The Scott Max Newsletter

In Partnership with Potencia Mind Newsletter

Hi 👋, this is the Scott Max newsletter. The daily newsletter bringing you one step closer to your own thriving online business.

We analyze a wonderful, small, online business each week with a full breakdown of how it makes money, why it makes money, and its opportunities to grow. Below that, we give you the action steps to build a business like this to create freedom for yourself.

This is the best way to learn the tactics, skillset, and nuance of making money online.

📢 Exciting News! We added a new section "You decide what's next!". Pick what you want to read in tomorrow's newsletter, and we'll deliver it straight to your inbox. Be sure to read till the end to cast your vote! 🗳️

Now, let’s get to the good stuff you'll see in this email:

• A yearly revenue exceeding $100K.

• An approach to deeply connects with your target audience.

• A guide to establishing a comparable business.

But first, let me introduce our partner for this email,

What does this online business do? 🚀

Welcome to today's daily newsletter! We have an exciting treat for all the culinary enthusiasts out there.

In this issue, we'll be unveiling the secret behind the exceptional success of a website that remains anonymous yet has been generating over $100,000 per year.

This hidden gem is a blog dedicated to providing a delightful array of slow cooker recipes and meal plans, masterfully crafted by a New York Times bestselling author and esteemed slow living expert.

With a collection of over 1000 slow cooker recipes, this website has become a haven for home cooks seeking convenient yet delectable dishes.

Let's dive in and uncover the strategies that have made this anonymous slow cooking blog an ultimate favorite among slow cooker enthusiasts.

How does this online business make money? 💻

Behind the scenes of our anonymous culinary sensation lies a brilliant revenue strategy built on two key pillars: display ads and affiliate marketing.

Let's uncover how this savvy blend of income streams has contributed to the financial success of our beloved slow cooking blog.

Thoughtful Display Ads:

Unlike other blogs that bombard visitors with intrusive ads, our culinary haven follows a more tasteful approach.

They understand the value of a seamless user experience and place display ads strategically, keeping the number of ads in check.

By doing so, they strike the perfect balance between monetization and user satisfaction.

This thoughtful execution ensures their readers can immerse themselves in a delightful culinary journey without being overwhelmed by distractions.

Strategic Affiliate Marketing: 

The slow cooking blog has tapped into the power of affiliate marketing.

Partnering with reputable brands that align with their niche, they promote products like Slow Cookers and other culinary essentials.

Each endorsement is carefully chosen to provide genuine value to their readers.

When their audience makes successful purchases through affiliate links, they earn commissions, forging a mutually beneficial relationship with their partners.

With a user-friendly approach to ads and strategic alignment with affiliate products, they have crafted a winning recipe for both their passion for slow cooking and the satisfaction of their dedicated readers.

What has this business done well?🔥

The success of this slow cooking blog can be attributed to a compelling combination of factors that set it apart from the competition.

Let's explore the reasons behind their sizzling triumph:

Niche Brilliance and Personal Connection: 

One of the key driving forces behind their success lies in their niche strategy.

By honing in on the rare category of cooking specifically with slow cookers, they have carved a unique space in the culinary world.

The founder's personal connection to this niche, and her candid sharing of how it played a pivotal role in her journey through motherhood, has fostered an authentic bond with their audience.

This genuine connection resonates deeply with home cooks seeking delicious and time-efficient meal solutions.

Diversified Income and Personal Branding:

Our hidden gem goes beyond just slow cooking.

Interlinking their blog with another business that revolves around personal branding, the founder has skillfully diversified their income streams.

Through coaching, podcasting, and selling digital products, they extend their influence beyond the blog.

This strategic expansion allows them to cater to different segments of their audience and foster brand loyalty across various platforms.

User-Friendly Website Design: 

The performance of their website has been optimized to ensure a smooth and enjoyable browsing experience for their visitors.

The inclusion of an Index page has made it effortless for readers to find posts on specific topics, streamlining their exploration of the blog.

Additionally, the "find a recipe" feature has simplified the recipe search process, allowing the audience to access precisely what they need with ease.

Irresistible Freebies: 

Our culinary haven understands the value of freebies.

By offering irresistible free resources, such as exclusive recipes, cooking tips, and downloadable guides, they create an enticing gateway for their audience to sample their expertise.

These freebies not only attract new visitors but also keep their loyal readers engaged and coming back for more culinary inspiration.

Recipe-Focused Newsletter: 

Embracing the power of email marketing, they have implemented a recipe-focused newsletter.

By regularly sending mouthwatering recipes directly to their subscribers' inboxes, they stay at the forefront of their audience's culinary journey.

This newsletter strategy effectively nurtures their relationship with their community and keeps their brand top-of-mind.

What this business could improve?🔥🔥🔥

The slow cooking blog has already achieved great success, but there are exciting untapped opportunities that can further elevate their culinary empire and boost revenue and lead generation:

Reviving SEO Traffic:

The decline in SEO traffic since 2019, from over 20k visitors per month to the current 5k visitors per month, presents an opportunity for improvement.

Investing in a small team of talented freelancers to manage their content creation and SEO strategy could revitalize their online presence.

With a strong foundation of almost 1.6 million backlinks, this team can focus on creating fresh, valuable, and optimized content to attract a larger audience and regain lost traffic.

Leveraging Social Media Presence:

The blog's substantial social media presence, particularly on Pinterest with an audience base of 60k, holds immense potential.

