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 suppose had been the most important and most essential headlines of the yr, and the way the information affected bloggers and content material creators.
Then they mentioned their most profitable, and stunning, facet hustles in 2024. They every shared the facet 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 facet hustles over the course of 2024, they decide their favorites and speak concerning 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 certainly right here to remain.
Spencer and Jared examine the 2 choices, speak about AI search engine marketing, and what the long run may maintain.
Then it’s Jared’s flip to select his greatest headline from the yr, which was when Google misplaced the anti-trust lawsuit in a landmark resolution.
He talks concerning the precise practices Google was participating in to be deemed anti-competitive, what the DOJ needs Google to do, and what position Chrome performs.
Tune in to listen to the most recent developments within the story and the way they suppose it may unfold.
Do you agree these had been the most important headlines of 2024? Share your ideas within the feedback.
Shifting on to the Shiny Object Shenanigans portion of the podcast, Spencer talks about lots of the totally different facet 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 concerning the demise of his web site and its rebirth after driving site visitors to it by way of Pinterest.
He talks about earnings development, a bit concerning the Pinterest technique, and the potential for 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 greatest months.
They mirror on their entrepreneurial journeys and focus on how they got here to start out all of their companies and facet hustles. Additionally they share some attention-grabbing and provoking 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: one million checkboxes. He provides a little bit of the positioning’s backstory, talks concerning the options he likes, and shares why he thinks it was an enormous hit amongst listeners.
When it’s Spencer’s flip, he shares Tractor Data, a bizarre area of interest web site that’s making good cash. He talks about all the info the positioning provides, the design, and the site visitors stats.
He additionally makes a conservative guess concerning the revenue the positioning is incomes and talks about why he selected to focus on it.
Then comes a particular shock: the bizarre area of interest websites that get honorary mentions: McBroken, which reveals which ice cream machines are damaged at McDonalds.
They speak about some attention-grabbing stats, how the positioning will get its information, and the snarky adverts 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 owner was also interviewed on the Area of interest Pursuits podcast.
And that brings us to the tip 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 may be part of us once more in 2025 as we proceed to tackle the most recent information headlines, share our inventive facet hustles, and make you chortle with a number of 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 bought Jared with me, uh, as ordinary right now, and we’ll be doing an finish of the yr recap, actually. We will take a look at the most important information tales that occurred within the trade. 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 facet hustles, our favourite facet hustles. Jared and I’ve labored on loads of totally different facet hustles this yr. And even our co hosts have labored on loads of different facet hustles, however we’ll cowl our two favourite one every.
After which lastly, we bought to speak about bizarre area of interest websites. Uh, you understand, we do two bizarre area of interest websites every year. Each 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 will be loads of enjoyable,
Jared: Jared, ought to we do it?
I’ve to confess, I wanting on the agenda right now, as a result of we type of talked, it is a totally different one, proper? So we talked prematurely how we’re doing this. And I simply noticed the agenda this morning and never stunned by your story that you simply introduced. Uh, by way of the information, not stunned by the facet 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 bear in mind what it was.
Spencer: Yeah, and you understand that, the identical factor, we lined so many, and once I seemed on the record, I used to be like, oh my goodness, I forgot we did that, and there is some actually good ones, like there may be simply, I ought to most likely simply launch this record. 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 a superb
Spencer: concept as a result of there’s some that I had actually forgotten about. So I am bringing a superb one. Jared’s bringing a superb one. So stick round for that. However let’s simply do it. I imply, it is the tip of the yr. So completely satisfied holidays to everyone.
Completely happy new yr. Uh, you understand, hope you hit your new yr’s targets ramping up for that, however let’s soar into the information. Uh, so loads occurred in 2024. Uh, however I believe. The most important story that I wish to speak about right here right now is de facto AI search and the way synthetic intelligence is impacting search. Uh, so particularly, 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 at the least 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 type 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 have a look at right here. If I’ve bought the precise one, uh, that, you understand, 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 displaying these AI overviews for, you understand, um, I do know personally once I do a search on my cellphone or on the desktop.
