Spencer and Jared are again for the final episode of 2024 with some very particular content material: an annual recap.
They speak about what they assume had been the largest and most vital headlines of the yr, and the way the information affected bloggers and content material creators.
Then they mentioned their most profitable, and stunning, aspect hustles in 2024. They every shared the aspect hustle that was incomes essentially the most within the shortest period of time, and so they share some inspiring and motivating reflections.
Lastly, after that includes over 100 bizarre aspect hustles over the course of 2024, they choose their favorites and discuss in regards to the issues that make them particular.
Don’t miss this attention-grabbing year-in-review on the Area of interest Pursuits Information Podcast.
Watch the Full Episode
Spencer kicks off the episode speaking about how AI is impacting Search. He talks particularly about Google’s rollout of AI Overviews
again in Could and the way AI’s presence in Search continues to develop.
He additionally talks about OpenAI’s launch of ChatGPT search on October thirty first and is now free for all customers. In brief, it appears to be like like AI in Search is unquestionably right here to remain.
Spencer and Jared examine the 2 choices, speak about AI search engine optimization, and what the long run would possibly maintain.
Then it’s Jared’s flip to select his largest headline from the yr, which was when Google misplaced the anti-trust lawsuit in a landmark determination.
He talks in regards to the precise practices Google was partaking in to be deemed anti-competitive, what the DOJ desires Google to do, and what position Chrome performs.
Tune in to listen to the most recent developments within the story and the way they assume it may unfold.
Do you agree these had been the largest headlines of 2024? Share your ideas within the feedback.
Shifting on to the Shiny Object Shenanigans portion of the podcast, Spencer talks about most of the totally different aspect hustles that had been lined over the yr, from Amazon Influencer and newsletters to area of interest web sites and Fb, and lots of extra.
Jared talks about his quest to take an HCU-hit web site and switch it into one thing else, one thing extra worthwhile. He talks in regards to the demise of his web site and its rebirth after driving visitors to it by Pinterest.
He talks about earnings progress, a bit in regards to the Pinterest technique, and the potential of promoting his web site.
When it’s Spencer’s flip, he talks about his expertise with the Fb Bonus Program, which he joined in June.
He talks about his earnings, his impressions, and his largest months.
They mirror on their entrepreneurial journeys and talk about how they got here to start out all of their companies and aspect hustles. Additionally they share some attention-grabbing and galvanizing reflections which can be positive to inspire listeners.
Lastly, they transfer on to the Bizarre Area of interest Website portion of the podcast.
Jared talks about his favourite web site from the yr: a million checkboxes. He provides a little bit of the positioning’s backstory, talks in regards to the options he likes, and shares why he thinks it was a giant hit amongst listeners.
When it’s Spencer’s flip, he shares Tractor Knowledge, a bizarre area of interest web site that’s making good cash. He talks about all the info the positioning presents, the design, and the visitors stats.
He additionally makes a conservative guess in regards to the earnings the positioning is incomes and talks about why he selected to spotlight it.
Then comes a particular shock: the bizarre area of interest websites that get honorary mentions: McBroken, which exhibits which ice cream machines are damaged at McDonalds.
They speak about some attention-grabbing stats, how the positioning will get its data, and the snarky advertisements on show.
To not be outdone, Jared additionally has an honorary point out: DudeRanch.com, which was not solely a bizarre area of interest web site featured on the podcast, however the proprietor was additionally interviewed on the Area of interest Pursuits podcast.
And that brings us to the top of the final episode of the Area of interest Pursuits Information Podcast!
Thanks for becoming a member of us each Friday in 2024. We hope you will be a part of us once more in 2025 as we proceed to tackle the most recent information headlines, share our inventive aspect hustles, and make you snort with among the weirdest area of interest websites on the web.
Transcript
Spencer: Hey everybody. Welcome to a really particular episode of this week in area of interest pursuits information. I’ve acquired Jared with me, uh, as typical right now, and we’ll be doing an finish of the yr recap, actually. We’ll take a look at the largest information tales that occurred within the business. And we’ll speak about what these had been, what impacted us.
Essentially the most, what we thought had been essentially the most newsworthy tales of the yr. Uh, after which we’ll additionally speak about a few aspect hustles, our favourite aspect hustles. Jared and I’ve labored on a number of totally different aspect hustles this yr. And even our co hosts have labored on a number of different aspect hustles, however we’ll cowl our two favourite one every.
After which lastly, we acquired to speak about bizarre area of interest websites. Uh, you already know, we do two bizarre area of interest websites every year. Every week. So we have lined over 100 bizarre area of interest websites in 2024. And now that it is the finish of the yr, we’ll pick our favourite bizarre area of interest web site for every of us. So it is going to be a number of enjoyable,
Jared: Jared, ought to we do it?
I’ve to confess, I trying on the agenda right now, as a result of we sort of talked, this can be a totally different one, proper? So we talked upfront how we’re doing this. And I simply noticed the agenda this morning and never stunned by your story that you just introduced. Uh, by way of the information, not stunned by the aspect hustle you introduced, very stunned by your bizarre area of interest, had forgotten we even lined this bizarre area of interest, needed to even return and take a look at it to even keep in mind what it was.
Spencer: Yeah, and you already know that, the identical factor, we lined so many, and after I regarded on the listing, I used to be like, oh my goodness, I forgot we did that, and there is some actually good ones, like there’s simply, I ought to most likely simply launch this listing. You
Jared: ought to make a YouTube video about this. That is what I believe. Area of interest proceeds, YouTube video, all about that.
100 over 100 bizarre niches. There’s some actually good ones in there. That is
Spencer: thought as a result of there’s some that I had really forgotten about. So I am bringing one. Jared’s bringing one. So stick round for that. However let’s simply do it. I imply, it is the top of the yr. So completely happy holidays to everyone.
