Tag Archives: alexa rank

Aloysa’s Reading Picks: Secrets Revealed

Are you ready for 2011? If not, check out my staff writer post at Beating Broke today, Catching Up On Your Year End Financial Planning.

You probably heard by now all of my news. I pretty much announce it every chance I get, so it would be almost impossible not to know. But just in case you don’t know, listen up!

A few days ago I broke 200K! I completed the Yakezie challenge in 2.5 months! It feels great. My Alexa rank is now about 177K. As I type it, I cannot believe it. I joined the challenge on September 27. My Alexa rank was about 2.5 million. I switched to a self-hosted site in October and ended up with Alexa of 15 million. It was tough, starting from the scratch. Few words to the challengers:  you can do it! Nothing should be stopping you. We are all in this together!

Last week I became a contributing writer @ Beating Broke. My first article The Golden Rules of Haggling was published this week. Please make sure to stop by. I had fun writing The Rules. I hope you will have fun reading my post.

Someone asked me what is the secret of my success with my Alexa rank dropping so fast. I wondered about it myself. Then I looked at Google Analytics and my eyes opened up. Here are my secrets revealed:

My 5 top referring websites in November were:

1. Sweating the Big Stuff. This came as a big surprise. I do read this blog and comment there from time to time. Secret revealed: your comments attract readers. Leave a good, constructive comment and you might be surprised.

2. Carnival of Personal Finance. I do submit my articles to this carnival almost weekly. The result? Top two referring website! Secret revealed: participate in carnivals!

3. Politicalcalculations.com. I had to go and take a look at this website because I had no idea what this was all about. Apparently one of my articles Beware of Men Counting Pennies ended up in this blog’s roundup. It was an editor’s pick, and as the result of it, my traffic was great for a few days. Secret revealed: write well and submit to carnivals. I know, somewhat redundant but hey, you never know who is reading you!

4. Google. Secret revealed: I don’t write word targeted posts. I don’t know anything about SEO. Ignorance is bliss. Sometimes.

5. Yakezie.com. What can I say? I like to talk. Ask my husband Beaker, he will confirm. Secret revealed:participate in forums!

My 5 top referring websites in December are:

1. Invest It Wisely. I participated in his suggested project and the result was AMAZING. His original article was picked up by a coupe of big websites. Congratulations! As the result of it, The Kitchen Sink got some share of this traffic. Secret revealed: participate in projects. Support your blogging friends!

2. Carnival Of Personal Finance.

3. Life and My Finances. Comments people, make comments. By the way, check this blog out. Great blog, interesting reads. Special thanks to Derek for a great guest post!

4. Yakezie.com

5. Everyday Tips and Thoughts. I am a regular reader of this great blog. I love Kris’ humor, insight and style. I read, I comment, I get traffic.

Now as all my blogging secrets revealed, let’s catch up on some great reading:

Do we need failures in order to succeed? Find out reading Want to Be Successful? Go Out And Make Mistakes! @Life and My Finances.

Have student loans? Have trouble tracking them? Read HowTo Track Your Student Loans @Money Cone.

What would you do if the worst happend? Find out reading If The Worst Happened @Budgeting in the Fun Stuff.

I am a horrible tipper. Thanks to Suba I have a Holiday Tipping Guide – How Much and To Whom@Wealth Informatics.

This post just proves to me that being a landlord might be a nightmare. Dealing with My Tenant From Hell@Yes, I am Cheap.

Have your limits when it comes to generic stuff? Express your opinion after reading Sometimes Saving Money Isn’t Worth It – Items I Refuse To Buy Generic @Everyday Tips and Thoughts.

Are you in a disagreement when it comes to discussing finances with your significant other? Read The Daily Grind: How To Agree On Daily Finances@MomVesting.

Interested in renewable energy? Find out How Much Does Renewable Energy Cost Me? @retireby40.

Don’t we all want to stretch our money a little more? Streching Your Grocery Dollars Without Using Coupons Part 2 @Mom’s Plan

A relatively new blogger wrote an excellent article about charitable donations. Check it out – Giving to Charity – Sustainability for the Soul @Sustainable Personal Finance.

Are you a fan of Rich Dad Poor Dad? You have to read Rich Dad Wrong Dad @Buck Inspire.

Hate Christmas gifts you get from your in-laws? You are not alone! Get some laughs reading Unforgettible, Funny Holiday Gifts That Were Given as real Presents @Squirrelers.

A Few Good Things

On Blogging
I started blogging in August, joined the Yakezie challenge on September 27, 2010, opened my self-hosted site on October 18, 2010. This is how I have progressed up to this point:

Alexa Ranking as of September 27, 2010: 2.6 MM
Alexa Ranking as of October 18, 2010: 15 MM
Alexa ranking as of December 8, 2010: 244,353

October traffic: 458
Average visitors per day: 32

November traffic: 1,171
Average visitors per day: 39
Unique visitors (I installed Google Analytics on November 4, 2010): 481
New visits: 89%

I cannot thank enough of my fellow bloggers for all the promoting, commenting and tweeting they’ve done.

When I started blogging on my new self-hosted website, my posting schedule was very erratic and inconsistent. As my readership base started to grow, I switched to a stricter posting schedule and now I am trying to post three times a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday). So, don’t forget to check my new posts on those days.

