How Frank Antunez’s Financial News Site Makes $80K/Month with Ads & Sponsorships
How Frank Antunez’s Financial News Site Makes $80K/Month with Ads & Sponsorships
Nov 7, 2024
Frank Antunez
Frank Antunez
⏳ 8 min
⏳ 8 min
Revenue/month
Revenue/month
$80,000
$80,000
$80,000
No. of founders
No. of founders
1
1
1
Startup costs
Startup costs
N/A
N/A
N/A
Company type
Company type
Company type
Blog
Blog
Blog
Contents
Who is Frank Antunez?
Who is Frank Antunez?
Meet Frank Antunez, the mastermind behind FrankNez.com, one of the fastest-growing independent news sites on the web.
But his story is more than just numbers—it's a blend of ambition, resilience, and raw determination that saw him transform from a young father in Santa Ana to a digital entrepreneur commanding millions of monthly pageviews. Let’s dive into Frank’s inspiring journey of how he built his brand from the ground up and his key takeaways for other aspiring entrepreneurs.
Meet Frank Antunez, the mastermind behind FrankNez.com, one of the fastest-growing independent news sites on the web.
But his story is more than just numbers—it's a blend of ambition, resilience, and raw determination that saw him transform from a young father in Santa Ana to a digital entrepreneur commanding millions of monthly pageviews. Let’s dive into Frank’s inspiring journey of how he built his brand from the ground up and his key takeaways for other aspiring entrepreneurs.
The Backstory
The Backstory
Frank grew up in Santa Ana, California, witnessing his young parents’ struggles. Life wasn’t easy, and as the oldest of four, he was constantly aware of the financial pressures they faced. This tough upbringing influenced his own drive; when he became a father at just 17, he realized he wanted more for his child. He didn’t want his son to experience the same struggles, so he set his sights on building something better.
This ambition led Frank to college, where he earned a business degree. He soon began working in his father’s apparel decorating business, but Frank wasn’t content with just clocking in. He threw himself into sales, building a six-figure clientele and proving his talent for crafting persuasive emails—a skill he’d unknowingly been honing since high school poetry. This was where he discovered his natural knack for writing.
Frank grew up in Santa Ana, California, witnessing his young parents’ struggles. Life wasn’t easy, and as the oldest of four, he was constantly aware of the financial pressures they faced. This tough upbringing influenced his own drive; when he became a father at just 17, he realized he wanted more for his child. He didn’t want his son to experience the same struggles, so he set his sights on building something better.
This ambition led Frank to college, where he earned a business degree. He soon began working in his father’s apparel decorating business, but Frank wasn’t content with just clocking in. He threw himself into sales, building a six-figure clientele and proving his talent for crafting persuasive emails—a skill he’d unknowingly been honing since high school poetry. This was where he discovered his natural knack for writing.
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➤ Every week, we dig up stories of how regular people started and grew their businesses—
➤ Plus the marketing hacks that won them customers.
➤ Then, we share those insights with you.
➤ Every week, we dig up stories of how regular people started and grew their businesses—
➤ Plus the marketing hacks that won them customers.
➤ Then, we share those insights with you.
The Spark: Building FrankNez.com
The Spark: Building FrankNez.com
At age 23, Frank’s entrepreneurial spirit ignited. Inspired by the teachings of figures like Grant Cardone and Gary Vaynerchuk, he started exploring ways to make money outside his family’s business. His first ventures included dropshipping apparel on eBay and running music review services for independent artists. These experiences taught him a critical lesson: he needed a business with leverage—something that would generate income without demanding all his time.
That’s when the idea for a blog was born. In 2020, Frank launched FrankNez.com as a finance and business blog, intending to share his insights on sales, money management, and investing. Initially, it was a side hustle, something he juggled after his day job. But Frank’s knack for connecting with people through his writing started to gain attention.
At age 23, Frank’s entrepreneurial spirit ignited. Inspired by the teachings of figures like Grant Cardone and Gary Vaynerchuk, he started exploring ways to make money outside his family’s business. His first ventures included dropshipping apparel on eBay and running music review services for independent artists. These experiences taught him a critical lesson: he needed a business with leverage—something that would generate income without demanding all his time.
That’s when the idea for a blog was born. In 2020, Frank launched FrankNez.com as a finance and business blog, intending to share his insights on sales, money management, and investing. Initially, it was a side hustle, something he juggled after his day job. But Frank’s knack for connecting with people through his writing started to gain attention.
The AMC Stock Frenzy: FrankNez Takes Off
The AMC Stock Frenzy: FrankNez Takes Off
Frank’s blog had its first big breakthrough during the “meme stock” mania of 2021. AMC stock had become a cultural phenomenon, and when mainstream media attacked the stock's potential, Frank felt compelled to set the record straight. He began analyzing the stock’s potential and publishing counter-narratives to the legacy media, sharing why he believed there was an opportunity for retail investors to push back against short-sellers.
