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I don't often do Twitter threads but I have a little story that may help you if you're working hard trying to promote your blog through a particular platform or strategy...
... and it isn't working.
... and it isn't working.
Many months ago, I decided to throw myself into promoting my blog through Pinterest.
I'd heard good things about it. Actually, I'd heard amazing things about it.
As far as I could see, Pinterest was like the Klondike for potential traffic.
I'd heard good things about it. Actually, I'd heard amazing things about it.
As far as I could see, Pinterest was like the Klondike for potential traffic.
You can generate 1000s of pageviews every month with Pinterest: everyone says so!
You need to (simplified):
> Create a Pinterest Business Account
> Set up Rich Pins
> Publish between 15 - 25 "fresh" high-quality Pins everyday
These Pins must link to high quality content.
You need to (simplified):
> Create a Pinterest Business Account
> Set up Rich Pins
> Publish between 15 - 25 "fresh" high-quality Pins everyday
These Pins must link to high quality content.
Consistently pinning high-quality Pins and linking them to great content should see your followers and impressions grow.
As time passes, the theory is you'll start to see the beginnings of a rich vein of traffic.
As time passes, the theory is you'll start to see the beginnings of a rich vein of traffic.
I was inspired and worked hard creating 10 - 15 fresh Pin designs everyday... and I'll be honest, it was quite fun in the beginning.
I started seeing my Pin impressions grow and just like everyone says, I started to get visits to my blog.
Amazing, it really works!
I started seeing my Pin impressions grow and just like everyone says, I started to get visits to my blog.
Amazing, it really works!
Now... creating 10 - 15 fresh, high-quality Pin designs each day takes quite a bit of effort.
Then you have to factor writing unique titles and descriptions for each of them so your activity is not seen as spammy.
Then you have to factor writing unique titles and descriptions for each of them so your activity is not seen as spammy.
You also have to factor how much traffic you are gaining.
Impressions are great but visitors are oxygen to a blogger and you'll go blue without them.
Impressions are great but visitors are oxygen to a blogger and you'll go blue without them.
It takes a lot of work on the strategy I was employing and I often found myself working on this until 2am most days.
But I was committed because you have to follow through on your strategies.
But I was committed because you have to follow through on your strategies.
After a month of this regime, Pinterest notified me my account had been suspended.
I'd never spammed Pinterest, but that's the reason why my account was slapped.
After recovering from shock, I did some research, raised a ticket with Pinterest and got my suspension lifted.
I'd never spammed Pinterest, but that's the reason why my account was slapped.
After recovering from shock, I did some research, raised a ticket with Pinterest and got my suspension lifted.
It's actually really common for bonafide accounts to be hit with a suspension in this way... but you can get this lifted as I did.
You can read about my experience and how to fix a Pinterest suspension in this post http://bit.ly/2G2lTdp
You can read about my experience and how to fix a Pinterest suspension in this post
http://bit.ly/2G2lTdp
Several months later, after seeing some encouraging signs of impression and visitor growth, I woke up one day to see that my Pin impressions had dropped from thousands to single figures.
What had happened?
What had happened?
> Another account penalty perhaps?
> Something screwy going on with Pinterest Analytics?
> A solar flare?
Nope... an algorithm change apparently.
You can read about this (and what others have to say in the comments) here https://bit.ly/3gPcwiK
> Something screwy going on with Pinterest Analytics?
> A solar flare?
Nope... an algorithm change apparently.
You can read about this (and what others have to say in the comments) here
https://bit.ly/3gPcwiK
I persisted to work within the new algorithm environment to turn things around, but after 6 weeks of doing so, the impressions and visits needle hadn't budged.
So I decided enough was enough and got off the Yukon train.
So I decided enough was enough and got off the Yukon train.
What's the moral of this story?
It would seem that this is an entirely negative experience, and to be honest, I'd be lying if I said it hadn't frustrated the f*** out of me.
However... I can look at it in two ways.
It would seem that this is an entirely negative experience, and to be honest, I'd be lying if I said it hadn't frustrated the f*** out of me.
However... I can look at it in two ways.
1) I wasted months trying something that didn't work
or
2) In trying to make it work, I standardized all the images on my blog, learned a lot about Pinterest, met other bloggers with this problem & produced content about it I know has helped people.
I choose option 2!
or
2) In trying to make it work, I standardized all the images on my blog, learned a lot about Pinterest, met other bloggers with this problem & produced content about it I know has helped people.
I choose option 2!
It might seem like I'm hating on Pinterest but truly I'm not. I know it works well for some people and especially in some niches.
It just hasn't worked for me... it's not personal.
Maybe, like a gambling addict, I could fix it with one more throw of the dice.
Maybe not.
It just hasn't worked for me... it's not personal.
Maybe, like a gambling addict, I could fix it with one more throw of the dice.
Maybe not.
So here's the moral of my story...
Don't let Klondike fever for any platform or strategy take you over.
There is gold in Pinterest... as there is in many platforms. I know 100% this is true.
Don't let Klondike fever for any platform or strategy take you over.
There is gold in Pinterest... as there is in many platforms. I know 100% this is true.
However...
For any platform or strategy that you've:
> Invested in learning how to use properly
> Persisted and overcome challenges with
> Given sufficient time to
Don't be frightened to walk away if it doesn't work out.
For any platform or strategy that you've:
> Invested in learning how to use properly
> Persisted and overcome challenges with
> Given sufficient time to
Don't be frightened to walk away if it doesn't work out.
Your time is finite.
Work through things professionally to make your strategies successful.
But be objective about them if they aren't successful and choose a different blogging strategy to tackle instead. http://bit.ly/3qYCfdp
Work through things professionally to make your strategies successful.
But be objective about them if they aren't successful and choose a different blogging strategy to tackle instead. http://bit.ly/3qYCfdp
