Niche Pursuits Podcast: Find Your Next "Niche" Business Idea!

Ready to take a bunch of notes that could help give your site a competitive advantage in the SERPs?

Tony Hill joins the Niche Pursuits podcast to share his experience recovering a website from a Google update.

Tony's been building niche websites since 2005 and is very familiar with core updates.

For instance, he had some health sites doing big numbers wiped out by the Medic Update. However, it was the May 2020 core update that was particularly devastating, causing his main 18-year-old site to lose almost half its traffic in just a few weeks.

To recover from the update, Tony and his 10-person team formulated a bullet-proof game plan to recover the site.

The strategy included a comprehensive process to improve the site's existing 1200 pages.

They started by using Google's NLP API to analyze their content and improve its salience score. They found that word order is crucial to help the algorithm better understand your content. So at the sentence, paragraph, and article level, they made a deliberate effort to put the subject first.

An academic tool called Sketch Engine also helped them to analyze language patterns in top-ranking articles on some of the biggest sites in the world. And found that using second-person language and specific, confident wording can improve content quality.

So Tony and his team then reviewed their content to make it clearer and more confident, using specific and directive language. They didn't delete any articles but rather cut out fluffy sentences and paragraphs and added more information when needed.

Other specific tactics included improving readability, adding more visuals, and updating outdated information.

They also added more categories and subcategories to their website to help users navigate content.

By focusing on updating content one category at a time, they continuously experimented and tested to see what worked. They also read competitor's articles word for word to see how they structured their content to make improvements to their own.

They also worked with expert writers and editors to ensure quality and establish a persona for the site. They also created a contributor's page, an Ask an Expert section on the site, and paid experts to answer questions on Quora and Reddit.

He also made a point to flesh out the schema of every article, going above and beyond the typical author schema and entity data.

They also made great use of internal linking, aiming to include at least one internal link in every paragraph of an article, sometimes even linking to the same article twice in an article.

Considering their substantial success in Google Discover, they also analyzed their most successful articles and found that related topics were being featured, so they created new articles on related topics and grew their success in Google Discover.

And after a year of consistent effort and multiple Google updates, Tony's site not only recovered its lost traffic but experienced significant growth, now receiving nearly 8 million page views per month.

Tony's interview is a high-level masterclass in site operations and site recovery that can help site owners at all levels. The way he thinks outside the box to improve the strength of his content will not only inspire you to do the same but also give you actionable steps you can start using today!

Be sure to get more content like this in the Niche Pursuits Newsletter Right Here: https://www.nichepursuits.com/newsletter

Want a Faster and Easier Way to Build Internal Links? Get $15 off Link Whisper with Discount Code "Podcast" on the Checkout Screen: https://www.nichepursuits.com/linkwhisper

Direct download: Tony_Hill_Audio.mp3
Category:Online Business -- posted at: 11:47am EDT

Welcome to another great episode of Niche Pursuits News.

This week Jared is joined by his 201 Creative agency co-founder Kaitlin Cooper to unpack all of the latest developments from the week that may impact online publishers. And there was surprisingly a lot to go over.

They start by discussing the integration of ChatGPT and Bing, which is powered by Microsoft's Prometheus and offers current results. Kaitlin highlights the composition feature in Bing, which allows for AI writing prompts, while Jared dives into the Expedia and Zapier plugins and their various, exciting use cases.

The conversation then turns to Google's public acknowledgment of topical authority in the context of news sites but most certainly all kinds of sites. And they share some interesting takeaways you won't want to miss.

They also discuss some of the unfortunate issues happening this month regarding video searches. A reported Google search bug has caused a drop in video traffic, and Google seems to now only show video thumbnails next to search results when the video is the main content of a page.

Google's testing reportedly shows that the recent change in video thumbnails will have minimal impact on publishers, but there is still debate about the actual impact.

But in more hopeful news, Google Bard is now including relevant images in responses and highlighting the source of the image. Bard is emphasizing the importance of images in communicating ideas effectively. And as a reward, Bard is even sourcing smaller sites for queries that larger websites typically dominate in image search or regular web search.

This a potentially cool development if publishers can manage to improve their images for Bard.

