Affiliate Marketing & Side Hustles on the Doug.Show
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Doug shares his struggles with health issues and Google’s update, delaying his podcast launch strategy. Then he continues his interview with Matt Giovanisci about Swim University. Matt talks about his approach at Swim University, focusing on managing financials in both boom and bust cycles. He discusses his content strategy adjustments in response to Google’s Helpful Content Update (HCU), emphasizing a video-first model and diversifying traffic sources away from Google to maintain revenue. __ __ __ __ __ __ MORE WITH DOUG: __ __ CONTACT ME. ASK QUESTIONS! __ __
Doug Cunnington gets an update from his neighbor and friend Matt Giovanisci, the founder of Swim University. They discuss the challenges his website faced following the helpful content update. Matt shares his journey from starting Swim University in 2006 to dealing with the impact of AI and search engine updates. They discuss the importance of diversification, the move towards video content, and the emotional roller coaster of running an online business. __ __ __ __ __ __ MORE WITH DOUG: __ __ CONTACT ME. ASK QUESTIONS! __ __
In this third part of Doug’s interview with Matt Giovanisci, they discuss the use of AI in content creation, where Matt shares his experience with AI tools for writing articles, emails, and even customer service responses Additionally, Matt discusses the relaunch of his ‘MoneyLab’ podcast as an outlet for personal expression and the decision to focus on content creation without a direct monetary incentive. __ __ __ __ __ __ MORE WITH DOUG: __ __ CONTACT ME. ASK QUESTIONS! __ __
Doug talks to Cody Berman about his ventures as a serial entrepreneur, with a focus on his experience with selling digital printables on Etsy. With the backdrop of a major Google core update impacting many online business models, they delve into why the Etsy and digital printables model remains resilient and potentially lucrative, independent of traditional traffic sources like Google and social media. Cody elaborates on the basics of the business model, sharing insights from creating, listing, and selling digital products on Etsy, and emphasizes how digital printables offer a relatively passive income stream after initial effort. His key piece of advice for newcomers is persistence and improvement, referencing his own journey and the exponential growth potential of selling digital printables on Etsy. __ E-Printables Course https://nichesiteproject.com/printables __ __ Previous Episodes with Cody: __ __ __ MORE WITH DOUG: __ __ CONTACT ME. ASK QUESTIONS! __ __
Doug reflects on recording his 500(ish) episode! He talks about the importance of choosing evergreen content, the recent major Google algorithm update’s impact on SEO, and the volatile nature of content strategies like using AI for content generation. Additionally, he touches on lessons learned in sustaining a podcast, including making the recording process easy, focusing on audio quality, and the profound value of networking. __ __ MORE WITH DOUG: __ __ CONTACT ME. ASK QUESTIONS! __ __
Doug and Craig Hewitt discuss AI’s impact on content creation and the evolving landscape of digital media. They explore the rapid evolution of AI in content marketing, and share insights on building and managing an email list. The conversation also digs into content marketing strategies amid AI advancements, the value of podcasting, YouTube content creation tactics, and the importance of adapting to industry shifts without losing the essence of personal creativity and goals. Moreover, Doug unveils his innovative approach of starting, running, and potentially selling a new podcast focused on SEO and marketing, directed towards professionals and agency owners. CONNECT WITH CRAIG __ Castos https://nichesiteproject.com/castos __ __ __ MORE WITH DOUG: __ __ CONTACT ME. ASK QUESTIONS! __ __
Doug has a conversation with Alex Cooper from WP Eagle. They explore several topics including online marketing, Google’s algorithms updates, YouTube content creation, and the use of AI tools. Alex introduces his WordPress theme, ‘Popcorn.’ The impact of rapidly changing AI on several industries like web and graphic design is discussed. Alex also predicts a shift towards diversified platform distribution. The conversation extends to insights on managing work-life balance and the concept of burnout. FIND ALEX: __ Check out Popcorn Theme https://nichesiteproject.com/popcorn __ __ __ MORE WITH DOUG: __ __ CONTACT ME. ASK QUESTIONS! __ __
