Interesting day so far. My dog decided to go #2 inside our AirBnB guest room – in front of our guests. I spent a good 40 minutes washing the carpet and apologizing like a madwoman. This just might be the most embarrassing AirBnB thing to date.
Table of Contents
The Other #2
On a more (much more) positive note, today 2 days ago marks the end of our 2nd official month here at TFG! You can see the first month here.
I came into this blog thingy fresher than Febreeze. I should have queued up some posts before I launched TFG. Based on what Ms. FAF’s (Frugal Asian Finance) wrote – I’m #3 pure and true. I just jumped right in. I think I brought & install WordPress when I was half asleep.
But that’s good! Because I have spooky good instincts. I’m totally ESPN.
Whenever I “blackout” about doing something, it tends to turn out better than if I did it using my brain knowingly. How did you think I met my husband? I just need to trust myself on auto-pilot (which is harder than it sounds.)
Goals For June: Expectation vs Reality
2,500 views(6603 views) – literally more than half of that from Rockstar Finance! ? Totally saved my rump – what a rockin’ miracle!!! ?
Re-compress images– Done!- My Twitter:
1000!!! (Spicy!)(775 followers) – that’s not bad +500 in a month. I followed the advice of The Grounded Engineer but I only started two weeks ago (but it does work!) - My Facebook βLikesβ – So neglected that I consider it a win π +4 followers thanks to Othala Fehu and Steward and Slave.
- My Pinterest:
100 (Umβ¦..^)(76 followers) – I started being kind of active on Pinterest 2 weeks ago. It’s a hard egg to crack but Ms. FAF and I are teaming up. I started Board Boosters but Tailwind is still a mystery. Ms. FAF won’t but I don’t mind panhandling for group board adds ?!
- Guest Post – I wrote 4! One about FICO score, another about PAYE, and of course my RedFin review over at Mr.MSM.
- Write 15 Entries – FAIL. In fact, I failed so hard I even miscounted last month’s entries! I wrote 14 last month and 14 again this month.
- Create downloadable content – FAIL. I don’t have any excuses. If I don’t get it set up next month, I’m just going to do a giveaway!
- Post everyday on Rock Star Finance – Yup! Visited and/or stalked everyday π
YouTube! My husband thinks Iβm βTV cuteβ soβ¦– FAIL. I recorded a few clips. Ms. FAF can attest! I just can’t post them. They’re so bad. I had a pimple the size of a softball on my chin. IT’S PROM ALL OVER AGAIN.
Goals For July:
- 5000 views
- Twitter – 1000 followers (try, try again!)
- Pinterest – 200 followers? (Not optimistic!)
- Write 10+ Entries – (I want to focus on length and detail)
- Create downloadable content
- Thanks to Ms. FAF now I might be in a podcast now! Funsies! ?
- Instagram – 50 followers? (I have a foodie Instagram account with 400+ followers but it has 5 or so casual high school and college friends. I blog anonymously and would prefer to keep being private.)
- Follow my blog with Bloglovin.
Some Hiccups:
- Um, this one is kind of big. I was not uploading anything onto the Rockstar Finance feed for a good 2-3 weeks until Ms. FAF came along and asked me if I was showing up on the feed. I was like, “wait, what feed?” ? Oooups. Install WP Super Cache if you’re having this problem!
- Being in the PF community…it’s is like being submerged into a warm, clear pool of information and it’s sooooooooooooo good. Mid month in, after being in Passive Income MD and Zero Day Finance’s reading club, I thought “hey I should do that!” Then I forgot… So that’s coming up in July!
- Some new post alerts (like from the Groovies among many others) goes into my e-mail’s “promotions” tab (which I never check because it’s spam) and some post alerts goes into my Bluehost e-mail but doesn’t get forwarded into my main g-mail account. I have no idea how to correct it. Mr. MSM, BoaS, OF etc. comes into my main g-mail account no problem. This then brings up Twitter which is basically how I track new posts from bloggers now. I made a list a few days ago called “Smarter Than Me” and populated it with
sexy peoplefellow PF bloggers.**[Update] PoF brought up a possible solution!
Summary:
This month has been all luck with the Rockstart feature. So I’ll be reasonable with next month. I’m still getting the hang of things but it’s loads of fun π Nothing even feels monotonous yet!
I really want to make another blog too but I have to get a hang of this one first! I think the key here is to use the weekends to schedule out posts in advance. Unfortunately, AirBnB hosts don’t get weekends off. I practice dance 2 hours everyday too. Hubby and I like to zombie out in front of RuPaul’s Drag Race (it’s his favorite show) for 3 hours but that needs to give now.