Next up, they dive into their shiny object shenanigans. Jared shares an update on their newsletter where they've managed to surpass their goal of reaching 1,000 subscribers in 12 weeks. And they get into how it is they're able to average 40-50% open rates and what their next goals may be.

Kaitlin shares how she's transitioning her side hustle wedding photography business site Kaitlin Cooper into a content affiliate site, and discusses some issues that others may relate to.

As always, they close out the show by discussing a couple of fun and weird niche sites found.

Kaitlin shares Hold The Magic, which is certainly not your typical niche site. It's a site created by a mom who wanted to give her daughter something other than money from the tooth fairy. The website sells tooth fairy gifts, has an influencer program, and they even set up booths at dental conferences.

Jared then shares his website which specializes in treehouse rentals. Treehouse Trippers is a site dedicated to finding good treehouses to rent for vacations. At first they debate what qualifies as a treehouse and whether some of the site's offerings fit the bill. But then they praise the site's targeted approach to SEO. The site does a good job of producing long-tail targeted content specific to certain states and types of vacations and monetized by offering affiliate links to online booking platforms.

But as always, it's possible that these sites are leaving money on the table and so the hosts brainstorm some ways they could boost monetization.

Overall, it's another great episode of Niche Pursuits News, covering a wide range of topics related to SEO and niche websites. So be sure to watch the full episode below!

Be sure to get more content like this in the Niche Pursuits Newsletter Right Here: https://www.nichepursuits.com/newsletter

Want a Faster and Easier Way to Build Internal Links? Get $15 off Link Whisper with Discount Code "Podcast" on the Checkout Screen: https://www.nichepursuits.com/linkwhisper

Direct download: Niche_N_Audio.mp3
Category:Online Business -- posted at: 9:48am EDT

Ever wonder how to improve your affiliate content and boost conversions?

I'm sure we all do.

That's why we asked Kevin Meng to join the Niche Pursuits podcast today to share his insights.

Kevin's been a web content and copywriter for 7-8 years. During that time, he's honed his skills and reputation for writing content that sells.

He's worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, and today, he lets us in on some secrets you don't want to miss.

Things like:

  • The general checklist he follows for affiliate content
  • A formula for describing the benefits of features
  • Importance of clarity in web content
  • How to sprinkle in personality
  • And much more...

He also explains the importance of being honest with readers and not presenting a product as perfect. Allowing you to build trust and overcome consumer objections.

The discussion also includes tips on how to find the sweet spot between writing for Google's algorithm and actual humans. Plus, ways to scale this out with a team using SOPs.

And of course, AI is brought up regarding content production and velocity. Kevin shares how the job of an SEO content writer may likely evolve to become more like an editor for quality assurance, with some hopeful and comforting perspectives for writers in the industry.

Overall, this episode provides valuable insights and techniques for improving your web content writing regardless of whether humans or AI creates it.

Be sure to get more content like this in the Niche Pursuits Newsletter Right Here: https://www.nichepursuits.com/newsletter

Want a Faster and Easier Way to Build Internal Links? Get $15 off Link Whisper with Discount Code "Podcast" on the Checkout Screen: https://www.nichepursuits.com/linkwhisper

Direct download: Kevin_Ming_Final_Audio.mp3
Category:Content Marketing -- posted at: 6:12am EDT

Want to learn about the new ChatGPT plugins and other new updates that could affect for site owners?

Don't miss this week's episode of Niche Pursuits News!

Spencer and Jared kick things off by discussing new ChatGPT plugins brainstorming the various ways they can help users automate everything from email to SEO. Plus, the new opportunities for entrepreneurs with plugin ideas.

They also discuss OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's hearing before Congress earlier this week concerning the possible risks and implications of AI. A four and a half hour testimony covering everything from the dangers of misinformation to political fallout, with one conclusion being that 'AI is more dangerous than you think'.

But since Google Bard is now available to the public, the guys were able to test it out with some fun prompts including asking it to compare itself to ChatGPT with some surprising results.

They also unpack Google's upcoming Core Web Vitals metric InP, which will offer insights into the 'interaction to next paint' rather than just 'first input delay', which could change the game in user experience metrics.

Then it's onto the side hustles, where Spencer unveils his year in the making WordPress plugin, Rank Logic, a powerful tool for tracking keyword rankings and content performance which is now open for a limited number of beta testers.