I am seeing, I do not know what share it’s, but it surely’s a big share now’s displaying these AI overviews. And so it is huge, it is, it is, you understand, it is impacting how search is completed. 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 greatest 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 actually, simply within the final week, uh, I need 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 will 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 identify I have not heard shortly. I bear in mind Bard.
That is proper. I became 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 bear 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 type of stabilized and so they’ve discovered a superb norm for it. It feels extra regular, actually, as I am utilizing, um, Google, you understand, once I use Google.
After which we had chat GBD search, which. I do not use as a lot to be fairly sincere with you, however, um, they only bought performed with their, no matter their 12 days of bulletins, open AI. And, and so they, they’re, I imply, it is, it is wanting an increasing number of 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 understand, type of generative AI. So, I imply, 2024 went from, you understand, one horse race to a two horse race, and so they each made developments, however we have now bought two viable choices going ahead, actually.
Spencer: Yeah. And regardless that, uh, open AI is very 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 huge participant within the trade.
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 adjustments that occurred on this yr, um, for, for a very long time to return and the way that impacts every little thing,
Jared: you understand, 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 have now our issues with Google, however like, clearly Bing’s not going to present them a run there for his or her cash. And I believe for the primary time in, I do not even know the way lengthy, over a decade, at the least.
It seems like search GPT stands an opportunity, you understand, and, and that is clearly they have an enormous mountain to climb, but it surely seems like they stand an opportunity for the primary time. And I do not even know the way 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 marketing, the place you, you understand, attempt to get your hyperlink or your web site talked about throughout the AI overviews. And a few persons are form of documenting processes, stretch, uh, methods that you are able to do to, to, to try this. So it is nonetheless fortuitously sending site 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 properly, uh, for what you are going to speak about, uh, additionally by way of Google and opponents and what that each one means.
Jared: I imply, I wrestled with this query for fairly some time, at the least every week, you understand, as we talked about, like, let’s. Let’s do the most important, our opinion on the most important story of the yr.
And we lined so many tales. , we are likely to cowl about three to 4 tales every week. So we talked about how there’s been 100 bizarre area of interest websites shared. Properly, 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 meaning going ahead, it was nonetheless in and of itself a landmark resolution. We actually have not seen a narrative like this by way of a monopolistic ruling going again, you understand, 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 an enormous position in Google because it pertains to search, um, and because it pertains to search engine marketing particularly. So optimizing for search, however what it actually got here out and what actually bought them within the scorching water out of all of the stuff, I imply the collusion between the advert division and the search division, um, all the manipulation, all the stuff they’re doing with their information, what actually bought them in hassle ultimately.
Was these offers they minimize 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 most important 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 sometimes is what we simply, what we speak about. So. Simply an enormous deal, you understand, 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 at first 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 predict ought to occur is you bought to do away with And what we do not know Is what that would imply. If that really 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 capability to earn income? I imply, so to me, yours is all about search because it’s occurring. I suppose 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 choices which have come down on Google. And that is actually what this story is about.
Spencer: Yeah. And once 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 actually does, uh, come to play right here, the Google has to do away with the Chrome, uh, enterprise. That is this huge supply of information that Google at the moment 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 tip of that is going to be, that is going to play out in 2025.
It most likely will play out. For years to return. 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 arduous and there is positively going to need to be some adjustments which can be made.
Jared: There’s some change that is going to need to be made. I imply, I do know lots of people are pointing to, you understand, new authorities, um, coming into workplace and that would change the, you understand, the, the best way this comes down, lots of people are additionally saying, Hey, after we look again at what occurred to Microsoft, it was not as heavy handed as was.
Probably touted. You are proper. I imply, all this stuff may say that possibly chrome is not break up off, however on the similar time, one thing’s bought to occur as a result of and I will learn a quote right here from choose. I believe I am saying the identify proper meta within the resolution says quote Google is a monopolist and it has acted as one to take care of its monopoly.
