Time is flying by like CRAZY. Not only do I have a one month old baby now, but the New Blog launched over a month ago. It’s time to share its stats and details from the first month!
The New Blog launched on August 10th, 2015. This post is documenting the blog from August 1oth – September 10th. I decided to give the author of the New Blog an alias name in order to make it easier for me to talk about her and her blog. From here on out I will refer to her as Jane and I will still refer to her blog as the New Blog.
A glance at being live for the first month.
Currently, Jane is posting 3 times a week on her blog. When she’s not creating new content for the blog, she’s busy promoting and networking! She’s quickly found that blogging is a lot of work.
Promotional and networking methods used this month
To promote her blog, she did all of the following:
- Participated in Facebook support threads.
- Participated in link up parties (here’s a great list of link ups, if you want to participate in some too!)
- She joined Facebook groups relating to her niche as pays attention to the discussions going on there. When people ask for suggestions or have questions relating to her content, she sends a reply and links to her own site.
As for networking (which doubles as promotion), she did the following:
- Commented on other people’s blogs on a regular basis
- Shared other blogger’s articles on the New Blog’s Facebook and Twitter accounts
- Retweet other blogger’s in her niche.
Other first month details
Jane was contacted by a sponsorship company asking her to apply to their network. Yes – they came to her. This was exciting news! For the marketing team to reach out to her, it means that the New blog is being recognized in the blogging world. The company has a minimum requirements for their bloggers: 6 months of blogging and 20k pageviews a month. Obviously, the New Blog hasn’t reached those numbers yet so she probably won’t get accepted, but that’s okay. I think it is awesome that the company perceived her as been bigger than she is. That’s a good track to be on. 🙂
As you’ll soon see in the traffic section of this post, the New Blog is already getting search traffic for terms relating to her main categories. Before Jane launched her blog, we made sure to setup a sitemap and submitted it to Google. This makes it easier for Google to find your awesome content. Go get yours set up and submitted too! She’s also doing a great job including meta titles and descriptions to all of her posts and alt tags on her images.
Jane was nominated for the infamous Liebster award. We both decided that it would be best not to participate in the Liebster award.
It sounds like a good idea since the purpose is to help you connect with other bloggers. However, we decided that it wasn’t in the best interest of the New Blog to participate though. Why? First, you’re telling people you’re a small or newer blog. We’ve worked so hard to have Jane’s blog seem like a pro blog from the start. Why would we want to crush that by participating in the Liebster award? Second, Jane felt it was important to only publish quality content on her blog that fit the within her focus. I think it was a good decision and don’t feel like she missed out on anything.
Traffic and Follower Report
Now for the part you’ve all been waiting for, the numbers.
Followers report after blogging for one month.
Before Going live
- Twitter – 111
- Pinterest – 541
- Facebook – 266
- Instagram – 200
- Bloglovin – 0
- Newsletter Subscribers – 122
This Month
- Twitter – 299 +188
- Pinterest – 672 +131
- Facebook – 347 +81
- Instagram – 388 +188
- Bloglovin – 39 +39
- Newsletter Subscribers – 150 +28
Traffic during the first month of blogging
Traffic Graph
Right now the New Blog peaks when there are new posts and drops down on days there isn’t new content. This is perfectly normal.
Traffic Overview
Top 10 Traffic Referrals
I wish Google Analytics would group the Facebook referrals together, because Facebook currently takes up 3 of the 10 referrals. I’m very happy with where her main referrals are coming from though. Proof that Facebook isn’t dead and that having an email list is important. Even though Jane’s list isn’t very big yet, it still accounts for 18.92% of her traffic. Can’t wait to see how that changes as we focus on her list this month.
Income and Expense Report
Expenses:
- Logo – $40. Jane had an Etsy designer come up with a logo for her. It turned out great. We added the logo to her blog and used the icon portion of her logo to create a favicon and to add a custom gravatar to commenters who do not have a gravatar of their own. It’s great branding. The logo was added to the blog shortly after Jane published her first articles.
No income to report yet, but hopefully soon!
Total blogging expenses so far: $209.35
Goals for the second month
- Set up a few banner ads and include affiliate links in some posts and start making the big bucks.
- Write a round up post featuring other bloggers.
- Create a freebie for newsletter subscribers and get more subscribers.
- Link to previous posts to encourage more interaction on the blog.
- Become a Yummly publisher. As a food blogger, this could really help boost her traffic.
Takeaways to apply to your blog.
Be weary of follow threads.
I mentioned that the New Blog participated in support threads in Facebook groups. These are a great way to spread your content and build a community around your blog. However, I would like to throw some caution out there about participating in follow or like threads.
I am always hesitant to participate in follow me and I’ll follow you on social media platforms. Why? You’ll most likely you end up with a whole bunch of followers that never actually interact with you. This is especially a big problem with Facebook’s algorithms. When you have a low percentage of people that respond to your post – Facebook will start showing your posts less in the news feed.
