John Ward https://johnathanward.com Monetizing websites, social media, and apps Fri, 12 Sep 2025 14:00:58 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.5 https://johnathanward.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/cropped-jw_favicon-32x32.png John Ward https://johnathanward.com 32 32 How Traffic Smash Works https://johnathanward.com/how-traffic-smash-works/ Fri, 12 Sep 2025 14:00:58 +0000 https://johnathanward.com/?p=2245 I made a short video to explain to you how my new SEO ranking service works. Check it out below. Powered by beehiiv]]>

I made a short video to explain to you how my new SEO ranking service works. Check it out below.

]]>
šŸ“ˆNew Google SEO Rank Hack https://johnathanward.com/%f0%9f%93%88new-google-seo-rank-hack/ Fri, 12 Sep 2025 14:00:52 +0000 https://johnathanward.com/?p=2247 Hey there, John here. You probably signed up for my list from X or from some of my tools. I’m still cooking on my Facebook pages and I’ve launched a new product for ranking in Google. Increase Your Google Rankings in as Little as 48 Hours Smash your rankings If you don’t know, Google uses … Continue reading šŸ“ˆNew Google SEO Rank Hack]]>

Hey there,

John here. You probably signed up for my list from X or from some of my tools.

I’m still cooking on my Facebook pages and I’ve launched a new product for ranking in Google.

Increase Your Google Rankings in as Little as 48 Hours

If you don’t know, Google uses Chrome data in its ranking algorithm. I’ve been experimenting with ideas for manipulating Google’s user signals, and I found one that works.

It works by simulating your website going viral. By sending a quick burst of traffic, Google picks up on these user signals and shoots your pages up the SERPs. It sounds simple, but there is more to it.

It works best for sites that are ranking in the top 3 pages of Google, but I have seen pages outside of the top 10 pages move up, too. Parasites worked very well, also.

Check out this example:

You’ll see that the first numbered column is the original rank. The second column is the ranking after running Traffic Smash. Some keywords that were already ranking increased, and many keywords that were not ranking shot up to the first 1-2 pages!

You’ll want to jump on this tactic now, before Google closes this loophole.

Plus, I’ve created an exclusive discount for members of this email list.

Use this coupon code to get 20% off: trafficalchemy

Facebook Pages Update

My largest Facebook page is doing pretty well heading into the lowest-paying two weeks of the year for the ad industry. I’m testing different posting frequencies, ranging from 8 to 60 posts per day. I’m trying to figure out what the right cadence is. Most people seem to say once per hour, but I think I am seeing better results posting more frequently.

$2k per month isn’t bad for about 1-2 hours worth of work

The holiday season is when ad spending really takes off. So, I have been running Facebook Page Like ads to grow the page as we head into that. I’d like to grow the page to about 250k followers by mid-November. I’m paying 2-5 cents per like, so that would be an investment of about $3,000 that I hope to make back in November and December.

I’ve add a net of 52k followers in about the past 6 weeks

I only spend 1-2 hours per week because I’ve built an internal tool that generates images, writes Facebook posts, and schedules them with just a few clicks (yes even 50 per day). I even have a viral news page that is entirely automated that does all of that and makes a WordPress post and links to that post in the first comment.

I’m all about automation.Ā $2k per month is not where I want to be, but it is nice for the amount of work it’s taking me.

Pinterest Update

I haven’t been focusing a lot on Pinterest lately because my sites were removed from Journey by Mediavine for using AI content.

Friends don’t let friends join Mediavine…

I personally think Mediavine is crazy. I used to work with the largest advertisers in the world at Meta. Not once did anyone ask if their ads were being shown next to AI content. The advertisers simply do not care if the ads perform. There is nothing that indicates AI content performs worse than human content from the display ad side.

My hunch is that the group of Mediavine creators (The Facebook Recipe Karensā„¢ as I refer to them) is bugging Mediavine so much that they had to do something about it.

