It is at this time, we traditionally like to review how the previous year went. So with this in mind let’s take a look at how well both the website, and our YouTube channel performed in 2023.
How the website and YouTube channel has performed?
As all content on the internet is ranked. One of the biggest problems for any website, is being found through search engines. So in 2023 we spent a lot of time trying to better optimise our website to improve our rankings on Google, Duck Duck Go, Bing and Yahoo. This has meant that we have slowly been working through our previous posts, to try and ensure that our posts conform to basic search engine standards.
Earlier in the year we left Twitter. This was due to a combination of factors which partly related to being hacked, and a general difficultly getting anyone at Twitter to actually help us. As it turns out this was a blessing in disguise, as Twitter is not what it once was. However, in order for our website to have links to social media, which helps to improve our standing with search engines. We have now joined Tumblr and Mastodon.
Our website number and site members
While the number of visitors to our website in 2023 is down compared to 2022. This may well be an anomaly, caused by the elevated number of views we received during the pandemic. So we think it’s better to compare our 2023 figures with our 2019 figures, as this better represents a more normal level of growth.
As to the traffic on our YouTube channel, once again we have seen a decline in the number of viewers watching our content and for how long. While artificially high viewing figures generated during the pandemic, may account for this year’s lower viewing figures. The videos we posted in 2023, did not generate as much interest as we thought they would. While this may be related to a disinterest in the topics we have covered. We also have to take into account that we now face a lot more competition, from other YouTube Channels.
Our YouTube channel failings
In our experience, in order for YouTube to promote a piece of content. That content has to get roughly one thousand views within the first month of posting. So in theory the more subscribers you have, the better chance you have for getting to one thousand views in a month.
This year our YouTube channel reach 31,400 subscribers. However these subscriber numbers are not being converted into views. So after posting a new video, it can take months rather than weeks to reach one thousand views.
As we designed both the Mydoodads website and our YouTube channel to offer a tutorial style of content. We tend to only see viewers who have a problem. Which unfortunately means that once they have found their solution. That viewer does not returning to watch any of our other content.
So while we may have 30,000 subscribers, those subs are not regular viewers of our content. Which in turn means that the YouTube algorithm is not promoting our new content, but only promoting our old.
Our plans for 2024
Due to the type of content we cover. We realise that it’s going to be difficult to attract subscribers unless we focus on more specific topics. So we have decided to go back to basics and rather than try to post content on a wide variety of different topics. We will concentrate on a number of core subjects. For example How to set up Synology routers and NAS devices.
It is our aim to then in the background, build up an archive of new content that we will release once we finished the current series we are on. That way we can create more consistency, and hopefully attract more return viewers. However so we have new content for our site members, they will continue to be able to access our archived videos as we make them. So for example site members can see the episodes we have made for any new series, before they are posted.
This year we also intend to tidy up the content on our website. This will include removing any posts that no longer receive views, and remaking content for posts that have become dated over time. However as our Factory reset videos tend to perform well. We will be periodically releasing more factory reset videos, as and when interesting new products are released.
Synology Disk Station Manager 6.2 due to go end of life
If you have a Synology NAS and are using Disk Station Manager 6 (DSM). This year you need to update to DSM7, as DSM6 is due to go end of life on the 1st October 2024. Which means that in October, DSM 6 will no longer receive security updates or be supported by Synology.
For any one with a 13-15 series Synology NAS, they will only be able to update to DSM 7.1. While those with a 16 Series or newer, can upgrade to DSM 7.2. Anyone with a 11 or 12 series Synology NAS. Will need to consider upgrading their hardware and then migrating their data to their new NAS.
Website Members
In 2023 we saw our website membership continue to grow, so a big thank you to 7fs6p-65, aldenbaker, Badminton, felixwmc, and KenO for becoming site members. Your generous support really does help with the upkeep of the website. For anyone interested in becoming a site member you can find out more information by visiting our Members access page
Posting to the website and Youtube for January
This month we intend to tidy our back catalog of short videos by releasing videos we have been holding in reserve. So over the course of January we intend to post; a video looking to disable auto correct on an Apple iPhone. How you factory reset an Amazon Alexa air quality monitor. How you factory reset an Amazon Alexa smart plug and a video on how you pair your Google Pixel buds to a Google Chromebook.
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