β¨ Love and respect you all β¨, the rockstar PF community is amazing and I’m not just saying that because I have no real life friends (kinda).
Team CF says
Darn girl, you are on a roll! Well done. But be careful, blogging is a marathon, not a sprint π Same as FIRE.
Lily says
Lol wonderfully true! This stuff takes a long time (like all good things!)
Mr. Freaky Frugal says
Lily – Wow, those are some impressive stats. You started just a little before I did and you’re way ahead of me! Keep up the great work.
Also your husband is right. π
Lily says
Aw thanks Mr. FF! That might just be because you hardly update! When are we getting a post π
Mr. Freaky Frugal says
I only post on the 1st and 15th of each month. Since I’m FIREd, anything more feels like a job to me. π
Ying-Navigatingadulthood says
Your monthly views are amazing! Pinterest is a hard egg to crack- but keep at it! And this post definitely inspired me to start talking the Rockstar Finance page- I don’t think adulting is quite as sexy as 100% personal finance so my page views aren’t nearly as high as yours. π
PS. Holy bananas, I’ve been having tons of email issues too! But, I think my RSS to inbox should be working tomorrow! Xo, thanks for letting me know [otherwise I would have thought that everything was working]
Lily says
Adulting is plenty sexy! β I really do think your whole idea is amazing. It covers so much and I’m jealous of the span. PF bloggers have a very specific niche so there’s more community – thank the heavens for Rock Star Finance. It’s basically easier for me is what I’m thinking.
Glad I could be of some assistance π I’m still trying to figure out what’s wrong with my end.
Ms. Frugal Asian Finance says
Haha I laughed so hard on the train reading your post! You’re so FUNNY!!! I hope people didn’t think I was a weirdo laughing by myself. But even if they did, I don’t think I’d mind π
Thank you so, so much for the shout-out! Did I mention that you’re awesome? These stats are amazing! You’re indeed my Pinterest partner haha. Btw, I’ve been trying to panhandle on Pinterest as well, but no one is paying attention to me @_@ (oopsie!)
Looking toward to our future Pinterest endeavors! xoxoxo
Lily says
We’ll crack Pinterest together! I promise – somehow – not sure how or when –#sisterhood ? Lol OK that makes no sense but the core idea is good!
Grant @ Life Prep Couple says
Well snap. Those are some impressive numbers. I guess I need to head over to Rockstar Finance and get signed up.
It is amazing how many hours you can put into blogging. When I first started it seemed so easy just writing about stuff you are passionate about. Turns out that is pretty easy but it is all the self marketing that takes so much time.
Lily says
I knowwwwwwwww. I have to make 2-3 different sets of graphics each time from scratch, good lord. No sane person would do this if you don’t love the topic and can stand sitting around for 8 hours. Yes! There’s so much self promotion, you can’t be even remotely shy. Oh geez…why am I doing this! ?
Budget on a Stick says
Way to go!
Maybe I should get Ms Blue Ribbon to do a Pinterest account for me. I was the one that got her hooked on it. π
Lily says
Yeah! Team work! Let her get you on Pinterest!
Mrs. Adventure Rich says
Great job, Lily! Its awesome seeing your numbers grow π Keep it up, I really enjoy your writing!
Lily says
Thank you Mrs. AR. Grow is a stretch term haha. Let’s see how it goes next month…?
The Luxe Strategist says
Lily, you win funniest blogger ever! Your posts never fail to crack me up.
Congrats on the Rockstar feature! I also just started pinning on Pinterest, and I’m having a hard time understanding how folks have made it work successfully for them. To me, it seems like more of an organic tool (like Instagram), so I’m just mostly posting clothes and stuff for now.
I think a Youtube channel would be GOLD for you, because you’re super cute and funny π DO IT.
Lily says
Awwww shucks I’m blushing!!!
I think you would have AMAZING success of Pinterest. It’s very female and fashion orientated! They’re super popular topics. Use PinGroupie to find a related board. I’m having a hard time because all I have is personal finance (not cool I guess!) Definitely try to crack Pinterest. Do it with Ms. FAF, Ying and me :p
We’ll form some Asian girl coalition, yo.
The Grounded Engineer says
Love your blog, Lily! Thanks for the tips and keep up the great work.
Lily says
It’s you who saved my sad Twitter game! Thank you!