I tried to move some of the sites to Ezoic, but their approval process is surprisingly more difficult and obtuse than Journey’s! So none of the sites were approved. I did get some of them on AdSense, but AdSense doesn’t pay much.

Pinterest is still driving traffic to my sites, I’m just not monetizing it at the moment. I’ve switched to posting a lot of links to my AI recipe generator tool. I’m considering creating a mobile app to monetize the website through app installs. Similar to what this app is doing.

If you’re interested in seeing the types of sites that Journey by Mediavine is approving right now, try my free tool.

Quote of the Week

Just keep stackin’ those bricks!

— John

]]>
I Hit $1k This Month on Facebook https://johnathanward.com/i-hit-1k-this-month-on-facebook/ Fri, 12 Sep 2025 14:00:47 +0000 https://johnathanward.com/?p=2229 Hey there, It’s been a while since I’ve updated you on my experiments and progress. If you don’t remember, you probably signed up for my newsletter from my Journey Explorer Tool. I send infrequent emails about the online money-making activities I’m working on. Hit a Goal with Facebook Content Monetization I finally hit $1k in … Continue reading I Hit $1k This Month on Facebook]]>

Hey there,

It’s been a while since I’ve updated you on my experiments and progress. If you don’t remember, you probably signed up for my newsletter from my Journey Explorer Tool. I send infrequent emails about the online money-making activities I’m working on.

Hit a Goal with Facebook Content Monetization

I finally hit $1k in June of this year!

I have three pages in the Facebook Content Monetization program. This program pays you to post to your Facebook page. This program replaces the previous Facebook Bonus Program.

Facebook had demonetized my reels and videos. This was likely a mistake by their algorithm. They started automatically reversing this ban, and now I can earn from reels again.

I started out manually posting content, and I grew my following to 100k likes on this page through Facebook page likes ads. I spent $0.02 – $0.05 per like, so it cost me a couple thousand to build this page up, but I hope to make that money back from monetization.

If you know me, I like to automate things if I can. It’s the only way I can scale without hiring. So for this page, I’ve automated the image, video, descriptions, and scheduling using a custom Python application.

At this point, Facebook is actually recommending that I post 276 posts per week. I’m really hammering this page with content at the moment, but the reach is looking good.

This time of the year is also one of the worst times to earn money from ads. There is a summer ad spend slump in June, and it’s the end of the quarter, so advertisers start to run out of budget. If this trend keeps up, the fall holiday season should be great.

Other Things I am Working On

I didn’t want to make this email too long, so here are a few other things I have going on.

  • Vibe coding to the max – I’m pumping out a ton of websites, automations, and tools using AI coding tools like Cursor and Claude Code.

  • Directory Websites – I built three directory websites a few months ago: 2 in the food niche and 1 in the health niche. I’m working on scaling these out with backlinks and a method that simulates a page going viral.

  • Other Facebook pages – The two other Facebook pages that are monetized are not earning much. I’ve taken one that is in the viral news space and fully automated it. I gather ideas from a few other pages, create my own version of the article for WordPress, and then remix the image to make it unique. I post these to the Facebook page, along with a unique description and a link in the comments. This is starting to drive engagement, monetization, and traffic to my website (which I hope to monetize with display ads soon).

  • Content Goblin – This is my AI Content Generation tool that is used by a lot of Pinterest creators. I’m adding new features and plan to expand beyond Pinterest and into SEO and Facebook. I’ve recently added Recipe Roundups, Pin Editing, and a pretty sweet Infographic Generator. I also managed to secureĀ ContentGoblin.com to help protect the brand.

  • Pinterest WordPress Plugin – I’m working with a partner to develop a WordPress plugin for Pinterest users. This won’t only be another Pin button plugin, but it will have some advanced features that none of the other plugins have at the moment. More on this soon.

I have dozens of projects I am working on. I’ll try to update more frequently and give more details on how I do these things. I’ll share a couple of the sites so you can see real-world examples.

Latest Video

I’m really slacking on YouTube lately, but here is the last video I posted about vibe coding my directory websites.

That’s all for now. Thanks for reading!

