Stats and analytics – Feedback; Not the goal
Too many people, including my past self, who upload their creative work online are too obsessed and worried about the stats and analytics. Their art suffers to meet certain criteria to gain views or likes, instead of creating art that reflects who they are and what they truly want to share with the world.
After being on social media and having this website for many years, I’ve discovered that a great way to grow your audience is to create the best piece of work you possibly can. If it’s good enough, people will find it and share it with others. But in order to achieve this, you need to keep creating.
Stats, analytics and marketing are only a piece of the puzzle. Don't get too caught up in it.
Statistics and analytics
Stats and analytics are measurements and shouldn’t be the goal. “A measure ceases to be a good measure once it becomes the target.” Your goal should be to create the best piece of creative work you possibly can. If it provides value to people, they will let you know and they will share it with the world.
Be patient. As someone who is naturally impatient, I had to learn this over a long period of time. You and your audience need to find each other, and that can take a bit of time. There are ways to increase the possibility of your audience finding you, and that’s by marketing yourself by sharing your work on other platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, etc.
(If you want to know more about marketing your work, let me know in the comments.)
Don’t get carried away by the numbers
Focus on the work. The likes, views and comments are merely feedback. It shows you how many people enjoyed, appreciated or resonated with what you created. Sometimes it’s a few, sometimes it’s many.
If you’re mostly doing it to gain views and followers, you might get discouraged very quickly and give up. But if you’re doing it because you actually want to and enjoy the process of creating and sharing what you’ve created with the world, then you’re already 80% of the way there.
Always focus on the process of creating. That’s what gets you where you want to go.
Create, create, create.
Put your work out there.
Received feedback.
Re-evaluate.
Improve.
Create again.
Rinse and repeat.
Keep creating. Don’t stop. Keep moving forward. Don’t be afraid to fail or to create something bad.
You can improve it – next time.
Feedback
The wonderful thing about a community is they are able to provide feedback. Whether it’s good or bad. Take that feedback and constructive criticism and create something better.
Perfection is a never-ending journey. You’re always chasing it. You never arrive, and that’s exciting. It means you always have the opportunity to grow.
Take the time to give yourself feedback. Look at your own work, after you’ve published it, and see what you could’ve done better. Then apply those improvements to your next piece of work.
Focus on the journey. Focus on the process. Give your best effort and have no expectations.
I so agree with you! I am really not looking for approval on my blogs or uploading of my pictures on the group platform! I don’t claim to be an artist or perfect at anything! It is just giving me so much personal satisfaction to be able to express freely and uninhibitedly my soul expressions. It is liberating and exciting! I appreciate your giving us this safe space to share! I enjoy the pictures others share and the beauty of this experience is you sharing your knowledge and experiences! This is the good stuff life has to offer!
It sounds like you’re definitely doing it for the right reason. I hope you’re having a wonderful time doing it.
It’s such a pleasure. It’s so much fun to engage with this community as everyone is so passionate about what they do and what they have to share. I’m glad I’m able to provide a small space where they can come together and share their work 🙂
Creating and learning is what makes life worth living. ❤Thank you for such wise words.
Absolutely! Thank you for appreciating what I have to share 🙂
A pleasure. Will soon be near the Kruger.
Absolutely! We need to remain authentic, keeping to the core reasons we create content (while improving as we go along). As you rightly say, you and your audience will eventually find each other (& stay true to each other, ha!) without the pressure for likes and shares and other numbers🙂.
Thank you for sharing this !! I am still new to this community !! Always a learning.
Welcome to the community, Anupa! I hope you enjoy your time here 🙂
Wonderful. Brilliant. Thank you so much for this highly motivating post. I feel reassured after reading this. Earlier I used to worry about statistics. But you are right. I enjoy posting my blogs without worrying about views and blogs.
That’s wonderful to hear. I believe we should be more worried and focused on creating a good piece of content we can share with our community. “The score will take care of itself.” 🙂
Agree 👍
Always try to be better. Start Creating don’t stop.
Hope for better.
Very helpful 👍
I’m glad you found it helpful 🙂
Thank YOU for being a messenger today with wise and inspiring words that were meant to be heard at just the right time, in that magical way life flows and sends what is needed when it’s needed. I appreciate the reminder to enjoy the creative journey, focus on creating your best not for likes and shares but because your soul feels that “yes!, love this!” sensation, and trust that the audience meant to be will come.
Thanks for this dude! Great points made! 😁👍 Sometimes I get caught in that trap of obsessing over stats instead of just creating the art too!
I’m glad you found it useful! Have fun creating your art 😀
Thank YOU for being a messenger today sharing your words of wisdom and inspiration, sent in that magical way of life’s flow at “just the right time”. I am grateful for the reminder to enjoy the journey of creativity; that when we focus on creating our best from that knowing place of our soul, we will be led to those who are meant to receive and share in the joy of what we have created; and that the greatest joy is not in the number of likes or shares or how these are trending but is in doing what our soul feels but words cannot adequately describe. That feeling of “THIS!” and “YES!”