Glad new yr. Uh, you already know, hope you hit your new yr’s objectives ramping up for that, however let’s soar into the information. Uh, so loads occurred in 2024. Uh, however I believe. The largest story that I wish to speak about right here right now is absolutely AI search and the way synthetic intelligence is impacting search. Uh, so specifically, proper.
Google rolled out their AI overviews, uh, and so they formally rolled it out to everybody. It appears to be like like. Could 14th is a minimum of when that was introduced. I do know that they had been testing issues and earlier than it was referred to as the search generative expertise initially when it sort of rolled out and beta testing, however now it is formally referred to as AI overviews that occurred, uh, in Could.
And I’ll simply share my display screen. Uh, Let’s examine right here. If I’ve acquired the best one, uh, that, you already know, a, I powered overviews rolled out to all search outcomes and boy, oh boy, over the previous six months, that is simply continued to extend within the quantity of utilization that it is getting, or the variety of queries that Google is exhibiting these AI overviews for, you already know, um, I do know personally after I do a search on my telephone or on the desktop.
I am seeing, I do not know what share it’s, but it surely’s a big share now’s exhibiting these AI overviews. And so it is large, it is, it is, you already know, it is impacting how search is finished. And so not solely this story coupled with that, proper. Is after all, we even have Google’s. What lots of people would say their largest competitor by way of AI search is open AI.
And so open AI launched chat GPT search formally on October thirty first, 2024. So simply a few months in the past. Um, and in reality, simply within the final week, uh, I wish to say that they rolled it out to all customers free of charge, uh, which you could go to talk GPT and you need to use their search perform to make use of. Search GPT. And so now AI search is with chat GPT.
It is in Google. Uh, it appears to be like like it is going to be right here to remain. And so it enormous story for this yr.
Jared: I imply, It is a story that began in 2023 with, such as you talked about, SGE search generative expertise. Um, final week on the podcast, um, uh, Thomas introduced a bard. There is a title I have not heard shortly. I keep in mind Bard.
That is proper. I was Gemini, proper? I do not even know when the transition to Gemini occurred. That additionally occurred this yr, however I believe essentially the most impactful factor to your level is Getting AI overviews within the SERPs and seeing that come to fruition, the disastrous rollout that they had in Could after which the enhancements and subsequent pullback that they had in June.
They keep in mind they went from it being in like 80 or 90 % of the SERPs to then 10 % of the SERPs all through June and July. After which now I believe they’ve sort of stabilized and so they’ve discovered norm for it. It feels extra regular, actually, as I am utilizing, um, Google, you already know, after I use Google.
After which we had chat GBD search, which. I do not use as a lot to be fairly trustworthy with you, however, um, they simply acquired completed with their, no matter their 12 days of bulletins, open AI. And, and so they, they’re, I imply, it is, it is trying increasingly like a Google, proper? They’d, they launched, um, a ton of localized issues for that simply final week, a map pack in essence, if you’ll.
So, I imply, we’ll have like a two, a two horse race right here fairly quickly. And I do know that Google has 90 % plus market share, however. OpenAI has extremely deep pockets and actually is within the driver’s seat of the long run, which is, uh, you already know, sort of generative AI. So, I imply, 2024 went from, you already know, one horse race to a two horse race, and so they each made developments, however we have now acquired two viable choices going ahead, actually.
Spencer: Yeah. And regardless that, uh, open AI is rather well funded, it does really feel just like the scrappy form of startup nonetheless, as a result of it is going in opposition to the gorilla of Google. Google’s simply this big firm that, Hey, if open AI can are available in and begin to gobble up a few of that market share, proper, that’s the large participant within the business.
Um, and now actually these two really feel like they’re face to face in opposition to one another by way of going after this AI search market. And, um, so enormous yr, uh, I believe we’ll proceed to look again in any respect the modifications that occurred on this yr, um, for, for a very long time to come back and the way that impacts every part,
Jared: you already know, in years previous, we have at all times needed to consider Google’s competitors up in opposition to stuff like duck, duck, go and Firefox and being, uh, and it is, there’s by no means felt like.
They’re ever going to face an opportunity, proper? Prefer it simply, that is, we, you may at all times sit again and be like, yeah, we’ve got our issues with Google, however like, clearly Bing’s not going to offer them a run there for his or her cash. And I believe for the primary time in, I do not even understand how lengthy, over a decade, a minimum of.
It appears like search GPT stands an opportunity, you already know, and, and that is clearly they have an enormous mountain to climb, but it surely appears like they stand an opportunity for the primary time. And I do not even understand how lengthy,
Spencer: proper? Yeah, completely. And so, um, yeah, we’ll proceed to speak about this in 2025. I imply, we’re beginning to see individuals doing something.
AI search engine optimization, the place you, you already know, attempt to get your hyperlink or your web site talked about inside the AI overviews. And a few individuals are form of documenting processes, stretch, uh, methods that you are able to do to, to, to do this. So it is nonetheless happily sending visitors to web sites, however we do not know the total affect for, for subsequent yr.
Um, so, so in any case, enormous story. And I believe this dovetails really fairly nicely, uh, for what you are going to speak about, uh, additionally by way of Google and opponents and what that every one means.
Jared: I imply, I wrestled with this query for fairly some time, a minimum of per week, you already know, as we talked about, like, let’s. Let’s do the largest, our opinion on the largest story of the yr.
And we lined so many tales. You already know, we are likely to cowl about three to 4 tales per week. So we talked about how there’s been 100 bizarre area of interest websites shared. Nicely, that places us at over 200 tales which have occurred this yr. And it was actually robust, however to me, I stored coming again to the identical story and that is Google dropping.
This antitrust lawsuit that declared that they had been a monopoly and whereas we do not know what which means going ahead, it was nonetheless in and of itself a landmark determination. We actually have not seen a narrative like this by way of a monopolistic ruling going again, you already know, 20 plus years in the past. Um, and I believe additionally there was a lot that was introduced ahead on this antitrust lawsuit.