— John

]]>
Can we vibe code to $10k per month? https://johnathanward.com/can-we-vibe-code-to-10k-per-month/ Fri, 12 Sep 2025 14:00:42 +0000 https://johnathanward.com/?p=2221 What’s up, everyone? Welcome back to Traffic Alchemy, where I share my attempts to build and monetize websites, apps, and social media pages. I’ve been on an extended hiatus, but I plan to start building in public again. Reminder: Most of you joined this list by using one of my free tools. New Video: Let’s … Continue reading Can we vibe code to $10k per month?]]>

What’s up, everyone? Welcome back to Traffic Alchemy, where I share my attempts to build and monetize websites, apps, and social media pages. I’ve been on an extended hiatus, but I plan to start building in public again.

Reminder: Most of you joined this list by using one of my free tools.

New Video: Let’s try to vibe code our way to $10k per month

I released a new video about my attempts to vibe code some websites and try to grow the portfolio to $10k per month. This is the first video I plan to do on this topic in a series.

If you don’t know, vibe coding is using AI coding tools to essentially do everything needed to launch a website or app.

Monetizing Facebook Pages

I’ve been building a few Facebook pages over the past seven months or so. One way to monetize Facebook is to try to get invited to the Content Monetization program, which has replaced the previous Bonus Program. The bonus program ends on August 31st, 2025.

You can also double-dip on monetization by building out a website with display ads and driving traffic to it from Facebook.

I managed to get three pages invited to Content Monetization. I had one page taking off with over 100k followers and earning $60 per day after starting, but then Facebook demonetized my reels for ā€œunoriginal content.ā€ That’s BS because I created the content! Now it’s down to a few dollars per day.

I appealed the decision, and Facebook denied that appeal. So, I have to stop focusing on reels, which were crushing it, and focus on images and posts.

The other two pages are making pennies at the moment, but I will try to grow them. I decided to partner with someone to manage one of the struggling pages. That struggling page also has 100k followers, but I haven’t been able to figure out what type of content they like. Let’s see if this firm that specializes in Facebook pages can do better than I can.

I am lazy on the pages I run. I try to automate the entire process to the point that I have to click a few buttons per month, and then it’s hands-off. It’s working for the main pages, but I need to figure out the others. I could probably talk about the automation process in the future.

Rap quote of the week

Okay, if you don’t know, I’m a hip-hop fan. I know many of you might not be into rap, but I think I will start closing each email with a rap lyric. I find much of the subject matter in the songs to be very motivational and to have entrepreneurial undertones.

That’s it for this week, thanks for reading. Feel free to reply if you have any questions.

– John

]]>
Undetectable AI Review: Can It Bypass AI Detectors Effectively? https://johnathanward.com/undetectable-ai-review-can-it-bypass-ai-detectors-effectively/ Fri, 12 Sep 2025 14:00:22 +0000 https://johnathanward.com/?p=2215 InĀ 2025, as AI-generated content dominates online writing, tools designed to detect AI-written text have become crucial. This honest review explores Undetectable.ai, a leading AI humanizer promising to bypass AI detectors by making your content appear human-like. What is Undetectable AI? Undetectable.ai is an advanced AI tool specifically created to paraphrase and humanize content generated by … Continue reading Undetectable AI Review: Can It Bypass AI Detectors Effectively?]]>

InĀ 2025, as AI-generated content dominates online writing, tools designed to detect AI-written text have become crucial. This honest review explores Undetectable.ai, a leading AI humanizer promising to bypass AI detectors by making your content appear human-like.

What is Undetectable AI?

Undetectable.ai is an advanced AI tool specifically created to paraphrase and humanize content generated by models like ChatGPT, making the text appear genuinely human-written. It’s designed for content creators seeking to publish high-quality articles without getting flagged by popular AI detection tools like GPTZero, Originality.ai, and Winston AI.

Testing Process for Undetectable.ai

To offer an authentic review for 2025, we rigorously tested Undetectable.ai. We input several pieces of AI-generated text, checking outputs with major detectors such as Originality.ai, GPTZero, Copyleaks, and ZeroGPT.

