Travel Blog Update: April 2018
On
Where Are We Now?
My travel blog has now been live for three months. Every month, I share my blogging journey so that I can track my progress and provide people with a more realistic view of what it takes to build a travel blog. So let’s see how InkForMiles is doing:
April 2018:
Page Views: 5,647
Average Position on Google: 59
Social Shares: 4,896
Pinterest Followers: 176
Twitter Followers: 160
Not too bad especially when compared to March:
March 2018
Page Views: 4,649
Social Shares: 1,465
Pinterest Followers: 85
Twitter Followers: 12
What I Got Right
Pinterest
I finally feel like I’ve hit my groove with Pinterest and I owe that all to the course Pinterest Traffic Avalanche. It put me on the right track at the start and now I’m up to 100 visitors a day just from Pinterest traffic. As a result, I’ve been able to focus on growing other social media platforms because I’ve got Pinterest down.
Advice: Invest the time to master Pinterest because if you put the effort in you will see results. I had days where I felt like I was pinning into the abyss and it was all a waste of time, then last week one of my pins went viral and my screams of joy were heard for miles. Work hard on your Pinterest game because nothing beats free traffic.
Truly amazed at how quickly I was able to grow my Twitter following in just one month. Way faster than Pinterest, but it’s worth noting that even with so few Pinterest followers I get 1000% more views from Pinterest than I do Twitter. But even so, its great to see my followers growing and knowing that there are people out there that are interested in InkForMiles and its content.
I should also note that I didn’t grow my Twitter or Pinterest followers by using the Follow/Unfollow method of following a bunch of people and then unfollowing those that don’t follow me back. I only follow people whose pages I’m interested in and I hope the people following me are doing so because they are inserted in my page and brand.
Advice: Follow people that you’re interested in and work on building the best brand so that people want to follow you in return.
Consistent Schedule
When I started this blog I told myself I would stick to a posting schedule of twice a week. Three months in, I’ve been able to stick to my schedule and post on time every week even though I have a full-time job and I’m writing a novel on the side. I’m pretty proud of myself for that because honestly, even I thought I was biting off more than I could chew, but I’ve been able to make it work and I think that’s been the biggest factor in helping me grow.
Advice: Set a posting schedule and do your best to stick to it. I’ve been churning out posts, which means I always have new content to pin and promote.
Blog Projects
Along with my short-term blog goals, I’ve also set long-term goals that I’ve been trying to tackle bit by bit. Things like growing my email list, playing around with pin designs, contacting tourism boards, etc. Writing down clear goals and putting aside time to tackle them is what every travel blogger should do. Things get lost in the everyday hustle especially when you’re juggling a lot at once.
Advice: Set short and long-term goals so that you’re always moving forward. Knowing what you’re working towards will keep you motivated when things get tough.
What I Got Wrong
No Time Off
Between blogging, working, and writing I have no time off. Seriously, I’m working seven days a week now and even though I love what I do, it’s been hard on me. Sadly, at this point, I’m not able to cut back because of those long-term goals I mentioned. To get where I want to be a year from now, I have to work flat-out now. It will pay off in the long run but until then…I suffer.
Advice: Don’t be like me! Give yourself at least one day a week away from the blog. Hang out with friends, binge Netflix, breathe fresh air.
One Month Down
And so many more to go, but I’m happy with my progress so far. I’ve made three affiliate sales and had my first pin go viral so I’m feeling like I’m on the right track. Thanks for reading!