His insights resonated. His articles were some of the only sources discussing AMC’s market data, and readers flocked to his site for his unique perspective. His readership grew exponentially, with millions of visitors pouring in over the next few months.
Frank’s community-centric journalism helped his readers make significant profits and solidified his role as a trusted voice in the investing community. His dedication to providing value paid off—he was even featured in a Wall Street documentary and earned recognition in major financial publications.
Frank’s blog had its first big breakthrough during the “meme stock” mania of 2021. AMC stock had become a cultural phenomenon, and when mainstream media attacked the stock's potential, Frank felt compelled to set the record straight. He began analyzing the stock’s potential and publishing counter-narratives to the legacy media, sharing why he believed there was an opportunity for retail investors to push back against short-sellers.
His insights resonated. His articles were some of the only sources discussing AMC’s market data, and readers flocked to his site for his unique perspective. His readership grew exponentially, with millions of visitors pouring in over the next few months.
Frank’s community-centric journalism helped his readers make significant profits and solidified his role as a trusted voice in the investing community. His dedication to providing value paid off—he was even featured in a Wall Street documentary and earned recognition in major financial publications.
Scaling FrankNez.com: Building a Revenue-Generating Machine
Scaling FrankNez.com: Building a Revenue-Generating Machine
Today, FrankNez.com is a powerhouse, attracting between 1 and 3 million monthly pageviews and generating $60k to $80k monthly in ad and sponsored content revenue. But it wasn’t an overnight success. In its first year, the blog made just $100. Over time, Frank refined his approach, focusing on high-quality, valuable content, and invested heavily in SEO. His blog now brings in consistent, passive income, allowing him to focus more on strategic growth.
Frank’s marketing strategy evolved as well. He began by promoting his blog on social media, identifying where his target audience hung out, and engaging with them directly. His advice to new entrepreneurs: “Find your audience and provide tons of value.”
His book, Unlock Your Personal Brand, digs deeper into these strategies, but the main takeaway is simple—be generous with your knowledge. Success will follow.
Today, FrankNez.com is a powerhouse, attracting between 1 and 3 million monthly pageviews and generating $60k to $80k monthly in ad and sponsored content revenue. But it wasn’t an overnight success. In its first year, the blog made just $100. Over time, Frank refined his approach, focusing on high-quality, valuable content, and invested heavily in SEO. His blog now brings in consistent, passive income, allowing him to focus more on strategic growth.
Frank’s marketing strategy evolved as well. He began by promoting his blog on social media, identifying where his target audience hung out, and engaging with them directly. His advice to new entrepreneurs: “Find your audience and provide tons of value.”
His book, Unlock Your Personal Brand, digs deeper into these strategies, but the main takeaway is simple—be generous with your knowledge. Success will follow.
Frank’s Approach to SEO: Systems Over Keywords
Frank’s Approach to SEO: Systems Over Keywords
While SEO can seem overwhelming, Frank’s approach is all about building a “system.” He emphasizes the importance of staying niche at the beginning, allowing Google to recognize your site’s authority on a focused topic. Early on, he used tools like Ahrefs to target keywords, but as his site grew, he shifted to more organic methods, using long-tail keywords and Google Trends to identify hot topics.
Frank recommends backtesting frequently: “Try different things and, when something works, analyze why. Then, replicate.” For Frank, SEO isn’t about obsessing over keywords—it’s about building a brand that resonates with readers and consistently provides value. And the results speak for themselves: Frank’s content has grown organically, with readers sharing it widely and boosting its reach.
While SEO can seem overwhelming, Frank’s approach is all about building a “system.” He emphasizes the importance of staying niche at the beginning, allowing Google to recognize your site’s authority on a focused topic. Early on, he used tools like Ahrefs to target keywords, but as his site grew, he shifted to more organic methods, using long-tail keywords and Google Trends to identify hot topics.
Frank recommends backtesting frequently: “Try different things and, when something works, analyze why. Then, replicate.” For Frank, SEO isn’t about obsessing over keywords—it’s about building a brand that resonates with readers and consistently provides value. And the results speak for themselves: Frank’s content has grown organically, with readers sharing it widely and boosting its reach.
Growing an Organic Email List
Growing an Organic Email List
A significant part of Frank’s success has been his email list, which now boasts over 10,000 subscribers. He didn’t use elaborate marketing funnels or aggressive pop-ups. Instead, he focused on one thing: creating content worth reading. His email list grew naturally as readers signed up to stay connected with his valuable insights and market analyses.
