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This is the second update in our traffic and income report series for the food blog. You might wonder why a food blog is publishing these reports. The short answer: my own growth has been shaped heavily by other bloggers who share their metrics, and I’ve learned a lot from those reports. This series is a focused traffic experiment that runs from January to December 2018 with a target of reaching 500,000 page views per month by December. If you want background on why I set a traffic goal rather than an income goal, see the first post in the series.
In January I wrote about pushing past my comfort zone and facing things that scare me. I also mentioned being a survivor of childhood abuse and how that history affects my ability to pursue goals without getting derailed by self-doubt. February and March proved challenging: I fell off the map, posting little and stepping back from social engagement and regular blog work.
Despite the setback, there were meaningful positives:
- Several followers reached out with genuine kindness and encouragement. Messages from readers and other bloggers helped more than I expected.
- I sought professional help. Self-help can only take you so far; getting support from someone trained to help made a real difference.
- I cultivated self-compassion. Instead of beating myself up for the pause, I allowed myself space to heal. That shift made it easier to return to the blog without spiraling. If you’re struggling, give yourself permission to rest — it’s productive in its own way.
With that context, let’s look at the numbers for February.
Traffic
Traffic dipped nearly 40% compared to January. A big factor was two unusually high-Pinterest days in January that drove over 4,000 visitors; typically a Pinterest day brings 200–300 visitors. Without those spikes, February’s totals look much lower.
Traffic Overview
Top 10 Traffic Sources
Desktop Vs. Mobile Traffic
Some notes on traffic
Google organic search ranked fourth among traffic sources that month. Many food bloggers aim to make organic search the top source because it reduces reliance on social platforms and their shifting algorithms. Learning proper keyword research and applying basic on-page SEO made a major difference for me. Starting in November, I focused on SEO changes and keyword optimization across posts, and organic traffic began to climb rapidly.
With consistent SEO attention, organic search traffic increased by 366% over three months. That kind of growth isn’t necessarily slow or out of reach — small, targeted improvements can produce big results, even when posting inconsistently or facing personal challenges.
Income
February marked my first full month with Mediavine, starting on February 10. Despite the typical post-holiday dip in ad revenue, the results were encouraging when compared to previous ad partners.
- Mediavine: $118.34 (RPM $8.68)
- Amazon Affiliates: $12.80
For context, November revenue with Gourmet Ads was $12.64, so switching to Mediavine represented a significant improvement in ad income.
The Take Away
Any forward movement is valuable. When I launched Salted Mint a little over a year ago, I imagined reaching 80–100k page views per month and producing content daily. The reality has included starts and stops shaped by unresolved trauma and long-standing self-doubt. Those interruptions can leave you feeling stalled and unsure.
I’m sharing this because others may be navigating similar struggles. If you feel defeated before you begin, know that small steps count and asking for help matters. My wins this month were reaching out for support, publishing this report despite the delay, and speaking openly about experiences that kept me hidden for years.
I’m grateful to readers who keep coming back even when my posting is inconsistent, and to the bloggers and friends who offered encouragement. Thank you to everyone who reads, comments, pins, and shares — your support means a lot.
If you enjoy traffic and income reports, you might also be interested in posts from other bloggers who publish similar updates.
Thanks for being here. Follow along on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes posts.