Now, the official challenge is on. I have made it my personal goal to see my very own blog turn a profit before the end of my internship here at the Profitable Mommy Blog. And, I’ve challenged you all to do the same!
So, let’s start with the facts.
I have been using google analytics on my website for a couple of months now, and I think they give fairly accurate numbers. The only thing you have to remember is that they are java based, so anyone browsing the internet that has java turned off won’t be counted towards your count. But, most people have it on, so they’ll give us numbers I’m comfortable working with.
If you don’t know how to install google analytics on your website– read this informative blog post. They give step by step instructions. If you need further help, I can always do a blog post about it later, so just leave me a little note in the comments and I will see what I can do.
Let’s take a look at my stats.
I am getting anywhere from 20 to 55 or so unique visitors a day. That isn’t great. So, now we know what my biggest problem is.
Traffic.
I need to get more people coming to my blog. Now, remember this doesn’t include the people who read my blog in a RSS reader. But, that traffic isn’t giving me ad revenue or page impressions, so it isn’t as important as the actual click through traffic.
So, let’s take a look see at a few of the top entry pages to my blog, so I can get an idea of how people are coming to look at my site.
Now, what did we learn with this little bit of information? People like lists, they like giveaways, and they like the posts where I tell interesting and honest stories about myself and my family.
That is gold.
I now know exactly how to focus my blog in order to appease the people who have clicked through to read my posts.
Having a general focus to your blog, and knowing what your readers want is key. Now that we know this, we are ready to rock.
Stay tuned tomorrow, we are going to keep working with our traffic and see if we can’t unlock the great mysteries of the RSS Reader.
Remember, this project is about you too! If you have any ideas on how we can get our blogs to turn a profit–I am all ears!
I want to hear your numbers too! Let’s contrast and compare? What do your analytics look like?
10 Responses to “You Gotta Start Somewhere, Right?”
Heather @ Girly Blog Designz
1 year ago
This is a great post! I think a lot of us jump right to the make money part and totally skip the step of analyzing their stats. I can definitely tell you are very serious about making a profit from your blog – good for you!
Felicia - I Complete Me
1 year ago
This is an excellent post. I have read post that says look at your stats, but what exactly am I looking for and why. You have told me exactly what I need to do and most importantly how I need to do it. I am going to look at my stats right now. Okay according to my stats I’m getting about 20 something visitors a day (how can I really average that out?) This is not great at all. I also looked at my top content and definitely giveaways gave me an incredible boost of traffic. My readers like post about marriage, relationships, motherhood, and postpartum body. Man thank you for being so clear on your steps. I love it!
Felicia – I Complete Me´s last blog post..A Reality Check
Pam
1 year ago
I have sitemeter & my blogs average 22, 24 & 14 visitors per day.
Pam´s last blog post..Vlogemotions #2
Jendi
1 year ago
Google Analytics says my visitors range from 28 to 120. Sitemeter says I average around 70 per day.
My croc shoes video and giveaway are the 2 top posts. My Jendi Jean Bags page still pulls in a bunch of traffic. Then it’s one I wrote about thousand leggers and the next is how to dry a cell phone. Umm – no focus here.
I notice change in traffic by how active I’ve been in the blogosphere by commenting or linking.
Angela Green
1 year ago
I have noticed the same as Jendi, that I can pinpoint when I’m doing things “out” around the internet, and how that drives traffic back to my blog. My primary traffic sources are about 3 referring sites. I’m lucky if I get 15-20 visitors/day.
Angela Green´s last blog post..I am an intern!
Danielle
1 year ago
Thanks for all the details. Traffic is so important to making a profit on your blog and this is a great place to start!
Danielle´s last blog post..Enjoy the Journey or Not!
Cee Tindall
1 year ago
Awesome informative post! You had me on the edge of my keyboard wanting to know more!
Look forward to getting to know you. I’m a former Foodies intern.
Cee Tindall´s last blog post..Kindness and Simple Contentment
Erin Hill
1 year ago
I’m totally going to download Google Analytics today. Thanks for the awesome pointers! I’ll let you know if I have an issues with downloading….
Angie (Losing It and Loving It)
1 year ago
I have to take some time to learn how to read stats. I use AWstats through my cpanel at Host Gator but really don’t get all of it.
Angie (Losing It and Loving It)´s last blog post..Exercise tips from around the web
Amanda
1 year ago
I ended up on bed rest just as I got my blogs up and running well, and then I had several weeks without internet access due to a move. I lost all my readers except one or two family members, so I’m building from the beginning again.
Even though the series was written a year ago, the world building series I did on The Tekaran Lady is still tops for that blog. The 52 Week Challenge posts are doing well on the work-at-home-mom blog.
Amanda´s last blog post..The Challenge Begins Its Spread!