Keyword traffic volume, as a metric for me, is anything above 1000 searches in Micro Niche Finder – which has served amazingly well.

Across all 5 keywords for a domain, I want to be sure I get 5k+ collective, local searches monthly, on average 1k/each, though I do try for the bigger, 2.5k+ range when I can.

Tracking – I don’t have a centralized system, I use SEO Book’s Firefox toolbar plugin. I have to check each one at a time.

As to getting the first page of G or whatnot – I have no idea, all I do differently is use 2 different social bookmarkers and 2 different RSS feed submitters, as well as at least 1 article to EzineArt’s which I do cross-publish to GoArticles and ArticlesBase, they still rank very well for their respective keywords.

I notice you’re doing the “back up your back up” system that seems to be pretty popular – haven’t tried that yet, though it makes sense. I’m trying to do as little as I can – I’ve recently put up 2 more sites with 4 more on the way thanks to my re-writers from oDesk.

Personally I’m busy with: family day job, Elance freelancing…site building gets third. When I quit the day job I’ll have more time to build, but from 3 sites –> 8-12 sites in a month, I’m going the right way at least, if not s l o w l y.

I think, because I’m using the Micro Niche Finder, so long as I get the keywords with really low competition (sticking with as many zero competes or ultra-low), I’m on the right track.

I’ve published this post accidentally. I was writing in a draft and supposed to publish it once I get some high rankings

But anyway, I’ll still be updating it every day.

RSS+ social bookmarking – I also do it as it really helps the new site get ranked in 1 day. Using BookmarkWiz but to be frank I’m not very happy about it now:
1. It doesn’t post to Digg (big flaw!)
2. 40 to 60% of submissions fail due to some errors, so instead of getting 40 links I usually get 20 links from SB sites…

Now I’m seriously turning to SENuke

Really nice that your sites are on page 1-2 on all top search engines! And making money… What keyword search volume do you usually taget when creating these adsense sites?

I’ve chosen 1900 to 2400 exact searches per month, but I have a feeling that until the site hits #1 position, it’ll get much less traffic and clicks/sales.

Sure the rankings take time, I wrote a post some time ago how my empty blog got #4 position in google. Now it’s filled with targeted content, has some backlinks and it’s on position 150 !

Just checked another empty blog that I’ve created in 20 minutes and pinged about 1 week ago. It’s now on pos 16 in google for my main keyword. Interesting to see what happens if I fill it with content and get some backlinks as well )))

James, what value checker you use? I’m interested since I plan to estimate one of my old sites.

Absolutely agree with you – keep building! This is a system, ongoing work and repeating the same tasks every day! Build a site, submit articles and build backlinks slowly, keep doing the same next day with a new site… Results will come.

I think you’re 100% right about adsense and CJ (or other aff programs) – this is the easiest way to make money – aff sales may vanish due to many factors, but until the site gets traffic, adsense income will come every day! All these ppc, CPA offers, media buying etc – just the rest. adsense and many small internet properties that get traffic – this is the foundation to build upon!

All that was done the old-school way: bum marketing, posting Ezine articles I wrote (without any adjustments to content or title) to ArticlesBase and GoArt’s…it worked.

Checked my estimated value on some site-value checker, and the one site I didn’t think was all that great was worth the most: $900! The others were $200 and $450, so I’m a happy camper.

I WAS going to check out a new theme, but wanted instead to keep pushing forward – like you said, it takes a while to get familiar with a template/plugins, so, I figure why fix a good tire?

Anyhow, it took me about 1 month with the first site to get to high up on page 2 of G’s SERP, and 2 months for the 2nd to get up past page 4 (it is now on page 1), and less than 30 days to get #3 ranked onto page 1-2…very happy, it just takes time.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts – my wife thinks I’m CRAZY for AdSense this and Commission Junction that…but I’m obsessed. Now I just have to run.

If I left you with anything, it would be this: keep building. Don’t keep checking rank but once a month. It will happen, so long as you did your SEO and KW research right.