Part 4/8:

Brandon vividly recalls the feeling of arriving at the summit of success—collaborating with brands he had idolized since childhood was surreal. However, the elation was short-lived.

The Decline: Google's Algorithm Change

Out of the blue, Google’s algorithm shifts decimated Retro Dodo's traffic by approximately 85%. Even loyal fans couldn't locate the site amidst the chaos. For Brandon, it felt like a betrayal; he had always adhered strictly to Google's guidelines, convincing himself that the site would bounce back as it had in past fluctuations.

In desperation, he sought advice from friends within the gaming industry, many of whom faced similar plights. Despite their best efforts and ethical practices, traffic never returned to previous levels.