An authority site earns public trust, especially from users. When an online business operates a successful authority site, it attracts more visitors and affiliate partnerships, ultimately converting these into paying customers. But how exactly do you build an authority website?
Do you need affiliate marketing training? Should you invest in affiliate marketing courses? The Authority Site System training course addresses these questions and many more.
Like you, we questioned whether this course delivers genuine value for the investment. To resolve these doubts and provide you with honest insights, we purchased the course ourselves and conducted a thorough review. Join us as we examine The Authority Site System from start to finish before delivering our final verdict.
Let’s dive in.
About the Authority Site System Course
Gael Breton and Mark Webster, the duo behind AuthorityHackers.com, created The Authority Site System. This comprehensive course teaches marketers how to build authority sites similar to Authority Hacker. The curriculum spans from foundational niche research through advanced link building strategies.
Does The Authority Site System justify its cost? Continue reading our review to discover the answer.
About Gael Breton and Mark Webster
Before reviewing any course, we always examine the credentials of its creators. With abundant free information available online, paying for a course requires solid justification.
You need confidence that you’re learning from reputable educators who’ve accomplished what you’re trying to achieve—in this case, building successful authority websites.
Internet marketing experts Gael Breton and Mark Webster developed The Authority Site System course. Since 2013, Gael and Mark have collaborated on building authority sites, generating millions in revenue. Their highly profitable authority sites make them ideal instructors for the authority site business model.
Here are screenshots they display on their Authority Hacker website:
While anyone can manipulate screenshots or use them misleadingly, we don’t base credibility solely on income claims. Instead, you can gauge someone’s legitimacy by examining their free content across websites and social media—and Mark and Gael excel in this area!
The Authority Hackers site offers some of the highest-quality free training we’ve encountered. They deliver comprehensive, actionable guides covering numerous topics, including affiliate marketing courses. No fluff, no nonsense—just premium information on generating online income.
This made us wonder: “If their free content reaches this caliber, how exceptional must their premium course be?” This curiosity led to our Authority Site System review.
Authority Site System Pricing
The Authority Site System course costs $997 as a one-time payment with no recurring fees or payment plans available.
Your purchase of this Authority Hacker course includes the main curriculum plus several valuable bonuses:
- 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
- Keyword research tool
Though the price seems steep compared to other authority site courses, value matters more than cost. If a $99 class teaches you nothing while a $997 course launches your successful business, which represents the better investment?
Now, let’s examine the course content.
Authority Site System Curriculum
The Authority Site System consists of an introductory module followed by five core modules:
- The Authority Site Model and IM 101
- Niche Research and Site Planning
- Site Setup
- Content Creation
- Link Building
Let’s examine each module in detail.
The Authority Site Model
This opening module establishes the foundation for all subsequent material. Consider it an “Authority Sites 101” class, though calling it basic would be misleading—Gael and Mark explain authority sites with remarkable depth.
Unlike many courses we’ve reviewed that begin with excessive fluff, The Authority Site System cuts straight to valuable content. You won’t waste an hour on introductory material before reaching the course’s core.
The detailed explanations in each video particularly impressed us, along with the numerous “pro tips” woven throughout. Mark and Gael skip textbook explanations, instead sharing their proven methods—exactly what you want from a course. For instance, they explain the three authority site stages and what owners should expect during each phase. This “three-stage” model comes directly from the Authority Hacker team’s playbook.
This foundational module gives students a robust base for progressing through subsequent modules.
Niche Research and Site Planning
The Authority Site System dedicates an entire module to niche selection and authority site planning. As someone who’s built authority sites, I understand this module’s critical importance. Choose the wrong niche, and you’re destined to fail from day one.
This course thoroughly explains niche selection considerations while offering actionable insights about what to seek in a niche and why. Mark and Gael even demonstrate several examples with their respective pros and cons.
Following comprehensive niche selection training, Mark and Gael guide students through market research processes. This research encompasses both quantitative and qualitative analysis, including live demonstrations using Ahrefs software.
Key topics include:
- Competitive Research
- Search Engine Optimization Research
- Advertising/Online Marketing Research
- Keyword Research
- Initial Link Building Research
- Other Considerations (i.e., Seasonality)
After completing research lessons, the module shifts to authority site planning phases. The course demonstrates how to identify keywords for articles, plan content creation, and structure your site effectively.
Site Setup
Once you’ve planned your project, it’s time to build your affiliate site. For newcomers to website creation, this course provides comprehensive guidance. Even experienced site builders will discover valuable “best practices” lessons that only come through hands-on experience.
This module covers:
- 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
Consistent with previous modules, these lessons are thoroughly detailed. While it would be easy to rush through domain name selection, Gael and Mark approach this systematically. They share best practices alongside useful tools for generating ideas when building affiliate websites.
For beginners, this section is pure gold—the kind of knowledge I wish I’d possessed when starting my first highly profitable authority site.
Content Creation
After establishing your site, content creation becomes the focus. Experienced marketers with SEO expertise know that randomly posting articles won’t achieve rankings. You can’t simply create a private Facebook group and expect widespread reach. Success requires strategic, deliberate planning to generate organic traffic that converts into online revenue.
The Authority Site System promotes systematic commercial content creation. Unlike other affiliate marketing courses, it guides students through every phase. The basic steps include:
- Planning: Using article templates, creating guidelines, generating ideas, research, etc.