You’re absolutely right! That is 100% what I experience as well 🙂
The initial intentions on this WordPress blog site with writing and typing daily thoughts regarding experiences, hobbies, ideals, etc. was to create a collective that my family and friends could read. Writing in journals is a private reflective exercise. I do extend some of the journal content on to the blogs. I still see all this as sharing with those who are close. It aids meeting up conversations too. ‘Hey! Your VeeDub posts? Lots of work been done hey! When’s it on the road?’ And the simplicity of finding and exchanging like interests with just a simple few like minded people out there in the big wide world is priceless. On Flickr I have half a dozen people who, over years, regularly lift each other‘s spirits by simply saying a few words of encouragement and guidance.
You’re right. The interactions online with like-minded people are priceless and can be so fulfilling and encouraging 🙂
Since I just accidentally renewed my WordPress account for $312, I would actually like to know more about marketing and getting more traffic to my blog, if for no other reason but to justify that expense. ☺️ I get views through the app, but I need more organic traffic . Thanks for any tips!
I’ll create an article around marketing your website using internal and external sources 🙂
I, absolutely, agree with you dear friend. Acting in the net through my blogs, i had the concern of acceptance and statistics. But what is important is to create what we love and share it with the world. This leads to redemption.
Have a nice day.
I just started a new blog to and I realized it is so much more complicated than setting a blog 15 years ago.
Oh my gosh. You are right. I was working on a draft about courage and in the process, I realized that I need to show more courage in my writing. Yes, the affirmations are wonderful, but art needs to be a portal away from the self, a pathway towards transformation, and ultimately, movement of thought and action.
yes, Love this reminder. As someone who just discovered “tags” so now people actually find my posts, I started to notice I was checking my stats….a lot. Like I used to do with social media (which I left.) It IS all about the art. Thank you for sharing.
Great advice that I never needed to hear more than I do now. Thank you!
I’m glad you received value from it, Kevin! 🙂
Good advice! Thanks! Best wishes!Pejj
Totally agree!
I fight discouragement, so thank you for reminding me to focus on why I write.
Keep going! 🙂
Dana,
I’m a writer, too. We can do this!
Thanks Tambra, we can!
Thanks for your input – I agree that continuing to post is a key. As I committed to posting daily, my readership has grown. That is satisfying. The sharing of ideas with people around the world delights me.
I do not understand Word Press statistics, despite their efforts to provide info for idiots. So any business stuff might be wasted on me. On the other hand, you explain well.
Thanks again!
Wise words!
Pure wisdom, Hannes! This is exactly why I took a “leap” to begin my writing. It’s been a journey of healing. My life of 51 years has had many curves, peaks, and valleys. And it’s through stepping out in faith to write that healing has been helped. SO, I can’t worry about stats and numbers. I’ll admit, my human side, enjoys seeing others enjoy my writing. But I’m realistic and know my writing isn’t everyone’s “fancy”. And I’m ok with that. I’d rather have a few authentic relationships and bonds built through art versus just mere numbers. It’s the exact reason I only use IG and nearly four years ago, left Facebook. Thank you for sharing your gifts, work, and art! And especially your wisdom my friend! I’m so glad to have connected with you here in this space. I don’t always get to “see” you; but when I do, I’m blessed! Stay safe, healthy, and blessed! Karla 🤍
Thank you for sharing some of your personal experiences. You’re right, I also think enjoying seeing others enjoy your work is far more important than seeing merely many “views”. I feel engagement such as comments are far more valuable because it allows you to connect with someone directly who appreciates or resonates with what you have shared. And there can be so much fulfilment in that.
Thank you for appreciating what I have to share. I’m so glad you receive value from it. It’s always so good to connect with you. 🙂
I wish you all the best, Karla!
You’re so welcome my friend! And thank you so much for your encouraging words and support. I wish peace and blessings to you, Hannes! 😊
Great reminder, thank you!
Couldn’t agree more! I used to be fixated by the numbers too (the page views, the number of followers) but now I honestly appreciate the engagement of it all and meeting new voices! 🙂
Really good advice.
I’m glad you found it helpful 🙂
Great advice just when I needed it. As a new blogger this is the kind of directive I look forward to from one who has been there and succeeded. Keep guiding us!
Succeeded? Haha. I’m not sure about that one. I still have such a long way to go before I consider myself ultimately successful. Saying that, success for me is when one achieves what one set out to achieve. I’m enjoying the process, and I’m sharing what I learn along the way. 🙂
My wife needs you to speak to her college class on Analytics so they can learn what really matters! 👍😉
Haha. I’ll be there in a sec.
Good to remember! I can easily get mesmerized by numbers, but it stifles my creativity.
Haha. Then don’t get mesmerized by the numbers. Get mesmerized by your creativity 🙂
Thanks very much for this post. I do much better when I look at the stats simply as items of curiosity. I avoid giving them too much weight; it would quickly interfere with my creativity and mental state if I did. I write my blog for fun. I think it’s pretty cool to realize I’ve made a connection to someone I will never see, halfway around the world. It’s also cool to see snippets of how people in other countries live, and what they notice.
