Alexander Stoicoff is a profitable web optimization skilled with a pet peeve. He felt that males, specifically, didn’t actually know the way to costume. He felt that after they wore fits, they’d bother matching them with different clothes. So he got down to do one thing about it.
He created Suits Expert in 2016 as a aspect hustle in his quest to offer skilled steering on fits and train males the way to costume higher. Making use of his web optimization data to his area of interest web site, he has seen regular progress in visitors and income for the reason that starting, and as we speak he’s bringing dwelling as much as $10k monthly.
This interview is full of a lot of nice perception as Alexander shares the guidelines and tips he has used to develop his menswear weblog.
Preserve studying to search out out:
- Why he created his web site
- The three issues he targeted on to start with
- The place his earnings comes from
- How he addresses topical relevance
- How a lot he works on his web site
- His ideas on web optimization
- His strategy to key phrase analysis
- His ideas on hyperlink constructing
- How he creates content material
- How he grows and manages his e mail record
- The assets and instruments he makes use of
- His principal problem
- His best accomplishment
- His largest mistake
- His recommendation for different entrepreneurs
Meet Alexander Stoicoff
I am 33 years outdated, married, and reside in a small nation within the Balkans known as Macedonia.
I graduated in pc engineering in 2013 however determined to deal with entrepreneurship and issues that may present long-term monetary freedom. That very same 12 months, I based Adivius, a digital advertising company, and have targeted on web optimization ever since.
All through my skilled journey, I’ve labored with some massive purchasers in lots of aggressive niches. Additionally, I taught younger entrepreneurs the topic of web optimization at a distinguished digital advertising academy in my nation for 2 years.
In non-public, I am pretty pragmatic and prefer to reside a comparatively easy and accountable life. I’ve a ardour for sports activities and notably take pleasure in snowboarding and taking part in tennis.
Why He Created His Web site
Suits Expert began as a aspect job again in 2016.
As I acquired older, I noticed folks, notably males, had been dressing immaturely.
And even when newer generations wore fits, they both wore them fallacious or did not know the way to match them with different clothes like shirts, footwear, not to mention ties.
And the outcomes on Google had been weak and restricted. There have been pictures, however the explanations had been terrible. So, the chance was there.
I made a decision to construct a web site that may honestly assist males costume higher and study extra about formal apparel basically. My long-term objective was to make males extra assured of their formal wardrobe selection, as I imagine everybody is just afraid of the unknown.
Retrospectively, I believed I might construct one thing profitable, given my curiosity and understanding of the topic. However I by no means thought it will grow to be as distinguished on the topic as it’s as we speak.
So, I began writing about topics that individuals needed solutions for. Solely easy info and recommendation, nothing boring and pointless content material.
I targeted on three issues: well-organized content material, robust and related interlinking between the posts, and useful visible content material. And the develop recipe was set in the meanwhile the location began rating. For me, it meant that high quality > amount.
What’s fascinating is that Fits Knowledgeable began as a zero backlink challenge. I used to be assured that Google would acknowledge useful and well-organized content material. One thing that is more durable to do as we speak, however extra on that later…
Since then, I’ve began a number of initiatives (which I will preserve in non-public). A few of them turned out to achieve success. Some did not and had been a pleasant playground for testing. I additionally needed to copy this in different niches, and I used to be in a rush. However I additionally realized this: There aren’t any shortcuts.
Good initiatives take time, particularly with Google.
How A lot Cash He’s Making
I began monetizing Fits Knowledgeable 4 years in the past after I joined Mediavine. It was then that I noticed folks could make a full-time dwelling from running a blog. Since then, the income is continually rising.
I lately transitioned to Raptive, one of many largest advert networks in relation to life-style running a blog.
Fits Knowledgeable presently earns $7-$10k month-to-month, of which 80% comes from show advertisements.
This share signifies an enormous room for enchancment on the affiliate marketing entrance. Rising the earnings by 30-50% and taking the affiliate half extra severely is one thing pretty doable if I wasn’t targeted on a number of initiatives.
I’ve leveraged platforms like Amazon Associates, Share a Sale, Awin, and CJ for internet affiliate marketing, which contribute 15% of the location’s income. In the meantime, paid model collaborations and different direct model commercials add as much as 5% of the location’s income.
The important thing to attaining this degree of income has been my unwavering dedication to high quality. Each article is revealed to genuinely assist searchers and readers, with a number of pictures and visuals.
Fits Knowledgeable will get round 200 to 300k guests monthly (relying on the month) with just a little greater than 200 articles. Contemplating the area of interest, that is an excellent quantity.
It reveals you are able to do rather a lot when you could have well-written, optimized, useful articles designed to reply an issue the search engine consumer has.
For instance, my article on men’s suit styles permits me to go in-depth and canopy each subtopic, e.g., single-breasted vs. double-breasted fits, and many others.
This sort of topical, related content material permits me to simply interlink between posts utilizing the ability of web optimization.
