The Side Hustle Show 692: $2500/mo with Online Directories
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Aug 21, 2025 
Frey Chu, an entrepreneur behind successful directory websites, shares insights on building a thriving online income. He explains how he started in the thrifting niche, rapidly gaining 1,000 daily visitors and earning $1,200 in his first month. Frey reveals effective niche selection strategies and data-driven research methods to uncover profitable opportunities. He discusses monetization techniques beyond ads and emphasizes the importance of organizing and presenting data to enhance user experience. His journey showcases the resilience of directory sites despite evolving SEO challenges.
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First Directory Hit Big Fast
- Frey built a thrifting directory and six months later saw 1,000 daily visitors, then monetized with ads and made $1,200 in a month.
- He used Ezoic then switched to Mediavine Grow for ad monetization.
70/30 Niche Selection Rule
- Use a 70/30 rule: 70% data-driven metrics (search volume, difficulty, bounties) and 30% personal interest when choosing a niche.
- Prioritize niches that save people time, earn money, or save money to increase usefulness.
Local SEO Is More Durable
- Local queries and local SEO remain more resilient to AI and broad helpful-content updates than pure informational blogs.
- People still need trusted local data for high-consequence decisions like daycare or finance.