This week on the Area of interest Pursuits podcast, Thomas Smith and I tackled every thing from main AI headlines to a few of our favourite facet hustle experiments.
The massive story? OpenAI has expressed curiosity in shopping for Chrome if Google is compelled to promote—a speculative transfer, however one with large implications. We explored what that would imply for the way forward for search and whether or not it indicators a deeper push by OpenAI to dominate real-time data entry.
We additionally broke down two research on Google’s AI Overviews. One confirmed a transparent drop in click-through charges for natural outcomes, whereas the opposite discovered that B2B customers are nonetheless actively participating with citations.
On the non-public facet, Thomas debated the course of his AI-focused YouTube content material, and I shared a Pinterest technique that introduced a powerful Easter visitors spike to one among my websites.
We ended with a enjoyable take a look at a rooster hatchery and a multilingual dictionary website—as a result of no week is full with no little area of interest inspiration.
Watch the Full Episode
Might OpenAI Purchase Chrome?
An interesting and probably landscape-shifting story led this week’s information: OpenAI has expressed interest in buying Chrome—if Google is compelled to promote it because of the continued U.S. antitrust trial.
Key Highlights:
- OpenAI’s Curiosity: Nick Turley, OpenAI’s Head of Product, testified throughout the antitrust trial that the corporate would think about buying Chrome ought to regulators demand its divestiture from Google.
- Search Is Central to ChatGPT’s Future: OpenAI has made it clear that integrating dependable, dwell search information is essential for evolving ChatGPT. Regardless of having a powerful partnership with Microsoft’s Bing, OpenAI seems to be eyeing direct management over a browser and its information streams.
- Not Only a Joke Anymore: What began as a lighthearted hypothetical—OpenAI shopping for Chrome—has turn out to be a believable strategic transfer.
- Chrome because the Working System of the Internet: With most individuals utilizing Chrome as their foremost gateway to the web, buying it will give OpenAI unprecedented entry to real-time search information and consumer habits.
Whereas the acquisition might not really occur, this story indicators OpenAI’s large ambitions. They aren’t content material being a chatbot—they need to reshape how we work together with the online.
AI Overviews: Reducing Clicks or Supporting B2B?
Two information research mentioned this week make clear AI Overviews in Google search—how they affect consumer habits, and the way that varies between B2C and B2B audiences.
Research 1: AI Overviews Reduce Click on-By means of Charges
A number of research confirmed a significant drop in CTR when AI Overviews are current in search outcomes.
- Ahrefs Research: Place one CTR dropped by 34.5% when an AI Overview was proven.
- Amceev Research: CTR throughout the primary web page dropped by 15.5%, and much more—as much as 37%—when mixed with featured snippets.
- Branded Key phrases Are Much less Affected: Solely 4.79% of branded key phrases triggered AI Overviews, and once they did, they skilled a CTR increase of almost 19%.
This information reinforces the narrative that Google’s AI Overviews cut back natural visitors—particularly for non-branded, informational queries.
Research 2: B2B Customers Nonetheless Click on on AI Overview Citations
On the flip facet, a TrustRadius report means that B2B buyers behave differently.
- 90% Click on By means of on Citations: B2B consumers are utilizing AI Overviews, however they’re additionally clicking by way of cited sources to validate data.
- Skepticism Stays: Whereas the survey might need phrased questions in a means that encourages “sensible” solutions, it is logical that individuals making enterprise choices would do further due diligence.
- Larger Stakes, Extra Engagement: For prime-stakes choices—like software program purchases—customers are much more more likely to double-check sources.
Takeaways for Content material Creators:
- Deal with constructing a recognizable model. Branded searches are much less more likely to be undercut by AI Overviews.
- Goal B2B content material, or content material the place readers are extremely motivated to analysis, as it could be extra resilient to zero-click search traits.
- Put together for a world the place quantity visitors decreases however customer high quality will increase, significantly for websites promoting services or products fairly than counting on adverts.
Facet Hustles
Thomas’ YouTube Fork within the Highway
Thomas shared a basic creator dilemma: Ought to he maintain constructing a brand new AI-focused YouTube channel or simply submit AI content material on his already-monetized DIY Life Tech channel?
- DIY Channel: Search-driven, low subscriber engagement, however monetized and producing constant income.
- AI Channel: Subscriber-driven, increased engagement potential, however not but monetized.
Information suggests his DIY channel thrives on YouTube and Google search, whereas his AI channel is extra about constructing a loyal neighborhood. In the end, constructing a definite model stands out as the higher long-term play—regardless of slower short-term returns.
Jared’s Seasonal Content material Technique
Jared mentioned a Pinterest-fueled visitors spike pushed by Easter and Passover content material—particularly, 28 well timed articles that generated 35% of his website’s visitors final week.
- Seasonal Site visitors Technique: Publishing properly upfront (months, not weeks) is vital to Pinterest success.
- Simpler Wins Than Evergreen: Seasonal content material might solely drive visitors briefly every year, however it’s typically simpler to rank for and plan round.
- Lengthy-Time period Potential: Like information content material, seasonal items can return yearly dividends if deliberate proper.
Jared is now prepping for Mom’s Day, Father’s Day, and the Fourth of July—leaning into Pinterest’s clear desire for seasonal content material.
Bizarre Area of interest Websites of the Week
To shut out the episode, we took a take a look at a few distinctive area of interest websites that stood out this week—one promoting child chicks by mail (CackleHatchery.com) and one other providing language translation instruments by way of a subscription mannequin (WordFinder.com).
Cacklehatchery.com
Thomas launched probably the most lovable visitor in podcast historical past—a child chick. That led naturally into his bizarre area of interest: Cackle Hatchery
- What It Is: A century-old enterprise transport dwell chicks throughout the U.S.
- Enterprise Stats:
- 250,000+ month-to-month visits
- 28,000 month-to-month searches for the model title alone
- DR59 website with highly effective branded search presence
- Takeaway: Area of interest e-commerce, backed by sturdy branding, can thrive—even in one thing as old-school as poultry.
Wordfinder.com
Jared’s decide was WordFinder.com, a distinct segment dictionary website translating between a whole bunch of language pairs.
- B2B Use Case: Significantly precious for corporations translating documentation, not simply informal customers.
- website positioning Alternative: Regardless of low visitors, the location reveals how even a modest viewers can assist a sustainable subscription enterprise.
Closing Ideas
This week’s podcast highlighted some vital shifts occurring throughout content material creation, monetization, and the way we take into consideration constructing sustainable on-line companies. AI continues to reshape not simply engines like google, however the best way customers interact with content material—which means publishers want to remain forward of quickly altering habits patterns.
Robust branding and B2B-focused content material emerged as clear benefits, particularly in a panorama the place AI Overviews are diminishing natural visitors for common informational queries. On the identical time, area of interest audiences, whether or not they’re looking for chicks or subscribing to language instruments, can nonetheless assist sturdy, worthwhile fashions when served with focus and relevance.
And whereas it could not have been probably the most severe takeaway of the week, we’d simply have discovered our new podcast mascot within the type of a fluffy, three-day-old chick.