I also included a Guest Post page on my blog. Yes, I am accepting and actively seeking guest posts. Check out my guidelines. Hopefully they are clear enough.

Interestingly enough personal finance topics seem to dominate the content. Aloysa’s Kitchen Sink has become more of a lifestyle blog with emphasis on personal finance.

On Staying Fit
As you might remember I injured my shoulder a while ago and stopped working out. It was somewhat a disturbing time for me because I became obsessed with gaining weight, Weight Watchers and food. My shoulder has been doing a lot better, and I am back to the gym lifting weights! Hopefully, I am not going back to physical therapy.

And as far as food goes… I am not obsessed anymore. It is Holiday season and who wants to think about eating too much! I said to myself: eat up, Aloysa! You are worth it.

On Christmas Tree
We finally put the Christmas tree up over the weekend. Last year we had neither time nor desire to decorate our condo. We went to China in November and it turned out to be an incredible adventure and the best vacation ever. We came back home in the beginning of December, and I got sick with a horrible cold that knocked me down for a week.

When I finally got back to my normal self, Christmas was a week away. We thought about decorating but decided against it. It seemed a little absurd to put the Christmas tree up just to take it down in a week.

This year our Christmas tree is up, and our condo is looking festive. I finally feel that Christmas is just around the corner.

Aloysa’s Reading Picks

First and foremost: thank you everyone who supported, promoted, stopped by and commented on The Kitchen Sink while I was away. You helped me tremendously, and my Alexa ranking dropped to 372,206!!

By the way, if you want to find out more about me, read my interview @Modern Tightwad!

My article Beware of Men Counting Pennies was featured in the Carnival of Personal Finance #284hosted by Sweating the Big Stuff ,and it was one of the editor’s picks!

It took me a while to catch up with my work. Sometimes I think it is better not to go on vacation. But I am all caught up now – more or less, and I am back to blogging, writing and reading.

The following are my favorite articles of the week:

Run out of the gift ideas? No money or budget for expensive gifts? Check out 77+ HomemadeGifts – DI Chirstmas/Holiday Gifts @Wealth Informatics

Don’t like Wal-Mart? Not so sure? Figure it out with Things that Walmart Does Well @First Gen American

Going abroad? Read Are you a Member of the Global ATM Alliance @Green Panda Tree House

Not sure if you love what you do? Sort it all out with Doing What You Love, Or Loving What You Do?@Everyday Tips And Thoughts

Figure out how blog grading works by reading How Mozrank is Filling in the Gaping Hole Left By the Departure of Pagerank @Invest It Wisely

This post inspired me too write my financial summary article (coming soon) My Money at 20 @Minting Nickels

Wondering how to prepare a cheap but delicious Thanksgiving Dinner? Get a clue with Thanksgiving Dinner on The Cheap @Yes, I am Cheap.

Vacation, Alexa Ranking and Aloysa’s Reading Picks

I am going on vacation! I waited for it long enough and, finally, it is here. You won’t hear from me till the middle of November. It makes me a little bit paranoid because I have never been away from the Kitchen Sink for that long. Well, my blog will be three months old in November and you know how paranoid parents get about their newborn. The Good news is that you will hear from a few great bloggers as their guest posts will appear on this blog. Please make sure to come back and see what they have to say.

I joined the Yakezie challenge on September 27, 2010 with Alexa ranking of 2.6 MM. A month later I made it to 700K, running The Kitchen Sink as a free wordpress blog. In October I switched to a self-hosted website and never looked back. It was the best move I ever made in the blogosphere. However, the switch affected my Alexa ranking. It was sky-high at 15 MM. Today, November 2, 2010, it is 613,380! Thank you everyone for reading my posts, commenting, promoting and linking back. Thank you everyone for becoming a subscriber and a loyal reader!In fact, I cannot thank all of you enough.

While I am away, make sure to check out these great articles:

Do you want to know what people spend on weddings? Do you have something to say about it? Read Would You Pay for An Extravagant Wedding @Everyday Tips and Thoughts.

If you want to learn how to maximize your strength, check out Strength Finder 2.o @retireby40.

Want to learn more about how to make money blogging? Read 3 Ways to Supplement Your Income With Online Earnings @ Financially Poor.

What to do when financial disaster strikes? Find out from One Disaster Away @Yes, I am Cheap.

Do you get paid bi-weekly or monthly? It’s All About Timing @Musings of an Abstract Aucklander.

Wondering if you should invest in 401K? Think you cannot afford it? Find out reading 401K Advice – Stop Passing Up Free Money! @Faithful With A Few.

What is your experience with Craigslist? I am not talking about the Craigslist killer…  but Craigslist Secrets That Nobody Told You @Minting Nickels.

Have you heard about Consumerism Commentary blog? Of course you have. Do you want to find out more? ReadPersonal Finance Luminaries @BarbaraFriedberg Personal Finance.

What is the difference between Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account? Find out reading Health Savings Accounts vs Flexible Spending Accounts @Wealth Informatics.

Get involved and state your opinion after reading Does It Matter Who Is The Main Provider Between Husband and Wife @Squirrelers.

Find out what millionaires drive reading Toyota Millionaires Vs Mercedes Millionaires @Watson Inc.

Halloween is over but see what you could have done Free Deals and Activities For Halloween @The College Investor.

Have a great week everyone!