Meanwhile, Jared introduces his new service on Weekend Growth that creates email newsletter funnels for niche websites and is already receiving orders and positive feedback!

And as always, they wind things down by looking at peculiar niche sites starting with Unnecessary Inventions. A site created by an inventive content creator who turned his unique thinking into a profitable business followed by millions of fans on YouTube and Instagram.

They also discuss Reality Steve, a site dedicated to spoiling the results of the dating reality show The Bachelor.

In both cases, the sites have sparked interesting careers for their creators but the guys ponder the various ways they could boost their monetization.

So, sit back and enjoy another episode of industry insights, personal projects, and peculiar niches to help you get ready for the weekend!

Be sure to get more content like this in the Niche Pursuits Newsletter Right Here: https://www.nichepursuits.com/newsletter

Want a Faster and Easier Way to Build Internal Links? Get $15 off Link Whisper with Discount Code "Podcast" on the Checkout Screen: https://www.nichepursuits.com/linkwhisper

Direct download: N_news_Audio.mp3
Category:Online Business -- posted at: 10:53am EDT

Want some unique insights on what's working for high-earning affiliate and lead gen sites today?

Shane Dutka joins Niche Pursuits podcast to discuss his journey going from an accountant to a successful site owner making $50k+ per month.

He discusses how he's sold sites for 7-figures, and what he does now to grow sites as VP of SEO for a company generating $100-200 million from affiliate and lead generation offers!

You'll learn the interesting story of how he got into the business and how he's managed to consistently grow successful sites faster than most.

He shares how to uncover a keyword goldmine through data analysis and tracking conversions on affiliate platforms.

Plus how he's managed to compete even in tough niches like jewelery by focusing on the fundamentals of high-quality content and links. And Shane is very generous with tips on what strategies you can use to get both!

Shane shares invaluable insights on serving diverse user avatars and the SEO benefits that come along with this. He emphasizes the significance of matching keyword intent and targeting one keyword per page and sheds light on the importance of fresh content and routinely updating to maintain relevance.

He also shares how he builds engaging, newsworthy content for successful link-building, helpful to mitigate the potential pitfalls of paid links.

When discussing paid links, Shane shares strategies to overcome toxic links with the use of 410 and 404 pages. And really a ton of helpful and actionable tips and tactics to help sites of all sizes grow.

So don't miss this awesome episode.

You'll learn what's working today, from someone with unique access to massive data and exactly what you as an independent site owner can do to grow and profit!

Be sure to get more content like this in the Niche Pursuits Newsletter Right Here: https://www.nichepursuits.com/newsletter

Want a Faster and Easier Way to Build Internal Links? Get $15 off Link Whisper with Discount Code "Podcast" on the Checkout Screen: https://www.nichepursuits.com/linkwhisper

Direct download: Shane_Audio.mp3
Category:affiliate marketing -- posted at: 12:36pm EDT

They say once you've got the winning formula, the sky's the limit, and that's very true for Amanda O'Brien.

In this interview, Amanda talks to me about how she created her travel site and grew it into a profitable business.

When Covid hit, she pivoted and started a second site in a completely different niche: pets. After that one took off, she created a third site around a similar topic. And as that site found success, she created a fourth site in the informational niche.

Amanda shares insight into creating and running 4 different sites in 3 different niches, all of them monetized with Mediavine and bringing in a total of $25k per month.

She talks about the importance of SEO as well as E-E-A-T, and how she infuses authenticity into her content.

She shares her unique strategy for getting her travel blog off the ground and she tells me what she did when she discovered that another site had copied all of her work.

Amanda tried to fast-track her growth, so she built out two of her sites on domains she purchased on Flippa. In this interview, she shares what she learned from that experience. She also talks about her link building strategies, her thoughts on topical authority, and why she has the best boss in the world.

Don't miss this fantastic episode with a seasoned blogger in a wide variety of niches, as Amanda has a lot of great advice and great tips to share.