It sounds like you have the right mindset. I agree with you. It’s incredible to be able to connect with someone across the world who we might never meet.
Excellent advice! I totally agree with you!
I completely agree with you 💯 these are just the numbers which keeps going up and down…like our life
Fantastic post! A great reminder to remember the joy of creating and not get caught up in the numbers. I’m guilty of this. Trying to find my audience has been depressing. Marketing and finding my audience have made me rethink having my Fine Art America and Society6 stores. Occasionally, I’ve received some really nice comments but no sales. I’m wondering if it’s worth sharing.
I promote on Facebook, Twitter, and I haven’t figured out how to promote on Instagram. I am on Pinterest but have to see if I have a board with clickable links.
Thank you for always haveing such wonderful posts and sharing your creativity.
Keep going. If you keep searching for answers you’ll eventually find them.
It’s good to sometimes reevaluate and rethink what you’re doing and how you’re doing it.
That’s a question you should always ask yourself. “Is it worth sharing for others?”. You want to create and share valuable content with your audience. What does that look like exactly? I have no idea. Every audience is different. You’ll have to experiment and test different things.
Really helpful very nice 👍👍
That was an interesting read. Made one think!
Nice
I don’t think I’ve ever looked at my stats page. Then again, I also have few followers or likes here or on my Instagram. But, for me, I just appreciate having a place out in the void to post my images. I take them and process them for myself – but it’s nice to have a virtual “gallery” as a place to put them. Plus, you never know, there might be that one person who comes across a post and enjoys an image or two (other than my better half ☺️). But I like your thoughts here. It’s nice to be reminded that there are others out there who aren’t in this for the likes or status and to remind us all not to get hung up on being “noticed” or to feel deflated if one’s stats don’t live up to expectations. I guess it’s best to just enjoy the journey.
You’re absolutely right. If you’re doing this and not enjoying the journey, why on earth are you doing it in the first place? 🙂 We should also create for ourselves, and then for others 🙂
What an amazing line of thoughts. This has encouraged me write. I used to worried of the low traffic on my sight, but having read this, I’m encouraged to share my ideas without the weighty feeling of dropping off. I feel motivated. Many thanks for sharing this. 👍
I’m so glad you received value from it 🙂
Sure, I did. My pleasure 🙏
This was great advice! Thanks!
I’m glad you found it helpful! 🙂
This is a fantastic post and hits the bullseye with regards to what distracts creators from their art!
A part of the reason why I stopped blogging because I focused on this too much. Maybe someday I will be able to blog on without this greed. Thank you for your advice.
That’s so sad to hear. I hope you find your spark again. Do it for yourself 🙂
Thank you so much
It brings so much positivity now.
<3
This is an amazing eye-opener!! Thank you for this. Legit. I’ll admit I sometimes comment on blogs for the attention, but I’m saying this real: You helped me a ton. I’ve started my blog less than a week ago, but instead of fretting on the expectedly low numbers I’m getting, I’m now looking forward and scheduling posts for my own personal growth. Thank you!
I’m glad you found value in it. Growing a blog/website can take a bit of time. Learning to enjoy the process regardless of the numbers, especially in the beginning, will be highly beneficial.
Thank you so much. I needed this post wondering why I was doing this when I have been investing so much into it. The truth is, I love to write and create content. I have an active mind and a lot to say. It’s rejuvenating that we live in a society where we can all tell our stories.
👍👍👍
Yes, great things are not created with intent of selling them.
It much expressed in view, but life know it.
Honest job
Thanks for your inspiration
I always write when I have something bugging me or am stressed hence write down whatever is on my mind to drain out the frustrations. Been a minute since I wrote but I want to come back since my life has again made that turn though this time I plan to stay for long
So valuable. Thank you. It’s part of the human condition to seek approval but yes we mustn’t let approval be the goal. Beautiful
I love this. thsnks for writing
I love writing and obviously want it to be enjoyed by others. There is truth and sense in your post. I’m going to learn from it. Thankyou.
Hello Hannes,
What an excellent post! Thank you for sharing your insights with us. I fully agree with what you’ve expressed; and I also admit that at one time, “i” would have been one of those who was concerned with the stats. This measurement of our creative worth by feedback from the masses is a trap from which many never escape. Yes: “Perfection is a never-ending journey. You’re always chasing it. You never arrive, and that’s exciting. It means you always have the opportunity to grow.” Great work!
Once again, thanks so much for this. Seeking approval. fearing rejection, maybe the inner critic is harshest of all.
I could not agree more. I listen to some podcasts and see other intel that says blogging isn’t the best way to promote your work. Well, that may be so, but I like to blog and that is mostly because I enjoy writing a great deal. Thanks for the affirmation.!
Helpful post. As I am trying on blogging recently by myself, these points can be great help for me. Hope that I listen to your advice and continue to create more..
Thanks as new blogger, it is great advice. Thanks.
Yep, with you.
Agreed, it is the sharing that counts. Nobody should expect kudos or even feedback.
Wow wow, this is such a great article! This is very reassuring🤗
I’m glad you found it valuable 🙂
Excellent food for thought!!