Operation Vegas: May Update - Bad News & Good News
Welcome to another update for my website!
In May, I had some bad news and some good news.
But we'll get to that in a bit.
For now, here's what I accomplished this month:
- Wrote 4 articles
- Posted 1 YouTube video
- Redesigned all of my YouTube thumbnails so that they're consistent
- 418 YouTube subscribers (up from 351 last month)
- My most-watched YouTube video has almost 18,000 views
- 285 email subscribers (up from 268 last month)
(NOTE: I also just noticed I have 300 posts on my website!)
I know I need to up my content. I have been so distracted by the news, and it's been a struggle, honestly.
School finishes on June 10, so that will free up a little more time. I know I need to do better than this.
Let's get into the stats, and I'll be able to explain the bad news and good news.
Traffic & Stats
Here's what April looked like:
April was so good!
Now here's May:
Not bad, but it's definitely not as good as April.
April Traffic:
This was so awesome!
But, here's May:
So that's the bad news. My traffic dropped in May. Google can't just let me have good traffic for a long period of time, can they?
It's cool, Google. It's cool.
I'll try not to take it too personally.
But:
The next section is the good news.
Referrals
I actually had my best month yet in terms of referrals and sales. So, my traffic is down, but referrals and sales are up.
- January 2019 = 10, 0 Premium = $0
- February 2019 = 11, 0 Premium = $0
- March 2019 = 25, 0 Premium = $0
- April 2019 = 30, 2 Premiums = $39.50*
- May 2019 = 25, 3 Premiums = $47.50
- June 2019 = 37, 2 Premiums = $63.00
- July 2019 = 35, 3 Premiums = $118.00
- August 2019 = 24, 4 Premiums = $149.50
- September 2019 = 12, 2 Premiums = $157
- October 2019 = 32, 4 Premiums = $164.50
- November 2019 = 29, 4 Premiums = $149.50 (+1 Black Friday sale)
- December 2019 = 32, 2 Premiums = $157 (+ Black Friday sale payment = $282)
- January 2020 = 34, 4 Premiums = $220
- February 2020 = 17, 1 Premium = $219.50
- March = 29, 3 Premium = $235.50
- April = 32, 3 Premium = $212 + $24 Jaaxy commission
I also had a yearly sale in May, but that amount will show up in next month's report.
I also have 222 credits, and of those, I could exchange $78 worth, which is decent. I'm just building those up until the end of the year, and I'll apply them toward my yearly membership.
I also made a couple of sales on another program I promote, but I won't get paid on those sales for a bit.
Goals for June
I am starting to think of more things I can do with YouTube. I'm also trying out a video editor so that I can up my game there a bit.
I want to write at least 8 articles.
I also have my other websites that I've been planning to work on, but I just can't seem to focus on those ones at all. We'll see what happens with those this month, but my main focus will be on this website.
I also have ideas about getting my email list going. I know I'm slacking there big time.
Finally, I want to get Pinterest started again. I have ideas of how to get that done too.
I think June will be a great month. As long as I can stay off of Twitter and focus!! lol There's just way too much going on here at the moment.
Anyway, now it's your turn.
Tell me how your May was in the comments below!
Until next time...
- Christina
Recent Comments
53
You are doing great! Your traffic is kind of like mine - gone down in volume but up in quality. I'm down in those terms but up on sales and referrals too.
Doing worse past few days, but still, getting good starter referrals, and already a new recurring sale and a new premium.
I remember you said that about the traffic in my last report. It's something I've kept in mind. It is better to have less traffic, but better quality overall.
Sounds like you're doing great! Keep it up!
- Christina
haha, yeah that is true - still a bummer though. The geek got out in me really went through GSC and found the reason - on keyword I was ranking #1 for that has over 30k searches has about a 10th of that now - kind of why I really don't like creating this non-ever green content.
I'd rather have 3 article that get 1,000 each every month than one that get 3k+ for just one month!.
Still though, my evergreen traffic was up when filtering out the non-evergreen stuff, but only just.
This month, by the look of it will be a bit of fight!...
....Gloves off!!...ready for round 1!
(just and ironic after thought...if only folks would stay under "house arrest" and searching on the internet instead of looting and rioting eh...haha!)
I'm sure that's what happened to me too. I had some good snippets in Google and I'm guessing they came down. I didn't dig into it too much, but I'm pretty sure that's what happened.
Gloves off here too. Ready to take down June! And Google! lol
(But yes, I'm staying out of the rioting. It's supposedly pretty bad in the city near me - Philadelphia - but I'm staying out in the quiet 'burbs.)
- Christina
Christina wow !!!😎👌
I feel like a little pimple on an elephant when I hear how much you are doing .
My job is very busy this time of the year I have people on a waiting list 🤔something new.
I will try to reach your level one day, keep up the great work😎☝️
Haha, I really haven't done as much as I could, but it makes a difference what the rest of your life is like too. So, you can only do what you can do!
Just keep moving forward and you'll get there. :)
- Christina
I love love reading your progress and income reports, hopefully you are feeling quite proud of yourself. You have achieved a considerable amount over the last 12 months, especially in terms of learning.
Big huge well done for taking on You Tube, that may well be where your next big growth comes from.. Well done
Thanks, I am trying! I'm proud of myself because I feel like I do put my all into whatever I'm doing, but I am also mad at myself for not doing more over the past few months.
But, it's OK. I'm getting there.
Thanks for reading and commenting! I appreciate it!
- Christina
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Great results overall, Christina!
I'm in the same position as you in May - traffic numbers are worse than bad, but had 4 premiums in May and 4 the month before.
So I guess times of distress kinda makes up for it. But still bad timing for Google to do an update, nevertheless.
It's like now we've got this amazing opportunity of a lifetime on our hands, Google decides to be a moron about it and run another update that takes weeks, if not months to bounce back from = lost sales.
All it causes is anxiety, at the end of the day.
But we can rise above if we stick to the path. :)
I have just come to expect Google to do updates and for my traffic to crash because of it. lol
That's why I want to get into YouTube and Pinterest more just to diversify where the traffic is coming from.
It's a good challenge, I guess? :)
Sounds like you're still doing well. I hope you have a great June!
- Christina
I guess in a way, these updates can push us, so we're in a better position each time one happens.
But it's great to diversify because we can't 100% rely on Google anymore.
Just do what works best for you. Personally, I'm no longer a fan of the organic side of social media.
But I'm gonna put more effort into Reddit and start running more paid ads in the future when commissions rack up.
Cheers, you too Christina!
Let's push for 5 premiums this month lol.