Also, brands and companies will pay attention to more than just the number of followers you have. They want to see if your followers interact and engage with you.
You want real followers. Quantity is great, but think quality as well.
Join groups related to your niche.
I’m not talking about blogging groups, but Facebook groups or forums that relate to the topics you write about. Jane is able to send people to her blog when someone else posts questions relating to her articles. Added Bonus: If you don’t have a post relating to the discussions going on in these groups, you can use the questions as ideas for upcoming posts on your blog.
Don’t wait until everything’s perfect to start.
You probably noticed that the New Blog launched without her logo. A lot of people will tell you it’s super important to have your branding in place before you get started. Here’s the thing though, nothing will ever be perfectly how you want it. So just start. You can perfect things as you go along.
love this ♡ very helpful!
launched my blog a few days ago with 232 views and 57 sessions. wishing I had more. adding more content today!
I started my blog less than a month ago, so this is super helpful in terms both blogging tips, and comparing where my own numbers are at.
Congratulations on the new blog! Good luck, let me know if you have any questions.
Hi!
Congratulations and awesome first month! I’m rounding out my 4th week and just broke over 1k in views, and just a few subscribers as well.
Keep it up!
That’s awesome, Elaine! Congratulations. We’ve tracked the new blog for an entire year. You can check out the last post, if you’d like!
Hey Kristie. Jane sure does a lot. I’ve got a two month old music discussion blog with 30 uniques daily. is this normal? my traffic is mainly from search engines and I hardly participate in networking Luke Jane
Sounds pretty normal. Networking makes it so that you’re not the only one sharing your stuff. Give it a try!
Wow that’s an impressive first month! My page views for the first month of FrugalAsianFinance.com were similar to yours, but I didn’t and still don’t have as many subscribers and followers on social media. Great job!
That s great that your first-month page views were similar. Work on converting those views to followers/subscribers. In your sidebar subscribe, maybe tell people why they should subscribe. How does subscribing benefit them? Also, I couldn’t find links to any of your social media accounts to follow you. Maybe add them somewhere?
Lol oh well hello Ms. FAF, nice seeing you here!
Kristie these stats look awesome! Thanks for sharing!!
You’re welcome! Hope you are able to get your own insights on how to grow your blog.
Kristie: Thanks so much for posting!! Starting a blog is hard work in the beginning, but definitely rewarding!!You can check out my newly minted blog here: http://Jennifer-Franklin.com
Congrats on the newly minted blog Jennifer.
Hey Kristie!! Thanks for the awesome post. I have a month old blog too and would be glad if you stopped by to share your feedback and some love too! 🙂 Please subscribe to us if you can (if that’s not too much I”m asking for) <3
http://www.beautymommies.com
Hey! I have a month old blog too!! 🙂
Great post! Will surely follow everything you mentioned! Please stop by @ http://www.beautymommies.com and leave us a feedback! Would be helpful 🙂
There is no way to have that kind of traffic the first month. Even if you know what you’re doing, if you don’t spend money you have no traffic, your site is too new to have organic traffic from google. Even targeting a really good keywords your blog isn’t good enough, too new.
This is probably bullshit.
What would you estimate would be the average amount of traffic in the first month? And what do you think the growth rate goal should be?
hmm… That’s a good question, but I honestly don’t think there is an answer for everyone. Sorry. :/
Thank you for this! I will be launching my blog soon and this is very helpful. I will also pin this for later 🙂
You’re welcome! Good luck with your blog launch.
Hello kristie hill I have started a blog from blogspot. Com can I earn money in blogspot. Com
And if I can earn money so how much? Please reply me
Hello Kristie,
Thanks for documenting the new blog experiment.
I can’t tell you how many times I have read it from month 1 – month 12, but just getting to leave a comment now [must be like a dozen times, like seriously!!!]
Just began a new journey with my blog ontreprenr.com, and this post has been really helpful in knowing what to expect every month. I plan on documenting mine too and will let you know as it goes [hope that’s okay?]
Thaaaaank you 🙂
Hi Hannah! Thank you so much for leaving a comment. I like hearing from people that have read my posts. I’m also glad that the series has helped you know what to expect and make plans of things you should do with your own site. Do keep me posted on how things go!
wow interesting and motivating post thanks for sharing
You’re welcome!
Good God Kristie, you doing an amazing job in my life right. I came across your blog just this morning and I have answers to almost all my questions. I want to start a fashion blog in Nigeria and I intend to make money from it, I know nothing about blogging but with you, there’s hope. I’m looking forward to chatting with you about my needs and maybe troubles. thanks a bundle Kristie.
Atuba, I am so happy you found my blog and that the articles were able to answer your questions. Please, let me know if you have any questions. Best of luck to you!
