📊 The Good, the Bad, and the Website Metrics
Transparency matters.
One of the things I want to do with NielFlamm.com is share the journey—the wins, the losses, and everything in between. So today, I thought I'd pull back the curtain a bit.
First, thank you.
Seriously.
Whether you've visited once, read a blog post, watched one of my movie reviews, listened to a podcast, or stopped by to see what kind of internet garbage I posted this week, I appreciate you. Even more, thank you to everyone who has taken the time to send feedback, leave comments, or reach out directly. It means more than you probably realize.
Now for the numbers.
Compared to last month:
Unique Visits are down about 37%.
Visits are also down about 37%.
Page Views are down about 20%.
Do I love seeing that? Of course not.
Do I panic? Also no.
The reality is... I don't know exactly why.
It could be seasonal. Summer vacations, kids out of school, people spending more time outside than staring at another screen (probably a healthy decision).
It could be that social media algorithms decided my posts should be shown to approximately three people, and one of them was probably my mom.
It seems my content isn’t resonating as much.
Maybe people are just busy.
Maybe search engine rankings shifted.
Maybe some readers are waiting for me to write about something they're especially interested in.
Or maybe the internet decided to internet.
The honest answer is... I don't know.
I enjoy creating content, and I'm continuing to invest in making the site better.
Over the last couple of months, I've added a few tools.
I've talked quite a bit about using ChatGPT to help organize ideas and polish content. My website is hosted on Squarespace, and I recently added Linguise to provide translations into multiple languages.
None of these companies are sponsors...
...yet. 😄
One interesting thing Linguise lets me see is which translated versions of the site are being viewed.
The results surprised me.
The most viewed translated language?
Russian.
That's right...
Russian.
Tell Comrade Putin I said hello.
After Russian came German, Japanese, and Chinese, even though most of my overall traffic still comes from China.
I honestly don't know what to make of that yet, but it's fascinating to watch.
The analytics raise more questions than answers, and that's part of the fun.
For those who have followed along, you already know this isn't my profession.
I'm not a programmer.
I'm not a marketer.
I'm not in corporate communications.
I'm just someone with life experiences, stories, opinions, recovery, movie reviews, technology observations, customer service experiences, and the occasional questionable joke that I hope connects with someone somewhere in the world.
If something resonates with you, fantastic.
If something doesn't, I'd like to know that too.
I'd love your feedback.
Leave a comment on the site or email me at niel@nielflamm.com.
Please tell me what you like.
Please tell me what you skip.
Please tell me what you'd like to see more of.
This website has always been about starting conversations, and I hope we keep having them.
Thank you for being part of the journey.
Here's to next month's numbers... hopefully they're pointing in the other direction.
Help Shape the Future of NielFlamm.com
I'm extending my open reader survey and would love your feedback!
If you've visited NielFlamm.com, watched a video, or read a blog post, I'd appreciate hearing what keeps you coming back—and what you'd like to see more of.
The survey is anonymous, takes less than 1 minute to complete, and your feedback will help shape future content.
Take the survey here:
https://forms.office.com/r/WPQAzYLsgs
Thank you for taking a minute to share your thoughts!
Help Shape the Future of NielFlamm.com: A Global Audience Survey 🌎
One of the biggest surprises since launching NielFlamm.com has been discovering that people from around the world are reading and watching my content.
Yes, I expected readers from the United States, but I was genuinely surprised to see engagement from countries across the globe — including a significant audience from China.
That made me ask:
Who are you?
What brings you back?
What content do you enjoy?
What would you like to see more of?
So I created a quick audience survey.
It takes less than a minute to complete:
📋 https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/WPQAzYLsgs
Whether you are in the United States, China, Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, Australia, or anywhere else in the world, I would love your feedback.
Your responses will help me create better:
✅ Blog posts
✅ Videos
✅ Reviews
✅ Discussions
✅ Future content ideas
Most creators publish and hope people enjoy what they make.
I want to take a different approach.
I want to listen to the people who spend their time reading, watching, and engaging with my content. I want this to be a conversation, not just a broadcast.
And while we’re talking about global audiences…
I’m putting out an invitation.
I would love to partner with a Chinese company interested in reaching a Western audience.
Maybe it’s a Chinese electric vehicle company. 🚗⚡
Maybe it’s a technology brand. 💻
Maybe it’s a fun snack company. 🍜
BYD (Build Your Dreams), Xiaomi Technology, Polestar, or another innovative company — my inbox is open.
As a self-described “WaSian” (White + Asian), I believe I bring a unique perspective: someone who appreciates both Western and Asian influences while sharing authentic experiences with a global audience.
Also… I’m officially putting C-Pop into the universe. 😎
We have K-Pop. We have J-Pop. Why not C-Pop? Chinese music, entertainment, culture, food, and innovation deserve more global attention.
A creator asking an audience what they want to see isn’t complicated.
But maybe it is a different way of creating.
Let’s build something together.
Take the survey. Share your thoughts. Help shape what’s next.
Join the discussion on NielFlamm.com.
China, Cars, Content, and a Crazy Sponsorship Idea
There is something that has surprised me over the past several months.
A significant portion of the readers and viewers of NielFlamm.com comes from China.
When I first started noticing the traffic analytics, I was curious. I did a little research into what many people call “The Great Firewall” to better understand how my content is accessible there. From what I’ve read, my content is probably about as harmless as it gets. I write about movies, leadership, technology, AI, cars, life as an amputee, dialysis, business, and whatever random thought pops into my head. I’m not trying to stir political controversy or challenge government policy. I like to keep things interesting, fun, and occasionally a little sarcastic.