- Writing: How to write for search engines, hire writers, etc.
- Posting: How to format posts, insert affiliate links (the right way), choose titles, add images, SEO optimizations, etc
Again, this represents a module I wish I’d accessed when beginning. The content spans beginner to intermediate levels. I appreciate how Gael and Mark take an efficient content creation approach, treating content as the site’s primary product and viewing it as a business component. They advocate a balanced approach combining “content is king” with “off-site SEO is essential,” leading naturally to the next module.
Link Building
The link building section explores advanced tactics marketers need after establishing their site and creating content. Experienced internet marketers who understand search engine optimization recognize links as fundamental to any SEO strategy. While some “gurus” claim content reigns supreme, the Authority Hacker team understands that success requires both excellent content and quality links to other authority websites.
This course section primarily focuses on outreach-based link building. Following their established pattern, Gael and Mark present a well-structured link building system. They detail their process and the tools they use for outreach campaigns.
Key topics include:
- Planning your outreach strategy
- Finding outreach targets
- Crafting outreach emails
- Using outreach templates and automation
- Negotiating link placements
- Tracking your outreach efforts
The process is comprehensive, clearly explained, and practical.
My single critique involves this module’s focus on one link building strategy. Given the Authority Hackers team’s link building advocacy, I expected coverage of additional methods.
While outreach ranks among the more powerful link building strategies, most sites shouldn’t rely exclusively on outreach. The Authority Site System course would benefit from including other strategies like blog commenting, forum posting, directory submissions, PBNs, etc.
How Is the Course Quality?
Poor production quality can undermine excellent course content. Nothing frustrates more than discovering valuable lessons that are difficult to follow due to poor recording quality or disorganization. Fortunately, this doesn’t apply to the Authority Site System course, which boasts excellent production values and logical organization.
Each section follows logical progression, supported by high-quality screen recordings and slides. Custom graphics enhance understanding of the processes discussed.
Does the Authority Site System Deliver?
This ranks among the finest courses we’ve reviewed on this subject. Multiple approaches exist for presenting this type of content. Since authority sites technically qualify as passive income, many educators dilute their content to appeal to broader audiences.
As someone who’s built Authority Sites generating substantial revenues, this course thoroughly impressed me. It’s comprehensive and, more importantly, teaches genuine lessons that are both accurate and actionable.
The Authority Hacker team avoids unrealistic promises. You won’t encounter claims that this course helps you “generate $5,123/month on autopilot.” This refreshing approach shows a team that created a course for serious internet entrepreneurs rather than the get-rich-quick audience.
Overall, don’t hesitate to invest in this course—it delivers substantial value and fulfills its marketing promises.
Who Is the Course Best For?
The Authority Site System serves marketers across all skill levels. If we removed the price tag hypothetically, I believe everyone interested in authority sites and affiliate monetization would rate this course highly. However, at $997, additional considerations apply.
Every situation differs, and opinions remain somewhat subjective. You must ultimately decide if this course fits your needs, but here are key considerations:
If you’re completely new to building authority sites, begin with free internet resources (the Authority Hacker website offers an excellent starting point). Spend time familiarizing yourself with the industry and experiment with site building. After gaining basic experience, consider purchasing the course. If you buy any course, this should be your choice.
If you have some authority site experience but don’t earn full-time income from them, this course provides excellent resources for advancing to the next level. When you’re already generating some authority site revenue, justifying the $997 investment becomes easier. The course helps correct mistakes and teaches new strategies for expanding existing marketing efforts.
If you’re an experienced authority site builder with profitable sites (earning $2,000+ monthly profit), this course offers unique benefits. It helps you become more organized and strategic, especially when launching new sites. While some information may seem redundant, the “system” transforms authority site building from a hobby into a legitimate business model.
Is the Authority Site System Course Worth the Money?
This answer remains somewhat subjective, as $997 holds different values for different people.
Regarding educational quality, the course absolutely justifies its price. However, the purchase decision ultimately depends on opportunity costs.
For beginners with limited funds, $997 represents a significant course investment. While the course provides invaluable lessons, you might benefit more from using your budget to learn through hands-on experience and mistakes. With $997, you could purchase hosting, domains, content, links, graphics, etc. If you’re comfortable researching through forums, social media, and blogs, avoid rushing into expensive purchases early in your journey.
If you can comfortably afford $997, this course becomes a no-brainer investment. This represents a genuinely proven system created by credible industry professionals.
Comparison to Alternatives
The Authority Site System merits a “best in class” designation. This represents one of the finest authority site building courses available. Only The Authority Lab by Matt Diggity offers comparable quality.
The Authority Site System employs the most effective methodology while providing the most comprehensive curriculum.
No superior authority site building course exists.
If you prefer learning specific authority site creation topics, you might prefer more focused courses. For example, Brian Dean offers a far more detailed link building course. However, it’s expensive and excludes niche research, monetization strategies, and site setup.
The Final Verdict
The Authority Site System excels as a professional authority site building course. While the price tag may seem steep, industry professionals recognize the value of proven systems. A successful authority site can recover the course cost indefinitely. Moreover, building sites using proven methods maximizes your efforts and delivers optimal returns on investment.
Authority Site System 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
Authority Site System Cons
- The price is somewhat high ($997)
- The link building module isn’t as thorough as it could be
