How 2 Dads Grew a Mom Blog to Over $13,000 Last Month | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

A dramatic journey of buying a mom blog, facing challenges, and achieving recovery through SEO and affiliate marketing.

Key Insights

• 🙃 Investment in online businesses can lead to unexpected ups and downs, requiring adaptability and strategic pivots.
• ✋ Sponsored revenue may seem promising, but it can be high-maintenance and unreliable compared to other forms of income.
• 🍉 Focusing on SEO and affiliate marketing can significantly enhance a website's revenue potential and long-term sustainability.
• 💯 Effective internal linking strategies play a crucial role in improving organic traffic and the overall SEO score of a website.
• 🔨 Leveraging tools created by an owner can streamline workflow processes and enhance efficiency in content management.
• 🧑‍⚕️ Monthly earnings are essential for evaluating a site's ongoing financial health and potential future value.
• 👋 Continuous learning from experiences, both good and bad, helps refine strategies and decision-making in business ventures.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: What motivated the decision to buy a mom blog?

The speaker and their partner were looking for a business opportunity where they could leverage Spencer's online business experience. They were attracted to the potential returns that a well-established mom blog could offer, particularly in the crafting, parenting, and cooking niches.

Q: What were the initial revenue expectations for the site?

When purchasing the mom blog, the expectation was that it would generate around $10,000 per month, with substantial income from both sponsored posts and display ads. This was based on the site's previous performance under its former owner, who allegedly made significant revenue.

Q: What significant challenges did the speaker encounter after purchasing the blog?

Major challenges included the reality of sponsored revenue being much less reliable than expected, requiring extensive outreach and manual work. Additionally, a significant drop in Pinterest traffic due to platform updates caused a substantial decrease in visits and revenue.

Q: How did the speaker adapt their strategy for the blog after facing challenges?

The speaker decided to pivot away from sponsored content, which proved too labor-intensive, and instead focused on organic SEO and affiliate marketing strategies. By performing keyword research and improving internal linking, they aimed to enhance traffic through valuable content rather than relying on social media.

Q: What tools did the speaker use to improve the blog's SEO?

The speaker utilized Link Whisper, a tool they created, to manage and enhance internal linking across the site. This allowed for quicker identification of articles needing internal links and streamlined the process for authors to incorporate relevant links while writing new content.

Q: What kind of revenue growth did the blog achieve after the strategic shifts?

Following the focus on SEO and affiliate content, the blog's Amazon Associates revenue skyrocketed from around $700 to approximately $8,000 per month within two years. The display ad revenue also saw improvements, although it took some time after switching platforms from Ad Thrive to Ezoic.

Q: What lessons did the speaker learn through this business journey?

Key lessons included the importance of due diligence before purchasing an income-generating asset, focusing on strengths such as SEO rather than trying to maintain less familiar avenues like Pinterest marketing, and recognizing when to pivot business strategies to become more profitable and efficient.

Q: What is the current estimated value of the mom blog?

The speaker estimates the mom blog's current worth to be between $396,000 and $440,000, calculated based on its recent monthly earnings of approximately $11,000 projected on a 36-40x multiple, reflecting a turnaround in the site's financial health.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker shares their experience of purchasing a mom blog for $360,000, which initially showed promise but faced significant challenges, including traffic declines due to Pinterest updates.

• After struggling with sponsored content and low returns, they shifted focus to SEO and affiliate marketing, resulting in significant revenue growth and traffic recovery.

• Despite initial struggles and losses, the site is now valued between $396,000 and $440,000, and lessons learned include the importance of focus and due diligence in business investments.