Doug chats with Shawna Newman. She shares how she has been using AI content testing on multiple sites, highlighting the importance of backlinks and building trust flow rather than just accumulating links. They discuss sites affected by the Helpful Content Update and plans for recovery. Shawna also brings up the importance of diversifying traffic and creating an active community around content. She talks about her agency, GrowthCupid, which offers services like human-edited AI content, backlinks, Faceless YouTube channels, Pinterest management, and more. CONNECT WITH SHAWNA: __ GrowthCupid https://nichesiteproject.com/growthcupid __ __ __ ALSO, CHECK OUT: __ ODYS https://nichesiteproject.com/odys GLOBAL https://nichesiteproject.com/odys __ __ DESCRIPT https://nichesiteproject.com/descript __ __ GRAMMARLY http://nichesiteproject.com/grammarly __ __ __ PREVIOUS INTERVIEWS WITH SHAWNA: __ __ MORE WITH DOUG: __ __ CONTACT ME. ASK QUESTIONS! __ __
Doug shares his reasons for creating online courses and digital products and lists the advantages of doing so. Some advantages include: __ __ He argues that online courses offer a scalable and efficient way to share knowledge and generate income. He also emphasizes the importance of lifelong learning and mastery in his career. Doug further discusses the importance of protecting one’s time, authority enhancement, and his pursuit of lifestyle improvement over excessive monetary gain. CHECK OUT: __ Kajabi https://nichesiteproject.com/kajabi __ __ __ MORE WITH DOUG: __ __ CONTACT ME. ASK QUESTIONS! __ __
Doug and Elaine, an advisor at Quiet Light, discuss her journey from starting her first e-commerce business on Etsy in 2009 to launching and eventually exiting a successful fitness e-commerce brand called ‘Uplift Active.’ They touch upon the importance of niche selection and the transition from a corporate job to running one’s own business. Elaine also shares insights into the state of e-commerce and content businesses looking to exit and gives advice on how entrepreneurs can reverse engineer their business exits for the best returns. CONNECT WITH ELAINE: __ __ ALSO, CHECK OUT: __ __ MORE WITH DOUG: __ __ CONTACT ME. ASK QUESTIONS! __ __
Doug shares an update about his new podcast launching by mid-late March. He teases that he has a name but isn’t sharing it just yet. He talks about the challenges of coordinating with guests from different time zones. He emphasizes the importance of using available resources, highlighting that he recorded the episode on an iPhone X. Doug reveals his launch strategy for the show, which involves publishing 20 to 30 episodes at the start and getting the interviewees to share the episodes on their platforms. __ __ MORE WITH DOUG: __ __ CONTACT ME. ASK QUESTIONS! __ __
Doug and Denise Cruz talk about her experiences as a travel blogger dealing with the impacts of Google’s ‘Helpful Content Update’ and the subsequent fall in traffic and revenue on her sites. She talks about the drastic decrease in organic traffic and the role platforms like Pinterest played in maintaining a level of visitors. Denise also elaborates on her experimentation with AI content, outlining its efficacy and limitations. As she plans for the future, Denise intends to leverage her branding and marketing experience to refine and diversify her digital presence, with a focus on reducing dependence on Google. By revisiting her professional identity and ethos, Denise aims to provide valuable marketing and branding services on a consultative basis while developing her personal brand. CONNECT WITH DENISE __ __ PREVIOUS INTERVIEWS: __ __ DS493 Transcript https://doug.show/ds493-transcript/ MORE WITH DOUG: __ __ CONTACT ME. ASK QUESTIONS! __ __
Doug and Amberly Grant discuss key strategies for podcast success, covering host dynamics, guest selection, and niche topics. Amberly, a finance expert, shares her podcasting experiences and future ambitions. They emphasize overcoming procrastination, consistency, and the use of templates for workflow efficiency. They also advocate for launching podcasts without needing perfection and prioritizing long-term sustainability. CONNECT WITH AMBERLY: __ __ ALSO, CHECK OUT: __ __ MORE WITH DOUG: __ __ CONTACT ME. ASK QUESTIONS! __ __
