Let me paint you a picture.
You build a site. You write a blog. And suddenly, bam—Google bows in your direction like you just handed it a backstage pass to the universe. I’ve posted single blogs that outrank entire companies with teams, budgets, and websites built solely around a topic… and my site? Not even technically about that thing. One, admittedly not the best blog -no video, no schema markup, no next gen image format accompanying it on the page and I am ranking globally in or near the top ORGANICQALLY.
It’s like showing up to a chili cook-off with a spoonful of stew—and walking out with the trophy, the apron, and the rights to the festival name.
Why? Because I’ve got something most folks don’t: long-standing, high-trust SEO authority.
My website’s been around and active since 2011. I’ve been blogging for over a decade about a ton of different things, wrote multiple bestselling books, reviewed peer research and have a highly valued dissertation (In which I theorized something was inevitable against the current research and I was proven correct years later), and I’ve served my country as a Marine. I’ve consulted, keynoted, and sat on more panels than a fancy kitchen. When I write something, Google listens like it’s hearing from an old friend who knows their stuff. That trust translates into visibility—and that visibility has value. Not just specific themes or categories, but just about anything.
So let’s get to the good part:
How do I trade that search power for products, services, or paid opportunities—with brands I actually respect?
First, Know What You’re Really Bringing to the Table
You’re not just “a blogger.” You’re not casually asking for a free pressure washer or a sampler pack of protein bars in exchange for a feel-good shoutout. You’re offering search dominance—and if you’ve ever peeked at a PPC budget, you know that kind of visibility is anything but cheap.
Brands shell out thousands every month just to flirt with Google’s front page. Most of them are in a knife fight with butter knives, praying their SEO agency can move the needle. Meanwhile, I’m over here publishing one post and outranking companies whose entire websites revolve around that exact topic.
In the private theater of my ego, I like to imagine marketing departments pulling up my blog in a boardroom, trying to explain to their CEO why some guy with a keyboard and a coffee mug just leapfrogged their six-figure campaign.
I’ve spent thousands of hours building real search authority. This isn’t influencer smoke and mirrors—no inflated follower counts, no bots clicking like, no borrowed quotes dressed up like original thought under a pouty selfie.
In fact, I don’t even have a huge social media following. I’m not out here chasing dopamine hits from likes or pretending Shakespeare’s words were mine. I’d rather create something that ranks—and stays ranked—than chase the next flash-in-the-pan “moment.”
I’m not offering a seat next to me at the cool table for “exposure.”
I’m offering the hilltop.
I’m the lighthouse in the fog.
And when my post lands on top of Google, your brand doesn’t just get clicks—it gets credibility.
That’s real influence. That’s leverage.
But Let’s Be Real—Businesses Need ROI
Here’s where most people mess this up. They say, “Hey brand! I’ll write about you—give me stuff!”
And the brand says, “Cool, what’s in it for us? And why should we care?”
Fair question.
To trade your SEO authority for real value, you need to speak their language. Businesses think in metrics. ROI. Reach. Relevance. Conversions. If you’re asking for product, money, a service or access, you need to show them that your post will stick, rank, and send leads. You’re not just promising a shoutout—they can get that from TikTokers doing product reviews in their bathrobes.
You’re offering a long-term digital asset that will keep sending customers their way, month after month, without them paying Google a dime.
How to Pitch the Value (Without Sounding Like a Beggar With Wi-Fi)
Here’s the formula:
- Introduce your reach – Tell them your domain strength, how long you’ve been live, what kind of keywords you rank for.
- Show your proof – Share examples of past posts that ranked #1 and how long they stayed there.
- Explain what they get – A dedicated post that’s optimized, evergreen, and positioned for Google dominance. Not a flash-in-the-pan Instagram story that disappears faster than a pizza at a football party.
- Offer a trade or structure a deal – Whether it’s a straight product swap, affiliate partnership, rev share, or flat rate, let them know you’re flexible but not free.
Influencer Culture vs. Authority Blogging
Look, there’s a difference between being an “influencer” and being a force. Influencers might dance in front of ring lights. That’s cool. But most of the time, it’s fleeting.
What I do is durable.
The influencer model has gotten more demanding anyway—event invites now come with a 12-point checklist:
- Show up
- Smile for the camera
- Post 5 times
- Mention the brand 6 times
- Pretend you aren’t stressed about parking
- Eat tiny cupcakes and call it dinner
- Submit your analytics report by Thursday
All for… what? A tote bag and a lukewarm “collab”? No thanks.
I’m not looking to be a mascot. I’m looking to build win-win relationships where a brand gets top-tier, long-lasting visibility and I get something of equal value: great gear, tools, experiences—or yes, cash. I don’t want just free stuff. I want to use and support things I believe in, and in return, deliver visibility they couldn’t buy any other way.
So, What Should Brands Know?
If you’re a brand reading this:
- I write honestly. I don’t fluff. If your product is crap, I won’t post about it.
- I bring trust, experience, and humor into everything I write.
- One good post on my site can outrank your entire SEO campaign.
- I’m open to creative trades—products, services, experiences—or revenue deals.
- And no, I don’t accept exposure as payment. I already have that.
Final Thought: You Can’t Fake Authority
There are no shortcuts to building what I’ve built. No plugin, no AI tool, no hashtag. It’s time, credibility, and consistency. The kind of SEO juice that can’t be bought—but can absolutely be traded.
If you’ve got something great and want the world to know about it, let’s talk.
—Rob Urban
Marine. Author. Marketer. Blog Warlock.
Outranking your competition with nothing but a keyboard and a cup of coffee.