July updates: analytics, goals, and fails

Numbers are always fun to start with -
🍎 Page Views: 195,331 (+1288%)
🍑 Unique Visitors: 34,821 (+955%)
🍊 Email Subscribers: 3532 (+450%)
🍋 Avg. Open Rate: 52% (-5%)
💰 Total Revenue: $235.62 (+219%)

(Before going further, I want to apologize for the unorganized structure of this post, I'm just going to speak about whatever comes to mind.)

I didn't write an IH post for June's updates but you can view the tweet for comparison here: https://twitter.com/diannamallen/status/1144660700142407682 Note that this was the first month my website had been live.

It's obvious that this month has been full of explosive growth. But it didn't come out of no where, even though it felt like it. Each little thing I did was quickly creating a snowball effect.

First it started with launching on Product Hunt, which then lead to an article feature on LifeHacker and multiple other viral/trendy websites.

To take advantage of the traffic, I implemented opt-in forms on nearly every page of BMP. I did not want to risk missing out on growing my email list. At one point, some of my opt-in forms weren't working properly, so I did miss out on a few opportunities of email collection - but I can't be too greedy. I still grew by 450% this month.

In order to entice people to give me their emails, aside from joining the weekly newsletter, I removed grocery lists from the public meal plans. Instead, I created printable grocery lists, complete with all ingredients needed for the week + a little notes section. So, those interested in trying a meal plan would have a handy list they can print and bring to the store.

Now that my email list was growing steadily, I looked into ways I can begin monetizing. You're probably wondering how I made revenue if I'm not monetizing, well, I have Patreon and an ebook available. But, that is not my ideal monetization strategy - so I don't really say the website is monetized. At least not to my standard! :)

Anyways, I decided to begin offering memberships. Starting with Keto meal plans. You can learn about what all that includes here: https://www.budgetmealplanner.com/keto-meal-plans

It's not available yet, but I've set up an email capture (of course) and a coming soon. The main selling point, I think, will be the app. And thank god for no-code technology because I don't know how to make an app. I'll be using Glide to achieve this easily. All I have to do is create a Google Sheet!

I had two goals for this month, which I discuss briefly here: https://twitter.com/diannamallen/status/1156187004369063936

My next goals for August will still include gaining a newsletter sponsor. Hopefully a long-term one, rather than just a one-off opportunity.

But my biggest goal will be to fully launch the Keto membership! I think I can do it :) This is actually what pushed my focus away from the sponsor goal the past few weeks. I'm okay with not achieving goals if it means that I was working on something better and more logical for the time-being.

I'm not even going to pretend that I'll be able to out-do this month's growth analytics. It's just not possible. So, I know next month's stats won't appear as impressive - but I'll be comparing them to June. That month was normal and non-explosive.

One of my favorite things that has happened this month was being a guest on the IH Podcast with Courtland! That was amazing and I'm so grateful for that opportunity. If you haven't listened, please, please do so here: https://www.indiehackers.com/podcast/104-quick-chat-with-dianna-allen

It was also my first ever podcast ever, so to be on IH was mind-blowing. I was internally screaming out of the excitement the entire time.

That's something I want to touch base on, too: positioning myself to be available to each and every collaboration. I literally tweeted that I'm here for whatever you're working on, as long as BMP can get a little feature from it also. Here's that tweet: https://twitter.com/diannamallen/status/1145999043027488768

I'm a huge believer of speaking things into existence and making things happen yourself, and I think that tweet is the best example of how to GET SHIT DONE!

Is it cringe? Kind of.
Is it a vulnerable risk? 100%.
Do I regret it? Absolutely not.

I really don't know what else to say, a lot of has just happened this month. Most of which, I've documented here on IH.

I'm just trying to take slow and calculated steps towards each goal, but not too slow, I'm sitting on a list of over 3,500 emails :p

In June, BMP generated $100. This month was $230. I'm really aiming for a $500 month by the end of this year. I just have to keep this momentum and I will.

To end this update, I want to thank you all who are reading and interested in watching BMP grow. I am extremely grateful for all the support, the kind words, the acknowledgements. Seriously, every piece of encouragement goes a long way with me and it really keeps pushing me forward and excited on how I can improve BMP.