Doug talks with Kristin Hanes, a modern-day nomad and the brain behind the successful blog . The blog began in 2017 and covers topics about living minimally in a camper van, RV, sailboat, or tiny home. However, despite growing to 400,000 monthly page views, it fell prey to a significant traffic hit from the Google 'helpful content update' in 2023. Despite the setback, Kristen shares her optimism and strategies for recovery, exploring new options, and staying motivated. Recovery strategies range from updating older content, exploring Facebook traffic, aiming for daily publishing on MSN, and perhaps revisiting YouTube. She also espouses the importance of financial sensibility in the face of such business uncertainties, underscoring the need to save money and live below one's means. CONNECT WITH KRISTIN: __ __ __ __ MORE WITH DOUG: __ __ CONTACT ME. ASK QUESTIONS! __ __
I ramble about YouTube Growth, people quitting YouTube, reading non-fiction and note-taking, and buying domains for projects that you never even start. The YouTube Growth secret is ads, but it's just a game. 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 05:11 The Power of Physical Books and Note-Taking 13:12 The Domain Buying Habit 17:01 Exploring Different Online Ventures 21:20 The Reality of YouTube Burnout 28:32 Growing the Channel and Final Thoughts
Doug hosts his friend Olga Zarr for a dual broadcast. Both being SEO consultants, Doug and Olga discuss their experiences, shifting SEO landscapes, and their personal definitions of SEO success. They also delve into how they leverage advanced technologies such as AI in their work processes and content creation. CONNECT WITH OLGA: __ __ __ __ PREVIOUS INTERVIEWS WITH OLGA: __ __ MORE WITH DOUG: __ __ CONTACT ME. ASK QUESTIONS! __ __
Doug talks to Katie Schiffer! She shares her journey from working as a freelancer artist to setting up an online business intended for young women with high incomes but difficulty saving. The discussion explores various SEO and marketing strategies, emphasizes sustainable work habits, and highlights the importance of competitor analysis for business growth and collaborations. CONNECT WITH KATIE: __ __ MORE WITH DOUG: __ __ CONTACT ME. ASK QUESTIONS! __ __
Doug Cunnington invites expert SEO and content strategist Yoyao to delve into the subject of creating topical maps. They discuss the advantages of using a structured, hierarchical approach to content creation over less organized methods, touching on the impact of Google updates and the increased usage of AI in content creation. The experts also share their insights on internal linking, the use of SEO tools, and strategies to improve user experience. Yoyao reveals his approach to implementing topical maps into existing websites with hundreds of posts and talks about his topical map course and done-for-you service. CHECKOUT: __ Course: Topical Maps Unlocked https://nichesiteproject.com/topicalmaps-unlocked __ __ __ MORE WITH DOUG: __ __ CONTACT ME. ASK QUESTIONS! __ __
Doug delves into the topic of SEO, affiliate marketing, and the quality of Google search results with renowned journalist Amanda Chicago Lewis. Amanda shares her extensive research behind her article 'The People Who Ruin the Internet,' describing a multi-layered exploration of the people and factors influencing the current state of online search and information retrieval. As they navigate the stereotypes surrounding SEO professionals and the real impact of constant algorithm changes, Amanda provides her perspective on how Google is shifting the way people interact with the web. Amanda suggests that more reporting on affiliate marketing would be beneficial for a better understanding of virtual manipulations. CHECKOUT: __ __ MORE WITH DOUG: __ __ CONTACT ME. ASK QUESTIONS! __ __
