Performance metrics for P1T are rebounding over previous quarter: 2017 to 2018 Second Quarter Analytics

The longitudinal comparison of the previous year’s website visitation performance with the most recent quarterly report provides a snapshot of the overall reach of the People-First Tourism project, as well the performance of the website source links and micro-entrepreneur network pages. Additionally, the report includes data about the reach of the project’s scholarship to the public through select social media tools – e.g., this web blog. Some significant changes in offer and marketing are tracked and have shaped the changes in the performance of the website.

Here is the most recent report, P1T Dashboard Analytics Report for 2^nd Quarter of 2018 (see inset below). The report for the 3^rd Quarter 2018 will be appearing in an upcoming posting on this blog.

This report revealed that new visitation to the www.peoplefirsttourism.com web marketplace during the 2^nd Quarter 2018 have increased (43%) over the new visits seen during the 2^nd Quarter of 2017. While there has been a decrease (-138%) in returned visitors to the site during this period compared to the 2^nd Quarter 2017, overall visits have increased 34 percent. Visitation to the site during the 2nd Quarter 2018 is the first quarter recorded since the 4^th Quarter 2016 to have an increase. New visits to the site made up over 95% of visits; a slight increase over the previous quarter which indicates that the site continues to generate new interest in visitors wanting to discover what P1t experiences are all about. The visits to the site during the quarter peaked during June with a steady increase during the period. As in previous quarters, most visitors were from the USA, and they arrived at the P1t website through links with partners such as visitraleigh.com, backtoearthfarm.com, and

P1t 2018 Second Quarter Report

visitmadisoncounty.com. Other important sources of visitors are the websites of partner organizations like forktofarmer.com. The report also features the ten most visited network locations of micro-entrepreneurs, which now includes new elements of the site; day-trips, vacation-vittles, and the Raleigh chefs and farmers journey page. The experiences listed in the NC Piedmont region, NC Mountains and Journeys-section also were visited. The social media statistics are also indicating that Facebook and Twitter continue to increase awareness of People-First Tourism experiences.

While the primary purpose of these reports is to enable data-driven business decisions through discussions with empowerment agents and micro-entrepreneurs, we also use these reports to ensure transparency in our efforts to drive academic discussions and research on micro-entrepreneurial business analytics. Therefore, we invite the public and the academic community to comment and to advise us on ways to improve this aspect of the People-First Tourism project.

Gene Brothers, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Equitable and Sustainable Tourism

NC State University