TravelBloggerBuzz

An eclectic journey through the Travel Miles/Points blogosphere

A Deep Dive into the Miles and Points Blog Space

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We are taking a deep dive into the Miles and Points Blogs with a post researching the attrition rate and stuff like that, I hope you enjoy it.

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And now for something different. This is aimed to the core of my readership, the advanced miles and points addict. For the others, you can skip if you want today.

For those of you who have been reading my blog for a while you know I have been watching this miles and points travel hacking space from its very beginning. I was doing Tahiti for free before both The Points Guy and Million Mile Secrets were in middle school. Heck, One Mile at a Time was still in diapers! View from the Wing was railing against the TSA…oh wait, he still does that 🙂

Almost all bloggers have done the Friday interview at the Million Mile Secrets website. Some time ago, a reader mentioned that it will be fun for someone to dig into the data and see how many of these blogs are still alive. So, in my ever going moronic conquest to fight on to become the only GOOD (no sellout) Titan blogger, I thought, aha! I do have a daughter who is not doing much in the summer and I can put her to work! So this post is due to her you guys, it cost me two concert tickets to see her favorite artist, The Weekend. I thought she was telling me to go to the concert over a weekend until I realized the name of the artist is “The Weeknd “. WTF, that is messed up. Oh today’s youth I guess.

So she went through every single blog interview and created a worksheet. I had her write down if that blog is alive, if it regularly updated (current) and, if not, write down the number of posts in 2017 so you get an idea. Also, try to get the date of the last post if possible.

You can see/download the file after clicking on THIS LINK (Google Sheet file WITH some of my incendiary commentary!)

For the record, I have NOT done an interview there. As you know, Million Mile Secrets is a charter member in the now infamous TBB Blogs To Ignore list. I am not going to do things just for the clicks, I have some principles! I am not going to assist in the charade of answering the same questions (never changed!), give this commercial blog business free content while staff insert a bunch of credit card affiliate links in MY answers and then kiss ass for “the opportunity”. All for the clicks. Just not my thing okay? I am weird.

All data is as of August 11, 2017

Some statistics:

304 interviews since the first one that appeared on July 13, 2011.

Not all 304 interviews were all own blogs. Some were of writers writing for the same blogs, we have a few travel related businesses, we even have an interview of a loyal TBB reader (I have forgiven him for his sin, we all make mistakes you guys) and of course we had several moves in the data set.

296 distinct blogs interviews

106 dead blogs

93 current (regularly updated) blogs

97 alive (NOT regularly updated) blogs

Only the current blogs are updated on a regular basis, if not daily. Travel Blogger Buzz would be classified as “current”. Probably to move to alive status in the near future, enjoy it while it lasts!

Dead blogs are just dead. 35% of the blogs interviewed died. This is a very high attrition rate! Are you sure you want to start a blog?

The alive blogs are, well, alive. But some of them are barely alive. I bet some of them are pretty much dead and won’t add any posts going forward. Of course, there are more alive (and current) blogs in recent times. As time goes by, many blogs just…die. It is amazing the blog you are reading right NOW is still standing, high five!

And I leave you with this…When I accidentally click on RenesPoints

Check out my updated blog lists: Blogs I Love, Blogs I Like, Blogs To Ignore

TBB
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Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

 

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Comments

  2. Charlie says

    Very good research and very well done! Thank your daughter for us!
    What I found interesting was the number of blogs who died soon after and even before the interview. I think it may show that blogs don’t get the bump in traffic that they may have thought they would get from such an interview. My guess would be that there may be an average of 500-1500 clicks from one of those so really not enough to get people pumped up.

    • ABC says

      But brilliant work by MMS. Here’s a form. Fill out 10 standard questions, add a picture and we have a blog post. Minimal cost resulting in 300 blog posts. Never before has “original” content been that easy to generate. Who needs a robot?

  3. Sam says

    Great work, Buzz.

    Any chance your daughter could get cynical and take over Saturday and Sunday postings?

  4. Ryan says

    Nicely done Buzz and BuzzDaughter!

    Pretty interesting see how things have panned out for the interviewees! It’s too bad all these blogs died out since they’re just doing it to help family and friends!! LMAO

    You see the ridiculous post on FTG yesterday – on the front page of FT no less – extolling the virtues of buying and selling your miles? #smh

  7. PedroNY says

    Thank you, your daughter did a great job. The Weekend is a great show to see live, I hope she enjoyed that concert as well.

    Cheers,

    PedroNY

  8. TBBTheDude says

    To all:

    Back from the colonoscopy, results are good, all clear. Phew!

    Taking wife and daugher to Whole Foods to do that Hyatt $50 charge and get $20 Freeeeee. Hope it is still valid.

    Drinking coffee right now, my head was pounding.

    Procedure is fine, they put me to sleep, never felt a thing. A little bit floating but back to normal. The prep was kind of painful but not too bad I guess, I needed the forced diet and drinking all that stuff.

    Thanks for the kinds words, I will get her to read the comments. But totally not into it, she enjoys the dance stuff and school is starting.

    @ Jay: It was interesting to me as well. Some of these blogs died so fast. And some are still going, it was interesting to go back and read what they said back then.

    @ Charlie: There were some who died RIGHT away after the MMS interview. A few who never posted again afterwards. Which never made any sense to me, WTF happened? Their servers crashed and never recovered? Or were disappointed for the lack of clicks and said why bother anymore with the blog? Interesting to see how many of the Titans were the first ones interviewed, very commercially minded always. Another observation is…the interviews keep coming AND now added “success series” and “small business series” of interviews, hey more opportunities to keep selling plastic.

