Pinterest Analytics
Say What?  I finally took the time to look at my Pinterest Analysis data to see what was happening with my pins and, well, I think I am just a bad pinner who should have paid more attention in my economics classes.  I know data analysis is important and gives you information about what is working and what is not but data analysis is just not my thing.  It does not interest me, it is not fun, it is boring and it is I am sure the "lifeline" of successful businesses. Probably time to pull the hubby in to look at it.  He is much better than me at that stuff.  I just like to make things and he loves numbers so that should work. 

Update (December 9, 2015):  I still don't know much about the analytics but I can tell which items people are interested in.  However, I can also safely say that most my pins go in the Pinterest blackhole abyss unless I promote them which is a whole new story so I wouldn't exactly say just because my pictures don't get pins mean it isn't classroom and student worthy.  Perhaps nobody has even seen it.  
 
Pinterest Algorithms
I was reading a post today about Pinterest and how it changed it's algorithm.  I was wondering why I wasn't even seeing my own pins anymore and now I am bummed because the people I follow - well even all their pins won't show up in my live feed.  Now that stinks. I count on those pins so I don't have to spend time searching.  From what I understand, if you count on Pinterest to get people to your blog and TPT/Etsy/Teachers Notebook stores then you just got a hammer over the head.   I feel relieved I never invested a ton of time like I should have to figure the whole PINNER MARKETING thing out to get people to come visit here. 

Update:  Well, Pinterest is probably worth investing time in to to get your items/projects noticed.  and I need to research more on how Pinterest works and I NEED to organize my boards in a bad way.

Pinterest Analytics was Really Depressing
I found I have quite a few impressions and honestly I am just going to throw this out there - I don't even really know exactly what a Pinterest Impression how many times Pinterest shows your pin but then only had few clicks from those impressions.  I think that may mean they visited me at this blog and left (going to Google it after I'm done).  Google it and here is an article that explains the basics:

Pinterest Analytics Article

What I Found Out
I found out that my Free "When I Went Walking Unit" has the most clicks and my Doubles plus One has the most interest along with my rotting pumpkin post.

Update:  So here was a duh moment.  Well I certainly should have put links to other like projects/units in this post because it is the post that is seen the most!

Research  
I am going to go keep an eye on the analytics and try to clean up my very messy boards.  They resemble my teaching cabinets after a whole year of shoving and hiding and then you end up with this BIG HOT mess and you just want to throw it all away and start over.  Very tempting, very tempting.
   
My Experiment 
So I think I am going to post snapshots of my Pinterest Analytics weekly (maybe monthly), track the changes I make to my boards and pins along with the info. I find about all this Pinterest Analytics and new algorithm and how it is affecting/effecting  (good or bad) this lil' o blog. Update:  Epic Fail .   Didn't do it.  Note to self - Make it this years goal. 

TPT
I also found these links:

https://www.teacherslovedata.com/search 


If you want to search your own and quite honestly, 

I'm putting them here so I can find them again!

I went on the forum on TPT and read someones post about their spot on top sellers in California.  I was curious so I went an looked up mine.  I really wasn't certain where I would be.  I was on page 9 of I don't know how many pages.

            Showing 401-450 of 5,267 for CA only.

           Showing 200-250 of 7,974 for CA only

           (9/3/16.


 I was #446. I really was surprised  because I 

don'make a lot of $$$ from TPT. Which tells me

it must be very top heavy as far as sales are 

concerned.



Update (December 9, 2015):   #289

Update (December 21,2015):  #289

Update (January 18, 2016):     #271

Update (February 16th):          #259

Update (March 2th):                 #241 Page 5

Update (April 25th):                 #229 Page 5

Update (May  15th):                 #219 Page 5

Update ( September 3rd)         #210 Page 5

Note: I pretty much ignored the summer 

because everything seemed at a standstill. 


(Thoughts to self - this is taking a loooooong 

time to move up one page.  It's like moving a 

mountain)! But I am grateful I am increasing.


Update (October 10th):            #202 Page 5


(Things are picking up again)



           
 
and on page 6.  So I can safely say I am 

improving.  I went up a 157 spots in just a 

little over a year. I think the closer you get in 

the top 100 (for your state that is) it gets 

harder and harder to move up the ranks. 

Goal for this coming year is to at least improve 

to page 4 and be ranked #189 or lower.  100

spots is a good goal I think.  I'm continuing to 

do my own little experiment so you can learn

more about the rankings if you have items on 

TPT.  So I will log rankings 1 to 2 times a

month. 


I have a been tracking my rankings overall 

lately and I have found it to be quite 

interesting.  I wish I would have started 

tracking it sooner with data so it could give

you insight.  Better now then never.


I can tell you that it has taken 2.5 months

to move 11 pages overall.  When I first found 

how to find my rankings I was on page 70 and

#3,8?? or 3,9??.  I didn't write it down.


For whatever reason, it appears that my items

are more searchable and findable now from 

what they were.  The same items I have had

are now picking up momentum.


Overall: #2,940   (March 12) 

Up approx. 1,000 in 2.5 months.

Overall: #2,694   (April 25th)

Overall: #2,603   (May 15th)

Overall: #2,524   (September 3rd)

Note:  The long 3 month absence here was 

because I kept checking and then quit checking 

so I wouldn't get frustrated.   It was a struggle

to just stay between overall seller #2,555-

2,999 over the entire summer. I would stay the 

same, go up 3, go back 4 the ENTIRE summer! 

I am finally moving up a little. But I went up 9 

two days ago and went back 3 yesterday. 

However, my sales did not decrease from last

year at the same time. They were up - slightly.


Overall: #2,475 (October 10th)






I make things when I can or feel like it or need it.  I 

started selling things on TPT so I would stop dipping

into my personal account for school supplies 

and projects.  I enjoy making units and projects and 

wouldn't do it otherwise. So I think I'll keep track of 

my rankings each month to see if it has a direct

correlation with what I actually make.  Of course it is 

(duh moment).  I guess the more accurate question

 or statement would be:  When you get to rank 

3,000 you can expect to make have made approx. 

 ???? this much.  The amount of time it would take 

individual sellers to get to that ranking would all

differ dependent on the amount of work each 

individual seller puts into making products and 

marketing them through social media.



I am thankful 

you visit me here and find the units I make useful.  It

helps me supply my kiddos with a more 

enriched curriculum and projects.  Did you need to 

know all this . . . probably not but just in case you're

wondering.



                                               Good Night