What if you built a website with a ton of traffic only to realize it could never end up supporting you?
There are metrics that matter A TON in your business.
However, you might be making critical errors about which ones matter and which do not.
I met a founder recently who made one of those errors. She built a site with loads of traffic, tons of visitors. She had the dream many of us wish for.
But for all that traffic she couldn’t sell a thing. She thought the traffic numbers would mean success… but they didn’t. After all that work she had to go back to the beginning and focus on metrics that matter.
What’s the difference between a meaningful metric and a meaningless metric? Find out in the audio below and take back control of your business (instead of simply reacting to whatever metric some social network throws at you).
(BTW if you haven’t yet, you should really subscribe to the podcast so you can listen to it anywhere. It’s simple. Here’s how.)
It’s better to listen on the go! Subscribe on iTunes
Shownotes
Asceticism – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Beyond Traffic: How to Measure What Really Matters — Think Traffic — “This is the trouble with just measuring traffic, it doesn’t really tell you much on it’s own. In our case, we aren’t setting records in terms of revenue, so it’s time to make some changes and focus on measuring what really matters.”
The Trembling 2am Voice Note: Caleb Wojcik’s Journey (FZS 005) — Caleb’s story about meeting Chris Guillebeau and getting started in blogging has some great insights about what metrics matter.
Fizzle Founder’s Story: Sahil Lavingia — if you’re a Fizzler, this is an awesome example of building an audience alongside of building a product and letting the two shape each other. Really great interview.
David Sacks Founder of Yammer- TWiST#354 | ThisWeekIn Startups — the hard part is in the building of the thing, not the idea. Lots to glean in this interview. (Though I haven’t been a fan of Calacanis, he’s grown on me through listening to this show. Like Derek Halpern, there’s a lot more under the surface than you initially thought).
Ask us a question — we’d love to answer your specific question like we do for a couple Fizzle Show Listeners here. You can do a quick leave us a voicemail or write it in.
The Only Real Secret of Effective Website Design (unmissable video + course release) — Think Traffic — Definitely check this out if you haven’t.
Leave us a review — We’d really love it if you left an honest review at iTunes. Doesn’t cost you much, but means the world as it helps other hopeful entrepreneurs find the show. Simply click here and open in itunes and click “write a review.”
Our Biggest Business Influences
37signals: Web-based collaboration apps for small business — (Corbett’s) their blog and book are excellent. (their other book is great as well).
The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It
Online Marketing Strategy – Social Triggers
Quick Sprout — I’m Kind of a Big Deal
Richard Branson — Screw Business as Usual
Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose
Independent Writer, Speaker, and Broadcaster – Merlin Mann
Learn how to set goals that actually stick!
The Top 10 Mistakes in Online Business
Every week we talk with entrepreneurs. We talk about what’s working and what isn’t. We talk about successes and failures. We spend time with complete newbies, seasoned veterans, and everything in between.
One topic that comes up over and over again with both groups is mistakes made in starting businesses. Newbies love to learn about mistakes so they can avoid them. Veterans love to talk about what they wish they had known when starting out.
These conversations have been fascinating, so we compiled a list of the 10 mistakes we hear most often into a nifty lil' guide. Get the 10 Most Common Mistakes in Starting an Online Business here »
This episode was awesome! Thank you, thank you, thank you. I actually went and re-wrote some of my site’s content after listening to this – specifically because of the discussion regarding the importance of focusing on what your audience wants. :)
Awesome, Alex! Cheers, man.
Some really crafty notes here. Can be applied on a blog. Thanks for showing the path. Knowing what to measure makes the difference between good and bad
You guys have a great combo of being like-able, diverse and knowledgeable. I could see me doing business with you one day.
Thanks so much, John!
Another Steven Pressfield fan–love it.
I’ve been blindfolded all these while, now I know the difference between the good path and the bad path. Time to go and make some changes
Really loved the reference to Madagascar!
Thanks Guys.
It’s so easy to get caught up in the metrics that make you feel good rather than the ones that actually build a business.
It reminds me of my personal trainer. He called the Biceps the glamour muscles. Not the most important group physically but boy does it feel good to kiss the guns!
Hello CHASE i went through all point and found it really good. Thank you for sharing your views.
I was listening to this episode today and got to thinking… is it possible to UNDERmonetize a blog? I seem to be almost paranoid about selling things on my site (the last thing I want to do is come across with a cheesy, pitch fest that scares people away)… but the funny thing is, the whole reason I created my blog in the first place was to monetize it (which means I’ve gotta sell something at some point).
With all the work it takes to maintain a legitimate, respectable blog with a responsive following, is there a point at which we aren’t selling as much as we should? Is it possible to give away too much for free? Short of our audience coming right out and saying “Hey, FYI – I would pay you for this stuff” – is there a way that we can KNOW that we’re keeping the right balance of free vs. paid content on our blogs?
“why do you care about Snowflake, do you know him? Does he call you at home?” – Ace Ventura!
http://youtu.be/5g4DgQayaOw
I love that part. I try to not to act out as ventura because too much. It time has passed for most people.
When I do, it’s totally way over people’s heads.
Just catching up on the Fizzle show after joining fizzle.co (http://fizzle.co/?aid=7561 , y’all!). Hey Chase, “Do you have a dorsal fin?”
nailed it!