It is, as anybody who monitors their performance on the basis of statistics knows, easy to get down when your data does not match your expectations.
Unsurprisingly, traffic on this blog, and on our YouTube channel, was down in July. There is some evidence that this is part of a bigger trend on YouTube, but there can be no doubt that the biggest reason in our case was that I was working at well under capacity because of illness, and it showed.
Our YouTube traffic in July was only around 1.1 million views, when at present something closer to 2 million is more commonplace, and blog traffic was only around 600,000 views, when more than 800,000 has become normal.
However, I then got data on three traffic sources to which I usually give little attention because they have not, until very recently, contributed significantly to our impact. They are from Facebook, LinkedIn and Substack, on all of which I now post regularly.
To my surprise, I have discovered that we now generate around 100,000 views a month on LinkedIn, 90,000 on Facebook (where I only use that platform for work posts), and Substack is growing fast, with around 75,000 views. It's only lower than the others because I didn't post there every day, whereas I do on both Facebook and LinkedIn. I will have to correct that. Together, these now generate more than another 3 million views a year.
It is also interesting to note the biggest contributor to the change in traffic on those three platforms. It is, undoubtedly, the infographics. They will be continuing.
At the same time, given that this is the political silly season and not a lot is going on, I am planning a variation on that infographic theme. We are looking to create video versions as basic introductions to the topics this blog addresses and to expand the available information on heterodox, post-Keynesian, and modern monetary theory-inspired alternatives to mainstream economics. Like the infographics, this will involve some experimentation, but expect something soon.
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What does the July data on X look like for you?
What does the July data on X look like for you?
July has been super busy for me in my line as a development officer, and even May was quite busy – I cannot see this changing to be honest for the remainder of the year – those are my reasons anyway for not participating as much or to the standard I would like to.
I’m not at all surprised by the infographic effects at all and I think videos in a similar vain will also be very successful. I’m currently at the very early stages of experimenting with music syncing cartoon character videos using AI. Not quite the same but I’ll let you know how I get on
Good luck
“It is, undoubtedly, the infographics.”
The infographics are my debate ammunition (the Gold Standard is my favorite). No wants to listen to me go on for five minutes getting the debate points in the wrong order nor do they want to read a three page mini-dissertation. What they will do is peruse a one page cartoon which will start a discussion. When people are drawing on the cartoons with a fine point Sharpie, they are paying attention.
Gave one of your infographics to a friend. The next time I was visiting his home, his twelve year old grandson was perusing it and then attempted to explain it to me doing a rather good job. This grandson also had a blank sheet of paper which he was doing a mock-up of his own infographic on “bullying”. I told him it was rather good (the child can draw) and he needed to have it posted on Facebook. His Response: “NO! I want a real publisher. I am going to submit it to the school newspaper”. My heart sank when I realized that print media is not dead. Then again, the school newspaper may be digital. I did not ask. I did not want to know. LOL!
I’m glad lots of people are reading what you have to say. It’s a pity that you don’t wish to become involved in politics. We need someone to give politicians better guidance on how money works in society. To that end, I also applaud your new info-graphics – particularly for their accessibility. Whilst I’ve always admired your writing and the thinking behind it, I’ve also always thought it was probably too abstruse, too academic to be accessible to the TL;DR brigade – even amongst we, the more Progressive and politically aware folks. So, my question for you and all who read and study your work is, ‘How to we convince the main (somewhat) progressive political party – Labour – to PAY ATTENTION to what’s >really< going on all around them as neoliberal economic dogma continues to strangle social and political opportunities.’?
I am involved in politics, every day. I am willing to engage with politicians. I am nit willing to run for elected office. I am well aware it would be immensely destructive for my well-being to do so. That does not negate your question.
I have some limited experience in animation with felted worms and Plasticine (Nick Park is undisputed king of the 1958 Club in my opinion) but suspect my time is past. I look forward to seeing the results.
A bit of useless information: I sold an Ansafone (whom I worked for) to Peter Lord and David Sproxton when they were working out of a couple of rooms at Stork House, Hotwells, Bristol. It was in the days of Post Office Telecoms monopoly and would have cost them about £50 a month to rent on a 3 year contract. That machine probably recorded Nick Park’s telephone call for the job!
“Like the infographics, this will involve some experimentation, but expect something soon.”
DO NOT lose the animations! Animations can hold people’s attention.
Depth of engaged is everything. Platforms like Youtube, Substack and the blog encourage long and regular visits.
I can appreciate that the growing ‘library’s of infographics will reach a whole new audience. The more natural educational nature is suited to building ‘long tail’ traffic over a considerable period of time and being shared in very different context that the news inspired material. The demand for content is constant, but what works keeps changing. Credit to you for experimenting with novel content formats and flowing with what is working.
To paraphrase; Traffic is vanity, engagement in sanity.
Gary Stevenson tried a few short animated videos and they were successful. I am 99% sure that when he announced he was stepping back from social media for a while he said he had received very large backing (£100k mentioned, I think) to fund a series of animated shorts.
The company used was for animated videos was Social Good Now, run/owned by Alex Cequea who did a long series of animations when he was at act.tv on social and political issues.
here is one of Gary Stevenson’s animations. https://youtube.com/shorts/AZ5RSu82ghg?
Look forward to seeing your animated self!
Crowdfunding?
Interesting.
That is very cheap animation. Where did the money go?
I admit I did not like it…
467k views. The next animation got 545k views. If you look at his ‘shorts’ page on YT the animated views would be well above average.
the infographics are fantastic, but for what they are, they seem long. Having said that, it must be very hard to say so much with so few words, so hats off to you for that. Maybe AI can animate just one box from and infographic and you could then run a short series of shorts, for the whole item?
“but there can be no doubt that the biggest reason in our case was that I was working at well under capacity because of illness, and it showed.”
I disagree! Your temporary incapacitation may be “a” reason” but it is NOT the “biggest” reason.
Every online site I regularly visit has shown a decrease in commentariat activity. July is a very busy time in the US as people take their final vacations before the back-to-school rush. In the USA, August will be slow to due this back-to-school rush.
Agreed, in part. But the downturn was bigger than in other years.