Does Undetectable.ai Work?

Our findings indicate that Undetectable AI actually excels in bypassing AI detection. The AI-written text we submitted, originally flagged as “likely AI-generated,” consistently passed checks post-processing through Undetectable.ai. Tools like Originality.ai and GPTZero failed to detect AI, marking the rewritten content as highly original and human-like.

Undetectable AI Worth It? Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages

  • Effectively humanizes AI text.

  • Successfully bypasses AI detectors.

  • Enhances content readability significantly.

  • Offers a free trial to evaluate before purchasing.

Disadvantages of Undetectable AI

  • Occasional unnatural phrasing requires minor edits.

  • The free version has limited capabilities.

Undetectable.ai vs. Competitors

When compared to other tools like Originality.ai, Undetectable.aiĀ demonstrates superior performance in making AI-generated content pass detection checks. It stands out as the best AI humanizer tool for content creation in 2025, particularly valuable for content at scale.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Undetectable AI Free?

Undetectable.ai offers a free trial, allowing you to test the service before fully committing.

How Do I Make AI Non-Detectable?

Use an AI paraphrasing tool like Undetectable.ai, which humanizes AI-generated content to effectively bypass AI detection.

Why Are People Interested in Undetectable.AI?

Many writers and businesses use AI but need their content to pass AI detection tools. Undetectable.ai allows them to publish confidently without detection worries.

Undetectable.ai Alternative

Alternatives include Winston AI and Originality.ai, though Undetectable.ai consistently provides higher success rates in bypassing detectors.

Final Thoughts: Is Undetectable AI Worth It?

This honest review confirms that Undetectable.aiĀ effectively achieves its claim to make AI-written text undetectable. It’s an essential AI tool for anyone regularly publishing content, especially as AI detection becomes increasingly sophisticated. Despite minor disadvantages, its ability to consistently bypass AI content detectors makes Undetectable.ai worth considering seriously in 2025.

Undetectable.ai
Reviewed by: John Ward
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Undetectable.ai effectively humanizes AI-generated content, allowing users to bypass AI detectors such as GPTZero, Originality.ai, Copyleaks, and ZeroGPT. In testing, content rewritten with Undetectable.ai consistently passed detection tools, marking it as human-like. While occasional minor editing may be needed due to unnatural phrasing, its performance surpasses alternatives like Winston AI. A valuable tool for content creators seeking reliable AI paraphrasing and humanization in 2025.

]]>
What is Vibe Coding? AI-assisted coding with tools are taking over! https://johnathanward.com/what-is-vibe-coding-ai-assisted-coding-with-tools-are-taking-over/ Fri, 12 Sep 2025 14:00:17 +0000 https://johnathanward.com/?p=2217 Vibe coding is a new kind of coding introduced by AI researcher Andrej Karpathy in 2025. It leverages AI-assisted coding tools to allow users, even those who aren’t traditional programmers, to write code and build software simply by expressing ideas or goals in plain language. This revolutionary approach is gaining popularity, particularly with platforms like … Continue reading What is Vibe Coding? AI-assisted coding with tools are taking over!]]>

Vibe coding is a new kind of coding introduced by AI researcher Andrej Karpathy in 2025. It leverages AI-assisted coding tools to allow users, even those who aren’t traditional programmers, to write code and build software simply by expressing ideas or goals in plain language. This revolutionary approach is gaining popularity, particularly with platforms like Replit, changing the landscape of software development.

How Does Vibe Coding Work?

AI, Prompts, and Vibes

In traditional coding, a developer writes every line of code manually. Vibe coding flips this around—using AI coding tools such as Cursor or Replit, a user describes what they want (the “vibes“) as a prompt. The AI then generates the actual code. This process is iterative: you see stuff, say stuff, and run stuff until it mostly works. Karpathy humorously describes this as coding without needing to remember that the code even exists.

