[IAmGraydon]

>I know someone who makes $12MM/year from high-ranking websites in extremely competitive keywords... and it's all about peddling links, really.

How are these sites monetized?

[emerongi]

A combination of ads and referral links. Ads are not Google Ads (or similar), but sold directly, no middle-man.

The business very starkly displays a core truth: if you really know how to do SEO, you will run your own websites instead of selling "SEO services".

[petra]

Running your own websites works in some niches. Very crowded ones, probably.

In others , if you don't have a well run business with a competitive offer, SEO won't help much.

[ceejayoz]

I get a little joy out of replying to "first page of Google, guaranteed!" email spam asking why they're not on the first page for "SEO".