Brooks Conkle, an SEO enthusiast and side hustle expert, joins the discussion to tackle the latest advances in AI and their implications for online businesses. They analyze OpenAI's new model and its multi-step problem-solving capabilities. The conversation dives into the effects of Google's recent updates on smaller publishers and highlights the quirky potential of niche sites and 'useless websites' for traffic and monetization. Listeners gain insights on diversifying digital strategies and engaging audiences creatively.
OpenAI's new model, Strawberry, enhances reasoning capabilities, allowing for more effective problem-solving despite increased costs for developers.
The August core update has significantly disadvantaged small publishers, resulting in drastic revenue losses due to Google's bias towards larger sites.
A successful case study illustrates the importance of diversifying traffic sources, showcasing resilience in adapting to algorithm changes for niche sites.
Deep dives
OpenAI's O1 Release: A New Era of Reasoning in AI
OpenAI has unveiled its latest model, O1, affectionately known as Strawberry, which introduces advanced reasoning capabilities to the AI landscape. This model is designed to tackle complex problems and queries more effectively than its predecessors, such as GPT-4. It utilizes reinforcement learning and a ‘chain of thought’ methodology, allowing it to provide detailed step-by-step reasoning when processing prompts, which can be noticeably slower and more costly for developers. While it boasts improved accuracy and reduced hallucinations, the API usage cost is significantly higher, reflecting its sophisticated capabilities.
Impact of Google's August Core Update on Small Publishers
The recent August core update has sparked concern among small publishers, as an open letter from Healthy Framework highlights drastic revenue losses, with some sites experiencing a drop of up to 98%. The letter criticizes Google's preference for larger publishers who benefit from brand recognition, leaving smaller sites at a disadvantage due to a lack of returning visitors in niche markets. The authors argue that their high-quality, thorough content is overlooked because users rarely revisit such specialized sites, especially in markets like dating app reviews or kitchen appliance assessments. This situation raises critical questions about the viability of affiliate sites, given the shift in Google's ranking criteria.
Analyzing Traffic Trends from Google's August Update
A comprehensive analysis of over 55,000 sites following Google's August core update reveals mixed outcomes across various site sizes. While the total traffic gain amounted to nearly 123 million visits collectively, small sites with under 10,000 monthly visitors suffered an average traffic loss of 8.5%. In contrast, larger sites maintained relative stability, and medium sites experienced modest gains. This data suggests that Google continues to favor established, larger domains, raising concerns for smaller publishers struggling to adapt in an increasingly competitive landscape.
Harnessing Diverse Traffic Sources for Online Success
A case study illustrated during the podcast showcases the successful transition of a niche site following severe traffic drops due to Google updates. This site, initially making up to $2,000 per month, saw revenues plummet below $100 following algorithm changes, prompting the owner to diversify traffic sources. By building an email list and leveraging social media platforms like Pinterest for content promotion, traffic rebounded to over $1,000 within a month, demonstrating the importance of not relying solely on organic search traffic. This strategic pivot serves as an inspiring example for others facing similar challenges in online publishing.
Exploring the Weird: The Useless Web Phenomenon
The podcast wraps up with a spotlight on quirky websites, including the Useless Web, a site that randomly directs users to various pointless websites. Created by Tim Hallman, this platform facilitates humorous and entertaining diversions, boasting impressive traffic stats with minimal keywords due to its popularity in web searches. This phenomenon reflects a broader appeal for light-hearted content amidst a sea of informational websites, emphasizing the internet's capacity for both utility and whimsy. Such discoveries inspire curiosity about the wide array of unique and undesired online experiences that coexist in the digital realm.
Welcome back to another episode of the Niche Pursuits News Podcast.
This week Jared and guest host Brooks Conkle take on the latest SEO news and break it down for listeners. They also share the side hustles they've been working on and dissect a few weird niche sites.
Ready to join a niche publishing mastermind, and hear from industry experts each week? Join the Niche Pursuits Community here: https://community.nichepursuits.com
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