Be sure to get more content like this in the Niche Pursuits Newsletter Right Here: https://www.nichepursuits.com/newsletter

Want a Faster and Easier Way to Build Internal Links? Get $15 off Link Whisper with Discount Code "Podcast" on the Checkout Screen: https://www.nichepursuits.com/linkwhisper

Direct download: Amanda_Audio.mp3
Category:Niche Sites -- posted at: 10:55am EDT

Curious how Google's upcoming AI search engine may affect site owners?

Today's episode of Niche Pursuits News has you covered with an in-depth and wide-ranging discussion between hosts Spencer, Jared, and guest-host and MarketMuse founder Jeff Coyle about Google's recent unveiling of Magi.

The guys consider how this new generative AI search feature will account for:

  • Intent
  • Links
  • Biases
  • Learning curve
  • Authenticity
  • And more...

And, of course, they brainstorm how these changes may impact site owners and the display ad networks that so many rely on for income.

The discussion then goes to the increasing importance of brand and community building through various channels, such as email and social media marketing. And the benefits these technological evolutions bring for those willing to persevere.

And as a special bonus, listeners can sign up for MarketMuse using promo code 'niche20mm' for a 20% discount!

Spencer also shares an exciting update about his faceless YouTube channel and how it's now consistently earning over $100 per day - far exceeding his expected earnings of $80 in the entire month of May.

And Jared discusses how he recently launched a free tool during his latest interview on the Niche Pursuits podcast, which has had some excellent results.

The discussion then gets into weird niche sites where Spencer shares a super niche site called Western Mining History with a DR 59 and monetized with both Mediavine ads and a membership option.

Jared then shares his niche site find PenVibe.com, which focuses on pens and related products. The site has a basic design and appears to have quite an interesting history, but it started picking up traffic in 2018, with a surge in March and April 2023.

Overall it's a fascinating discussion with lots of nuggets of wisdom forecasting the future of blogging and search in the age of AI.

So make sure to listen to the full episode to learn more!

Be sure to get more content like this in the Niche Pursuits Newsletter Right Here: https://www.nichepursuits.com/newsletter

Want a Faster and Easier Way to Build Internal Links? Get $15 off Link Whisper with Discount Code "Podcast" on the Checkout Screen: https://www.nichepursuits.com/linkwhisper

Direct download: SJJ_Audio.mp3
Category:Online Business -- posted at: 11:50am EDT

Thomas Jepsen joins the Niche Pursuits podcast today to share insights and findings from 12 years of SEO experience, some of which may differ from what you typically hear on topics like:

  • Topical authority
  • E-A-T
  • And structured data

Overall, it's a thought-provoking discussion covering a wide range of topics regarding on page, off page, and technical SEO concerns.

Thomas explores the secrets behind low DR, high traffic websites and how they can be used as models for content structure.

Sharing the importance of internal linking, recommending Link Whisper to quickly help for improve crawlability and avoid orphan pages.

He shares a glimpse into his site audit process, including understanding clients' goals, analyzing their website and competitors, and presenting his findings.

He also addesses issues of bloat – like tags, category pages, and thin content pages being indexed. Shares insights into indexation issues found in Google Search Console, like crawled currently not indexed, discovered currently not indexed, and duplicate pages.

And advises when it's best to delete or improve content that doesn't drive organic traffic or impressions from any keywords in Ahrefs.

You'll also learn about the Google Sandbox and its connection to core updates, link accumulation, and quality content creation.

In a nutshell, Jepsen's expertise on website quality and optimization offers indispensable knowledge for website owners and SEO professionals alike. In the age of AI he emphasizes the importance of white-hat practices, believing high-quality content, natural links, and internal linking to enhance crawlability and site structure, will help. And don't overlook indexation issues – delete or improve content that fails to drive organic traffic or keywords.

Be sure to get more content like this in the Niche Pursuits Newsletter Right Here: https://www.nichepursuits.com/newsletter

Want a Faster and Easier Way to Build Internal Links? Get $15 off Link Whisper with Discount Code "Podcast" on the Checkout Screen: https://www.nichepursuits.com/linkwhisper

Direct download: Thomas_Audio.mp3
Category:Search Engine Optimization -- posted at: 11:51am EDT

Want some tips on how to succeed with affiliate marketing?

Mark sat down with me to share tons of valuable insights into how he's grown Aquarium Store Depot.