Exploring the Impact of SEO on the Internet: Reactions to Amanda Chicago Lewis' Verge Article In this episode, several industry experts weigh in on the Verge article 'The People That Ruined The Internet' written by Amanda Chicago Lewis, providing varied perspectives. Some argue that Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategies negatively impact the availability of quality content online, while others believe it's the natural evolution of online content creation and Google search algorithms. Individual perspectives are influenced by their different professional backgrounds and personal experiences in the industry. The episode also addresses the contrast in views when it comes to the improvement or degradation of Google’s search engine over time. Further, it emphasizes that there is no uniform interpretation of the article, highlighting the importance of subjectivity in content creation and consumption. CHECKOUT: __ __ Connect With the People in the Video: __ Kyle Roof https://kyleroof.com __ IMG https://nichesiteproject.com/img __ __ __ Spencer Haws - Niche Pursuit http://nichepursuits.com/ __ __ Jared Bauman - 201 Creative https://201creative.com/ __ __ Ricky Kesler - Income School https://incomeschool.com __ __ Alex Cooper - WP Eagle https://www.wpeagle.com __ __ __
Doug has Dusti Young ask him some podcast questions! She is thinking of starting a podcast, so they are exploring starting and managing a successful podcast. Their conversation covers practical aspects such as costs, equipment, and post-production processes. They also discuss overcoming initial hurdles, the value of sustainability, and leveraging social media. CHECK OUT: __ Forget About Money IG https://www.instagram.com/forgetaboutmoney/ __ __ __ DUSTI'S EPISODES ON MILE HIGH FI: __ __ MORE WITH DOUG: __ __ CONTACT ME. ASK QUESTIONS! __ __
I talk about launching a new SEO and marketing podcast, discussing the unique challenges and innovative strategies involved. It'll be for industry professionals, not just beginners. Plus, I ramble on podcasting best practices, the intricacies of starting and selling a show, and the value of embracing both successes and failures in the digital content realm. Details About the Podcast Boot Camp in Jan https://nichesiteproject.com/podcast-mastermind/ 00:00 Intro 00:31 Announcement of New Podcast 01:01 Challenges and Expectations 01:56 Target Audience and Content Strategy 02:24 Preparation and Planning 03:28 Potential Issues and Solutions 05:27 Podcast Bootcamp Announcement 06:18 Challenges of Starting a Podcast 10:54 Selling the Podcast 11:50 Future Plans and Conclusion
Doug and Pete discuss their respective journeys in the online business sphere. Doug shares his experience of transitioning from blogging into podcasting and YouTube, leveraging AI tools for content creation, especially in the context of a new venture. Pete talks about his AI tool development experience, using his tool on various niche sites, and his plans to scale up content generation. They also explore the significance of Google Search's changing landscape, observing a shift towards fewer, bigger sites gaining more traffic and monetization and a flood of low-quality AI-generated content. CATCH UP WITH PETE: __ __ PREVIOUS INTERVIEW: __ __ MORE WITH DOUG: __ __ CONTACT ME. ASK QUESTIONS! __ __
Doug engages in a thoughtful discussion with Rob Atkinson, an online entrepreneur and agency founder, comparing their approaches to business. While Doug embraces a lifestyle-oriented approach, Rob leans towards a more hustle-oriented focus, which they both prefer not to term as 'hustle culture.' Through their amicable debate, they reveal their different views on achieving goals, financial independence, and work-life balance. Connect with Rob: __ __ Previous Interviews with Rob __ __ MORE WITH DOUG: __ __ CONTACT ME. ASK QUESTIONS! __ __
A couple of listeners told me about their recovery stories. Jack and Tobias have different ideas, so let's talk about it. If you have a story, please email me! • Tobias's YouTube Video is here https://youtu.be/EpKVChbDHZg?si=Csr4KlUP0NDdpxMz. Generally, he suggests this: 1) SHORT AND HYPER-FOCUSED CONTENT ON THE COMPARISON OF PRODUCTS— NO TALK ABOUT HOW TO USE IT, WHAT IT IS, FAQS, ETC 2) DON'T WRITE A DESCRIPTION OF THE PRODUCTS BUT MORE AN OPINION ON THE PRODUCT. USE WORDS LIKE WE TESTED, WE THINK, WE FEEL, OUR OPINION IS, WE NOTICED. 3) CONTENT LENGTH: 600-1000 WORDS. 4) DELETED THE AFFILIATE PLUGIN AAWP. I UPLOAD THE PRODUCT IMAGE TO MY WEBSITE AND USE TEXT LINKS TO AMAZON. CONTACT ME. ASK QUESTIONS! __ __ 00:00 Introduction and Overview 00:15 The Problem: Underwhelming Content Updates 00:37 Typical Advice for Content Improvement 01:12 The Uncertainty of Recovery Plans 02:12 Listener Feedback: Jack's Experience 02:39 Listener Feedback: Tobias's Experience 03:13 Deep Dive into Jack's Recovery Plan 10:38 Jack's Future Proofing Strategies 13:24 Tobias's Recovery Method 16:05 Conclusion and Call to Action