Thank you for sharing your inspiring journey! Congratulations on the site views and following. My blog is few days older than yours and for now I can only dream of such numbers. I still need to learn a lot but take it one step at a time.
This is amazing. Please keep doing these posts, it’s so intriguing to watch from this side of things to see how quickly a new blog is able to progress with some help. I’m just about my launch my own blog on December 1st and have been doing a TON of prep work such as growing an audience base and reading everything I can get my hands on about how to succeed as a blogger (I was a blogger previously, but was never serious about it eventually becoming my full-time career until now). Thank you so much for doing this series! So informative and interesting. I can’t wait to read more!
https://www.twitter.com/mirandamowbray
Hi Miranda, so glad you’ve stopped by and explored my blog today. How exciting that your new blog is going live so soon. I have posted the second month of blogging already, and will be doing a third month update soon!
Let me know if you have any questions for me.
Wow…I’m jealous of the following and siteviews after 2 months?! I’d love to hear more about how she grew facebook and/or how she found the facebook groups? Facebook is a frustration for me and their group search leaves something to be desired in my opinion. 🙂
OMG, I have just found your blog. I wish I found it two months earlier, it would have been sooo motivating! It still is, it just that I have two extra I-don’t-know-what-to-do months behind me. I will follow the New Blog, it’s very exciting 🙂
I’m just about to embark on setting up a brand new blog to help equine business owners grow their businesses, so I’m absolutely loving the ‘New Blog’ series! It’s so helpful and I’ve bookmarked all of the posts so that I can go through with a fine-tooth comb and follow all of your advice when I have more time.
I plan to launch Jan 2016, so I’ll come back and let you know how I get on!
Thanks so much for sharing.
That sounds like an awesome new business venture for your Sophie. Can’t wait to read the blog. Good luck with the launch. Let me know if there is anything you need help with or you would like to see us try.
Great post! Like you pieces of advice very much! How much time did it take to learn all this stuff?
I’ve been blogging on WordPress since 2010. So, 5 years and counting?
Interesting post! Very nice! Screenshots help to understand everything better! Thanks for sharing!
Loved this post! It sounds like Jane is doing the same things I am as a blogger who’s been at it for two years! I need to pick up my game! I’ll be reading more of your site for sure! Do you do coaching? Is that how you’re helping ‘Jane’?
I am coaching Jane, but am current not doing any other coaching as I just had a baby ladt month and she’s taking up most of my time. 🙂
But, I will be sharing most of the coaching I give to Jane through upcoming posts. Through these traffic reports and additional posts.
Great insight on what it’s like to start a new blog Kristie! Sounds like your doing great. I love that you share your goals and what’s working for you. xoxo Misty @frostedevents
This is amazing and so helpful. I just created a new Blog project after retiring my old one. I’m excited to continue to learn from your insights!
Thank you Jardana! I’m excited for your new blog, I’m sure you’re going to be very successful helping people.
Unbelievable stats for your first month! 🙂
Isn’t it neat that Jane’s been so successful so soon? It’s definitely a lot of work, but worth it.
Wow, these are amazing stats for the first month! I’d love to know more in-depth how she built up her followings on the various social media platforms! 🙂
Hi Jordan! Sharing other blogger’s content and interacting with them on their social platforms is one of the biggest contributing factors to her social growth. Hope that helps! You can also read this post for more details on the strategies she implemented to kick start her following before her first post published.
Wow. So this new blog went live around the same day I began promoting my blog (which I had been working on behind the scenes for about a month, so the similar timeline is pretty amazing!). I need this advice!! Thanks for doing this series!
That is so cool that you guys launched around the same time, you’ll have to share your progress with us too! What do you like about blogging so far? What have been the most effective ways you have found to share mediumsizedfamily.com?
This is amazing. I often wonder how popular bloggers got started. What their first post was to how they built a following. This case study was a brilliant idea of yours. Truly unique. I will definitely be keeping up with The New Blog updates to find out. And i wish Jane the best with her blog.
I am super curious as to what it is because her focus is something I am into personally. But I’msure II’ll come across her soon if she continues doing well.
Hopefully you will be coming across her soon! Or maybe you already have? 😉
I’m so glad you like the case study! It was an idea I had brewing for a while, so it’s been fun to see it come together and to watch Jane GO!
Love this project and thanks for sharing my link up list!
No, THANK YOU. You’re link up list is such a great resource!
You’ve done better in a month than me during a year and a half blogging! This is very inspiring to read and to learn! I’ve saved it to Pocket to check it again (and again). PS: I love the New Girl style 😉
You’re the first one to pick up (or at least mention) the New Girl style!! Thanks. 🙂
Hopefully the techniques we use help build your blog too!
Even though I’m not a new blogger, this is an invaluable way to see exactly how a blog grows. Thank you for this project, I look forward to following!
I’m glad that this project is valuable for experienced bloggers too!