Content Versus Contests: Analyzing The Stats
Tue, Sep 30, 2008
For the past few weeks I’ve had a contest on Sunday mornings that usually consists of a small prize added to random bits of humor and Suite-ness. It was also an attempt at building regular readership and feed subscribers. Well, as I mentioned last week, I’m starting to pay more attention to this site now by anaylizing keywords, traffic, etc., and the results showed me something very important!
You guys like quality content a lot more than easy contests that give away coffee money
When I break down the stats and compare content to contests, not only does it show that I have I received way more traffic to my best content, but I’ve also received more subscribers on (or following) the days that I posted those articles.
Each of the following 3 articles had over 7 times the amount of traffic to them in September compared to my contest pages:
Create A Nice Logo Fast With No Design Skills
5 Simple Steps To Get Started Website Flipping This Weekend
Using Google Analytics To Find Hidden Gems In Keywords
But wait! That’s not the only important statistic!
Google Analytics also shows you the amount of time your visitors spent on the site and each of the individual pages. On this site, people who are landing on the articles when they arrive end up spending over double the amount of time on my site than those who are arriving here by landing on the contest page!
How To Find These Stats
- From the Google Analytics Dashboard, click “Content” from the left menu.
- Now choose Top Content from the sub-menu. Pay attention to number of visits, time spent on page, and bounce rate. (Compare! Analyze!)
Here’s how to see a graphic of just the average daily “time spent on site”.
- From the Google Analytics Dashboard, click “Visitors” from the left menu.
- Now choose Visitor Trending from the sub-menu.
- Now choose Time On Site from the sub-menu
This also can be very important info! For instance, if you see 3 days that skyrocket above the others for the average time spent on site, take a peek at what you posted on those days, (also, if you had any type of major traffic boost, etc.).
I had 2 days that were off the charts when compared to the rest and it was directly related to the articles themselves. So, obviously, it’d be in my best interest to write more articles like those while I weave in different stuff. Then, analyze again next month. Rinse. Repeat.
Is It Worth It To have Contests?
If you only took the statistics into consideration when answering this question for my site, the answer would be no. Judging by the stats, my blog would have been better off with more quality content instead of wacky contests.
However, as with everything in Internet Marketing, there are always many variables to consider. Here’s some questions that are unanswered so far for me personally:
Were my contests too small?
Let’s face it, a $37 contest isn’t going to hit the blogoshere like a meteor. However, all you had to do was subscribe for a chance to win. I see some really big contests that have killer prizes and get a lot of attention, but you typically have a lot more work to do in order to increase you chances to win those.
I’d love to see the stats on them.
Was there simply not enough promotion?
My blog is new and it’s not my number one priority, so the contests didn’t really get too much promotion.
Obviously that affects things. However, there’s been no promotion for my best articles either, and they’re getting 7 times the amount of traffic with people sticking around afterwards.
My Questions To You:
How many contests have you had on your blog?
Honestly, how effective do you think they were for you? Did you analyze the statistics, or did you simply judge by daily traffic totals and new subscribers?
Did you lose subscribers? Do you ever check the actual emails in your email subscriptions? Do you notice any emails like “mycontestemail@gmail.com”? That’s a good sign that it’s not a loyal reader and someone who surfs the web joining contests wherever they can.
If you’ve had a really big contest before and receive a substantial amount of new subscribers for the contest, did you lose them after the contest was over?
Let me know your experiences with your contests and statistics.
Cheers!
Jay
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September 30th, 2008 at 4:17 am
Thanks for this post. My webite is fairly new as well and I am thinking of having my first ever contest. We’ll c how it goes.
Salwas last blog post..Ways to have Free Traffic
September 30th, 2008 at 5:31 am
Jay,
I haven’t ever had a really large contest, The last one, which you won was a book giveaway, and I really only gained a few subscribers from it.
Content will always be better than contests at generating new readers because content is helpful to your readers and contests are not. With that said though a big contest can drive huge amounts of traffic to your site, can build tons of back links, and get the word out about you.
I think the goal is to have a good mix of both. Write excellent content to get readers hooked and have a great contest to bring new eyes to that content.
