Case Study VerticalScope, behind 1,200+ online communities, just confirmed Google updates have negatively impacted their business.

[Cpvr]

VerticalScope, behind 1,200+ online communities, just confirmed Google updates have negatively impacted their business.

Some highlights from their Q1 '25 earnings update:

• Revenue decreased 8% to $13.6M
• Increased consulting costs for "AI initiatives and SEO optimizations"
• Adjusted EBITDA decreased 30% to $3.6M
• They expect to average 90M monthly active users in Q2
• Generated $3M in operating cash flow
• Net loss of $2.4M (compared to a $1M loss a year ago)

Regarding SEO they also noted that volatility in search results is something they've been dealing with for 20 years so they're not in new territory.

They added that it could be the case that in a future update, things swing back in the direction of prioritising their forums in results again.

 

[Cedric]

While I’m no fan of VS, this is just the sad truth of how forums are being treated online. That company doesn’t have a good future.

 

[Ravenfreak]

While I’m no fan of VS, this is just the sad truth of how forums are being treated online. That company doesn’t have a good future.

You're right and it sucks because soon I have a feeling all those communities they have control over will cease to exist. To think all those admins throughout the years sold their communities to a company that one day might not even bother continue to host them. Google really isn't that great of a company, but which mega internet corporation is? You've got Google wanting to control everything and likewise with Meta. Google owns youtube, and Youtube has been going down the gutter for years.

 

[Cpvr]

While I’m no fan of VS, this is just the sad truth of how forums are being treated online. That company doesn’t have a good future.

Verticle
Sc

You're right and it sucks because soon I have a feeling all those communities they have control over will cease to exist. To think all those admins throughout the years sold their communities to a company that one day might not even bother continue to host them. Google really isn't that great of a company, but which mega internet corporation is? You've got Google wanting to control everything and likewise with Meta. Google owns youtube, and Youtube has been going down the gutter for years.

The main thing is also Vertical scope communities aren’t ran like they used to be either, which is very unfortunate. Most of them we’re thriving online communities prior to being brought out by their founders. If they actually focused on improving the forums, then they wouldn’t be declining. They basically just sit there and collect dust.

For example, they own TheadminZone, which is a shell of its former self and many car forums. There’s various discussion topics across the web where users discuss them buying forums and killing them.

Reddit - The heart of the internet

www.reddit.com

VerticalScope is killing forums.

forums.irixnet.org

Buy out Vertical Scope? (“No pictures, no peace!”)

Form an LLC, and buy these ** out? Similar to an esop (employee stock ownership plan). I don’t know what their price might be, but it would be interesting to see if it’s possible? Starting a new forum would lose all the history and knowledge here, so that route would seem to be a non-starter...

www.triumphrat.net

you can also see how many forums they own here:

Websites using VerticalScope

Download a list of all websites using VerticalScope

trends.builtwith.com

 

[Ravenfreak]

I went down a rabbit hole once looking into Vertical Scope and it's sad really what they've done to a good number of communities. This is just making it worse too. Heck it's on par with what Tapatalk did with a lot of free forum hosts too, so many people were forced to use a downgraded platform of what they've had in the past.