Insights from Auditing My Best-Performing Content
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Chapter 1: Overview of My Content Strategy
In the past three years, I have shared a total of 320 articles, including 16 Google Sheets templates and 22 digital comics. Recently, I came across a newsletter by Eve Arnold, who runs The Part-Time Creator Club. She provides valuable advice on managing content creation alongside a full-time job. In her last email, she outlined how to leverage top-performing content to inspire new articles, which prompted me to analyze my own successful pieces.
My first step was to compile a list of articles that generated over $48 in earnings. While this may not seem like a lot, it reflects my current status on the platform. After a 30-minute review, I identified 17 articles published between 2019 and 2022 that collectively account for 69% of my total income.
The earnings breakdown is as follows:
- 4 articles made between $48–99
- 8 articles earned between $50–99
- 4 articles exceeded $100, with the lowest being $48.20 and the highest at an impressive $864.69.
The topics covered by these articles include:
- Google Sheets: 9 articles
- Personal essays: 1 article
- Productivity tools: 2 articles
- Side hustles: 1 article
- Dating: 1 article
- Work: 1 article
- Cultural differences: 1 article
Notably, only four articles surpassed the $100 mark:
- A personal essay reflecting on 11 regrets from my 20s
- Two articles featuring free Google Sheets templates
- A listicle titled "6 One-Off Investments From $19-$99 That Make WFH Life More Comfortable"
After analyzing the statistics of these 17 articles, I noticed four key insights:
Section 1.1: Key Findings from My Analysis
The articles featuring Google Sheets templates appear to be evergreen, consistently ranking well on Google and attracting steady traffic.
These Google Sheets articles typically have straightforward titles: “How to [function of the sheet] in [year] with Google Sheets — Free Template” or “[year] [Template Name] — Free Google Sheets Template.” The titles are clear and emphasize the word “free,” which appeals to a wide audience.
High-earning articles that don’t cover evergreen topics tend to ride the algorithm wave for a limited time, usually around six months, after which their views drop significantly.
My review of the productivity tool and virtual coworking platform, Focusmate, stands out as an exception. This article continues to attract consistent views even today.
Section 1.2: Understanding Reader Interests
To understand my audience better, I transferred their interests from the statistics page into a Google Sheet and then visualized it in a Word Cloud:
Analyzing other high-performing article headlines (not related to Google Sheets), I noticed patterns:
- "My 20s Are Over — These Are My 11 Regrets." A candid reflection that resonates with many readers.
- "6 One-Off Investments From $19-$99 That Make WFH Life More Comfortable." This title is specific and useful for those working from home.
- "Want To Take Revenge On Your Ex? Don’t Bother, Do This Instead." A provocative title that draws attention and was published in a high-traffic venue.
- "6 Surprising Reasons Why I’m Starting To Get Bored of Living in Berlin." This challenges common perceptions and engages readers' curiosity.
- "1000 Focusmate Sessions: Review Of & Experiences With the Ultimate, Most Effective Productivity Tool." This detailed review provides insights for potential new users.
- "I Tested Daily Posting to a Faceless Cat YouTube Channel For 36 Days in the Hopes of Going Viral." An exploration of a quirky venture that many find intriguing.
- "What Great Managers Do Differently." Insightful for those aspiring to improve their managerial skills.
Chapter 2: Generating New Ideas
In order to continue building on my successes, I've utilized ChatGPT to brainstorm new ideas based on my top-performing headlines. I employed prompts to generate related titles and topics, ensuring they connect with reader interests.
Conclusions
Nearly 70% of my older articles have played a significant role in my earnings. While this is promising, I recognize that I cannot rely solely on past successes. It's essential to keep producing new content, monitor audience engagement, and refine my approach. I aim to enhance my headlines and explore proven topics from fresh perspectives to propel my growth forward.
For those looking to improve their writing, I recommend utilizing both free and paid resources that focus on what matters most: compelling headlines. Notable mentions include Ayo’s Headline Vault and Eve Arnold’s Top 100 Medium Headlines.