14 thoughts on “If I had to start an online business from scratch, this is what I would do”

      1. Thanks Jon because of informative article. I’m always appreciate your work. In this article, you said about “obscure topics”. I wonder what does it mean? Is it a really specific topic? e.x Should you paint your RV before camping trip? Or is it what?

        I have another question: How you consider competition in top 10 SERP? Do you write content if top 10 have a big authority site with slightly related topic article (in this case: if REI has an article title “Ultimate guide to paint your RV”)?

        How you consider if SERP have 2-3 sites like that? I’m really desire the answer from you?

  1. Jon, thanks for the great article. The scenario you are describing (having a family with kids and a corporate job) is exactly my own situation right now.

    Although my 3 niche sites are doing well so far, I’m doing some risk management and risk evaluation to see if its worth it to quit my job.

    Did you consider to post a “risk management” article and give us your thoughts about how to minimize risk (from Google etc), diversify income sources etc? That would help a lot of us?

    Thanks

    Harris

  2. Man, this article is so on-point with so much truth. Wow. You have no idea how much each point you made resonates with me. Truth goes far. And when people read it, they know it. There is no trickery or flattery, it’s just raw truth. Something we lack so much these days, however, I see it making a come back. Again, thank you for the truthful article.

  3. Hey Jon, what a great post. It’s exactly what I have been doing for the better part of the past 12 months. Patiently building a blog in a niche I love, while working a full-time career. I’m also link-building averse and believe in creating useful content that can hopefully help many others.

  4. Hi Jon,

    Great insight. I always look forward to your blog posts.

    I’m wondering what happened to your sites that got hit by penguin? Did you abandon them or recovered them successfully?

    Thanks

  5. Jon, I am a member for Chris Lee’s Blogger List community and found you there. I have become a big fan and really enjoyed this article and found the advice sound and interesting coming from a position of experience. The idea that you suggest publishing high quality content for 6-12 months on a new blog, and do no link building may seem daunting to some, but I agree with you 100%. I am at a crossroads in my own career and trying to decide if I want to build a high quality blog like you do by writing all of the content myself, which I am capable, but maybe not motivated. Or, get a job with health insurance, which I need, and hire a high quality freelance writer to create most of the content for me. You have given me a lot to think about. Keep up the good work! Thanks.

  6. Hi Jon, This is a fantastic post, one of the best things I’ve read in a while.
    I’m going to find a way to link to it form my site as soon as I can.
    Cheers,
    Andrew

  7. I’m writing some content on the topic I know well (software development). I am very uncomfortable writing affiliate content for products that I have never used. I know thousands of people recommend products that they have never used (or even seen in real life), but this always seemed wrong to me.

    I have no problem recommending tools/software/libraries etc that I have actually used.

    Problem with software articles though, they tend to get outdated fast (a year or two is a good shelf life).

    What should I do in this case?

  8. I love this. I’m writing books on Amazon Kindle (to the tune of a few thousand per month). I’m then inviting my readers to join my email list where I can offer them affiliate products, my own course, and coaching.

    I’m going to take the content from my books and convert them into blog posts like you said and focus on getting more organic traffic that way.

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