I imply, that’s what the court docket 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 bought to drop.
Spencer: Argument that Google has at all times performed is, Hey, there are opponents, you understand, there may be this, um, open AI, there may be search GPT and so they talked about different gamers and for essentially the most half, it is form of, you understand, Hey, uh, they talked about loads 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 conduct, however they actually may get hit arduous with a one, two punch.
What in the event that they do need to unload their Chrome browser? What in the event that they do have to finish loads of these partnerships that they do have with Apple and others, however on the similar time. Open AI simply begins form of consuming their lunch in any case, earlier than the implications, you understand, all these actions are taken. Um, it, it will be attention-grabbing.
I imply, we, we do not know the place it will 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 considered one of 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 may 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 facet 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 you then bought it from the opposite facet. And the truth that they’re getting this, this, uh, ruling put down on them, and they will need to 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 masking that information. So, uh, make sure you subscribe as a result of, uh, if you’d like your information, that is the place we’ll cowl it. Um, so yeah, loads of attention-grabbing tales. I believe this most likely, I, I agree with each these tales might be being the most important of the yr.
When you’re listening and also you disagree, we missed an enormous story. Tell us within the feedback. Completely happy to take that suggestions. And it is robust to select, let’s be sincere. I imply, it’s, it is,
Jared: there have been loads of tales to undergo. Um, I did not undergo each considered one of them, however this one stored arising in my thoughts.
Precisely.
Spencer: So I
Jared: bummed none of us went with a kind of, uh, uh, off the cuff verge articles. , 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 understand, we may have talked about, uh, you understand, printer critiques. Uh, written by the verge toaster man, uh, the toaster man, there’s loads of good things.
So, however we’re going to transfer on to our facet hustles now. Uh, I discover it fascinating that we have now continued to check out totally different facet hustles. I imply, we have talked about Amazon influencer. Uh, we have now talked about newsletters. We have talked about area of interest web sites. We have talked about, uh, Fb, uh, Pinterest medium.
I am positive. , there’s three or 4 others for positive. Positive. Uh, that, that we have talked about as properly, 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 may very well be the one which’s essentially the most profitable, the one that you simply get pleasure from essentially the most, the one that you simply see essentially the most potential with, uh, no matter which may be.
So, uh, Jared, I will allow you to go first. What facet hustle did you decide?
Jared: Yeah, it was open ended, you understand, we, we did preserve this gorgeous open ended. So. I believe loads of listeners would anticipate me to select Amazon influencer. Um, I’ll say that, you understand, it is, it is, it is damaged 40, 000 for 2024. When it comes to earnings.
It is actually my. But it surely’s positively considered one of my highest incomes facet hustles up there with weekend development and the publication, um, and type of what it does and stuff, however that is arduous to trace trigger it actually brings enterprise to 201 inventive. So arduous to say, however Amazon influencer is certainly a type of the sexiest one which, uh, that I, I like to speak about, but it surely’s, it is not my favourite this yr.
I really feel like the excitement, the joy about Amazon influencer for me was final yr. Now it is in, , now it is a kind of belongings 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 type of lean into that a bit of bit when you have got a facet 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 corporation and it is one thing that you simply do, I imply, I have been doing the influencer program for. Over 18 months nearing, you understand, two years now. So my favourite facet hustle this yr, and I believe it type of underneath underscores what loads of us went by way of 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 facet hustle is resurrecting a kind of web sites that was decimated. That web site was incomes 2, 000 a month or so pre HCU after which it bought hit by the HCU after which it bought additional hit by the March 2024 core replace, which I do know so lots 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 method, uh, for Pinterest, which lots of people have pivoted, particularly in additional visible niches, which this one is in have pivoted to doing a give attention to Pinterest and Pinterest site visitors.
To get that site visitors to the web site. And this was monetized. This web site was monetized by raptive. So show adverts 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 type 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’d by no means have wished this to occur, however sarcastically, the positioning’s making extra monthly than it was after we had been counting on Google. And I simply suppose that is, for me, such a narrative of hope.
