When you buy something through one of the links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
In this week’s episode of the Niche Pursuits podcast, Stewart Vickers and I discuss his transformation from aspiring writer to full-time SEO agency owner, course creator, and SaaS investor. Known online as SEO Jesus, Stewart has built a career that spans affiliate marketing, client SEO, online education, and tech acquisition.
His story isn’t just a creator’s journey. It is a masterclass in adapting to change, building income streams, and chasing ROI over trends. Let’s dive into the different chapters of Stewart’s career and the unique insights he shared on what it really takes to grow from side hustler to full-time entrepreneur.
Contents
- Watch the Full Episode
- From Blogging Hobbyist to SEO Breakthrough
- Building Websites That Sell (and Rank)
- Running an SEO Agency: Lessons Learned the Hard Way
- One-Page Websites and Exact Match Domains
- Monetizing Traffic with Intent in Mind
- The Power of Courses and High-Margin Products
- Acquiring SaaS: High Risk, High Reward
- Final Thoughts
- Links & Resources
Watch the Full Episode
From Blogging Hobbyist to SEO Breakthrough
Stewart didn’t start out with SEO in mind. While studying art history and enjoying life in London, he stumbled into menswear blogging and quickly learned how search engines could turn writing into revenue.
- Found success ranking for “Fortnite cosplay” through targeted keyword writing.
- Learned that social traffic burned out quickly and wasn’t sustainable.
- Realized the importance of creating content based on what people are already searching for.
That shift led him away from chasing viral content and toward long-term organic strategy. He began focusing on what users wanted rather than what he found interesting. That mindset was a game-changer for everything that followed.
Building Websites That Sell (and Rank)
After early affiliate experiments, Stewart got a job at an insurance startup. There, he applied SEO principles to niche insurance topics and started generating serious results.
- Targeted underserved, long-tail insurance niches that big companies ignored.
- Learned that boring industries can be goldmines if you find the right angle.
This hands-on experience opened his eyes to how SEO could drive direct sales. It also showed him the gap between what traditional agencies delivered and what actually worked.
Running an SEO Agency: Lessons Learned the Hard Way
Stewart eventually quit corporate life to start his own agency. What surprised him most wasn’t the SEO work itself but everything around it.
- Businesses don’t need huge traffic numbers; they just need leads that convert.
- Building trust and setting expectations matter more than flashy deliverables.
- Many clients care more about communication than technical details.
His biggest insight came from realizing that account management was the missing piece. Even great SEO results can fall flat if the client doesn't feel supported. Hiring the right people to manage those relationships became just as important as the SEO work itself.
One-Page Websites and Exact Match Domains
As Google’s Helpful Content Update made traditional authority sites less predictable, Stewart leaned into a new system. He began building one-page websites targeting high-intent local keywords using exact match domains.
- Registers domains like “[Service][City].com” based on keyword research.
- Publishes optimized content, waits to see which sites gain traction.
- Focuses only on those that show organic movement before investing more.
This strategy allowed him to quickly test ideas and scale winners without committing heavy resources up front. It also made it easier to monetize traffic by connecting the leads directly to service businesses.
Monetizing Traffic with Intent in Mind
Ranking these sites is only part of the equation. The key is turning that traffic into money by aligning with real businesses.
- Cold outreach offering commission-based deals works well to build partnerships.
- Phone calls outperform emails when it comes to building trust with business owners.
- Pay-per-call networks can help monetize sites that perform modestly.
When one of his sites hits, it can lead to long-term payouts. In one example, a single insurance site earned him monthly commissions for eight years with little ongoing effort.
The Power of Courses and High-Margin Products
Stewart also runs a course business that complements his agency work. He sees courses as the natural next step for those looking to scale their time and impact.
- Courses offer a near 100% profit margin and require no client management.
- Lower-ticket products, like $100 to $200 courses, reach a wider audience.
- Offering a refund guarantee boosts conversion without significantly increasing refund rates.
This model allowed Stewart to tap into the SEO education market without the unpredictability of client work. It also gave him another income stream that compounds over time.
Acquiring SaaS: High Risk, High Reward
Not stopping at content and services, Stewart has also begun buying small SaaS businesses. His results have been mixed, but the strategy is clear.
- Look for products with existing revenue and product-market fit.
- Use personal brand, audience, and funnels to grow them quickly.
- Avoid tools that solve one-time problems or attract high-churn users.
While his first SaaS acquisition paid off quickly, others revealed support and churn issues once scaled. The lesson was simple. Low-ticket SaaS comes with hidden costs in customer support and retention.
Final Thoughts
Stewart Vickers’ path from student blogger to agency founder and product creator shows what’s possible with persistence and smart decision-making. He didn’t chase trends. He built skills and layered them into a portfolio of income streams that give him flexibility and leverage.
For creators looking to grow beyond side projects, his story offers some clear takeaways:
- Real businesses often offer faster, more reliable income than affiliate sites
- Courses can scale your knowledge without adding more clients to your plate
- SaaS works best when paired with marketing chops and a solid product
- High-intent, local keywords are still a goldmine when approached correctly
What ties it all together is Stewart’s focus on cash flow, ROI, and scalability. Whether you’re just getting started or trying to break through a plateau, his journey is proof that stacking the right systems can take you much further than chasing shiny objects.
Links & Resources
- Learn More About SEO Jesus
- Watch SEO Jesus on YouTube
- One Page Websites Ebook
- Agency Ascension Ebook
Related Posts
Want to learn step-by-step how I built my Niche Site Empire up to a full-time income?
Yes! I Love to Learn
Learn How I Built My Niche Site Empire to a Full-time Income
- How to Pick the Right Keywords at the START, and avoid the losers
- How to Scale and Outsource 90% of the Work, Allowing Your Empire to GROW Without You
- How to Build a Site That Gets REAL TRAFFIC FROM GOOGLE (every. single. day.)
- Subscribe to the Niche Pursuits Newsletter delivered with value 3X per week
My top recommendations
