Niche Twins - The Upside of Failure
It’s not surprising that failures are mostly shared only after you’ve found success.
In that way, success becomes a shield.
“Sure, I failed at X, but it paved the way for Y."
Well as of today, I have no side hustle success story to redirect you to (yet).
Instead, I come only with insights gained through a failed attempt.
-Sponsored by-
Hey, Mike here.
I owe a ton of my success blogging to great keyword research.
It’s how I was able to generate over 9MM pageviews with just 320 posts.
If you’re going to invest the time it takes to generate great content, make sure you’re writing about the RIGHT topics!.
Niche Twins partnered with Semrush to get you a Free 14-Day PRO Trial. –> Claim yours here.
Give it a go and let us know how you get on!
-End Sponsor-
The Beginning
On September 15th, 2021 Mike sent a text to our group chat that read:
“Just hit publish on article #100 and had my first $100 dollar day yesterday.”
Up until this point, I had celebrated all of his progress updates while having absolutely no idea what he was doing.
No longer.
I hit publish on my first article 53 days later.
Like any new field I wander into, I allowed myself to fall entirely down the rabbit hole.
Some would argue *cough* my wife *cough* that I became obsessed.
While working a demanding 9 to 5 in biotech, I was getting up at 4:00am and staying up past midnight.
I couldn’t get enough.
I published over 100 posts and surpassed 50,000 pageviews a month just 6 months into my first site.
Right around that time, Mike called me up one morning and told me there was an opportunity to start a business together.
We would begin just by sharing monthly income reports for each of our respective sites. If we could build some interest, we’d figure out what was next from there.
I was immediately on board and Niche Twins was born in May of last year (2022).
Later that same month, after my very first income report, I lost half of my site’s traffic overnight in the Google May core update.
Fu*k.
Choppy Waters
My greatest fear in sharing the progress of my site was failing publicly.
That fear materialized almost immediately. And like most fears, it had some merit but was mostly irrational.
As it turned out, I wasn’t the only one on the Google update rollercoaster.
Sharing my wild traffic swings opened the door to conversations with countless niche site owners – some were experiencing the same thing and others had come out the other side.
I learned more about SEO in that first month of trying to help my site recover than I had in the previous 6 months combined.
If failure is a great motivator, what does that make public failure?
After two months of adjustments, my site not only recovered, it soared to new all-time highs. September ended with $2,300 in earnings.
I was back…
…until the Google October 2022 update hit me again.
My site has been in a downward spiral every single month since.
If I had to distill what I’ve learned over the past 18 months into a single sentence, it’d be this:
The gap between creating something and creating something to last, is vast.
There are about a hundred sub-bullets I could add to this, but I’ll save those details for next week. 😉
Personal Note
We all know you should ignore negative comments on Twitter.
Negativity bias ensures you’ll feel the sting of a single, shitty comment far more powerfully than you’ll feel the joy of a thousand voices of encouragement.
But I am human, so I read them. And yes, sometimes I even dwell on them.
When a Google update hit my site for the second time, some said I must regret starting Niche Twins with Mike.
After all, his site was soaring while my site was actively getting destroyed.
What a strange perspective.
Does it suck watching your first site slowly die?
Of course.
But what’s there to regret about learning an entirely new skill, engaging with an incredible community of like-minded people, and getting to work with my brother every day?
I’ve learned as much from Mike, if not more, than anyone in this space.
I feel nothing but incredibly grateful to be on this ride with him.
The reality of group ventures (and life) is this – sometimes you’re the lead and sometimes you’re the supporting cast.
When it’s your time to be the latter, don’t jump on the lead’s back and just enjoy the ride…get behind them and push.
Next week I will reveal my site.
Have a weekend. ✌
-Keith
Niche Twins newsletter sent weekly on Fridays at 8:30 AM ET
PS: If you are interested in sponsoring these newsletters, you can check availability here.
Newsletter Stats
Key phrases
Older messages
Here's my travel site... 👀
Friday, June 2, 2023
Stay New England
Great is just good, repeatably.
Friday, May 26, 2023
Back to basics.
Nobody who wins, is afraid of losing.
Friday, May 19, 2023
Be willing to risk looking stupid.
Authenticity is your moat.
Friday, May 12, 2023
In a world flooded with AI content...
I just revealed my niche site 👀
Friday, May 5, 2023
Here's the URL...
You Might Also Like
The curious case of Google Trends in India
Saturday, May 4, 2024
For nine of the last ten years, the most searches were for why Apple products and Evian water are so expensive ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
3,500 sign ups in 24 hours
Saturday, May 4, 2024
Today's hack Do you piggyback on Slack communities? ;) Noam Schwartz gained 3500 sign ups in 24 hours. Recently I received an email from Noam Schwartz - a member of our gorgeous community: I did an
Your Personal Trainer for Making Sales
Saturday, May 4, 2024
If you want the best results, you're going to need the best trainer... View in browser ClickBank When you're at the gym, you can do one of three things: Use the machines randomly Follow a
Zhipu AI: The Rise of an AI Tiger Reaching for AGI
Saturday, May 4, 2024
The only overview of Zhipu AI's technology, open-source efforts, partnerships, and future goals in English
So long, Henry.
Friday, May 3, 2024
A combined issue flush with key insights and original thoughts in two new, data-driven reports. View this email in your browser So long, Henry. (No. 994). The economy is squeezing consumers to the
He survived all recent Google updates
Friday, May 3, 2024
Advice from Birdzilla's founder
Greater Good Awards: One week left to secure the best rate
Friday, May 3, 2024
There's one week left to secure the best rate on entries to the Greater Good Awards, showcasing your company's commitment to creating a better future. Last year, we recognized companies
Poor New York celebs
Friday, May 3, 2024
Fri, May 3rd, 2024
Block Commits to Monthly Bitcoin Purchases
Friday, May 3, 2024
Plus Former SEC Litigator Denies Anti-Crypto Agenda
TONIGHT: Last chance to secure the best rate for the Digiday Awards
Friday, May 3, 2024
Tonight is the last chance to secure the best rate on entries to the Digiday Awards. By entering, you have the opportunity to gain recognition among the best in media and marketing in front of