For those who like numbers, this blog is nine months old. This is the 311th blog post. As I type this (on Sunday morning) I've had 23,483 visits from 95 countries. The top ten countries are:
- United States
- Canada
- United Kingdom
- Australia
- Germany
- Sweden
- Netherlands
- France
- Romania
- Singapore
Average time spent on the site, 2:59. Average number of pages per visit: 1.74. The three most viewed posts are:
- you've been warned (629)
- amazon one-star meme (416)
- fainting, shame, and obviousness (344)
We've also built a community gallery, A View of One's Own, and are in the early stages of creating a publishing co-operative. (More co-opers wanted.)
From this information I make some very unscientific guesses: people find me through ng.com, then come to the blog and stick around because they get to chat to each other. And most find rants more entertaining but prefer to discuss only the reasoned and reasonable posts. What does this mean for the future of the blog? You tell me.
Any thoughts? Requests?
Posts
I've noticed this propensity for more comments around less controversial posts. I find it odd and have wondered why. Maybe you've hit on it - you are attracting people who like community more, and that is how they do that.
ReplyDeleteWhat about those most viewed posts - why? 'You've Been Warned' is listed first in the sidebar sampler, and the amazon thing might attract more search engine people? Why would people go read one post vs another after it is no longer current? Search engines? The intriguing title? Interesting.
Good point, Jennifer. 'You've Been Warned' is an excellent post, though, and it wouldn't surprise me in the least if people have told each other about it.
ReplyDeleteI think the future of the blog is being modeled by the present. I really appreciate the diversity of the posts!
I can tend to be a "fire & forget" commenter. I read, give an off the cuff response, & move on. I read the comments left before me, though. Sometimes I come back. So put me down for community!
ReplyDeleteYes, you've been warned is a great post, and maybe you're right Janine - the word-of-mouth factor.
ReplyDeleteI subscribe to the comments feed as well as the posts, so I generally see all of the comments.
I am engaged in both rants and reasoned discussions. I yell at the radio, and lecture my friends on the evil in the world. But, I also love a reasoned discussion accompanied by plenty of beer. Both are integral parts of community. I have been known to feel a wave of affection and laughter for someone in the middle of a good rant.
ReplyDeleteI like blogs much more than static info pages because of the variety and frequency of updates. I'm also fascinated by trivial details about people's lives. The community aspect in English-speaking blogs is new to me---Spanish bloggers seem to always want to throw a party so everyone can meet for drinks.
ReplyDeleteAs for rants vs. reasoned, I love rants. But I try not to comment on politics, because I don't feel I have a right to talk US politics and most of the time I wouldn't even know what I'm saying. The reasoned posts are cool, too, because you're so smart! I'll comment on almost anything you post. ;-)
Requests? Integration of ng.com with the blog, that you get your Amazon affiliate thing working---yesterday I followed a few links and ended up reading your recommendations on Chasing Ray's site, which lead me to purchase a bunch of books by Robin McKinley.
The other items on my wishlist, are already rolling: book club, co-op experiment. I'm a happy egg.
I have been known to feel a wave of affection and laughter for someone in the middle of a good rant.
ReplyDeletebarbara, I believe that's how Jennifer and I became friends. ;-)
Yes, you're right, Karina (and that was a good rant), but please, don't get me started on that again! I damn near went there and left another comment.
ReplyDeleteThere are those who like to feel safe and so comment on safe topics, and those who like to feed edgy-at-a-distance and so prefer me going all ranty-panty. Then there are people like me (and lots o' others on this blog, I think) we have days and then, well, days. Which is why this blog is so very variable :)
ReplyDeleteBut the rants tend to get passed around on teh intarweb, while the reasonable posts don't. As for why that is, well, perhaps it's time for another competition. I'll ponder it.