Simply over 6 months in the past, I made a decision to ask my viewers what “problem” they wish to take part in.
I needed to encourage folks to take motion and construct one thing…something. I figured as a approach to incentive extra folks to attempt to construct a web based enterprise, I would provide a grand prize of $2,500 to whomever gained the competitors.
I listed a couple of dozen completely different concepts together with:
- Promote Digital Downloads on Etsy
- Begin a “No Face” YouTube channel
- Purchase and promote live performance tickets on-line
- Construct a programmatic search engine marketing website
- Construct and Launch an iPhone App
- Purchase and Flip a Web site in 90 Days
- Purchase Amazon Return Pallets (and Resell)
- Create an search engine marketing Website Utilizing AI Content material
My viewers voted to construct an search engine marketing website utilizing AI Content material, and so that’s the problem I began!
In complete, I acquired 143 candidates to throw their hat within the ring and decide to constructing a model new website utilizing AI for a interval of 6 months.
As we speak, I’ve a winner to announce!! Once I informed her she was at the moment within the lead, she stated, “I can not consider I’d win this factor!”
The Aim and the Guidelines
The purpose? Get as a lot natural site visitors from Google or different search engines like google and yahoo after 6 months.
The winner was to be decided by essentially the most natural site visitors within the FINAL month of the competitors (not cumulative).
The logic behind setting these guidelines to pick the winner was that it takes time for a website to achieve traction in search engine marketing. Ideally the winner could be somebody that was constantly rising over 6 months; as an alternative of somebody that simply occurred to have a great month 2 or 3 after which crashed and burned.
The extra guidelines have been pretty easy:
- You have to a website on a brand new area (not an expired or aged area).
- You have to use AI to create the content material. Human enhancing is simply positive and inspired.
- You may construct hyperlinks in order for you.
That was just about it.
The “Good” Timing
To say there was just a little pleasure surrounding this problem could be an understatement.
The official begin date was September twentieth, 2023.
It simply so occurs that Google’s “Useful Content material Replace” began rolling on on September 14th and ended on September twenty eighth.
With out figuring out, we began an AI content material problem proper in the midst of one of many largest Google updates ever rolled out.
The ultimate finish date of the problem?
April 1st, 2024.
So, the problem simply HAPPENED to finish proper in the midst of the Google March Core replace…additionally projected to be one of many bigger updates. That Google core replace remains to be taking place.
So, the unimaginable timing of this problem is fascinating to say the least and as I am going to share beneath, this positively impacted a number of the outcomes.
The First 2 Months
Within the first 2 months, there was a TON of pleasure.
143 folks have been out constructing websites and making an attempt to create AI content material.
After a interval of 72 days or 2 full months (and the partial month of September), I recorded a full replace video.
I HIGHLY encourage you to look at this video to know what was happening:
After the primary 72 days, we already had a few members that have been getting over 1,000 natural guests a month!
Certain, 1,000 guests a month isn’t that a lot, however for a brand new website it is actually not that unhealthy.
Some folks selected to disclose their websites, whereas others stored them personal. Some revealed over 500 articles in 2 months, others solely revealed 1 or 2.
Nonetheless, what was fascinating to see was how shortly folks began giving up. After simply 2 months, almost a 3rd of all members had stopped reporting their progress.
You may discover that pattern all through the stories.
Month 3
After 3 months, we have been all the way down to solely about 53 folks reporting out of the unique 143 members.
Nonetheless, the natural site visitors had grown considerably for these nonetheless taking part!
Jennifer was within the lead with 6267 natural guests for the month with Tonja and Victoria not far behind.
You may see the complete month 3 outcomes right here.
Month 4
I recorded a full video of the month 4 outcomes you could watch beneath.
And you may get the extra detailed 3 month stories with everybody’s numbers proper right here.
One of many members, Edvard, revealed AI content material in MASS!
In truth, he revealed over 7,000,000 articles and was within the lead with 22,800 natural guests!
Nonetheless, as you may see within the subsequent month’s replace, his lead didn’t final lengthy.
Month 5
On the 5 month mark, Edvard technically nonetheless had essentially the most natural site visitors for the month with about 18,600.
Nonetheless, his website was hit exhausting by a penalty and was getting hardly any guests by the top of the month.
Here is a take a look at his site visitors graph.
Sadly, Jennifer’s website was additionally hit with a penalty in the direction of the top of March and was not capable of recuperate.
I believe that just a few different folks have been hit with a Google penalty in February and March.
You may see the complete 5 month stories proper right here.
I recorded a complete video that exhibits the 5 month leads to extra depth beneath.
6 Months: ultimate report!
With all of that “drama” over the previous 6 months, I am joyful to share that now we have a winner!
🎉The particular person with essentially the most natural site visitors after 6 months is Victoria Cornell!🎉
Congrats Victoria!
She is the winner of the $2,500 grand prize!
You may see the ultimate outcomes for all of the rivals proper right here.
You may learn all members ultimate stories, what they stated labored for his or her methods, and see all their ultimate movies proper right here contained in the Area of interest Pursuits Neighborhood Discussion board.
Victoria shared with me her Google Analytics and Google Search Console, so I used to be capable of confirm her site visitors and know her website.
I will not be sharing the URL of her website at her request.
Nonetheless, I am joyful to share that in month 6 of the problem, she was capable of get 12,398 natural classes!
Here is what her site visitors appeared like for the month of March 2024:
And here is what Victoria’s site visitors seems like over the lifetime of her website (since 9/20/23).
General, her website has grown properly over the 6 months. The positioning seem to have flattened a bit or perhaps a slight decline because the March Core Replace, however not considerably.
Need to hear how Victoria was capable of construct her website?
Properly, she supplied a number of video updates alongside the way in which!
Victoria Month 1 Replace:
Victoria Month 2 Replace:
Victoria Month 6 Replace (Remaining Report!):
What Did We Be taught?
So, what can we’re be taught from this AI Problem?
First, it does seem that those who took time to human edit their AI content material fared a bit higher than those who did not (like Victoria vs. Edvard).
So, producing content material en masse is probably going not a successful formulation.
Nonetheless, as a result of this problem was taking place throughout the HCU and the March Core updates, there was a LOT of volatility.
Lastly, an enormous takeaway for me is the significance of sticking with a purpose.
143 folks have been initially excited a couple of “new shiny object”, however the majority of individuals give up after simply a few months.
The ultimate report after 6 months solely included 23 of the unique 143 folks.
Everybody had causes for transferring on from the mission, and that is positive.
However I’ve typically discovered that the toughest a part of enterprise is sticking with a mission when it is now not “new” and “thrilling”.
So, a HUGE congrats to all members that caught with it for a full 6 months…I actually hope that you simply realized one thing invaluable!
Be happy to remark beneath together with your ideas or questions!
And if you want to be part of a group that explores methods to construct lengthy lasting area of interest publishing enterprise, it is best to take a look at the Area of interest Pursuits Neighborhood Proper right here.