With their impressive audience size, surpassing their current monthly views of 146.2k is a mere cakewalk for them.

By capitalizing on this engaged audience, they can optimize their social media strategy to drive more traffic to their blog.

Engaging content, captivating visuals, and strategic promotions can further solidify their position as a go-to resource for slow cooking enthusiasts.

Subscription-Based Cooking Community:

The exponential expansion of the Subscription-Based Economy is widely acknowledged and recognized.

That being the case, Launch a subscription-based cooking community, offering members exclusive access to premium recipes, behind-the-scenes content, and personalized cooking support.

By fostering a sense of community and connection among like-minded culinary enthusiasts, they can create a loyal subscriber base while unlocking new revenue streams.

The Reveal, check this online business out for yourself 👀

Stephanie O'Dea, a New York Times best-selling author, is the creative force behind "AYearOfSlowCooking".

Her journey began in 2008 when she made a New Year's Resolution to use her crockpot slow cooker daily and share her experiences online.

With dedication and passion, Stephanie has grown her blog into a beloved culinary hub, captivating cooking enthusiasts worldwide.

In the San Francisco Bay Area, Stephanie lives with her high school sweetheart husband, and their three daughters, along with an adorable basset hound puppy named Sheldon.

What started as a quest to work from home while caring for her children evolved into a culinary adventure that has inspired countless home cooks.

Through her slow cooking expertise and warm-hearted approach to the kitchen, Stephanie has created a vibrant community of food lovers who cherish the art of slow cooking.

Her journey showcases the beauty of pursuing one's passion and sharing it with the world, one delicious recipe at a time.

The Takeaway, What We Learned 🎓

• Niche Strategy is Key: The success of "AYearOfSlowCooking" demonstrates the importance of a well-defined niche. Choosing a rare and specific category, such as slow cooking, allowed Stephanie O'Dea to stand out and build a devoted following. When starting a blog, identify a niche that aligns with your expertise and passion to create a unique space in the culinary world.

• Diverse Income Streams: To thrive in the blogging landscape, explore diverse income streams. Incorporating display ads and strategic affiliate marketing can generate revenue while keeping the user experience seamless. Be creative in finding supplementary revenue sources to support your blog's growth.

• Adaptability and Growth: Stephanie's journey showcases the power of adapting to changing times. With the decline in SEO traffic, hiring a small team of freelancers revitalized her content strategy. Embrace continuous growth, invest in SEO, and engage with social media platforms to keep your blog relevant and thriving.

• Connect with Your Audience: Stephanie's transparency and personal story resonate with her readers. Building a genuine connection with your audience fosters trust and loyalty. Engage with your readers through comments, social media, and interactive events to create a thriving community around your blog.

• Explore Untapped Opportunities: There are numerous untapped opportunities to expand your culinary blog. Consider offering subscription-based content, hosting interactive virtual events, collaborating with influencers, and creating exclusive e-books. Be open to exploring innovative ideas that resonate with your audience and enrich their culinary journey.

• Quality Over Quantity: Focused on delivering valuable content, Stephanie's blog emphasizes quality over quantity. Craft well-researched, engaging, and visually appealing recipes and articles that cater to your readers' needs. This commitment to excellence will leave a lasting impact on your blog's reputation.

• Embrace Slow Living: Slow cooking is not just about the recipes; it represents a broader concept of slow living. Embrace this philosophy by encouraging mindful cooking, savoring culinary moments, and fostering a sense of community among your readers. Let your blog become a sanctuary for those seeking a slower, more intentional approach to their kitchen adventures.

Action Steps if you’d like to start a business like this… 👩‍💻

If you’re already up and running with an online business, keep with it and try to implement some of the lessons you might have found in this email.

If not, I very highly recommend our free course in digital marketing & business at Max Business School.

You’ll learn all the fundamental skill to build an online income like the one we did a case study on in this email.

Here’s what to expect:

Week 1 - Fundamentals

In this week, you will establish a solid digital marketing foundation. The focus will be on personal branding, but the concepts apply to other business models as well. You will explore:

• WordPress Website Development: Learn to create a professional and user-friendly website using WordPress, a powerful and widely-used platform for various online businesses.

• SEO (Search Engine Optimization): Understand the basics of SEO to increase online visibility and attract organic traffic to their websites.

• Web Analytics: Discover how to analyze website data using tools like Google Analytics to gain valuable insights into user behavior and make data-driven decisions.

Week 2 - How to start a business

In this week you will delve into expanding the online presence and driving traffic to your website. You will get to learn about:

• Email Marketing: Understand the importance of building an email list and learn effective email marketing strategies to nurture leads and convert them into customers.

• Search Engine Marketing (SEM): Dive into the world of paid advertising and explore techniques to run successful ad campaigns on search engines like Google.

Week 3 - How to grow a business

The final week will focus on harnessing the power of social media platforms for business growth. You will discover:

• Social Media Marketing: Discover how to develop and implement social media strategies to engage with the target audience and build brand loyalty.

• Facebook and Instagram Ads: Explore advanced advertising techniques on these popular platforms to reach a wider audience and generate leads.

Get started now 

Before You Go 👋

Thank you for reading.

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If you are ready to get started with your own business, one of the first steps is always a website. Click here for our exclusive hosting deal and click here for an invite to our Max Business School community where you’ll hang out with thousands of fellow ambitious business builders.

Remember to check out the classroom tab (top left corner) for all of our free courses teaching you all you need to succeed online.

Bye for now,

Scott Max