How To Measure a Blog's Success Without The Numbers

I've talked about numbers and statistics a few times on Nellie and Co, from how to get more of them, to tracking them, to trading them in for more consistent, loyal human beings, but there was one particular issue that alway seems to creep into view when posts like these are written, and it's this:

There are few other ways to measure success than with numbers, and without them, it's not fun.

For the first time in a long time, I was well and truly stumped, because it's true. There aren't a lot of ways to measure somethings success that aren't with numbers, and those that are tend to look and feel a tad insignificant, which is a shame, because believe it or not, as much as I like them, numbers aren't the special snowflakes we all make them out to be. They're just numbers, and like everything in life, they can get a bit excited and shoot for the stars, and sometimes they have really bad days and binge watch netflix in an electric blanket of shame.

We have to find other way to measure our blogs success, especially when statistics are so unreliable.

So, how do we do that, and what are these 'other ways'?

"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?