And we clearly have a giant position in Google because it pertains to search, um, and because it pertains to search engine optimization particularly. So optimizing for search, however what it actually got here out and what actually acquired them within the scorching water out of all of the stuff, I imply the collusion between the advert division and the search division, um, the entire manipulation, the entire stuff they’re doing with their information, what actually acquired them in hassle ultimately.
Was these offers they lower with Android and Apple units. And that was what ended up being, uh, the decided anti aggressive. Um, and it, I believe that all of it goes again to the truth that that is the largest factor that led to them going from what this text on display screen says, 80 % market share in 2009 to over 90 % by 2020.
And now we’re within the 93 to 95 % vary usually is what we simply, what we speak about. So. Simply an enormous deal, you already know, an enormous deal that Google paying Apple 20 billion yearly to be the default search standing is, is being dominated as monopolistic. And subsequently, and this has come out virtually such as you Spencer, you introduced, uh, introduced one thing that occurred firstly of the yr or the center of the yr.
After which the following factor, search GPT that got here later within the yr, what we have now had come from that is that the DOJ is saying, Hey, what we expect ought to occur is you bought to eliminate And what we do not know Is what that would imply. If that truly occurred, that is their supply of information. Like that is the place all their information comes from.
And so what does Google do? What does search appear to be? The place do they earn their income? Can they, are they, have they got as a lot capacity to earn income? I imply, so to me, yours is all about search because it’s taking place. I assume that is about the way forward for search and also you’re proper. They dovetail completely collectively as a result of they’re each about the place are we going with search?
Is it a brand new platform due to developments made? That is extra of what yours is about, or is it a brand new platform due to. Issues which have occurred and selections which have come down on Google. And that is actually what this story is about.
Spencer: Yeah. And if you take a look at it, I imply, by the numbers, it says right here that Chrome controls 66.
7 % of the worldwide browser market share. Uh, that is enormous. And so if, if this really does, uh, come to play right here, the Google has to eliminate the Chrome, uh, enterprise. That is this large supply of information that Google presently has that that is going to positively change up their enterprise fairly a bit. Um, and as you said, like, we do not know when the top of that is going to be, that is going to play out in 2025.
It most likely will play out. For years to come back. Yeah. Um, so whether or not they do have to finish up eliminating Chrome, we do not know what, how that is going to vary Android and Apple units. We do not know, however they had been hit fairly exhausting and there is positively going to must be some modifications which can be made.
Jared: There’s some change that is going to must be made. I imply, I do know lots of people are pointing to, you already know, new authorities, um, coming into workplace and that would change the, you already know, the, the best way this comes down, lots of people are additionally saying, Hey, once we look again at what occurred to Microsoft, it was not as heavy handed as was.
Doubtlessly touted. You are proper. I imply, all these items may say that perhaps chrome is not break up off, however on the identical time, one thing’s acquired to occur as a result of and I am going to learn a quote right here from choose. I believe I am saying the title proper meta within the determination says quote Google is a monopolist and it has acted as one to take care of its monopoly.
I imply, that’s what the courtroom has stated. That is what the D. O. J. The Division of Justice has come down and stated, like, one thing has to occur right here. Some some balls acquired to drop.
Spencer: Argument that Google has at all times performed is, Hey, there are opponents, you already know, there’s this, um, open AI, there’s search GPT and so they talked about different gamers and for essentially the most half, it is form of, you already know, Hey, uh, they talked about a number of issues that Google actually is the dominant participant right here with 90 % of market share, however, uh, that, that has at all times been the case with massive companies.
Is that they do not essentially at all times innovate as rapidly because the smaller, scrappier startups. And, um, that is the best way a real open market system is meant to work. So I am not saying that nothing wants to vary as a result of clearly. Google has acted in a, with monopolistic habits, however they actually may get hit exhausting with a one, two punch.
What in the event that they do must unload their Chrome browser? What in the event that they do have to finish a number of these partnerships that they do have with Apple and others, however on the identical time. Open AI simply begins form of consuming their lunch in any case, earlier than the results, you already know, all these actions are taken. Um, it, it is going to be attention-grabbing.
I imply, we, we do not know the place it is going to go, however, uh, thrilling to look at.
Jared: It, it is attention-grabbing as a result of once more, I really like the 2 tales, the one you introduced, the one I introduced, as a result of and we, we talked about this. I learn this yesterday, uh, yesterday. I learn this a few weeks in the past in one among these information podcasts.
I am unable to get them straight anymore. I do not know. Really feel prefer it was the start of December, however mainly this, this concept that Google’s search and their product is deteriorating. And, um, and, uh, opponents like search GPT are coming in and, and making one thing higher to the purpose the place this antitrust lawsuit and its subsequent ripple results would possibly really not be what takes them down, however the one, two punch, you must think about that the market’s going to be altering as a result of they’re getting it from one aspect with opponents doing a greater job and Integrating AI and the brand new patterns of search into how they, how they, how they work with, with, with, uh, customers.
And then you definitely acquired it from the opposite aspect. And the truth that they’re getting this, this, uh, ruling put down on them, and they will must make some form of change to their core enterprise mannequin. And so you must anticipate within the coming years, 2025 and past, like issues are going to vary. It is simply inconceivable to foretell what is going on to vary.
Spencer: However after all, we’ll be right here every week overlaying that information. So, uh, you’ll want to subscribe as a result of, uh, in order for you your information, that is the place we’ll cowl it. Um, so yeah, a number of attention-grabbing tales. I believe this most likely, I, I agree with each these tales might be being the largest of the yr.
In case you’re listening and also you disagree, we missed a giant story. Tell us within the feedback. Glad to take that suggestions. And it is robust to select, let’s be trustworthy. I imply, it’s, it is,
Jared: there have been a number of tales to undergo. Um, I did not undergo each one among them, however this one stored arising in my thoughts.
