Reply To: Final Report for Build a NEW Site with AI Challenge!

That’s a wrap! This was a really fun and fruitful undertaking. Thanks, Spencer!
We definitely were hit by the algo changes (but later than many others have been). However, as planned and expected, I could take away interesting test results, process improvements and knowledge wins.

Traffic metrics were… not good… Users 153 (-10%), Total Organic 167 (+16%) and GSC Clicks 84 (-10%) respectively. Total posts are at 149, up from 121. A mixed picture. BUT… March 14th… was Hammer Day.

We had been trending up into the last month. I was really pleased with the progress. We were still not on pace to win, but we were doing some of our best numbers into the start of the month. Then Ggl traffic fell off a cliff on March 14. Everything was still indexed but we just got seriously deranked. So, that was that.

I would be interested to hear what dates you saw big changes (bc it does not seem to line up with their public announcements).

I talk about some other details and takeaways in the video but a big one is: I am now launching a second saas app based on an idea I came across in this challenge! And would never have considered it if it were not for this AI site challenge. So… a different sort of WIN.

1. How well did your website perform during this 6 month challenge?
For a brand new site, getting treated to a mixed bag of writing apps, untried SOPs, new team members, etc I’d say it was ok. Not great or even really good.

2. What strategies worked well? What strategies didn’t work well?
Good: Mixed formats (info + story/bio + quote lists yielded some nice surprises).
Bad: Waiting to initiate certain tactics was NG. No reward for waiting… Go fast and break things!!

3. What will you do with your website now that the challenge is over?
I’ll keep using it as a test site and to trial new talent and tools.

4. What additional thoughts or opinions would you like to share as it relates to this AI project?
AI remains incredibly powerful. We have only just started to know how big the impact can be for marketers . And I mean that in a (mostly) positive way!

Good luck to everyone! Feel free to reach out to me (I am J Paul Hendricks on most platforms). Let’s keep in touch!