AI Tools like Cursor and Replit

Tools like Cursor provide a coding assistant called Cursor Composer, allowing users to interact with the AI model directly. Users can easily debug, add features, or even make random changes until it goes away if encountering a stubborn bug.

Similarly, Replit integrates AI deeply, enabling users to vibe code projects rapidly—perfect for quick prototypes or functional apps without extensive manual coding.

Benefits of AI-Assisted Coding

Fast Prototyping

With AI-generated code, users can quickly turn ideas into working code, making it ideal for small projects or building a project or webapp without significant coding knowledge.

Accessibility

Vibe coding makes software engineering accessible. Even users lazy to find documentation or those new to programming languages can create functional software with ease.

Enhanced Creativity

Users can fully give themselves to creativity, letting the AI handle repetitive tasks. The approach allows software developers to focus on innovation, design, and user experience.

Challenges of Using Vibe Coding

Maintainability Concerns

Critics, including outlets like Ars Technica, warn that heavy reliance on AI-generated code might lead to issues in understanding or maintaining the code. What does maintainability mean when AI can completely rewrite the software in every iteration?

Quality and Bugs

Sometimes LLMs (Large Language Models) produce errors or suboptimal solutions. Users may find themselves trying to work around it or ask repeatedly for corrections.

Who are the Vibe Coders?

Vibe coders range from experienced programmers testing new workflows to beginners creating their first app. They embrace AI programming, leveraging tools to produce applications rapidly and efficiently. But, are people actually hiring vibe coders for critical infrastructure? Currently, professional environments cautiously incorporate vibe coding mainly for non-critical tasks.

FAQs

Is vibe coding free?
Basic tools are available freely, though advanced features may have costs.

Is vibe coding real?
Yes, it is actively used in modern software development.

What vibe coding?
A method of coding by describing your intention to an AI that generates the actual code.

Is vibe coding bad?
No, but caution is advised for large, critical projects.

Does vibe coding work?
Generally yes, especially for quick prototypes and simple applications.

Is vibe coding good?
It’s excellent for creativity, speed, and accessibility but less suitable for complex systems.

Is vibe coding the future?
Likely a significant part of it, especially as AI coding assistant tools improve.

Why vibe coding is not my future?
If you prefer full manual control or are concerned about AI dependency, it may not suit you.

Coding energy?
It’s a slang term capturing the intuitive, conversational coding style of vibe coding.

Will we surrender our craft entirely?
Not entirely; humans will likely always guide, oversee, and innovate.

What happens when the AI can’t solve the problem?
Human oversight and traditional coding skills become essential.

Will the future of software development run on vibes?
AI-assisted methods will certainly shape the future significantly, though traditional coding will persist in some areas.

In conclusion, vibe coding is a transformative shift, enabling faster, more accessible, and creative ways to build and deploy software, reflecting how profoundly coding agents are changing modern development practices.

]]>
Best AI Pinterest Pin Generator to Automate Your Pinterest Marketing https://johnathanward.com/best-ai-pinterest-pin-generator-to-automate-your-pinterest-marketing/ Fri, 12 Sep 2025 14:00:12 +0000 https://johnathanward.com/?p=2213 Looking for a Pinterest pin generator to effortlessly create eye-catching, visually appealing pins? Content Goblin, an AI-powered Pinterest pin generator, helps you automate your Pinterest marketing strategy, saving you time and helping you grow on Pinterest faster. Why Use an AI Pinterest Pin Generator? Creating engaging Pinterest pins manually can take hours. Content Goblin’s AI-powered … Continue reading Best AI Pinterest Pin Generator to Automate Your Pinterest Marketing]]>

Looking for a Pinterest pin generator to effortlessly create eye-catching, visually appealing pins? Content Goblin, an AI-powered Pinterest pin generator, helps you automate your Pinterest marketing strategy, saving you time and helping you grow on Pinterest faster.

Why Use an AI Pinterest Pin Generator?