Precisely.
Spencer: So I
Jared: bummed none of us went with a type of, uh, uh, off the cuff verge articles. You already know, there have been, there have been a few good verge articles in there this yr too, that I, that got here to thoughts,
Spencer: there, there have been fairly a couple of, you already know, we may have talked about, uh, you already know, printer opinions. Uh, written by the verge toaster man, uh, the toaster man, there’s a number of great things.
So, however we’re going to transfer on to our aspect hustles now. Uh, I discover it fascinating that we’ve got continued to check out totally different aspect hustles. I imply, we have talked about Amazon influencer. Uh, we’ve got talked about newsletters. We have talked about area of interest web sites. We have talked about, uh, Fb, uh, Pinterest medium.
I am positive. You already know, there’s three or 4 others for positive. Certain. Uh, that, that we have talked about as nicely, however, uh, mainly all we’re doing right here is you and I are going to speak about. Our favourite artwork, both that is an open ended query. It might be the one which’s essentially the most profitable, the one that you just get pleasure from essentially the most, the one that you just see essentially the most potential with, uh, no matter which may be.
So, uh, Jared, I will allow you to go first. What aspect hustle did you choose?
Jared: Yeah, it was open ended, you already know, we, we did preserve this gorgeous open ended. So. I believe a number of listeners would count on me to select Amazon influencer. Um, I’ll say that, you already know, it is, it is, it is damaged 40, 000 for 2024. By way of earnings.
It is actually my. But it surely’s positively one among my highest incomes aspect hustles up there with weekend progress and the e-newsletter, um, and sort of what it does and stuff, however that is exhausting to trace trigger it actually brings enterprise to 201 inventive. So exhausting to say, however Amazon influencer is unquestionably a sort of the sexiest one which, uh, that I, I like to speak about, but it surely’s, it isn’t my favourite this yr.
I really feel like the excitement, the joy about Amazon influencer for me was final yr. Now it is in, You already know, now it is a type of stuff you do and also you do it as a result of it really works and it is a part of your weekly, your month-to-month repertoire, but it surely’s not as thrilling anymore. And that is to not poop out, by the best way, that is to not say, however I believe all of us can sort of lean into that a bit of bit when you’ve gotten a aspect hustle that is new and it is thrilling and it is enjoyable.
After which when it turns into simply one other a part of your small business and it is one thing that you just do, I imply, I have been doing the influencer program for. Over 18 months nearing, you already know, two years now. So my favourite aspect hustle this yr, and I believe it sort of below underscores what a number of us went by in 2024, which is making an attempt to determine what to do with all that content material that was hit by the useful content material replace.
And my favourite aspect hustle is resurrecting a type of web sites that was decimated. That web site was incomes 2, 000 a month or so pre HCU after which it acquired hit by the HCU after which it acquired additional hit by the March 2024 core replace, which I do know so a lot of our listeners have websites, manufacturers, et cetera, that had been, that had been in that place.
Um, to place in perspective, it was incomes 2, 000 a month in April of 2024 after these double updates, it earned a complete of 137 and 54 cents. So, I imply, it was down to love. What’s that 5 % of what it was incomes? Um, however we, we, we picked up in April and Could and began a technique, uh, for Pinterest, which lots of people have pivoted, particularly in additional visible niches, which this one is in have pivoted to doing a concentrate on Pinterest and Pinterest visitors.
To get that visitors to the web site. And this was monetized. This web site was monetized by raptive. So show advertisements and whatnot, and we have completely flipped the script. Um, uh, inside frankly, shorter time frame than I used to be, I used to be, I hoped, um, in November, in September, it was incomes 2, 000. So it sort of had gone again to the place it was.
After which in October it elevated. So November was over 2, 600 and, um, uh, December is, is on tempo for about 2, 500 a month. So it is bizarre. As a result of I might by no means have wished this to occur, however mockingly, the positioning’s making extra per 30 days than it was once we had been counting on Google. And I simply assume that is, for me, such a narrative of hope.
Like, I’ve acquired different content material that now I can look to and be like, We have now stuff we are able to do with this useful content material replace hit websites and content material. And so, sure, it is incomes more cash. Completely on the aspect, which inserts our aspect hustle focus, but it surely’s additionally like so looking forward to what content material may appear to be going ahead in 2025 and past.
Spencer: Yeah, no, it’s unimaginable. Uh, averaging 2, 500 a month, roughly. Um, and in April, you stated of this yr, it made like 137. So to see it go from that to 2, 500 in six months. Yeah. Powerfully. Yeah. What’s that month ahead a month? Yeah. About six months. Unimaginable. And, uh, the visitors’s coming from
Jared: Pinterest. All.
I imply, actually like, I believe that there are. I believe we’re right down to about 20 key phrases complete that Google ranks this web site for within the prime 100. You may do a model search, you already know, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, the, uh, the, the, the area title after which add, you already know, your key phrases to it and it would not even present up.
Spencer: Oh, wow.
Proper. So it, yeah, it is simply not in Google. I imply, it is all coming from Pinterest. Now, is that this the positioning, uh, do you even have a e-newsletter tied to this web site? Is that a part of it? As you are getting individuals on an electronic mail listing, proper. After which emailing them again to the articles to get the show. And that is not driving
Jared: almost as a lot income, to be trustworthy with you, that is driving a minuscule quantity of the income.
Um, and, uh, you already know, we speak about issues we strive that do not work nicely, like, We tried the e-mail factor right here and it did not drive a number of income. We nonetheless have electronic mail automations. So individuals nonetheless join the e-newsletter by going to the positioning and so they get on it. And it does drive a bit of bit and it is, it is, it is set and overlook, however we’re not doing a number of new stuff as a result of it simply wasn’t driving the income just like the Pinterest visitors was.
So we’re simply doubling down on the Pinterest visitors as a substitute of including extra emails.