In this episode, Doug talks with Tony Meritato about diversifying traffic sources to mitigate risks from Google updates and the importance of having multiple projects. Tony shares how he uses ChatGPT to produce high-quality, SEO-optimized content for his websites and discusses the growth and decline of his earnings from the Amazon Influencer Program. They also delve into the potential of Pinterest and LinkedIn for gaining visibility and traffic for websites. Tony's success with creating directory websites and his strategy for consistent content creation are key takeaways from the discussion. __ Check out his Courses: __ How to Earn $1000/mo Using the Amazon Influencer Program https://nichesiteproject.com/amazon-influencer __ __ __ __ CONNECT WITH TONY AROUND THE INTERNET: __ __ ALSO, CHECK OUT: __ IMG https://nichesiteproject.com/img __ I'm an affiliate, so if you buy something, I may get a commission. Thanks! __ __ __ Linkifi https://nichesiteproject.com/linkifi __ __ __ GIVE A LISTEN TO THESE PREVIOUS INTERVIEWS: __ __ MORE WITH DOUG: __ __ CONTACT ME. ASK QUESTIONS! __ __
Doug Cunnington discusses the impact of algorithm updates on site traffic and whether sites can recover post-update. He acknowledges that he doesn't possess a definite answer but provides several observations and tips. He discusses the use of various platforms, such as YouTube, LinkedIn, and Twitter, to generate traffic. Doug also brings up the importance of having an email list and a blog. Doug stresses the relevance of E E A T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness), building solid backlinks, and focusing on creating good content that caters more to the visitor than to Google’s algorithm. CHECK OUT: __ IMG https://nichesiteproject.com/img __ __ __ RECOMMENDED INTERVIEWS: __ __ MORE WITH DOUG: __ __ CONTACT ME. ASK QUESTIONS! __ __
Doug interviews Will Hatton, the entrepreneur behind the successful travel platform The Broke Backpacker. Will shares his journey from backpacking around the world for two years to launching about 20 businesses becoming an authority in travel, digital marketing, and entrepreneurship. Will talks about being authentic, transparent, and relatable to his audience, balancing work and personal life, and taking time off to reflect and recharge. He also discusses his strategies for online success, such as negotiating with affiliates, staying organized and trusting his team, scaling content, and niching down to set himself apart. Will also shares his future plans, including opening a second tribal hostel in Lombok and working on his next book and possible podcast. Despite facing setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic, Will illustrates that personal growth, resilience, and adaptability are key to entrepreneurial success in a changing digital landscape. CONNECT WITH WILL: __ __ MORE WITH DOUG: __ __ CONTACT ME. ASK QUESTIONS! __ __
Doug chats with Jason Hendricks live at FinCon, the premier event for finance content creators and brands. They discuss FinCon, Jason's background in fintech, his approach to content site creation, and their views on the Financial Independence Retire Early (FIRE) movement. Additionally, Jason explains why he loves the Keyword Golden Ratio (KGR) and how it can help uncover search demand imbalances in Google. He also introduces his free browser extension, SERP Sonar, designed for keyword, topic, and competitor research while improving accuracy in calculating the KGR. CONNECT WITH JASON & SERPS SONAR __ __ SOME EPISODES ABOUT KGR: __ __ MORE WITH DOUG: __ __ CONTACT ME. ASK QUESTIONS! __ __
Doug recaps his experience at FinCon, including being on a podcasting panel with other "A-listers." He also answers a couple of listener questions about Google sandbox periods for aged domains and how his project management background has helped him as an entrepreneur. MORE WITH DOUG: __ __ CONTACT ME. ASK QUESTIONS! __ __