Ms. Frugal Asian Finance says
Btw, I attest to the fact that you’re awesome on camera. Can’t wait to see your Youtube channel! ^.^
Lily says
Nooooooooo. I literally just hacked off my hair with my kitchen scissors 3 hours ago, right before I was chatting with you lol. ?
David @ Zero Day Finance says
Wow, you are on to an incredible start. I still haven’t cracked 5,000 page views in 6 months of running Zero Day Finance. Also I have no idea how you can put out 14+ posts a month. I aim for 8-10 original content posts with 4-5 “what I’m reading” and I still barely get them out in time.
Keep up the good work, looking forward to more as always!
Lily says
I stay up really late and bother my poor sleeping husband with my keyboard typing ?! Everyone says content and stable schedule matters in the first year plus I don’t have a 9 to 5. I get time to think when I’m pruning the sidewalk for guests π
Erik @ The Mastermind Within says
Nice month! Great work so far. What I’ve realized is it’s not the amount of posts you do that matters, but the quality of the content for views…
A freebie would get great to increase subscribers!!
Lily says
Yes very very true! You market a good piece and see it grow on it’s own but you can’t do that with a bad piece. I’m focusing on quality. The freebies I have now are all “eh” so I need to work on that too.
SMM says
You’re doing great, keep at it! I joined the Twitter game too recently. And now my wife drives more whenever we go out so I can post in the passenger seat π Don’t text and drive folks. There are so many financial bloggers out there; I never realized it was such a large community. It’s great to see so many people with a similar mindset.
Lily says
It really is! I felt so alone before and I just exploded my ramblings on others who couldn’t care less. I’m just making up for lost times. Is your wife understanding? My hub is getting annoyed that my face is now glued to my phone ?
Tim Kim @ Tub of Cash says
You’re doing well, congrats!! You should totally do YouTube videos too. People are forgiving of pimples; I get a ton too and it’s like whatever :/ Let me know when you do start a YouTube channel, so that I can subscribe!
Lily says
Thank you Tim! ? And I’m in the toilet compare to your stats! I think I’ll try to record something during 4th of July weekend.
Save Splurge Deny Debt - Cameron says
Lily you are killing it!
I guess my new goal needs to be try to catch up with your awesome blog! You are doing fantastic and I love that your personality really comes through in your writing!
Also, I would agree you could do great on youtube and it would be a great way to differentiate yourself! You seem to not be afraid of the hard work so that seems like a big win for you! Unfortunately I was blessed with a face for radio and a voice for print, so I will stick to writing articles, HA!
-Cameron
Lily says
Thanks Cameron. You are just the sweetest! My voice…I cringed when I heard myself so I deleted 80% of what I recorded. I think YouTube is a good idea…I just have to…who here does voice over work? Ha! Did you get that comment thing sorted out?
Ms. Raggedly Rich says
Look at you go!! That’s fantastic : )
And thanks for the cache tip! I’m not 100% sure if mine was working or not, but I set it up just in case. We’ll see how it goes!
Lily says
Hi Ms. RR! Yes – try it. I have no idea how it works but it works! The RSF refreshes every hour so I would submit a post at X:50 or something so you don’t have to wait to know in an hour π
Mustard Seed Money says
Awesome month!!! I am still trying to get one of my articles featured on Rockstar. So to get one in your 2nd month is awesome. Sounds like you got a great bump from it. Keep up the awesome work π
Lily says
Thanks Mr. MSM!! There was 2400 – 3000 referrers from it. That was huge! I was surprised it was featured – I just spat out what I wish other people told me when I was 21 haha.
The Lady says
Yo, Lady! Nice figure(s)! Thanks for sharing! I’m a solid jump in #3 blogger type too! But I don’t have ESPN. (Sad face) I’m about to run my end of months stats soon.
Lily says
Hahahaha thanks TLitB π can’t wait for those stats
Troy @ Bear Market says
Congrats on the bump! I just started 3 months ago, and my traffic is averaging around 300 visitors a day. A couple of my finance friends were kind enough to share it among their friends, and things just got rolling from there.
Lily says
That’s amazing Troy! No one knows about my blog and I can pimp it out on Facebook (it would generate a lot of interest) but I’m too chicken to share my personal life. Someday! What you said is so tempting though! Maybe I’ll consider it π
Barry @ Money We Have says
This is awesome! You’re putting some serious effort into your blog and the results are showing. Despite how active I am with my blog, I feel like I never have enough time to do everything I want. I try to focus on my corporate clients, but that means I neglect the personal connections with other bloggers =(.