How A lot Alexander Works on His Web site
First, I wish to level out that Fits Knowledgeable offers a passive earnings that enables me to skip engaged on the location for a while. It’s not just like the rankings will disappear if I cease publishing for every week or two.
That mentioned, I used to work a small variety of hours per week on the location. Over the past two years, I began prioritizing it and began working 4 hours day by day (on common).
Once more, Fits Knowledgeable isn’t a full-time job. So, contemplating all initiatives, I often work 9-12 hours.
A number of persons are concerned within the challenge, together with a content material supervisor, a content material author who helps me craft some stunning phrases, a graphic designer who helps me with the pictures, and lately, a video editor who will assist me with our new YouTube video collection. Be sure to subscribe to take a look at our newly coming movies!
His Ideas on web optimization
The advertising technique we selected was to depend on web optimization and search engines like google. So, it means discovering the precise key phrases and thoroughly curating content material on the subject. It’s an outdated sport that everybody performs, however not everybody executes it correctly.
web optimization is essential for Fits Knowledgeable. Nearly 95% of the visitors comes from search engines like google.
Our technique relies on producing useful content material. It aligns with our objectives to create articles which are simpler to search out and genuinely assist readers discover the right solutions.
Whereas techniques might fluctuate barely, we attempt making use of the usual web optimization practices (topical relevance, cautious internal linking, key phrase optimization, competitor evaluation, and many others.) and content material advertising methods (outreach, social media, and many others.)
My motto has at all times been that “web optimization is about serving to folks discover the solutions they want.” It is a completely different perspective whenever you place your reader’s wants first. It actually helps you create one thing higher.
Key phrase Analysis
We use two approaches to find keywords we will cowl.
The primary ones are evergreen key phrases with Ahrefs. Right here, we’re notably within the search quantity and the key phrase issue.
One other important factor is topical relevance. I wish to be sure that a number of key phrases are lined on one matter (for instance, swimsuit colours) earlier than we transfer to a different matter (for instance, costume codes).
Ahrefs is an superior software for competitor evaluation as nicely. I will not get too technical right here, however you may at all times peek at what your opponents rank for and the way they get their visitors by exploring their key phrases.
Here is a tip: The perfect state of affairs is an honest key phrase (or group of key phrases) with 5k+ month-to-month searches with low issue. Consider me, there are many these key phrases which are nonetheless not lined correctly or are solely partially lined.
Ahrefs has a wonderful (and free) metric on key phrase issue, and it tracks straightforward key phrases (under 10 rating) as inexperienced and medium (11-30) as medium inexperienced. That’s your purpose for the beginning.
The second kind is trending key phrases; we additionally use Google Key phrase Planner to trace these. We additionally cowl trending matters (for instance, costume like David Beckham) by discovering the steadiness of month-to-month searches and the way lengthy this key phrase might be in style and searched.
Hyperlink Constructing
This is essential. Take into account the hyperlinks as votes. Your opponents would have a number of votes at this level when you’re simply beginning up. It could take a number of effort to get acknowledged by related sources and a number of outreach to seize their consideration.
However as soon as the business notices you, issues occur “extra naturally.” Should you’re a related and useful supply of knowledge, an increasing number of websites will hyperlink to your content material naturally.
What works greatest is creating and publishing one thing distinctive, whether or not it is trending or highly-helpful content material, an infographic, or a video. Then, attempt to discover and pitch to related websites that may wish to use that exact content material and attain out.
When pitching to related websites, make sure to discuss much less about your self and reward the particular person you are contacting. All people desires to be complimented for his or her work.
Attempt to discover one thing that intrigues or fascinates you concerning the creator’s work. However do not faux it, folks will discover. Be pure but skilled, and preserve it brief.
I see this from one other perspective as nicely… Fits Knowledgeable receives not less than 50 emails a day. I barely reply to at least one.
Providing to put in writing content material for different websites to be able to get a backlink does not (or hardly ever) works. A top-level web site would by no means settle for content material from somebody exterior of their collaborative community until you are a prime identify within the business. Then, it is a completely completely different sport.
His Content material Creation Course of
First, I do key phrase analysis. I arrange the entire map of key phrases lengthy earlier than I begin writing about them. Keep in mind, the purpose was to create a topical relevance on a particular matter.
We retailer all principal key phrases on ClickUp, a web-based challenge administration app that lets you handle duties and knowledge. For instance, if I wish to write concerning the “completely different swimsuit types,” I retailer this key phrase as an open process contained in the app that awaits to be processed.
As soon as I begin engaged on a selected key phrase, I delve into the subject by doing competitor evaluation, checking the right phrases and key phrases I will have to make use of, and making a well-organized heading construction for the content material. Instruments like Surfer assist rather a lot right here.
For instance, I (we) create SERP evaluation for a particular key phrase (completely different swimsuit types). The software mechanically tells me which key phrases are necessary when creating content material for this particular article.
