I write a website with a friend, and in April 2009 embarked on a campaign to increase viewer numbers. I have set a goal to increase numbers by 5% over those we attracted in the first quarter of 2009. The goal is to achieve a 5% increase taken as an average of the first 4 weeks of this quarter.
I measure viewer numbers by the toughest method possible with Google Analytics.
Google Analytics gives viewer numbers and unique viewer numbers every day. If the same user logs on to the website twice in one day, they count twice as viewers but only once as a unique viewer.
It is possible to get the unique viewer number per week (or other parameters are possible). This is the total number of different users that have logged on during the week.
As far as it is possible to tell, we do have some loyal site visitors who log on almost every day. If they log on every day for a week, they will count as 7 viewers, but only one unique viewer.
Our website is updated every Thursday, and therefore I record statistics from Thursday to Wednesday. We have now completed the final week of the 4-week period.
At the end of the first week our viewer numbers were down by 33%! I attributed this down turn to the school holidays. When setting the target I had forgotten about the 2 week Easter break; our numbers are always depressing during school holidays.
It was a pleasant surprise when our viewer numbers for the second week were down by only 6%.
The third week of the target period was very gratifying. We exceeded our target of a 5% increase, with a total number of unique viewers just above 16% of the average per week from the first quarter.
The increase was not sustained in week four, and the number of unique viewers dipped to 13% below my target figure.
The total number of viewers for week four was above average, so it seemed that we were not attracting a sufficient number of new viewers, or getting users to return after an absence of more than a week.
In my previous Intel on this subject, I explained that I had 3 strategies to achieve my goal.
The first was to constantly maintain the quality of content of the site.
For week 4 we added new features on Tricia’s Free Stuff, Letter from a Seamaiden and notes on storing winter clothes.
We have noticed that features that are personal to us always feature high in the page ranks. That is why we titled the feature on how to get free stuff ‘Tricia’s Free Stuff’.
The pages that received the highest number of unique views were:
1. Style (Put away your winter woollies)
2. Chit Chat (Letter from a Seamaiden)
3. Money Saving Tips (Tricia’s Free Stuff)
4. Fair Trade & Organic (Fair Trade Florals)
5. Talk Back
The Fair Trade page was in first place the previous week. The article featured products from a range of on-line retailers. I had contacted them in advance asking for permission to use images, and I suspect that all of them logged on to make sure I had got all the details correct.
As this strategy was reasonably successful in attracting viewers, I am planning to include another Fair Trade fashion article in the near future.
We were surprised that the article on storing winter clothes should attract so many page views, as the topic was mundane. Maybe people want more practical advice, so we will bear that in mind when planning ahead.
The Talk Back page offers viewers the chance to add their comments. It has consistently scored high for views, but with few viewers actually adding comments.
During week 4, the number of comments has increased, and it seems to us that we now have one new ‘regular’ viewer and comment writer. This is very encouraging.
As part of our strategy to maintain quality content, in week 5 we are updating the Chit Chat page for May. We have produced new information about stretches.
The latter article includes photos of Tricia demonstrating the stretches. Taking photos is always a challenge, as space is often a problem, and Pat has to stand on a chair sometimes to get the right angle.
The second strategy is to maintain a presence on the Internet.
Last week our best source of referred viewers was a website called Craftingagreenworld, for which I give the link below. This was followed by Facebook and then Qassia, so thanks to anyone who clicked through!
I have published a new Hub this week, and this may produce some new viewers for week 5. I give the link to the Hub below.
The third strategy is to publicise the site in the ‘real’ world, but I achieved very little on this front.
For the next 4 weeks I am sticking to the same target, which is to achieve a 5% increase in weekly unique viewer numbers above the average from the first 13 weeks of 2009.
We are adding another strategy. This is to increase the number of product reviews on our website, and to improve the listing of products on our site map.
Our logic is that many of the keywords used when new viewers come to our site are product based – people are looking for information about beauty products.
I aim to give the first report on our Phase Two Campaign in mid-May.
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Contributor's Note
Thank you to all Qassia readers who have taken the time to look at our website.
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