He discusses how it was originally supposed to be a drop shipping and eCommerce store when he started back in 2017 but had to pivot to an affiliate focus to not compete with Amazon 2-Day Shipping.

He followed some courses to learn about SEO, but it wasn't until he joined The Affiliate Lab by Matt Diggity that he started to find success growing an affiliate site.

He eventually grew the site to generate more than his full-time job but has kept both. And today Mark shares his wealth of knowledge and experience in affiliate marketing and content creation, providing valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs.

He discusses the importance of passion and quality in niche writing. And how being passionate about the topic you choose to write about is essential to creating engaging and high-quality content.

He also dives into the differences between content sites and YouTube creators. And shares some of his thoughts about what the future of affiliate marketing will be like.

Overall, it's an interesting discussion filled with valuable insights and strategies for those just starting out or even seasoned pros.

Be sure to get more content like this in the Niche Pursuits Newsletter Right Here: https://www.nichepursuits.com/newsletter

Want a Faster and Easier Way to Build Internal Links? Get $15 off Link Whisper with Discount Code "Podcast" on the Checkout Screen: https://www.nichepursuits.com/linkwhisper

Direct download: Mark__samara_Audio.mp3
Category:Online Business -- posted at: 11:13am EDT

Want an in-depth look and summary of the key findings from Semrush’s State of Search 2023 report?

Spencer and Jared sit down today to discuss it all, sharing key insights that are sure to help site owners and niche site enthusiasts in all sorts of ways concerning:

  • Niche traffic trends
  • The number of new sites indexed
  • Google Update and search volatility trends
  • Important CTR data
  • And more.

Plus, they highlight some interesting findings in the report about the differences between paid and organic traffic.

The conversation then shifts gears to discuss their side hustles. Spencer shares how his Amazon influencer project is going, including diving into some of the numbers and discussing whether it’s likely to be a profitable niche pursuit.  Jared also touches on one of his side hustle successes, discussing how he reached 1000 email newsletter subscribers in just 8 weeks.

And of course, they dive into interesting niche site finds, including BetterSheets.co, a site that offers a course on how to use Google Sheets that is making over $100,000 a year.  And a Mai Tai niche site that documents different types of Mai Tais from around the world, including recipes and history.  The guys suggest potential ways to expand the site, such as creating a directory of Mai Tai bars in Hawaii and other ways to better monetize the site.

So make sure to listen to the full episode to gain lots of valuable info to help you kick off a productive weekend.

Be sure to get more content like this in the Niche Pursuits Newsletter Right Here: https://www.nichepursuits.com/newsletter

Want a Faster and Easier Way to Build Internal Links? Get $15 off Link Whisper with Discount Code "Podcast" on the Checkout Screen: https://www.nichepursuits.com/linkwhisper

Direct download: New_S_AuD.mp3
Category:Online Business -- posted at: 12:15pm EDT

The tables have turned! In this episode of the Niche Pursuits podcast, host Jared Bauman sits down with Spencer to share his latest niche site success story. Co-founder of marketing agency 201 Creative, Jared discusses how his company acquired a 20-year-old website making $2,500/month from a client and grew it to $9,000/month (and likely more soon) within two years.

He discusses the pros and cons of the site when they decided to buy it and dives into all the changes they made to help it grow... including deleting over 3,000 articles! He then talks about how he and his team then shifted their focus to updating and publishing more content, growing traffic, and making more money.

And as he shares in the interview, this wasn't always easy. It took over a year before traffic started to grow consistently. But luckily once it did, things started to take off.

And Jared shares many great insights into the creative ways they continue to grow the site's revenue alongside its traffic, emphasizing the importance of testing and tweaking strategies to find what works and produces results.

He discusses the significance and effectiveness of email marketing as a reliable source of income, estimating 25-30% of the total revenue comes from email.

Overall it's a fascinating look into website building and improving monetization.

Be sure to get more content like this in the Niche Pursuits Newsletter Right Here: https://www.nichepursuits.com/newsletter

Want a Faster and Easier Way to Build Internal Links? Get $15 off Link Whisper with Discount Code "Podcast" on the Checkout Screen: https://www.nichepursuits.com/linkwhisper

Direct download: Bauman_Audio.mp3
Category:Niche Sites -- posted at: 11:15am EDT

1