Like, I’ve bought different content material that now I can look to and be like, We’ve 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 facet, which inserts our facet hustle focus, but it surely’s additionally like so longing for what content material may appear to be going ahead in 2025 and past.
Spencer: Yeah, no, it’s unbelievable. 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. Unbelievable. And, uh, the site 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 high 100. You may do a model search, you understand, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, the, uh, the, the, the area identify after which add, you understand, 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 publication tied to this web site? Is that a part of it? As you are getting individuals on an e-mail record, 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 sincere with you, that is driving a minuscule quantity of the income.
Um, and, uh, you understand, we speak about issues we attempt that do not work properly, like, We tried the e-mail factor right here and it did not drive loads of income. We nonetheless have e-mail automations. So individuals nonetheless join the publication 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 neglect, however we’re not doing loads of new stuff as a result of it simply wasn’t driving the income just like the Pinterest site visitors was.
So we’re simply doubling down on the Pinterest site visitors as a substitute of including extra emails.
Spencer: Yeah. So it appears like you have got a extremely good system in place by way of like variety of pins a day or, uh, you understand, any person in place like a VA that’s type of taking good care of all of that for you at this level.
Jared: So that is a kind of issues the place we, we, we observed loads of our shoppers wished to show to Pinterest site visitors.
And in order that was one of many causes I am like, you understand, we must always do that out. And so, um, yeah, we have now a devoted VA with coaching and SOP that is doing it. I will be sincere, if you’d like a bit of little bit of like, uh, I, I not hope, however, uh, when the company will get busy, the, you understand, we have now to drag sources 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 dwell. Now, most of the time, we have gotten pins dwell each single day, however there have been moments the place the ball bought dropped, As a result of we needed to care for 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 day-after-day. It is um, it is, it is recent content material going dwell on the positioning. Pinterest loves recent content material, pinning about that, varied pins, all driving again to the web site, monetized by Raptive, it is type of simply rinse and repeat. I really like
Spencer: it. That is so cool, man. Uh, anytime you’ll be able to type 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.
Enormous win. Um, boy, you’re simply nailing it. That is like two years in a row the place you began with like no facet hustle final yr and turned it into a pleasant income stream with the Amazon influencer program. This yr. You have continued with the Amazon influencer program, however you have form of created this new 2, 500 monthly income stream.
I
Jared: cannot promote my Amazon influencer account, however I may promote this web site.
Spencer: Completely.
Jared: , I do not know. That’d be like the total redemption arc. I really feel like if we ended up promoting this possibly in 2025 or past, which is attention-grabbing. Um, you’ll be able to nonetheless purchase and promote web sites. They nonetheless promote, uh, For multiples, you understand, 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 stress each week, Spencer, you understand, 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 understand, it is a, the stress makes diamonds, proper?
Spencer: I, it does, man. I could not deal with the stress, so I am glad, uh, you understand, 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 have bought, uh, you have bought one thing on the agenda right here. I am taking a look at that is fairly, uh, fairly noteworthy by way of facet hustles.
Spencer: Yeah. , I’m nonetheless doing my facet hustles. That is nonetheless my factor. Uh, and naturally I’ve talked about this numerous instances all year long once 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 authorised to the Fb bonus program. Wow. And throughout the first 30 days. It made 2, 950 of getting authorised to the bonus program. And naturally, this Fb web page particularly, it is, it has been round now for, 12 months and a half, two years, one thing like that.
And, um, you understand, has a web site the place we’re publishing content material and every little thing like that, uh, the place we initially had been simply making an attempt to drive loads of site 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 bought that approval for the Fb bonus program and I began to see a number of the numbers by way of engagement and what number of views our posts had been making immediately on Fb.
I used to be like, we have to simply double down on this Fb factor. It was within the thousands and 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 perfect 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 minimize in, however like in perspective, like there’s what, 300 million people who dwell in the US of America. I imply, we’re stepping into like, uh, like, uh, three to five % of the US noticed your stuff this month.