Adam
Adam - Creadivs last blog post..I Won John & Joe’s Money
September 30th, 2008 at 6:19 am
I never ran contests on any of my blogs. While I feel it’s a really good way to attract traffic, people won’t necessarily come back to your site. With great content, people will come back to read more. I guess if you have nice prizes like iPods or good amount of money it will drive you traffic considerably…But otherwise, as your stats show, you might be better just writing good content. Thanks for sharing these stats Jay, very valuable!
Ben - frogstr.coms last blog post..Google loves fast hosts
September 30th, 2008 at 7:21 am
Jay,
That is good information. I agree with your findings because I keep coming back to your site because of articles like this that really teach me something new.
My blog is new and not my priority like yours. I have another, but the point is your content is the magnet, especially the way you break this stuff down so people like me can understand it in detail.
For example, you talked how to find and analyze the top content in GA step by step. While reading, I opened another window and followed along to see what I could see. Practical and useful information, thanks!
I am still getting my footing on GA and many other subjects that you tend to cover, thus I come back contest or no contest because the content is king.
Oh, I haven’t run a contest yet. Besides that may just be too much for my 10 blog readers to handle. LOL!
September 30th, 2008 at 7:27 am
One more thing I forgot to mention.
So I was following your direction and viewing the Top Content, but I have an issue. My issue is that I don’t have my permalinks set correctly to the title of each post, but this crap: ft.com/?p=88
Therefore, this information isn’t as plain to see for me as one that might have their permalinks set to %postname%. I have to click the page on my site to see what it is each time before I know.
I know, I know, Freddie, change the darn permalinks. Not as easy done as said. I have been fighting my host company to give me permission to my .htaccess page which is block for some reason. I am currently using Avahost, but have a HostGator account and just have not change these sites over to that account.
I need to put that on my goals list, huh?
Peace out Blog Family!
September 30th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Personally, I’ve found that even a poorly worked contest will bring a lot more readers and subscribers than killer content… however, the quality of those subscribers will be less (freebie seekers, unlikely to contribute to debate etc).
Jasons last blog post..Get Your Free Web Hosting Here
September 30th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
@Salwa: Cool. Stop by and let me know when it’s on! Thanks for coming by. Hopefully we see you around more often
@Adam! Ya! Thanks again for the giveaway! I agree with you. I think a mix is good. I think I just need to have less contests, and make them bigger.
@Ben: Yeah, I’m only going by a couple months stats with my example, and this particular blog is fairly new, so we’ll see what happens in the months to come. Glad you liked it. I’ll be sharing more of my stats/analyzing here.
@Freddie: Nothing wrong with 10 subscribers man. That’s 10 more than 0!
Yeah, that kinda throws an extra step into anaylizing when you don’t see the names of your pages. I find it odd that you can’t upload and/or edit your.htacess file. That’s pretty lame. lol You need to tell them where to go.
@Jason: Good to hear that from you Jason. I think it probably helps that you have 1000+ readers and give away killer prizes. Or has it worked well for you even having small contests in the past?
Any specific advice? Or just I just read your blog?
Cheers guys!
Jay
September 30th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
I think you’re right. Contest doesn’t rake it loyalty and readership much. I mean when I held a small $10 contest for a certain day I got a boost of traffic and comments from people who latter didn’t come back anymore…
Melvins last blog post..The Flip From Market Leverage
September 30th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
I still think that a decent sized contest would bring the most readers - However, then u have to have the quality content to back it up afterwards
Otooos last blog post..List Of Blogs With Top Commentators Widget
September 30th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
I haven’t had a contest yet, I just don’t think the blog is ready for one. Maybe once I get ready to launch the new theme or something.
I like the idea of checking GA for your best posts, this is something I am not doing…but will start.
You givin out the bizness Jay….and I liked the sammich money contests!
Normal Joes last blog post..Joe and Jeni Show: Blog Orlando
September 30th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
I’m not huge on the “contest” practice that we find on the Guru blogs, and I’ve yet to have a contest on my blog for one reason..
I really don’t think you guys give a shit about contests.
People read my blog because I’m twisted, have a hot girlfriend who some believe doesn’t exist, and I’m all about helping and being helped. People don’t visit blogs for contests.. they want a community, feedback, and to be heard.