Spencer: Yeah. So it seems like you’ve gotten a extremely good system in place by way of like variety of pins a day or, uh, you already know, someone in place like a VA that’s sort of taking good care of all of that for you at this level.
Jared: So that is a type of issues the place we, we, we seen a number of our shoppers wished to show to Pinterest visitors.
And in order that was one of many causes I am like, you already know, we must always do that out. And so, um, yeah, we’ve got a devoted VA with coaching and SOP that is doing it. I will be trustworthy, in order for you a bit of little bit of like, uh, I, I not hope, however, uh, when the company will get busy, the, you already know, we’ve got to drag assets to, to, to deal with the shopper work.
So there have been weeks the place this, this, this web site has not had any pins go reside. Now, most of the time, we have gotten pins reside each single day, however there have been moments the place the ball acquired dropped, As a result of we needed to handle our shoppers and stuff. And so, yeah. Um, however yeah, it is a, it is a, it is a course of.
It is a, a cadence pinning each day. It is um, it is, it is recent content material going reside on the positioning. Pinterest loves recent content material, pinning about that, numerous pins, all driving again to the web site, monetized by Raptive, it is sort of simply rinse and repeat. I really like
Spencer: it. That is so cool, man. Uh, anytime you may sort of rise from the ashes, take a web site that is been down, And, uh, yeah, such as you stated, resurrected and have it come again and make 2, 500 a month.
Large win. Um, boy, you’re simply nailing it. That is like two years in a row the place you began with like no aspect hustle final yr and turned it into a pleasant income stream with the Amazon influencer program. This yr. You’ve got continued with the Amazon influencer program, however you have form of created this new 2, 500 per 30 days income stream.
I
Jared: cannot promote my Amazon influencer account, however I may promote this web site.
Spencer: Completely.
Jared: You already know, I do not know. That’d be like the total redemption arc. I really feel like if we ended up promoting this perhaps in 2025 or past, which is attention-grabbing. Um, you may nonetheless purchase and promote web sites. They nonetheless promote, uh, For multiples, you already know, 30 to 40 X month-to-month earnings and stuff.
So I do not know, we’ll see what 2025 brings for this, however, um, it is strain each week, Spencer, you already know, you are not right here each single week. I gotta, I am unable to present up with a goose egg each single week. So, you already know, it is a, the strain makes diamonds, proper?
Spencer: I, it does, man. I could not deal with the strain, so I am glad, uh, you already know, that is why I am unable to do that each week.
Jared: I am unable to deal with it. Um, I do not know. You’ve got acquired, uh, you have acquired one thing on the agenda right here. I am taking a look at that is fairly, uh, fairly noteworthy by way of aspect hustles.
Spencer: Yeah. You already know, I’m nonetheless doing my aspect hustles. That is nonetheless my factor. Uh, and naturally I’ve talked about this plenty of occasions all year long after I do present up, however the Fb bonus program has simply been so fascinating to me.
Uh, and it actually hasn’t been that lengthy. I used to be looking again on the historic information that I do have, um, and it was simply in June that I had a Fb web page that it was permitted to the Fb bonus program. Wow. And inside the first 30 days. It made 2, 950 of getting permitted to the bonus program. And naturally, this Fb web page specifically, it is, it has been round now for, Yr and a half, two years, one thing like that.
And, um, you already know, has a web site the place we’re publishing content material and every part like that, uh, the place we initially had been simply making an attempt to drive a number of visitors from the Fb web page to the web site. And we did okay. Some months we might make two, 300 a month, proper? However as quickly as. I acquired that approval for the Fb bonus program and I began to see among the numbers by way of engagement and what number of views our posts had been making instantly on Fb.
I used to be like, we have to simply double down on this Fb factor. It was within the hundreds of thousands, proper? Wasn’t it in like 9 million or one thing?
Jared: 7 million? It was insane.
Spencer: Yeah, 7, 8, 9 million. I could have cracked 10 million form of, uh, impressions, uh, one of many, the most effective months and also you’re proper. It is insane simply how many individuals are seeing the dumbest little issues that we publish on Fb.
Jared: I am not making an attempt to hijack or lower in, however like in perspective, like there’s what, 300 million people who reside in america of America. I imply, we’re stepping into like, uh, like, uh, three to five % of america noticed your stuff this month.
Spencer: That’s loopy to consider that. Nuts. It is nuts. Um, and so if you, you say it like that and to say, oh, I solely made 2, 900, you already know, 3 % of individuals within the U S you already know, Hey, however I will take what I can get.
It’s totally cool.
Jared: No, I do know. I.
Spencer: Um, however I’ve continued to do fairly nicely. I am not going to learn off each month, however the highest month was October of this yr, I made 30, virtually 3, 800 simply from the Fb bonus program in November, the final full month of reporting 2, 700 and uh, general, during the last six months since I used to be permitted, my common earnings per 30 days is 2, 829.
So simply over 2, 800, um, all coming from me, not sending visitors wherever, simply earnings from the Fb bonus program. Now, after all, this web site is making a bit of bit more cash on prime of that as nicely. So these numbers doesn’t embrace the show advert income that’s on the positioning. It’s permitted to journey by Mediavine.
Um, usually it is, you already know, perhaps 200 a month. It is, it is a lot smaller. Um, and so. I am simply, I am enthusiastic about this. It is it is the one Fb web page that I’ve within the Fb bonus program, however I have been very tempted, uh, all year long to strive beginning two or three or 4 different Fb pages, constructing them up.
Constructing them up and making an attempt to get them permitted and scaling these as nicely. As a result of I believe, Hey, if I had three or 4 pages, the method of primarily outsourcing, all of this isn’t that troublesome, which is what I’ve completed for this web page specifically. So it is, it is a enjoyable aspect hustle. My favourite one of many yr,
Jared: uh, that’s for positive.
