You've been posting to your microblog for months. Some jots disappear quietly. Others get shared. Some get linked from HackerNews or Lobsters and suddenly you're getting traffic.

But what's actually working?

Most creators never look back. They just post and hope. They don't realize they're sitting on data that could completely change how they write.

Why Performance Matters

Here's the thing: your analytics aren't just numbers. They're your audience talking back.

When someone clicks on a post, they're saying something. When they link to it, they're endorsing it. When they come back to read it a second time, they're telling you it mattered.

The question is: are you listening?

Tracking performance doesn't mean chasing metrics or writing for clickbait. It means understanding what resonates with your readers so you can write more of what works and less of what doesn't.

Finding Your Best Performers

Start simple. Look at your jot analytics over the last month.

Which posts got the most views? Not all views are equal, but they're a starting point. Maybe a particular topic drew traffic. Maybe a certain tone worked better.

Which posts got the most clicks? If you link to something in a jot, are people actually following it? If they are, that tells you people trust your recommendations.

Which posts got shared? Shares are rare. They're the most honest metric. Someone didn't just read your post—they thought it was good enough to send to someone else.

Once you identify your top performers, ask: "What do these posts have in common?"

Are they about a certain topic? Do they have a particular structure? Are they longer or shorter than your average jot? Do they tell a story? Do they give advice?

Look for patterns. The patterns are your signal.

Spotting Traffic Trends

Now zoom out. Look at your traffic over weeks and months, not just individual posts.

Are certain days busier than others? Monday mornings might drive more traffic than Saturday nights. People might read more on their commute. This tells you when to post.

Are certain topics evergreen? Some posts get steady traffic for months. Others spike once and disappear. Evergreen topics are the ones people keep searching for and linking to. Write more about those.

Do you see growth or decline? If your traffic is growing, something you're doing is working. If it's declining, either your audience is shrinking or your content isn't matching what people want. Be honest about which one it is.

Which traffic sources matter? Are people finding you through search? From social media? From direct links and recommendations? Double down on what works.

Understanding Seasonal Patterns

Content doesn't live in isolation. It lives in time.

Certain topics have seasons. Technology trends come and go. Advice that's relevant in January might not be relevant in July. News cycles create spikes.

If you notice that posts about productivity get more traffic in January, you know to publish productivity content in December so it's ready when people are looking for it.

If you notice that your posts get picked up by tech publications in March, plan your best work for February.

Pay attention to when your audience shows up. Then be there waiting with the right content.

Using Referrer Data

Where is your traffic coming from? This is crucial.

High-quality referrers tell you who cares about your work. If your top referrer is a major industry publication, you're getting read by professionals. If it's a niche community site, you've earned respect in a specific circle.

Referrer patterns show you where to focus. If most of your traffic comes from one community (say, Hacker News or Lobsters), you know what kind of content resonates there. You can write more strategically for those audiences.

Missing referrers are interesting too. If you never get traffic from certain platforms, either your content doesn't fit those audiences or you're not reaching them. Both are useful to know.

Track which referrers bring the most engaged readers—the ones who read multiple posts, stay longer, or click through to your links. Those are your most valuable traffic sources.

Making Content Decisions Based on What Works

Here's where this becomes actionable.

At the end of each month, spend 15 minutes reviewing your analytics.

Ask yourself:

• What was my top-performing topic? Can I explore it deeper?
• Did I notice any patterns in what didn't work? Can I avoid repeating those mistakes?
• Where is my engaged audience coming from? Should I write more for those communities?
• Is there a topic I want to write about but my data shows doesn't resonate? Should I stop forcing it?

This isn't about becoming a metrics-obsessed robot. It's about making data-informed decisions instead of guesses.

Some of your best work might not get big numbers. That's fine. But if you notice that a certain type of post consistently underperforms, you have permission to stop writing it.

Conversely, if you notice that a topic you thought was niche actually gets steady traffic, that's permission to explore it more deeply.

What Good Analytics Look Like

You don't need complex dashboards. You need clarity.

Track:

• View counts for individual jots
• Referrer sources (where traffic comes from)
• Time trends (traffic over weeks and months)
• Topic performance (which subjects get more engagement)
• Reader behavior (bounce rate, time on page, clicks)

Most microblogging platforms give you this data. Look at it. Simple spreadsheets or dashboards work fine.

The Long Game

Your first month of data is noise. Your first three months is a signal. By month six, you'll have real clarity about what your audience wants.

Don't obsess over it. Check it monthly, make small adjustments, keep writing.

The writers who stick around are the ones who understand their audience. And the only way to understand your audience is to listen to what they're telling you through their behavior.

Your analytics are a conversation with your readers. Are you listening?

Start tracking. Review monthly. Adjust thoughtfully.

Your best work is waiting on the other side of understanding what actually resonates.

Want to understand your audience better? Jottings gives you clean, honest analytics for your microblog. No vanity metrics. No dark patterns. Just real numbers to help you understand what's working. Start your free site today, or check out how creators are using Jottings.