Creating engaging Pinterest pins manually can take hours. Content Goblin’s AI-powered Pinterest pin generator allows marketers and content creators to generate pins in seconds, maintain a consistent posting schedule, and drive more traffic from Pinterest.

Automate Your Pinterest Marketing

Pinterest users expect visually appealing pins that stand out. With Content Goblin, you can automate pin designs without needing advanced design skills. The AI Pinterest pin maker provides customizable templates and stunning pin designs that attract more clicks.

Create Eye-Catching Pinterest Pins in Seconds

Want to generate multiple Pinterest pins effortlessly? Content Goblin lets you:

  • Generate pins using AI-powered tools

  • Customize Pinterest pin templates easily

  • Automate your Pinterest posts weeks in advance

Visually Appealing Pins with No Design Skills Needed

Forget spending hours on Canva or Adobe. Content Goblin’s Pinterest pin generator makes creating stunning Pinterest pins easy. Simply choose your preferred template, and the AI tool will handle the rest, including generating engaging descriptions, titles, and key details.

Pinterest Automation That Works

Pinterest marketing requires consistency. The automated Pinterest pin generator from Content Goblin helps you maintain a consistent presence on your Pinterest boards, allowing you to focus more on strategy rather than content creation.

Free Pinterest Pin Generator

Curious to see how you can make your social media management easier? Try Content Goblin’s Pinterest pin maker today. Generate pins, and see how easily you can customize and create visually appealing content.

FAQs About AI Pinterest Pin Generators

Can AI create Pinterest pins?

Yes, AI-powered Pinterest pin generators like Content Goblin create pins using advanced AI technology, ensuring they are visually appealing and optimized for Pinterest SEO.

Is a pin generator Pinterest approved?

Yes, pins generated using Content Goblin adhere to Pinterest’s guidelines and best practices.

Can I upload AI-generated images to Pinterest?

Absolutely. Pinterest supports AI-generated images, allowing seamless uploads directly from Content Goblin.

Do I need design skills to use the Pin Generator?

No design skills are needed! Content Goblin’s easy-to-use templates and AI-driven creation process make professional-quality pins accessible to everyone.

Are the design templates in the Pin Maker customizable?

Yes, you can fully customize templates to match your style and message.

What is the best time to post on Pinterest?

The best time to post on Pinterest varies, but generally, evenings and weekends see the highest engagement. Content Goblin helps automate pin scheduling to maximize visibility during peak hours.

Can I create pins in different sizes with the Pin Maker?

Yes, Content Goblin provides options to create pins in multiple sizes optimized for Pinterest.

Start Growing on Pinterest Today

Content Goblin’s AI-powered Pinterest pin generator is your go-to Pinterest marketing solution for creating scroll-stopping pins effortlessly. Try it free today, generate Pinterest content easily, and watch your Pinterest engagement soar!

]]>
I cut off part of my finger https://johnathanward.com/i-cut-off-part-of-my-finger/ Fri, 12 Sep 2025 14:00:06 +0000 https://johnathanward.com/?p=2205 So, there I was, remodeling my basement, cutting drywall, when my razor knife slipped. One second, I’m measuring twice; the next, I’m down a piece of my finger. Next, you know I’m running around the house screaming. My wife, who was at a work meeting, came out to yell at me for yelling, and then … Continue reading I cut off part of my finger]]>

So, there I was, remodeling my basement, cutting drywall, when my razor knife slipped. One second, I’m measuring twice; the next, I’m down a piece of my finger.

Next, you know I’m running around the house screaming. My wife, who was at a work meeting, came out to yell at me for yelling, and then she realized what was going on.

The combination of adrenalin and the fact that I cut so deep the nerves were gone made the finger more tingly than painful. It was a weird experience.

Spoiler: I went to the emergency room, but they couldn’t reattach it.

What does this have to do with anything? Well, it got me thinking about the parallels between that slip-up and my attempts to make money from websites, apps, and social media.

Learning to Cut Things Off

One thing I often struggle with is the sunk cost fallacy. Basically, I’ve had projects that I invested so much time into that it was tough for me to recognize that it was time to give up.