    @ ABC: Yeah, he had sent me the template for mine. Never went ahead with it, just did not feel right to me. No wonder I don’t get many clicks lol. And don’t forget, the staff add the cc affiliate links to each interview, it is hard work! 🙂

    @ Sam: Doubt it, no way. My kids are independent minded and want to do their own thing. I was the same 🙂

    @ Ryan: If there was a phrase most used in these interviews is the “started my blog to help friends and family” line. Oh, and it is travel rewards credit cards of course to the question about how to get into it. Remember how MMS used to say at the top of each post how to be responsible with your credit. Guess that one went the mother in law rule rule too….down in flames. Never forget the FTG founder’s words “It’s all about conversions”. Can’t believe FTG is still alive by the way, looks like the writers there are on a leash with a gun in their head to keep selling plastic.

    @ Nick and DML. Okay, I will. I started doing the comments but I stopped because it was taking A LOT more time. I don’t want to say how many hours went into this because Ingy will come over and leave a comment making fun of me again 🙂

    @ PedroNY. The concert is in November. In the new Detroit Red Wings/Pistons arena, named “Little Caesars”. She plays some of the songs, not bad but really not on the top of my list to listen to.

  9. Bob says

    Amazing work, your daughter definitely earned those tickets. It’s too bad you won’t do an interview with MMS. I wanted to know your answer to what’s the best way to earn miles. I wonder if it’s sign up for credit card bonuses like 99%+ of all those interviewees said. Truly amazing insight at MMS. At least Emily is still kicking it.

  10. TBBTheDude says

    Woman Claims American Flight Attendant Opened Overhead Bin, Poured Wine Over Her Wedding Dress – View From the Wing is on it again with amazing thought leader stuff

    Does Redeeming Amex Points on Expedia Present a Good Value? – Frugal Travel Guy Of course the answer is a simple NO but let’s just use this opportunity to shove in readers’ faces more Amex credit card links hoping some idiot will buy one from us. Amazing how frugal and so credit card friendly these guy are, hey?

    Can someone tell that Michael dude we don’t want to win a phucking Lufthansa duck, how many posts is he going to do about it, Jeeeesus!

  11. Mister Selfish says

    Love the stats! Here’s some to add from my mostly defunct blog.

    We did the interview back in 4/19/13 for the fun of it while in Korea or Japan. From my site’s stats it looked like:

    – 821 referrers that day (707 from MMS)
    – 4991 views

    Long term there was a noticeable increase in readership while we were still active.

    – Before MMS ~2000 views a month
    – Month of MMS ~14000 views
    – Months after 2013 when we were posting once a day: ~5000 – ~9000
    – Best year was 2015 with over 125K views

    My site has over 560 posts – which is pretty tiny over the course of 5 years, and hasn’t been updated in nearly a year but still continues to get 300+ views a day, on average.

    I’m assuming most died, like mine, because of life changes. Blogging is tough with young kids and the majority of the “travel hacking” space is 20 – 30 somethings. I keep meaning to post more, but with a 2.5 year old and one on the way it’s certainly lower priority.

    • TravelBloggerBuzz says

      Very interesting stats, thanks for sharing!

      I liked your blog, you made it here if I remember well.

      Yeah, life changes…I think you are right on this one. And just not enough “return” to keep going too.

  12. TBBTheDude says

    Just stab me now…

    Know what you can do to save Delta money? Would you believe going to the bathroom before you fly! – RenesPoints

  13. dhammer53 says

    Did you know…

    Dhammer53 was ‘interviewed’ by MMS in the very early days. He’d send you questions and I responded. Shhh. Don’t tell anyone. If you want to ban me I’ll forgive you. 😉

    Oh, and LAST.

  15. ABC says

    Haven’t listened to Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds since the 90s. The last record I bought was the Murder Ballads. Unique album.

    • TravelBloggerBuzz says

      The dude keeps doing his thing even today. Amazing stamina and always keeping it at a high level. Saw them live in the 80s, great show. Hooked since his Birthday Party days, his original band in the early 80s in Australia. Very different than his present material, he has mellowed a lot lol.

  17. Nancy says

    Interesting stats! I’d be curious to know how many of those writers of the dead or inactive blogs started writing for some of the bigger blogs. That’s what I did. I think in most cases that’s a win-win situation.

  18. Ed says

    Now for someone to do a list of the most financially successful independent blogs (never bought by investment group or credit cards.com and the like). Of course, they will have affiliate links. People get critical of those making money from blogging, but you just have to pick the writers you enjoy and support them if you want by clicking on adds or links or whatever. Free choice.

    • TravelBloggerBuzz says

      >>>>>>>>>>>>you just have to pick the writers you enjoy and support them if you want by clicking on adds or links or whatever. Free choice.

      Well said, two thumbs up!

      DoC has done a remarkable job so far. Mile Nerd too in its own way. Both have received buy out offers!

      My goal is not to be financially successful in my blog, I consider myself successful enough already 🙂 I would love to make more than minimum wage though because it is an intense DEMOTIVATOR when a day passes without absolutely no support clicks whatsoever, zip, nada, not just UNO. It gets to me and it compounds my psychological problems lol.

      The yuge money in this space is on pumping credit cards. Did you read my thesis?
      http://travelbloggerbuzz.com/travel-milespoints-blogosphere-has-turned-into-a-giant-credit-card-pumpization-scheme/

      Thanks for taking the time to comment.

  20. dhammer53 says

    @Brian.

    I was one of the first to be ‘interviewed’ way back when. Psst. I don’t have a blog. Don’t tell TBB. 😉

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