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Is “Rank and Rent” still viable in 2026? Anyone actually doing it?
Posted by on February 23, 2026 at 9:22 amHi everyone,
I’ve been reading about the “rank and rent” model and I’d like to get some real opinions from people who’ve actually tried it.
From what I understand, the idea is to rank a website for a specific keyword (usually local service-based), and then rent the site or the leads to a company once it’s generating traffic.
My questions are:
- Is this still working today, or is it kind of outdated?
- Has anyone here actually succeeded with it recently?
- With all the new tools available now (like AI website builders and coding assistants), what platform would you consider ideal for this specific purpose?
There are tools like Lovable, Claude Code, etc., and I’m wondering whether a no-code builder, custom-coded site, or something else would be the smartest approach if the goal is purely SEO and lead generation.
Would love to hear real experiences — both successes and failures.
Thanks
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1 Reply
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It works, called affiliate marketing 🙂
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If you’re going purely for seo, avoid code and go wordpress.
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Has rank and rent ever worked?
I’ve tried it and barely broke even tbh. Most people I know have had the same experience. I have heard people making $$$$$ from it in the past, but take it with a pinch of salt as people do lie on the internet!
Also… What you make the site with has no impact at all… Unless you’re trying to promote your SaaS?
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Rank and rent still works, but it’s not easy anymore. Local SEO is crowded and businesses expect real, consistent leads, not just rankings. The edge isn’t the platform or AI builder, it’s solid fundamentals and actual authority. It’s viable, just not passive or quick money like people sell it as.
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Still works well for me, but yes, it has become much more difficult. You really have to be selective with the niche you pick. Trying to “rent and rank” a, let’s say, plumbing website in a big city is going to be damn near impossible. Just really hard to get the authority and trust signals you need to be represented well on Google and AI search.
You have to niche down to have any chance. For example, create a “toilet replacement” site and GBP instead of a generic plumbing site. Just as long as “toilet replacement” has decent search volume in your area. Far less toilet replacement companies around when compared to plumbing sites. So you need to go after “easy wins”. High search volume, low keyword difficulty.
It’s also much more difficult nowadays to get a GBP verified for a “rank and rent” setup. Not impossible, but it takes some consistent effort and creativity.
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You have to have a more solidified / legitimized Brand strategy around it if want to do long term. Did it for years – hundreds of projects, multiple partners. Helped build hundreds more for others as a service. You have to expect that getting a verified GBP will get flagged, and.. then .. what do you do? You have to be able to keep that asset alive, or else be on a ridiculous system of churn and burn which doesn’t work now.
I have legitimate local clients that have had to spend months reverifying Google listings doing video calls and submitting paperwork.
I still work with a handful of lead gen sites (the old way) in a tiny portfolio whittled down from hundreds, and think of them as eggshells – if any of them get flagged, they’re throwaway. Instead, I recommend to use the skills to partner with a real company.
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