The Hidden Desires Within Traffic and Mapping the Mind with Data: Reading “Traffic Secrets” and “Everybody Lies”
Hello, fellow Google SEO marketers, brand storytellers, and explorers!
Today, I want to share some thoughts sparked by two books that have recently resonated deeply with me: Russell Brunson’s “Traffic Secrets” and Seth Stephens-Davidowitz’s “Everybody Lies.” These two seemingly different perspectives have intertwined in my mind, creating fascinating connections.
“Traffic is people, and people are extremely predictable” – this powerful statement from “Traffic Secrets” has long been a cornerstone of my marketing philosophy. The countless clicks and views in the digital world are ultimately the footprints of living, breathing individuals, and understanding their journey is the crucial first step to successful online business.
On the other hand, “Everybody Lies” delves into the often-unspoken depths of human psychology. People reveal their true desires and interests, sometimes honestly and sometimes secretly, in the anonymous online space. The fact that truths we might never hear in everyday conversations or surveys are readily available in digital footprints like search queries and website visits is both unsettling and captivating.
Reading these two books, a thought struck me: what if we could effectively analyze online traffic data to get closer to people’s ‘hidden minds’? If we could glimpse not only their overt interests but also their secret and honest desires, wouldn’t that provide incredible insights for discovering new business opportunities or innovating existing ones?
Driven by this curiosity, I began exploring the most popular traffic analysis websites. I wanted to see if the data provided by platforms like Similarweb, Semrush, and ahrefs could indeed offer clues to these ‘hidden desires.’
| Founded | Name | Free Source | No. of Countries |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Similarweb | Top 50 Websites | 60 |
| 2008 | Semrush | Top 20 Websites | 38 |
| 2011 | ahrefs | Top 1000 Websites | 183 |
Analyzing Similarweb’s Top 50 Websites data, in particular, revealed intriguing patterns. By observing which websites garnered high traffic globally and tracking the monthly changes in their categories, I could grasp a macro-level understanding of shifting human interests.
For instance, an unexpected surge in traffic to a specific category of websites during a particular period could be a clue to a hidden interest surfacing in response to social issues or trends. Of course, simply analyzing traffic data isn’t enough to pinpoint an individual’s secret desires accurately. However, by detecting subtle shifts in the vast flow of data and connecting them with a deep understanding of human psychology, I believe we can gain invaluable insights for identifying new business opportunities or setting the direction for existing businesses.
Moving forward, I will continue my journey of exploring the true desires hidden within data, guided by the insights of “Traffic Secrets” and the sharp observations of “Everybody Lies,” with the aim of uncovering new business possibilities. I invite you to join me on this exploration, share your own interesting discoveries, and grow together.