It also made me think.
If Americans believe we aren’t influenced or filtered in different ways, I think we’re kidding ourselves. Our AI tools have guardrails. Algorithms decide what news we see. Streaming services determine what music and movies are recommended. Social media platforms decide what gets amplified and what disappears into obscurity. Different systems, different methods, but someone, somewhere, is always making decisions that shape what we consume.
That isn’t really the point of this post, though.
The point is that I’d love to partner with a Chinese company as a sponsor for NielFlamm.com.
If anyone from BYD (Build Your Dreams), Xiaomi Technology, or even Polestar happens to stumble across this article, let’s have a conversation.
I’m a lifelong car enthusiast. I’ve watched countless reviews of vehicles that Americans can’t easily buy, and I think there’s an opportunity to create content from a different perspective. As someone who jokingly refers to himself as a “WaSian”—part White, part Asian—I think I can bring a unique voice to a Western audience while genuinely appreciating Chinese innovation and engineering. (More on the “WaSian” story in a future post.)
Whether it’s reviewing technology, discussing automotive design, sharing ownership experiences, or simply introducing products to an American audience, I think there is room to build something fun together.
Before you leave, please take less than a minute to complete my content survey:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/WPQAzYLsgs
Your feedback will help shape future articles, videos, reviews, and discussions. I genuinely want to know what you enjoy, what you’d like to see more of, and what topics you think deserve more attention.
I don’t know of many independent creators who invite their audience to help guide the direction of future content. I think creating content should be more of a conversation than a broadcast.
Let’s build something together.
Let’s be a little revolutionary.
Join the discussion on NielFlamm.com.
📬 What You May Have Missed This Week on NielFlamm.com (June 6-13)
Hello Friends!
Another week has come and gone, which means I somehow managed to produce another collection of blogs, movie reviews, videos, LinkedIn posts, opinions, and assorted Internet Garbage.
If life got busy, here's your weekly recap of everything that happened on NielFlamm.com between June 6 and June 13.
🎬 Movie Reviews
It was another busy week at the theater.
I reviewed Pressure, the fascinating true story about the meteorologists whose weather forecast helped make D-Day possible. It was less about the battle itself and more about the pressure of making decisions that would affect thousands of lives.
I also reviewed Scary Movie 6, where Marlon and Shawn Wayans return with exactly the type of over-the-top parody humor that made the franchise famous. If you're easily offended, it probably isn't for you. If you enjoy ridiculous comedy, you'll probably laugh the entire time.
Finally, I shared my thoughts on Eternity, a movie that explores relationships, death, and the afterlife while asking some interesting questions about love and forever.
If you're trying to decide what to watch, hopefully my reviews save you a little time and money.
🌎 NielFlamm.com Continues to Grow
One of the biggest surprises this week came from looking at my website analytics.
During the past month, more than 800 unique visitors generated over 1,000 page views, with readers coming from all over the world. The largest audiences are currently in China, Vietnam, the United States, and Germany.
When I started this hobby, I honestly thought only friends and family would stop by.
Seeing people I've never met visiting the site is both humbling and motivating, and I appreciate every single visit.
🎥 Videos, Blogs & Other Internet Garbage
There was plenty of content outside of movie reviews this week.
I shared my thoughts on celebrity sports fans and carpetbaggers, those people who somehow become lifelong fans the minute a team starts winning championships while the real fans have been suffering through decades of heartbreak.
I also posted another handicap parking adventure, featuring a driver who apparently believes parking lines are merely suggestions despite having an entire parking lot available.
I shared my appreciation for the growing international audience that continues to find NielFlamm.com, thanking readers around the world for spending time with my content and encouraging them to reach out with suggestions on how I can continue improving.
The website continues to fill up with blogs, videos, podcasts, health updates, technology discussions, humor, random observations, and whatever else happens to cross my mind during the week.
💼 Leadership, AI & Nextdoor Commentary
My ongoing commentary surrounding Nextdoor leadership and corporate communication continued throughout the week.
I discussed Nirav Tolia's comments surrounding artificial intelligence, pointing out that AI has existed in many forms for decades through predictive dialers, automation tools, instructional design software, Grammarly, and other technologies many of us have worked with throughout our careers.
I also examined Nextdoor's moderation model, asking what protections exist to prevent moderator retaliation and whether enough transparency exists when volunteer moderators are making decisions that affect neighbors and local conversations.
Another article compared Nextdoor's constantly shifting messaging to companies like Waffle House and In-N-Out Burger, organizations that have built loyal customer bases through consistency, simplicity, and delivering on a straightforward promise.
I also shared my thoughts on Nirav Tolia's appearance on the New Economies podcast, questioning whether the company is truly listening to user feedback while discussing AI, neighborhood data, and community engagement.
As both a shareholder and former user, I continue to believe transparency, consistency, and accountability are critical ingredients for long-term success.
❤️ Recovery & Life
This week I reflected on celebrating 17 years without a drink and the gratitude I have for everyone who reached out with comments, texts, messages, and encouragement.
The AA chip I picked up wasn't just for me—it serves as a reminder to newcomers that long-term recovery is possible, one day at a time.
Humor, gratitude, and community continue to be some of the greatest gifts of sobriety.
👉 Catch Up!
If you missed anything this week, stop by NielFlamm.com and catch up on the latest blogs, videos, podcasts, movie reviews, opinion pieces, and all the other Internet Garbage I've been creating.
And if you enjoy what you read or watch, please forward this email to a friend and encourage them to subscribe.
Don't gatekeep the Internet Garbage.
Thanks for reading, supporting the site, and following along on this crazy journey.
See you next week!
— Niel