Spencer: That’s loopy to consider that. Nuts. It is nuts. Um, and so once you, you say it like that and to say, oh, I solely made 2, 900, you understand, 3 % of individuals within the U S you understand, Hey, however I will take what I can get.
It’s extremely cool.
Jared: No, I do know. I.
Spencer: Um, however I’ve continued to do fairly properly. 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 authorised, my common revenue monthly is 2, 829.
So simply over 2, 800, um, all coming from me, not sending site visitors anyplace, simply earnings from the Fb bonus program. Now, after all, this web site is making a bit of bit more cash on high of that as properly. So these numbers doesn’t embrace the show advert income that’s on the positioning. It’s authorised to journey by Mediavine.
Um, sometimes it is, you understand, possibly 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 attempt beginning two or three or 4 different Fb pages, constructing them up.
Constructing them up and making an attempt to get them authorised and scaling these as properly. 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 performed for this web page particularly. So it is, it is a enjoyable facet hustle. My favourite one of many yr,
Jared: uh, that’s for positive.
So my story was considered one of type of virtually like redemption or, you understand, rising out of the ashes, however it is a totally different story that additionally occurs once you take probabilities in life. And once 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 suppose 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 power on this service that occurred due to X, Y, and Z.
And this is sort of a completely satisfied accident, however you took an opportunity. You went for one thing that you simply thought was going to work out a technique. And you then noticed a possibility and also you pivoted. And now you have got this complete new enterprise mannequin that you simply didn’t Take into consideration one yr in the past at first of 2024.
Spencer: Yeah, you have said that fantastically.
And that has been very true for my general on-line profession, not simply facet hustles, proper. That I’ve labored on. Um, you understand, once I give up my job approach 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 give up my job. And I believed, 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 annoyed with doing key phrase analysis on different instruments that I used to be utilizing. I used to be like, you understand, there may very well be one thing there. Possibly I will construct a bit of, you understand, software program instrument. Uh, lengthy tail professional, um, and that ended up turning into an even bigger enterprise than my area of interest web sites.
Proper. And I’ve replicated that a few instances with totally different software program instruments or different initiatives that I’ve labored on precisely. As you stated, it might haven’t been my preliminary intention. Yeah. You did not give up your
Jared: job to make software program. You give up your job to construct area of interest web sites and you then resolve the issue.
Since you had been constructing area of interest web sites and yeah, you simply, you, you’ll be able to’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? They usually would not have grow to be Airbnb in the event that they hadn’t began a sofa browsing enterprise.
It is simply fascinating to take a look at. And for anybody listening, Who, you understand, who’s listening? Like there are such a lot of issues that come out of taking that likelihood 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 corporation and at all times asking that query.
May there be a greater approach? May there be a greater resolution? May I be doing issues? Slightly bit totally different, you understand, particularly for those who’re not seeing the progress that you really want, come at it from a unique approach, you understand, take a look at it, you understand, 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 from time to time, 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 bought to do it. It is the vacations. So, uh, properly, excellent.
That brings us right here to our last section. And I hate to say it, this can be our last section of the yr. Oh man. What a yr on, on, on the area of interest pursuits, uh, information episodes. What an important 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 suppose essentially could be a Massive deal.
Bizarre Witch Websites has grow to be a fan favourite. Folks point out it on a regular basis. They love this section. 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 need to speak about. Your enterprise success. They do not need to speak concerning the software program you have created.
They do not need to speak concerning the 14 yr operating podcast. They need to speak concerning the bizarre niches, proper? Is that what you informed me? It is true. They
Spencer: pull me apart and so they say, Hey, I bought an concept in your bizarre area of interest web site section. I am like, candy. Let’s do it. Um, so I find it irresistible. 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 will, I will convey it dwelling with my, my very own favourite bizarre area of interest web site.
Jared: Properly, for those who thought I used to be going to go along with Amazon influencer for my favourite facet 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 bought, I imply, I’d be doing all of us a disservice if I did not convey it up right now. So for those who’re a very long time listener, I went again and seemed 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 after 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 for those who’re watching on display screen is 1, 000, 000 checkboxes and when this was dwell.