As long as the contests are valid (like if Joe had a “show me your best sammich picture” contest) then the readers would really engage because it revolves around something they are familiar with and openly enjoy…
Elijahs last blog post..9 Things You Need To Be Successful At Bum Marketing
October 1st, 2008 at 7:32 am
Firstly, I have to disagree with Elijah. “I really don’t think you guys give a shit about contests.” - this is simply not true. I even enter many competitions and have found good blogs to read by doing so. I think the difference is that the majority of competition hunters know the routine so well. Sign up to my feed, drop a comment etc etc etc. It’s all a little boring.
Not that I have ever had a competition on any of my blogs, but I might hazard a guess that if you are a little creative with your competitions, and maybe tailor them to reward your regular visitors, then you might see more benefit than if you are just trying to up your RSS subs.
Ol’ Big Head is on the right lines and I love how he mixes ut up and goes for something a little more leftfield but, that being said, the figures do not shock me one bit. Is it not obvious that “sign up here and win this” takes alot less time to read than a quality, detailed post?
Personally, I prefer good content over gimmicks but it’s all part of blogging. Did you lose any subscribers after they failed to win $37, Jay?
Nota Bene Consultings last blog post..Make Money Flipping Blogs
October 1st, 2008 at 4:37 pm
@Neal - Good points made for sure, and you know I’m loving the fact that you disagreed with me and explained why because I’m all about speaking my mind, stirring things up and engaging in the conversation.
With your last line asking if Jay lost any subscribers, you made a great point because If anything Jay gained readers regardless if it’s people who won, or just people who were interested in the contest.
I’ve never entered a blog contest, and responded on Jay’s because I enjoy making him pee his pants and had no intentions of winning anything because I owe him quite a few beers. I’m sure if I participated in contests more I’d meet some great people, and actually find out whether you guys actually enjoy contests or not - I guess I have to actually do it to figure this out.
My initial response to this post was probably due to the fact that most contests I come across are pretty unoriginal and thin. I’m a twisted guy with a demented sense of humor and it takes some effort to keep my attention, let alone entertained!
Elijahs last blog post..9 Things You Need To Be Successful At Bum Marketing
October 1st, 2008 at 4:39 pm
@Melvin: Yeah, I know what you mean. I think you and I need to try a big contest to really analyze the value though
Thanks for stopping by dude, hope you come around more often
@Otooo: Great point! Regardless of how good the contest, you need decent content afterwards….unless you’re a “contest blog”. lol
@Joe: Dude, you have a contest going right now! “Who can spend the most on chipping in for a new theme”. lol For those reading this, get on that! Joe needs dough for a new theme, and he’s willing to trade for sammiches.
@Elijah: I think nobody gives a shit about “my contests” lol. Nah, I think people had fun, but I think my “particular contests” were more fun for me than anyone else. lol
@Nota Bene: yeah, good point on the ‘time spent” if that’s the point you were making…however, it shows that the time peeps who arrived that “landed” on contest page didn’t stick around…meaning thy didn’t check out other posts either, right?
You’re the only one that likes my left field contests man. I’m just gonna send you the prizes for now on. lol
Actually, I did lose a few subs that were in for the contest. But I gained a lot more afterwards with contest too.
Cheers Guys!
Jay
October 1st, 2008 at 4:55 pm
I have a few sponsors lined up for my veg blog, and i need to get on it. Throw a contest, but i dont want to do it, cause i don’t have the energy for some good quality posts to follow it up with. I’m just so freakin slammed, i think i have major burnout happening.
I will set some contests up soon, when ready.
Missys last blog post..Entrecard.com Up For Sale, Starting Bid $100,000
October 1st, 2008 at 5:01 pm
To answer your question, it varies by blog. I don’t mind your groovy contests at all.
But i hear what you’re saying. Which produces? more RSS subs, comments, traffic, yada yada. It really does vary by blog, because on a green blog which i am subscribed to and quite enjoy, they have WEEKLY CONTESTS, and they are always supremely popular harvesting 100 plus comments each time.
On smaller blogs it brings attention and traffic, and depending on the how the blogger set up the contest, it can bring in backlinks.
It all depends on the goal of the contest. If the goal is comments, well you know that will be the requirement to win. Etc.
I think a good mix of content and contests is FUN, i like it. Hope to see more from you. (just do better prizes) lol.
Missys last blog post..Entrecard.com Up For Sale, Starting Bid $100,000