So my story was one among sort of virtually like redemption or, you already know, rising out of the ashes, however this can be a totally different story that additionally occurs if you take probabilities in life. And if you go for one thing the place this wasn’t the unique intent of this web site and this challenge and this occurs so usually in enterprise like.
I can converse for my enterprise. Like through the years, you, you assume you are going to go into enterprise and do that service and supply this service. After which 5 years later, you look again three years later, you look again and you are like, I am really doing extra of my vitality on this service that occurred due to X, Y, and Z.
And this is sort of a completely happy accident, however you took an opportunity. You went for one thing that you just thought was going to work out a method. And then you definitely noticed a possibility and also you pivoted. And now you’ve gotten this entire new enterprise mannequin that you just didn’t Take into consideration one yr in the past firstly of 2024.
Spencer: Yeah, you have said that superbly.
And that has been very true for my general on-line profession, not simply aspect hustles, proper. That I’ve labored on. Um, you already know, after I stop my job manner again in 2011, I used to be constructing area of interest web sites and people area of interest web sites had been making greater than my day job. So I stop my job. And I assumed, Hey, I will simply proceed to scale these area of interest web sites.
That is going to be my factor. It simply so occurred that I used to be pissed off with doing key phrase analysis on different instruments that I used to be utilizing. I used to be like, you already know, there might be one thing there. Possibly I am going to construct a bit of, you already know, software program device. Uh, lengthy tail professional, um, and that ended up changing into an even bigger enterprise than my area of interest web sites.
Proper. And I’ve replicated that a few occasions with totally different software program instruments or different tasks that I’ve labored on precisely. As you stated, it could haven’t been my preliminary intention. Yeah. You did not stop your
Jared: job to make software program. You stop your job to construct area of interest web sites and then you definitely resolve the issue.
Since you had been constructing area of interest web sites and yeah, you simply, you, you may’t underscore what number of alternatives. I imply, Airbnb was by no means Airbnb. Airbnb was began to be an answer for the dream forest convention. And it was all about sofa browsing, proper? And so they would not have develop into Airbnb in the event that they hadn’t began a sofa browsing enterprise.
It is simply fascinating to have a look at. And for anybody listening, Who, you already know, who’s listening? Like there are such a lot of issues that come out of taking that probability and beginning one thing. One among which is you do not know what you do not know.
Spencer: Completely. And at all times being keen to pivot, take a look at the place you’re in your small business and at all times asking that query.
Might there be a greater manner? Might there be a greater resolution? Might I be doing issues? Just a little bit totally different, you already know, particularly should you’re not seeing the progress that you really want, come at it from a special approach, you already know, take a look at it, you already know, subsequent week once more and, uh, see what occurs. So there is a, there’s some unsolicited recommendation right here on, on the, uh, area of interest pursuits podcast.
That is why we do that, proper? Jared.
Jared: Each occasionally, we, uh, we get an opportunity to share opinions. I imply, whether or not they get a rant on one thing, it is Christmas. If you cannot share your opinions round Christmas time, then when are you able to.
Spencer: That is proper. We acquired to do it. It is the vacations. So, uh, nicely, excellent.
That brings us right here to our ultimate phase. And I hate to say it, this will probably be our ultimate phase of the yr. Oh man. What a yr on, on, on the area of interest pursuits, uh, information episodes. What a fantastic yr. And I, I am unable to consider a greater strategy to wrap up the yr than bizarre area of interest websites. Uh, talking of issues that I did not assume essentially could be a Huge deal.
Bizarre Witch Websites has develop into a fan favourite. Folks point out it on a regular basis. They love this phase. We preserve doing it due to the suggestions we get. So thanks, uh, very a lot. And so
Jared: we’ll, you get pulled apart at conferences and so they do not wish to speak about. What you are promoting success. They do not wish to discuss in regards to the software program you have created.
They do not wish to discuss in regards to the 14 yr operating podcast. They wish to discuss in regards to the bizarre niches, proper? Is that what you informed me? It is true. They
Spencer: pull me apart and so they say, Hey, I acquired an thought on your bizarre area of interest web site phase. I am like, candy. Let’s do it. Um, so I like it. It, it form of, It simply encapsulates what this podcast is all about.
Proper. Um, so Jared, I will allow you to go first after which I am going to, I am going to deliver it residence with my, my very own favourite bizarre area of interest web site.
Jared: Nicely, should you thought I used to be going to go together with Amazon influencer for my favourite aspect hustle, and also you had been stunned, very long time listeners will not be stunned by this one as a result of this was.
Uh, and is my favourite bizarre area of interest but. And it is acquired, I imply, I might be doing all of us a disservice if I did not deliver it up right now. So should you’re a very long time listener, I went again and regarded it up. This was, um, on the final episode of June that we talked about this one. So it is precisely six months outdated to this week once we launched this podcast and it’s the 1 million checkboxes.
com web site. Now it is, uh, this was a, a problem. {That a} developer threw collectively and mainly it was can the higher on-line world examine checkboxes now it was a it was at all times this delicate steadiness as a result of it is actually what you are seeing in entrance of you should you’re watching on display screen is 1, 000, 000 checkboxes and when this was reside.
In actual time, individuals had been checking packing containers and folks had been unchecking packing containers. And so it was this fixed wrestle. And should you look within the higher proper, you may see now it says 1 million packing containers are checked, however at any given time you may log in. And that quantity might be wherever from 100 thousand to 300, 000 to 500, 000.
And ultimately the, um, it tipped the scales, tipped to the place 1 million examine packing containers had been checked and the challenge was over, however this web site and the, the The simply the loopy thought behind it and the oddity of it and the the Uh, I believe virtually the sport the gaminess of it prefer it actually encapsulated us and a number of the listeners and it was simply actually enjoyable and watching the story and studying his tweets in actual time about how You already know, we see the techie, the nerdy aspect of it, the technical aspect of making an attempt to maintain the positioning reside and, uh, uh, the entire servers he needed to spin up and stuff.