Often, we need to just ā€œcut offā€ a project to purge it from our brains and open the thought cycles for other ideas.

One project I was committed to that I could not make work was a programmatic site in the keto diet space. It took me far longer to let it go than it should have.

Had I still been focusing on that, I might not have seen the opportunity to create my AI content generator.

My Newest Project: Facebook Page Scheduler

My newest project is a scheduler for Facebook pages. It’s free, and it allows you to create text, link, image, native FB text on background color, and post the first comment.

The first comment part was the main reason I created it. It takes too many steps for me to do it in Facebook’s business manager. Some tools charge a premium for this type of functionality.

I’ll keep it free for now, but I may try to monetize it if it picks up any traction, but that’s TBD. The ideas that come to mind are:

  • Display ads

  • Driving affiliate offers

  • Creating a full-fledged social media scheduling tool

  • Create a Facebook AI content generator (or adding it to Content Goblin)

My Free Trial Experiment Goes Wrong

About a month ago, I offered a free Content Goblin trialĀ to new users. Users who signed up were given 200 free credits to try the tool.

At first, it seemed like a massive success. Then, all of a sudden, I got an enormous spike in paid sign-ups. Almost $8,000 worth in 1 day! We average between $200 and $300 daily, meaning this was a significant anomaly.

It also turns out that someone signed up for my affiliate network and then sent through almost $10k worth of fraud charges. I ended up having to refund all the charges. Then, the scammer had the nerve to ask me to pay them after I banned their affiliate account.

After solving that issue, I noticed we have several thousand new free trial accounts using fake email addresses.

I spent some time fighting this using various tactics, but I was still getting hit with about 60 scammer accounts per day.

I finally decided that the effort to fight the abuse was not worth the reward. I had to ā€œcut offā€ the free trial program.

Unfortunately, this means people genuinely interested in trying the app can no longer do it for free, but it’s my only solution.

I also had to do a mass ban on all free trial accounts to prevent these people from draining thousands of dollars in AI credits.

Running a software business has been interesting, to say the least.

-John

P.S. It’s hard for me to type without my left pointer finger šŸ˜…

]]>
Good news, I got fired šŸ”„ https://johnathanward.com/good-news-i-got-fired-%f0%9f%94%a5/ Fri, 12 Sep 2025 14:00:01 +0000 https://johnathanward.com/?p=2197 Hey there, many of you are new to Traffic Alchemy and probably joined to try my Journey Explorer tool. I share about my experience trying to make money online using content sites, social media, and apps. Note: I intended to send this to you all on Traffic Alchemy, but accidentally sent this email to my … Continue reading Good news, I got fired šŸ”„]]>

Hey there, many of you are new to Traffic Alchemy and probably joined to try my Journey Explorer tool. I share about my experience trying to make money online using content sites, social media, and apps.

Note: I intended to send this to you all on Traffic Alchemy, but accidentally sent this email to my Content Goblin mailing list. If you are on both lists I appologize for the duplicate content.

I’m happy to announce that I was fired last Monday!

Why on earth would someone be happy about being fired?

If you don’t know, I have been working long days of 8-10 hours at my job and then working on my business until bed, plus about 20 hours over the weekend. It’s been kind of a grind.

On Monday I was let go from my job at Meta with a few thousand others. To be honest, my reaction is somewhat relief. It’s actually a decent situation that will give me some time to focus on what I really want to do.

The only part I don’t like is that they labeled us ā€œlow performersā€ in the media. I’m not going to let any company label me as a low performer. Not happening. I’ve never held that label in 20+ years of my career.

What I did the first week

This first week I have been super productive with taking care of myself and building my business. I could have sulked, but I decided that was pointless.

Here is what I achieved this week:

ā¤ Spent quality time playing with my son on Monday.
šŸ’Ŗ Hit the gym every single day.
🄩 Stuck to my diet every single day.
🧊 Cold plunged every single day.
šŸš€ Launched 2 new features to contentgoblin.ai
šŸ½ Launched my programmatic SEO site freeairecipegenerator.com.
šŸ¤– Transferred a tool I bought to my server aitohumanizetextconverter.com.
ā–¶ Published a couple hundred AI avatar videos to YouTube for an experiment.