So now the key phrase mapping (key phrases that evolve across the matter “completely different swimsuit types”) begins. And I love to do it the old style manner. I create a Phrase doc with approximate phrase rely, advisable h1 and web optimization titles, main, secondary, and tertiary key phrases, different phrases to incorporate, sources, and many others.
I will not get too technical concerning the writing, as everybody has a distinct writing type. All I can say is: be on level. Use shorter sentences and brief paragraphs. Respect folks’s time and level them to the precise reply.
Alexander’s Electronic mail Checklist
We’ve an honest e mail record that we use just for high-tier publishing. We develop it by displaying pop-ups and sidebar subscription fields.
By respectable, I imply comparatively small. There are round 5000 emails on the record. Since we do not have an lively publication and frequent e mail campaigns, we use the record to advertise new articles we simply revealed which are high-quality and that might solely make sense to “promote.”
For instance, if summer time simply arrived and we have simply revealed “marriage ceremony apparel for summer time.” In that case, we’ll e mail that we simply revealed the most effective outfit examples for weddings this summer time with a short description of the put up.
Emails are considered one of our prime priorities for Fits Knowledgeable, and we’re engaged on it proper now. Quickly, we’ll attempt to improve our subscribers by offering coupons to main clothiers, providing a free course by way of pop-up, and focused messages on particular posts.
For instance, on the “greatest inexpensive fits” put up, we can provide a coupon code for considered one of our associates by asking the reader to enter their e mail.
His Favourite Sources
web optimization is essential for a running a blog web site like mine. That is why I wholeheartedly suggest studying Backlinko. He has some superior guides in relation to key phrase analysis, on-page web optimization, hyperlink constructing, and many others.
There are many video and YouTube assets as nicely. I keep in mind I watched the “Affiliate Lab” course a while in the past. It teaches doing one thing similar to what I am doing with Fits Knowledgeable.
I will discuss extra about momentum under, however proper now, YouTube is trending. Should you’re beginning in one thing comparable, learn to construct a robust channel and do one thing significant with it so you may monetize it simply.
His YouTube Channel
YouTube is considered one of our prime priorities for Fits Knowledgeable. Persons are on the lookout for fast and visible solutions, and I wish to begin turning each put up right into a video.
One in every of my first impressions is that good video modifying isn’t low-cost however value it. Folks need fascinating visible particulars, and the small issues will make them subscribe.
Should you’re simply beginning out, the most effective recommendation I can provide to folks is to get out in entrance of the digicam and do the recordings themselves. Study some video modifying software program (like Adobe Premier); they’re simpler than they appear to start out.
And also you don’t want costly tools however, quite, a imaginative and prescient on your channel. Like making a weblog web site, you’ll want a particular matter to create movies about, inquiries to reply, and issues to unravel so your viewers is aware of why they need to observe your channel.
“You may solely study one thing if you happen to’re keen to attempt it your self. As quickly as doable.”
His Go-To Instruments
I arrange every part with my workforce via ClickUp with Slack for communication, so I’ll rely these as one.
For web optimization, my bread and butter are Surfer and Ahrefs. But when Ahrefs is just too costly to start out, use Google Key phrase Planner instead.
His Predominant Problem
First, I wish to emphasize that each problem strengthened me and my enterprise. What appeared scary again then appears trivial now.
At one level, one competitor turned on me for utilizing his movies on my web site, which made me keen to open my very own YouTube channel and do my very own movies.
The mantra I reside by isn’t giving up and frequently striving to study from my errors.
Right now, I might say the largest problem is to make the companies unbiased from me. It isn’t straightforward discovering and coaching a talented and reliable workforce.
However with every impediment, there is a lesson to be realized, and I am assured that the knowledge to beat this problem, too, is inside attain.
His Best Accomplishment
My best accomplishment isn’t selecting a 9 to five job, pursuing my pursuits, and dealing exhausting to earn my monetary freedom. This fashion, I’ve constructed a life I do not want a trip from.
I genuinely take pleasure in what I am doing and do not take into account my work exhausting and tedious, although I usually work more durable and longer than most individuals do.
What He Needs He Knew When He Began
Timing is necessary. What works now won’t work eternally.
Capitalize on the momentum and work diligently to maximise the present alternative. It is about being agile and conscious of the ever-changing panorama.
Most significantly, be open to eternally studying new issues!
His Greatest Mistake
That will in all probability be not specializing in one challenge solely again after I was beginning, on this case, Fits Knowledgeable.
I used to construct and flip different websites, which took a number of vitality and time. Whereas I made cash out of them, trying again at issues, Fits Knowledgeable would have introduced rather more worth retrospectively with time.
It is alright to work on a number of initiatives upon getting tasted success. However begin with one factor at a time.
His Recommendation for Different Entrepreneurs
Having a supply of earnings is necessary. If you have not secured a steady money move for your online business, take into account a distant and even part-time job the place you will additionally study extra about your online business and earn the required expertise to maneuver it extra quickly.
Use time rigorously, develop self-discipline, and be affected person.
Work exhausting sufficient on one factor, and with an excellent plan, success will observe naturally.
