An inevitable part of life when you are a creator of social media content, which I am, is that you look at your statistics. The reason is quite simple: you want to know what did and did not work amongst the articles, videos and other posts that you created. Ignoring data on these issues makes no sense.
I am also interested in this data because what I publish has a purpose. I am motivated by my desire to make it clear that there are economic and social alternatives to the policies being promoted by our government in the UK, as well as elsewhere. In that case, it matters to me that the message is getting through.
As a result, I was pleased to know that January was the best-ever month in terms of views on this blog. 747,000 individual reads were recorded. The last thirteen months looks like this:
Something is clearly working. Part of that, I think, is due to the videos we now make. Whilst there is much sign, in terms of overall traffic, that people shift from this blog to watch the videos, it seems likely that some who view the videos do now come here as a result.
That said, the YouTube channel did not do quite as well in January as it did in November and December, generating a little over 2.2 million views, compared to about 2.4 million in each of those months. However, I can hardly complain about recording 7.0 million views over a three-month period on what is, in effect, a very new YouTube channel.
As Thomas noted, our problem in the last month was that we recorded a persistent number of what might be described as good album tracks, but only a couple broke through to attract significant (100,000 plus) views, making them equivalent to hit singles. However, that's the way these things go, and I can happily live with making good album tracks.
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A purely personal view – the blogs have helped teach me about money and equipped (and motivated) me for better informed omnibus conversations that challenge and subvert the “household analogy” and more effectively present the economic (as well as the social and moral) case for public investment. If that is happening on a large scale, then a lot is being achieved.
And credit where credit is due – Rachel from customer service, hardly lets a day go by without undermining the case for neoliberal economics. In the last couple of days she’s worked really hard, Heathrow and Scottish salmon exports, and Rosebank oil field and its essential contribution to climate destruction – she has even managed to stir some vestige of conscience (or maybe just panic) in a few LINO drones!
Thanks
I have to admit, Rachel from customer services is amusing
Indeed Rachel from the customer services section of the Deaf Ear Party is certainly succeeding in creating a great deal of growth – mainly discontent!
Don’t bother to publish – but why stop at 21st January 2025?
It didn’t the figure was for the whole month
Hi Richard, I have been reading your blog for quite some time – maybe 10 years or more. I have always found it informative, educational, enlightening, sometimes even entertaining. There are not many places where one can tap into informed opinion of this calibre that provides a different, and hopeful, narrative to the prevailing neoliberalism. Your videos are clearly an effective way to spread your message in an age when watching online videos seems to be an ubiquitous habit. I do occasionally watch the videos when I have more leisure time, but normally find it easier in a working day to read the blog.
Thanks
I know many do prefer one medium or the other.
I usually prefer reading. The result is non-overlapping audiences.
I watch the videos on YouTube then come to the blog to read and study.
Richard, I wanted to share this video with you as I think that you could put a similar debunking video together to get your important message across: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZ3j4hHMO5E Although I don’t think the presenter has used this technique particularly well, I really like the rapid sketch tool as it graphically captures an important message with an image that makes the message memorable. Have you considered using this tool in your presentations?
Two problems
Robert Reich can cartoon – I can’t
And he has a production team of about 10 people on this videos. We don’t!
My personal feedback… I originally found this blog following a link from someone I followed on Twitter (I still follow the same person but now on Bluesky) I have learnt a lot about how money works from it. I tend to check the email which arrives late afternoon and probably follow most links (depending on time I have available and how the title/first line attracts me.) Except, when the video may have appeared earlier in the day in my YouTube feed and I’ve already watched it. If I feel the urge to make a comment on a video… generally, if I pompously think my comment is worth a lot of people reading it, I try make it on YouTube. If there is something I’m not clear about I’ll tend to make it on the blog where I feel I’m more likely to to get responses that will clarify the point. Where I feel the ‘world in general’ would benefit from more people understanding some of these points I’ll try to share links on social media. Thank you for writing the blog and making the videos.
Thanks Richard
I am much more likely to respond here – there is not time to read all comments on YT
I would be interested to know if you and Thomas noticed any clear themes to your good album tracks and hits. One hit wonders or discernible topics?
It is an analysis we will do when current workloads permit.
I spent much of yesterday working.
Richard, have been following your blog and now the YT videos from my ancient past working in HMRC. You had a lot to say about that organisation, most of it correct, and the tax avoidance schemes we were working on back in the noughties. Quite a few followed your work even if we were not in a position to implement.
You will be influencing the thinking and assumptions of many, when it will influence Rachel in customer services I cannot say but it may affect Keir in HR first.
Thanks
I can live in hope