So it was simply such a enjoyable week to sort of comply with alongside on this. Um, it was, it, it was positively for my part, my, my favourite bizarre area of interest aspect of the yr.
Spencer: Yeah. And if individuals do return and discover that episode, I imply, we had been right here making an attempt to examine the packing containers and they might get unchecked as quickly as I checked them or, you already know, I checked 10 of them after which we would scroll down and also you’d discover hidden phrases of people who had checked packing containers to spell one thing that, you already know, uh, and so there was all form of gamification of this factor that, uh, It is simply the weirdest off the wall factor.
You already know, it doesn’t suggest something. You aren’t getting a prize when all 1 million packing containers are checked. You aren’t getting a prize. In case you uncheck all of the packing containers that individuals checked, it is identical to this ingrained human nature factor of like, Oh, I see a bunch of individuals checking packing containers. I will assist them or I am not going to
Jared: assist.
We talked about that throughout the podcast and June, I believe prefer it virtually pits. Humanity in like its most uncooked type, like, are you a field checker or are you a field unchecker? I do not know what which means about you both. I do not both. It isn’t saying it is proper or fallacious. It is simply fascinating. Like we lastly acquired to one million examine packing containers, but it surely was such an attention-grabbing like human case research to look at go reside.
Spencer: Yeah, and you already know, among the comply with ups you stated, um, you already know, he was sort of tweeting about this. I am going to simply share his, uh, his, you already know, his, his Twitter deal with. Uh, oh, wait, no, that is the fallacious one. I believe, no, that is his, is not that what this
Jared: is? Okay. I believe so. There it’s pinned. He talks. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Sure.
Spencer: Sure, I did get the best one. Um, in any case, he, he talked about this loads. Uh, that is the place he launched. It was on Twitter and there was all types of issues, proper? Technical challenges, individuals sort of making an attempt to, to hack it or, uh, I. Anyhow, fascinating. Uh, the million packing containers acquired checked. And so it appears to be like prefer it’s, you may’t play except you click on this hyperlink, it says you may play alone.
Proper. And so now I assume I can are available in right here. And I can attempt to examine 1 million of those.
Jared: I do not know what the Spencer, it appears to be like such as you’ve been enjoying by yourself behind our again. Trigger you already know, you have solely checked 5 or 6 packing containers, however apparently you have checked 24. So I do not know should you’ve been enjoying by your self.
Yeah, I do not know both.
Spencer: Possibly someone in my family has been enjoying with out my data. And so that would take some time. This might take some time and nonetheless, it is nonetheless not monetized. It isn’t making any cash.
Jared: No,
Spencer: however boy, is it a bizarre area of interest web site? And it is fascinating.
Jared: That was a enjoyable one. That was a enjoyable one.
That was a enjoyable one. And, uh, there have been loads to select from. I, you noticed, um, somebody in your crew created an inventory of all of the bizarre niches for us to look by, which is absolutely useful. And I highlighted three or 4 that I used to be actually making an attempt to determine which one I wished to go together with. So. Yeah,
Spencer: nicely, that is what I am going to do over the vacations.
Let’s um, See if I can get to half one million you bought 48. I believe it says 48. There you go Um, so superior. No nice nice bizarre area of interest web site. I like it. It is one that every one Keep in mind, consider fondly, you already know, after I’m bored, I can examine some packing containers. Um, okay. So I struggled as nicely to determine which one to do, however the bizarre area of interest web site that I lined is one that’s making some huge cash.
And in order that’s what sort of pushed it excessive for me is that it isn’t solely is it sort of bizarre, but it surely really is making a big sum of money. And, uh, so this one is tractor information. proper. And so tractor information. com is only a bunch of uncooked information about tractors, about elements of tractors. Um, you may type by mannequin and energy, uh, of engines the yr, and you may then click on on these and get.
All the info that you may ever need dimensions, transmission, engine pictures, exams which have been run. Apparently that is actually useful. Lots of people have outdated tractors round their farm and, um, they want to determine what half do they want, or they simply have to know the scale or yada, yada, yada. Proper.
There’s all types of information in right here that, uh, the web site creator, um, was created in 1999. Proper. Uh, and. He is been gathering, simply gathering information, organizing it for the world. And what completely blows my thoughts. I imply, not solely that the brand is, I imply, it appears to be like like one thing was simply typed into Microsoft phrase, proper?
Primarily no fancy design. Simple to make use of although. Simple to make use of, proper? So I am not knocking on the way it appears to be like proper, however you do not want a flowery design to do actually, rather well as a result of this web site does extraordinarily nicely in Google. Specifically, um, based on my notes right here, it’s getting 1. 2 million guests per 30 days with most of that coming from Google.
Most of it’s natural search and people who come to this web site, go to, Virtually 4 pages per customer, proper? In order that they’re taking a look at a number of issues, which I believe I already visited greater than 4 pages, proper? There’s show advertisements in every single place. And so if you do the calculations, even in a fairly conservative RPM of like 10, uh, and I put, I imply, it might be.
20 or extra as a result of I might think about elements,
Jared: I imply, if you are going to purchase it, however I might put it over 20. Yeah. Yeah.
Spencer: I might assume so. However even at a ten RPM with that information that I simply gave you, gave you, it is making, Over 46, 000 per 30 days. And so should you put a 20 RPM and we’re speaking 100, 000 a month.
Jared: Yeah,
Spencer: simply from show advertisements, which isn’t extremely far fetched, proper?
Like I am, I am taking a look at this now. The advertisements I am getting are for Honda and automotive, proper? These are costly merchandise. I think about these corporations pay some huge cash. So. Something automotive associated and proper, if you are going to purchase a tractor wheel, you are going to spend 20, 000 on a wheel, proper? Just like the advertisements are going to be your level.
