On a very niche education website I run I noticed a huge spike a few years ago. Unlike Substack the analytics on that site lets you dig right down into the IP address. It turned out to be some spam bot computer. (I knew that anyway because it was opening several pages a second. I mean, I reads fast, but not THAT fast.) I blocked it, and things went back to normal.
Very interesting post, but it's a shame in a way that Substack doesn't tell you, AFAIK, about unique visitors. That would be very interesting I think.
Anyway, well don e on your success. What would you say has been the biggest source of your traffic, at least in the beginning? More and more of mine now is coming from within the substack network.
Hi Terry, initially much of my traffic would have come from the people who followed my former Twitter account. Over time my primary source of traffic seems to be coming from the Substack network itself. Close to half of my subscribers came via Substack Recommendations of some kind.
Feb 4, 2023·edited Feb 4, 2023Liked by Mark Dykeman
I'm so glad you mentioned the weird viewer numbers! My post on January 15th (Archive Notes) got 20K views--which is ridiculously high. And it was a mostly paid post. I've been trying to figure it out--but have suspected it was just a computer glitch. Apparently I was spammed too! How did you figure out which account opened the message that many times?
More importantly: congrats on your continued success! I'm so glad we got a chance to connect a few weeks ago!
Jillian, I don't know if this is how Mark found out, but if you go to Stats in the dashboard it gives you the sources of traffic. Maybe that's how he found out. I notice that I've had three visitors from your site, so thank you :-)
Well, I'm gonna add these two dudes to my subscriber list right now. Look out for a post from me reporting how my average views are in the millions. I know my rights.
Thanks for sharing the journey as always, Mark. I think it helps, especially those of us with smaller footprints. (And you were totally getting spammed by that Yahoo account. Sadly.)
As always, a pleasure to see your updates re data and statistics. As for accuracy, The Bus route evidently winds its way through more than 14 countries (which is great, as a selling point - and it also makes me wonder how that might work geographically), but that doesn't seem to be reflected in any version of reality when I try to drill down. Oh, well ... at least it looks good.
That said, well done on HAT - and here's to 1000 by the end of the year!
Congrats on your success Mark! Looks like it won't be too long until you hit 1,000. You have sure made it interesting with all of the different topics you've covered.
Always great to read your updates, Mark - fantastic!
Interesting about that spike - I have one too (although not in the tens of thousands). Makes the graph look a little crazy.....
Rebecca, that spike was me. I'm one of your most ardent fans. I spent all night clicking. I'm sure I reached several thousand clicks. Must try harder.
🤣
PS Joking. I'm not some kind of weird-ass stalker
Yeah you are, and we both know it! 😉🕵️♂️
😍
🤣
On a very niche education website I run I noticed a huge spike a few years ago. Unlike Substack the analytics on that site lets you dig right down into the IP address. It turned out to be some spam bot computer. (I knew that anyway because it was opening several pages a second. I mean, I reads fast, but not THAT fast.) I blocked it, and things went back to normal.
Very interesting post, but it's a shame in a way that Substack doesn't tell you, AFAIK, about unique visitors. That would be very interesting I think.
Anyway, well don e on your success. What would you say has been the biggest source of your traffic, at least in the beginning? More and more of mine now is coming from within the substack network.
Hi Terry, initially much of my traffic would have come from the people who followed my former Twitter account. Over time my primary source of traffic seems to be coming from the Substack network itself. Close to half of my subscribers came via Substack Recommendations of some kind.
Brill. Thanks for sharing, Mark.
I'm so glad you mentioned the weird viewer numbers! My post on January 15th (Archive Notes) got 20K views--which is ridiculously high. And it was a mostly paid post. I've been trying to figure it out--but have suspected it was just a computer glitch. Apparently I was spammed too! How did you figure out which account opened the message that many times?
More importantly: congrats on your continued success! I'm so glad we got a chance to connect a few weeks ago!
Jillian, I don't know if this is how Mark found out, but if you go to Stats in the dashboard it gives you the sources of traffic. Maybe that's how he found out. I notice that I've had three visitors from your site, so thank you :-)
In Dashboard, click on the Posts menu. Find your post and click on Recipients, it will show you the details.
Yep! 20k clicks from elgmillifirdaws@yahoo.com
Thanks for helping me solve this one.
Mine was from moadmailing2@yahoo.com
Blimey.
Well, I'm gonna add these two dudes to my subscriber list right now. Look out for a post from me reporting how my average views are in the millions. I know my rights.
May the Force be with you.
haha!
Yay! That makes me happy :)
I was the very first?! Even better. I am honoured.
Sounds like you were getting botted by the Yahoo account, which is a honour in itself, I think. Someone decided to bot you! Congrats. 😂
Fully expecting a notebook review in an upcoming issue of Subject Headings.
I will!
Thanks for sharing the journey as always, Mark. I think it helps, especially those of us with smaller footprints. (And you were totally getting spammed by that Yahoo account. Sadly.)
Yay Alison!!! New notebook!!
Yeah, no idea what was really happened with that Yahoo account but oh well.
That's great growth, Mark! Congrats!
Congrats on your progress mate!
I always appreciate your updates and posts, and am glad you're pursuing what you need to in regards to publication amount. Spammers, dude.
Many thanks!
As always, a pleasure to see your updates re data and statistics. As for accuracy, The Bus route evidently winds its way through more than 14 countries (which is great, as a selling point - and it also makes me wonder how that might work geographically), but that doesn't seem to be reflected in any version of reality when I try to drill down. Oh, well ... at least it looks good.
That said, well done on HAT - and here's to 1000 by the end of the year!
Congrats on your success Mark! Looks like it won't be too long until you hit 1,000. You have sure made it interesting with all of the different topics you've covered.