Cloud Database Insider Special Announcements

For the last two years I have been building this newsletter from less than nothing. I am not being hyperbolic.

Just a little context.

I had a few online ventures outside of the database sphere for a few years before the Cloud Database Insider newsletter. I experienced some degree of success, and also had a fair share of set backs. Such is life.

Here is the ultimate irony of ironies. While attending an online marketing conference in the UK in September of 2023, while the head of of some Google department was making a speech (I believe it was John Mueller), Google initiated their “Helpful Content Update”. I mean while he was on stage, Google was rolling out their update to the search algorithm. I kid you not.

To whom it was helpful to, I still have no idea because it certainly was not me, and thousands of other website owners and operators. I know of operators far larger than me having to get rid of staff because of the “Helpful Content Update”.

I had some income producing properties that essentially went to 0 in a matter of months after the “Helpful Content Update”.

Fast forward to May of 2024, I went to the UK, again, to attend a previously scheduled marketing conference. Everybody was lamenting on the onslaught from Google in the early fall of 2023.

The main theme that a lot of speakers espoused that day is to stop relying on Google to get your message out, and have a direct link to your audience.

Also, the speakers said you should put out information that you like, have deep knowledge about, and will never tire of putting out into the world. Hence the spark for Cloud Database Insider. My first post was on August 7, 2024:

I think I have lived up to what I first stated two years ago…

So here are a few announcements. I am taking a much needed break for a few weeks. I have been going non-stop for 2 years with the newsletter, on top of having a very Senior level full time job, and of course other obligations. Sometimes working an extra 25 hours per week, in the early days, on top of a full time job.

I will be back to the regular Monday morning email on August 3, 2026.

The second major announcement is that I am just shy by a couple dozen, 5,000 subscribers. That is a monumental accomplishment and I could not have done it without you, the reader. This email makes 117 newsletters sent out so far.

Just so you know, on top of the weekly creation of the newsletter, self study and research, exams and certifications, and work, I also look into ways to make the operation and growth of the newsletter as seamless as possible.

Upon my return, I will slowly be implementing a lot of new things, on top of the weekly emails. So even though I will not be sending out the regular emails for the next couple of weeks, I will have the time to put the next level initiatives into production.

I just want to say again, thank you for having faith in me to bring to you the real world database news that you/I really need to know. I have some very loyal readers that have opened and read almost every email, and to you, I am most thankful.

Finally, a reccurring theme is that it seems databases are now just an afterthought in 2026. If you were to see the Amazon River torrent level of news on Cloud Databases I get from my workflows, you would confidently come to the conclusion that Cloud Databases are not only rising in stature, but will be here for a long time.

Keep the faith.

Gladstone Benjamin

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