Jared: Everybody who reads this has a finances, proper? And that is who I simply wish to goal. You already know, you are not, uh, the typical reader of tractor information. com is, shouldn’t be there for a science challenge. They’re there as a result of they personal and handle and run and really costly operation and so they want costly tools to fund that.
Spencer: Precisely. Precisely. And so, um, kudos to the man. I believe it was, his title was Peter out of Minnesota that got here up with this web site and it is simply caught with it for 20 plus years. Um, simply ensuring the info is all there on all mannequin makes fashions, years of tractors that it is easy to make use of. Simple to search out. And, um, yeah, he is, he is making a killing.
In order bizarre as this form of niches information on tractors, extremely worthwhile. Um, I put that one at my favourite, perhaps not as bizarre as 1 million examine packing containers, but it surely’s, it is simply so worthwhile that, that I like it. I needed to, needed to rank it there on the prime.
Jared: I might forgotten about this one. I will be completely trustworthy with you.
I do not even know when this, When this was featured if it was earlier within the yr, I am hoping it was it was like March. Okay I am going to give myself a bit of grace then. Yeah, um, however I forgot about this one. I um, I like this one loads. I keep in mind liking it loads if you did it. We I do not assume you had shared Something in regards to the how a lot it was incomes, you already know, or a minimum of the prospectus on how a lot is incomes, which is much more thoughts blowing.
Um, uh, I see you’ve gotten an honor, an honorary point out, which I like, I’ve one so as to add as nicely for a very totally different motive I did not put within the agenda, so I will shock you there, however I see honorary point out. Love that aspect as nicely. I would like you to speak about that. Then I’ve acquired a bit of curve ball to throw at you.
Spencer: Okay. I really like curve balls. So this one, I do know that you just love, uh, I do know that Thomas loves, uh, and, and I like it. So, uh, this one is mcbroken. com. I put it as an honorary point out as a result of it was simply so fascinating, proper? That those who do not keep in mind that is, Hey, is the McDonald’s ice cream machine damaged? So sort of a joke that, Hey, ice cream machines are simply at all times damaged.
This web site mcbroken. com. Com tracks in actual time, whether or not your native ice cream machine is damaged. And I am completely happy to report that each single ice cream machine inside the tri cities the place I reside is working. We have got a inexperienced dot, however should you’re to go to New York, 32 % of all ice cream machines in New York are presently damaged.
That is an insanely excessive
Jared: quantity.
Spencer: It is
Jared: loopy.
Spencer: No marvel it is a
Jared: factor.
Spencer: Um, and what’s, what’s so cool? What I liked is the little phase the place Thomas shared this and he was so curious to determine how they tracked all this. And he discovered, Hey, it should, they have to be tying into the API of the app. Proper.
You possibly can go in and order an ice cream. And if you cannot order an ice cream on the app for the shop, you have chosen that should imply the ice cream machine is damaged and he examined it out. He drove to his native McDonald’s that stated it was damaged. Certain sufficient, their ice cream machine was damaged to confirm that, you already know, that is how they’re sort of pulling the info.
And do not
Jared: omit the snarkiness of this web site as a result of it additionally options. An advert, the one advert on the positioning for McDonald’s arguably largest competitor, their ice cream cone, which is, uh, Wendy’s frosty. After which conveniently locations a location of each Wendy’s in that space on their map.
Spencer: Once you scroll in, you see Wendy’s.
So it, it’s, it is snarky. I like it. Um, such web site. So,
Jared: so my honorary point out is 2024 was the primary time we have ever really had a bizarre area of interest operator or proprietor. As a podcast visitor in a subsequent episode, Peter, ask you from try this’s calm. And that is a brand new milestone for
Spencer: us. That is proper. We reached out to him and stated, Hey, we identical to featured your bizarre area of interest web site.
You wish to come inform your story? Certain sufficient. And what a narrative it was. He was excited to speak about it. What a narrative it was. And an excellent story. Yeah. An excellent story. Uh, the DudeRanch. com story is an effective one. Um, so sure. I am going to have you ever
Jared: know, I have been in contact and am really performing some work. For an additional, one among our bizarre area of interest web site house owners, uh, as an company.
And I informed him I might like to have you ever on the podcast to inform your story. And he stated, I am open to it. So we’d have one in 2025.
Spencer: That is excellent. In actual fact, I’ve had it. Uh, I can assume of some different occasions the place I’ve communicated with a bizarre area of interest web site house owners. One which has reached out to us and stated, Hey, you featured us.
Are you able to assist with our web site? Uh, one other one really, um, in any case, he reached out with a bizarre area of interest web site. After which I stated, Hey. We should always really speak about your principal web site, Political Wire, with Tegan Goddard, really. Tegan, that is the place it began. Sure. He wished us to characteristic a bizarre area of interest web site. And I stated, I believe we must always speak about your principal web site right here.
Let’s, let’s have you ever on the, on the podcast. So this phase, it continues to pay dividends, Jared.
Jared: I, you already know, if you first got here up with the three segments that we do, uh, it is, it is, it is, it is loopy that now, you already know, we’re virtually two years in on this, this information podcast and the identical three segments are nonetheless right here.
The identical construction from day one remains to be right here. We have made a bit of. I imply, I do not even very minor tweaks alongside the best way. It is just about, should you return to the primary information episode, it is virtually the very same format as once we, once we, what we did final week.
Spencer: Yeah. If it is a, if it isn’t damaged, needn’t repair it.
So, uh, excellent. I believe we have highlighted, uh, a fairly good, uh, overview of 2024. It has been yr. Hopefully everyone’s loved listening to the podcast. I hope you all have finish of the yr. Have a fantastic 2025. Thanks a lot for listening. Lots of extra good issues to come back right here subsequent yr.
Jared: We’ll see you once more all through 2025 or one. Thanks once more. Have a fantastic remainder of your 2024.
Spencer: Thanks loads, everybody.