In actual time, individuals had been checking containers and other people had been unchecking containers. And so it was this fixed wrestle. And for those who look within the higher proper, you’ll be able to see now it says 1 million containers are checked, however at any given time you may log in. And that quantity may very well be anyplace from 100 thousand to 300, 000 to 500, 000.
And finally the, um, it tipped the scales, tipped to the place 1 million examine containers had been checked and the challenge was over, however this web site and the, the The simply the loopy concept 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 loads of the listeners and it was simply actually enjoyable and watching the story and studying his tweets in actual time about how , we see the techie, the nerdy facet of it, the technical facet of making an attempt to maintain the positioning dwell and, uh, uh, all the servers he needed to spin up and stuff.
So it was simply such a enjoyable week to type of comply with alongside on this. Um, it was, it, it was positively in my view, my, my favourite bizarre area of interest facet 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 containers and they might get unchecked as quickly as I checked them or, you understand, I checked 10 of them after which we might scroll down and also you’d discover hidden phrases of people who had checked containers to spell one thing that, you understand, uh, and so there was all form of gamification of this factor that, uh, It is simply the weirdest off the wall factor.
, it does not imply something. You aren’t getting a prize when all 1 million containers are checked. You aren’t getting a prize. When you uncheck all of the containers that folks checked, it is identical to this ingrained human nature factor of like, Oh, I see a bunch of individuals checking containers. I will assist them or I am not going to
Jared: assist.
We talked about that in the course of 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 meaning about you both. I do not both. It is not saying it is proper or fallacious. It is simply fascinating. Like we lastly bought to 1,000,000 examine containers, but it surely was such an attention-grabbing like human case examine to look at go dwell.
Spencer: Yeah, and you understand, a number of the comply with ups you stated, um, you understand, he was type of tweeting about this. I will simply share his, uh, his, you understand, 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 precise 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 type of making an attempt to, to hack it or, uh, I. Anyhow, fascinating. Uh, the million containers bought checked. And so it appears to be like prefer it’s, you’ll be able to’t play until you click on this hyperlink, it says you’ll be able to play alone.
Proper. And so now I suppose 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 understand, you have solely checked 5 – 6 containers, however apparently you have checked 24. So I do not know for those who’ve been enjoying by your self.
Yeah, I do not know both.
Spencer: Possibly any person in my family has been enjoying with out my information. And so that would take some time. This might take some time and nonetheless, it is nonetheless not monetized. It is not 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 group created a listing of all of the bizarre niches for us to look by way of, which is de facto useful. And I highlighted three or 4 that I used to be actually making an attempt to determine which one I wished to go along with. So. Yeah,
Spencer: properly, that is what I will do over the vacations.
Let’s um, See if I can get to half 1,000,000 you bought 48. I believe it says 48. There you go Um, so superior. No nice nice bizarre area of interest web site. I find it irresistible. It is one that each one Bear in mind, consider fondly, you understand, once I’m bored, I can examine some containers. Um, okay. So I struggled as properly 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 is not solely is it type 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’ll be able to type by mannequin and energy, uh, of engines the yr, and you’ll then click on on these and get.
All the info that you may ever need dimensions, transmission, engine pictures, checks 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 only have to know the dimensions 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 accumulating, simply accumulating information, organizing it for the world. And what completely blows my thoughts. I imply, not solely that the emblem 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, very well as a result of this web site does extraordinarily properly in Google. Particularly, um, in line with my notes right here, it’s getting 1. 2 million guests monthly 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? So that they’re taking a look at loads of issues, which I believe I already visited greater than 4 pages, proper? There’s show adverts in all places. And so once you do the calculations, even in a fairly conservative RPM of like 10, uh, and I put, I imply, it may very well be.
20 or extra as a result of I’d think about components,
Jared: I imply, if you are going to purchase it, however I might put it over 20. Yeah. Yeah.