Frank’s email list fluctuates seasonally, a normal trend he’s come to expect. His advice for those building their own lists? “Don’t panic over minor drops. Just keep delivering value, and your audience will stay with you.”
A significant part of Frank’s success has been his email list, which now boasts over 10,000 subscribers. He didn’t use elaborate marketing funnels or aggressive pop-ups. Instead, he focused on one thing: creating content worth reading. His email list grew naturally as readers signed up to stay connected with his valuable insights and market analyses.
Frank’s email list fluctuates seasonally, a normal trend he’s come to expect. His advice for those building their own lists? “Don’t panic over minor drops. Just keep delivering value, and your audience will stay with you.”
Content Creation Process
Content Creation Process
Frank’s content creation process has evolved as his site scaled. Initially, he focused on direct engagement, creating a personal blog where he shared insights and answered readers’ questions. Over time, his style shifted to more researched articles that combined news with his own analyses and opinions.
Now, Frank’s approach is a blend of styles, balancing timely news with personal takes. He also adds his brand logo to all images, enhancing brand presence across platforms. “You don’t have to do that, but it works for me,” he says.
The main takeaway: adapt your process as your brand grows. What works today may need to evolve tomorrow.
Frank’s content creation process has evolved as his site scaled. Initially, he focused on direct engagement, creating a personal blog where he shared insights and answered readers’ questions. Over time, his style shifted to more researched articles that combined news with his own analyses and opinions.
Now, Frank’s approach is a blend of styles, balancing timely news with personal takes. He also adds his brand logo to all images, enhancing brand presence across platforms. “You don’t have to do that, but it works for me,” he says.
The main takeaway: adapt your process as your brand grows. What works today may need to evolve tomorrow.
The Power of Community and Networking
The Power of Community and Networking
Frank’s success isn’t just about great content—it’s about community. He advises entrepreneurs to get involved in relevant communities and actively engage with their audience. Networking is key to building relationships and increasing reach, but it needs to be genuine. “If you create exceptional work, it will get shared and expand its reach,” Frank says. Focus on creating value, and let the rest follow.
Frank’s success isn’t just about great content—it’s about community. He advises entrepreneurs to get involved in relevant communities and actively engage with their audience. Networking is key to building relationships and increasing reach, but it needs to be genuine. “If you create exceptional work, it will get shared and expand its reach,” Frank says. Focus on creating value, and let the rest follow.
Key Takeaways for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Key Takeaways for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Start Small, Think Big: Frank began with side projects and small ventures before scaling up. His journey proves that you don’t need to wait for the “perfect” idea. Start with what you have and grow from there.
Find Your Niche: By focusing on finance and personal branding, Frank built an audience that trusted his insights. In the early stages, it’s crucial to stay niche and establish authority in one area.
Build Systems, Not Just Content: Frank treats his blog like a machine, constantly refining his processes to maximize efficiency and results. Creating “systems” around your content production and SEO strategy is essential to scaling your business.
Give Generously: Success is a byproduct of providing value. Whether it’s blog content, a newsletter, or social media posts, focus on serving your audience first, and the revenue will follow.
Be Consistent and Patient: Frank’s blog didn’t make money overnight. He stuck with it, learning, iterating, and improving along the way. Entrepreneurship takes time, and patience is often the most challenging part of the journey.
Optimize for Organic Growth: Frank’s traffic has grown largely through organic means—by creating quality content that people naturally want to share. Aim to build a community, not just a readership.
Start Small, Think Big: Frank began with side projects and small ventures before scaling up. His journey proves that you don’t need to wait for the “perfect” idea. Start with what you have and grow from there.
Find Your Niche: By focusing on finance and personal branding, Frank built an audience that trusted his insights. In the early stages, it’s crucial to stay niche and establish authority in one area.
Build Systems, Not Just Content: Frank treats his blog like a machine, constantly refining his processes to maximize efficiency and results. Creating “systems” around your content production and SEO strategy is essential to scaling your business.
Give Generously: Success is a byproduct of providing value. Whether it’s blog content, a newsletter, or social media posts, focus on serving your audience first, and the revenue will follow.
Be Consistent and Patient: Frank’s blog didn’t make money overnight. He stuck with it, learning, iterating, and improving along the way. Entrepreneurship takes time, and patience is often the most challenging part of the journey.
Optimize for Organic Growth: Frank’s traffic has grown largely through organic means—by creating quality content that people naturally want to share. Aim to build a community, not just a readership.
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If you're interested in more stories like this, here's more for you 🙂
I share more of these case studies + interviews in my newsletter and I'd love for you to join here 😊
Do me a favor and pass this on to a friend or share? It'll take just 20 seconds—this one took me about 2 hours to research and write 🫠
Shoot me a DM if you want to share your story or visit this page to submit your information 💌
h/t (Niche pursuits, Franknez.com)
