. Furthermore, by building sites using a proven system, you can maximize your efforts and get the most bang for your buck.

Pros

The course is created by credible professionals

The content is well-planned and well-recorded

This is the most comprehensive authority site course on the market

The modules provide professional, step-by-step instructions

The course material ranges from beginner-level to advanced

The system is proven to work and has generated millions of dollars for the owners

Cons

The price is somewhat expensive ($997)

The link building module isn't as thorough as it could be

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