Spencer: I’d suppose so. However even at a ten RPM with that information that I simply gave you, gave you, it is making, Over 46, 000 monthly. And so for those who put a 20 RPM and we’re speaking 100, 000 a month.
Jared: Yeah,
Spencer: simply from show adverts, which isn’t extremely far fetched, proper?
Like I am, I am taking a look at this now. The adverts I am getting are for Honda and automobile, proper? These are costly merchandise. I think about these corporations pay some huge cash. So. Something automobile 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 adverts are going to be your level.
Jared: Everybody who reads this has a price range, proper? And that is who I simply need to goal. , you are not, uh, the typical reader of tractor information. com is, isn’t 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 gear to fund that.
Spencer: Precisely. Precisely. And so, um, kudos to the man. I believe it was, his identify 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 seek 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, possibly not as bizarre as 1 million examine containers, but it surely’s, it is simply so worthwhile that, that I find it irresistible. I needed to, needed to rank it there on the high.
Jared: I might forgotten about this one. I will be completely sincere 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 will give myself a bit of grace then. Yeah, um, however I forgot about this one. I um, I like this one loads. I bear in mind liking it loads once you did it. We I do not suppose you had shared Something concerning the how a lot it was incomes, you understand, or at the least the prospectus on how a lot is incomes, which is much more thoughts blowing.
Um, uh, I see you have got an honor, an honorary point out, which I like, I’ve one so as to add as properly for a completely totally different purpose I did not put within the agenda, so I will shock you there, however I see honorary point out. Love that facet as properly. I would like you to speak about that. Then I’ve bought a bit of curve ball to throw at you.
Spencer: Okay. I really like curve balls. So this one, I do know that you simply love, uh, I do know that Thomas loves, uh, and, and I find it irresistible. 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 people who do not bear in mind that is, Hey, is the McDonald’s ice cream machine damaged? So type 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 satisfied to report that each single ice cream machine throughout the tri cities the place I dwell is working. We have a inexperienced dot, however for those who’re to go to New York, 32 % of all ice cream machines in New York are at the moment damaged.
That is an insanely excessive
Jared: quantity.
Spencer: It is
Jared: loopy.
Spencer: No surprise it is a
Jared: factor.
Spencer: Um, and what’s, what’s so cool? What I cherished is the little section the place Thomas shared this and he was so curious to determine how they tracked all this. And he discovered, Hey, it should, they should 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. Positive sufficient, their ice cream machine was damaged to confirm that, you understand, that is how they’re type of pulling the info.
And do not
Jared: miss 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 greatest 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: Whenever you scroll in, you see Wendy’s.
So it, it’s, it is snarky. I find it irresistible. Um, such a superb 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 do 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 need to come inform your story? Positive 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 efficient one. Um, so sure. I will have you ever
Jared: know, I have been in contact and am really performing some work. For an additional, considered one of 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 would have one in 2025.
Spencer: That is excellent. In truth, I’ve had it. Uh, I can suppose of some different instances 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 must always really speak about your most important web site, Political Wire, with Tegan Goddard, really. Tegan, that is the place it began. Sure. He wished us to function a bizarre area of interest web site. And I stated, I believe we must always speak about your most important web site right here.
Let’s, let’s have you ever on the, on the podcast. So this section, it continues to pay dividends, Jared.
Jared: I, you understand, once 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 understand, 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 continues 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, for those who return to the primary information episode, it is virtually the very same format as after we, after we, what we did final week.
Spencer: Yeah. If it is a, if it is not damaged, need not repair it.
So, uh, excellent. I believe we have highlighted, uh, a fairly good, uh, overview of 2024. It has been a superb yr. Hopefully everyone’s loved listening to the podcast. I hope you all have a superb finish of the yr. Have an important 2025. Thanks a lot for listening. Numerous extra good issues to return right here subsequent yr.
Jared: We’ll see you once more all through 2025 or one. Thanks once more. Have an important remainder of your 2024.
Spencer: Thanks loads, everybody.
