"Help, My Stats are Stuck!" Why a Loyal Following is Better Than a Bigger One

Everyone who is everyone likes numbers, especially high numbers. Let's face it, I much prefer the number 47 to 3, because 47 is bigger, and therefore implies more of something. Sure, in terms of house numbers, that means more walking down the road to actually reach home after a long day in work, but generally, the bigger the number, the more there is, and the better it is. Most of the time.

I watch my statistics pretty regularly. Some might say I check them too often, but a weekly check of Google Analytics and Sumome, a daily check of Squarelovin', and maybe a monhtly check on my Twitter and Pinterest analytics works best for me, it allows me to check out what works, what doesn't, and what can be improved upon or continued into the next period of time.

Sometimes, I like my statistics.
Sometimes, I don't.

Why?

Sometimes, I check them out and find that they haven't changed in the way I would have liked them too, aka, they haven't grown up, matured a little over time. Sometimes, my numbers aren't bigger, and I panic that all my hard work, all the time and effort I'm putting into blogging, promoting, marketing, socialising, it's all, well, one big failed attempt at getting one step further to my goals.

Sometimes, I want to throw in the towel, quit work, catch a flight to nowhere and sulk.
Other times I think to myself: "are you really paying attention to the numbers that actually matter?"

What sounds better to you, 100 people walking into your shop every day, and not a single one of them buying anything, or 100 people walking into your shop every day, 50 of them regulars who always buy something, and always return the following day?

There's a difference between a browser and a follower.
Who do you think is better to count on?

Getting big numbers visiting your blog or site is a good thing, it means that whatever you had to offer, people are interested and want to check it out, but if the only check out that one thing, and find that there's nothing else they want from you, then they're going to leave you high and dry, and as good as that number looks, it's not really something you should be relying on.

If you're blog isn't growing the way you'd like it to, there are thousands upon thousands of post out there, ready and waiting to tell you how to make it happen, the different options you could try, how many hours, weeks, months, years it could take you to get to that magical number in your mind, but if your customer service stinks, you won't get anywhere.

What does customer service have to do with blog growth?!

I work in the retail industry. If all goes to plan, I am more than likely the only person customers will interact with during their shopping trip, because I'm a checkout assistant. I'm the type of staff member stores like mine rely on to get repeat business through the doors. If I succeed in making the experience as stress free, quick, easy and pleasant for the customer as possible, there's a bigger chance they'll come back. There's also a bigger chance they'll spread the word to other people, potential customers.

That is my stores number one marketing method. No funny gimmicks. No adverts.

Word of mouth is the most powerful form of marketing.
If you suck, the world will know about it.

The same works for your blog. If all goes to plan, you want your readers to interact with your blog and have a stress free, easy and pleasant experience, all in the hope they'll come back at a later date, making them returning visitors, and maybe future customers, rather than just visitors.

Your goal shouldn't be to just get visitors.
You should be aiming for returning visitors.

Take a look at your blog statistics on Google Analytics and check out your comparison between new and returning visitors. I'd bet you any money that even though your regular pageviews and sessions might not have grown all that much, your returning visitors is looking pretty hot in comparison to those newbies. Sure, newbies are great, you get to inspire and influence people you've never interacted with before, but setting the focus on making those newbies regulars is almost always better.

A loyal following is better than a large following. Always.

Whether you're just blogging for the hobby, or you're turning your blog 180 and making a career out of it, you will always need loyal readers, people who share your content, people who keep coming back for more because they know you'll always provide an amazing service, be it content, products, experience or an actual service, and they are the visitors most likely to do something to benefit you and your blog.

If you want numbers, go and get them. If you want loyal followers, earn them.

It's much harder to get a loyal following. For some people, it can take months, for others, it can take years, and it all comes down to the kind of service you provide people with, and how positive that service is. Some days, you'll be tired, you'll be upset, you'll start to wonder 'what's the point, nobody cares', but that's when you should look at those returning visitors, the ones you inspire and help become better people, the ones that stand by you and care about what you have to say, the ones who, if you dared to ask, might even send some new readers your way, or try out your new product, or help you create one.

Who knows, they might even become your friends..

How do you feel about your blog statistics? Do you care?