I feel like this is pretty good for a low performer if I am being honest.

My plans going forward

I have a few months to figure things out. My ultimate goal here is to not have to return to the workforce. I was running a marathon before. Now, I’m on a full-out sprint. I’m going to grind as hard as I can for the next 2 months or so and see where that takes me.

I do have a vacation to Jamaica planned with my family in about 2 weeks. I’m hoping it gives me a little bit of a break, but I will still have to support my apps while I am there.

I gave up drinking 307 days ago, which was my main activity when I did these all-inclusive trips. I guess these will become health retreats now.

When I return, I’m going back into the hustle of adding more and more features to my SaaS, and I’ve had a ton of ideas on the back burner that I now have time to work on. I was able to launch my last idea in about 10 hours total using AI coding tools. This would have taken me several weeks in the past!

Another note: I’ve noticed that I am not sure how to relax anymore. My idea of fun is working on another side project for a few days. I don’t really do anything else. I don’t even watch any shows. I can’t do any mind-numbing entertainment anymore. I have to be actively involved in whatever I am doing. I do take a break every Sunday morning to watch my son play hockey, which I absolutely love.

I’m also trying to do some physical work by remodeling my basement and the bathroom down there by myself. It helps get me away from the screen for a little bit. I’ve done 3 bathrooms so far and they turned out decent.

Try my tools

Shameless plug at the end here. If you’re interested in what I am building, you can:

Wishing you all the best! – John

]]>
Want to see how site owners are landing $7k+ sponsorships? https://johnathanward.com/want-to-see-how-site-owners-are-landing-7k-sponsorships/ Fri, 12 Sep 2025 13:59:56 +0000 https://johnathanward.com/?p=2190 I wanted to share something interesting my friends Lindsay and Tony are doing with website sponsorships. They have this system that’s helping niche site owners tap into a revenue stream most of us haven’t considered. You know how every YouTube video nowadays has those sponsored segments? Here’s what’s fascinating – these same brands are actively … Continue reading Want to see how site owners are landing $7k+ sponsorships?]]>

I wanted to share something interesting my friends Lindsay and Tony are doing with website sponsorships. They have this system that’s helping niche site owners tap into a revenue stream most of us haven’t considered.

You know how every YouTube video nowadays has those sponsored segments? Here’s what’s fascinating – these same brands are actively looking for website partnerships, but most site owners don’t realize they can position their sites as smart alternatives to those expensive video sponsorships.

Lindsay developed something called the S.P.O.N.S.O.R Methodā„¢, and the results are pretty impressive. She’s generated over $450,000 for her own site, and her clients have earned millions. The best part? It’s mostly just sending a few strategic emails – no complicated processes needed.

Here’s what caught my attention:

  • Almost everything happens through email (98% of sponsors prefer it)

  • There’s apparently a clever way to use the sponsor’s own marketing budget (involves some smart post boosting – Lindsay explains the details in the course)

  • You don’t need massive traffic (only about 700 views per day)

One of their members, Jon Dykstra, landed a $7,200 sponsorship in just 30 days using this method. Tony has already generated five figures using these techniques.

This could be perfect if:

  • You want a new revenue stream without depending on traffic

  • You need more stable income when traffic fluctuates

  • Your traffic is declining but still above 700/day

The course includes 30 days of free access to the Maverick forums where Lindsay personally reviews ideas, plus a live Q&A session after 30 days with Lindsay and Tony.

Here’s the crucial part: you only get one shot with sponsors. Do it wrong, and you might burn that bridge forever. That’s why having a proven system matters so much.

Lindsay and Tony are committed to helping everyone succeed through the forums and Q&A sessions. They’re focused on helping people land their first sponsor.

Want to learn more about Pitch & Profit? Click here

]]>