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If you have cpanel access, just copy the .htaccess file for a backup via file manager (the .htaccess file is in the main directory).  You may need to ensure when you load up the file manager you select show hidden files.  Then test your changes on the original.

If you mess it up, simply rename the backup to .htaccess

This way, you do not need to rely on having access to WP.

I am not sure how much Matt Cutts will take the feedback into consideration, but he is asking for feedback on sites that you think should rank well but don't.You can find the form here:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Czwk15Yc_-zcnnlvqTuspEnz2Sn3Aw2JxhkWvoVxVS4/viewform

It might be worth filling it in.  Other than that, if your competitor has a number of sites ranking it sounds like a perfect opportunity to check the sites backlinks, and see if you can get similar backlinks from some of the higher authority sites.

I have always found that having more text helps.  Unless you have a good link profile \ social engagement Google I find that at least 500 words is needed to give Google the necessary information on what your page is about.

I am not sure how all those images would affect things though.

What problem are you facing?  Keyword Cannibalization is where multiple pages are targeting the same keyword.

Check your metas etc on pages that are causing the problem and remove references to that keyword. Start building some natural links \ social signals to the page you are targeting.  The search engines will soon figure it out.

This blog post explains it pretty clearly: http://moz.com/blog/keyword-selfcannibalization

There are some useful tips in the comments of that post as well.

Have you tried emailing the webmaster of that site?  That would be my first option.  You can even use Google Translator to help contact them in Russian if needed.

I have always just used rel=author, but then again I have not tried to "rank" the author bio page.  If I was, then I might well add the persons name in the URL, as it is certainly a ranking factor that is taken into account.

Yeh, I think a focus on good quality content is something I am going to have to work on as well.  Thanks.

That is very helpful, thanks.

My experience is that having the main keyword in the URL is definitely a ranking factor.

If the location keyword phrases convert well, and are easier to rank for there is a definite benefit in including them in the URL, as well as optimising your product pages accordingly as well.

With CloudFlare the challenge page you refer to is dependent on your security questions.  My knowledge of DDos mitigation is not great, but what I do is have the CloudFlare security settings on Low.  If I was to come under attack, I would react and put the security settings on high for the duration.

If the DDos is bad, then you may need the expensive plan that has specialist DDos protection.

I have a question I hope people can help me on.  it is my intention for my next project to focus on domain authority, and a small number of high quality links.  I have a couple of scenarios I would appreciate some advice on:

1.  Can lower quality links lower domain authority?

2.  Would you avoid links from low quality sites no matter what \ what domain authority levels should you avoid links from.

3.  Should I be looking at link profiles of the sites I get links from.  Does it matter if a site I get a link from has 1000's of spammy links (i.e. something to look out for when doing guest blogging).

4.  Should I avoid directories no matter what, or is high pr \ domain authority directories ok to use, if I end up on a page of other relevant directory submissions related to my niche.

Essentially, my aim is to have high quality links, but equally, there are some decent sites on the fringes that I will need to consider (based on a competitors link profile I researches).

And of course the need for decent content

" I have tried everything in the book and consider myself an expert on the concepts of SEO."

"The problem is I feel strongly that SEO is dead.  "

"The only thing I haven't tried is buying links, maybe I should try that?"

Yeh, they do specifically say its not available on the Mac.

I use Inspyders rank tracker, and back link monitor to keep track of all that stuff.  Pretty good.