On January 12, 2012 I created my first blog entry. I didn’t know what to write about and I floundered for quite awhile before hitting my stride. After finishing the short piece I was nearly sick when I clicked the “Publish” button and threw my words out into the world. I wondered if it might end up being a world of two, or would a few more people be interested?
A few more people as it turns out, and at this moment, January 1, 2013 at 5:10 p.m. 7,099 people have viewed this blog. Wow.
Today I received an email telling me that the “Stats Helper Monkeys” at WordPress “have been busy putting together a personalized report detailing how your blog did in 2012!” I’d like to share part of the email with you.
* * * * *
- 600 people reached the top of Mt. Everest in 2012. This blog got about 7,000 views in 2012. If every person who reached the top of Mt. Everest viewed this blog, it would have taken 12 years to get that many views.
- In 2012, there were 67 new posts, not bad for the first year!
- The busiest day of the year was April 24th with 123 views. The most popular post that day was Holding Hands Across the King-size Bed..
This blog was viewed by people from 74 countries around the world. The top views were from Canada and the U.S., followed by the United Kingdom. Here’s a look at a few of them:
|
Views |
|---|---|
 Canada |
4,308 |
 United States |
1,218 |
 United Kingdom |
163 |
 Australia |
37 |
 India |
37 |
 Malaysia |
37 |
 Philippines |
36 |
 Germany |
35 |
 New Zealand |
26 |
 Netherlands |
24 |
 Mexico |
23 |
 France |
21 |
 Italy |
20 |
 Austria |
17 |
 Thailand |
15 |
 Sweden |
14 |
 South Africa |
14 |
In addition, I found some of the Google statistics interesting. Top Google searches that landed people on this blog were:
snake grass, Kraft peanut butter jars, and The Highwayman.
* * * * *
While 7,000 views in a year might be small potatoes for some bloggers, it is beyond anything I ever imagined. I have no explanation for this, only that it happened.
But now that it’s happened, what next?
The past year has been busy for me in a entirely different way than usual. My writing time, space, and quiet was compromised for the entire year and rather than buck the circumstances I decided to change my routine to accommodate them. Now life is returning to normal and I’ll have more time to spend on serious writing. I know of short story contests to enter, and I have a second book I’d like to get out of my system. There are classes I could take and a whole lot of research and background work I’ll need to do.
Will there be time for a blog? I don’t think so. At least not a regular one.
I wish I could thank every single person who took the time to read a post or two, because that’s what made this experimental year feel like such a success. If you’re reading this now, (and you obviously are) please accept my humblest thanks. I hope you’ve enjoyed the words I’ve shared this year.
Now I’m rambling … I’m tearing up … I think I should probably just sign off.
Thank you, thank you. 7,099. Wow. Thank you!
Congratulations on your first year of blogging and its success,
I have certainly enjoyed reading them and have also shared them with others.
All the best to you as you move ahead and hopefully there will still be some ideas that you come up with that you can share with us as well,
Happy New Year
Caro
It is nothing less than you deserve Phyllis…you are very gifted with words! Your stories bring our own thoughts, memories, and feelings out. Wishing you continued success in your new endeavours. I look forward to reading them!! 🙂 Dorothy
I really appreciate this, Dorothy. So many people have said that some of my own memories have inspired them to remember their own. That’s a good thing!
I’ll miss you…………xo
Thanks, Marilyn. We’ll meet on FB instead!!
I’ve enjoyed your posts over the past year, Phyllis. I will miss reading them.
Thanks so much, Esther. It’s been a fun year for me too and it was good discipline to keep to my weekly deadlines — even if I was the only one who knew if I missed!
Congratulations Phyllis on such a successful blogging year. I have only recently become aware of it, and took some time to look into your archives. I particularly enjoyed reading an entry from July concerning a friend with MS. 🙂 Of course I shared that with some other family members. I wish you the very best in your future endeavers.
Happy New Year to you and yours!
Karen
Thanks, Karen. It really has been fun to write. And I’m so glad you enjoyed reading that July post. I was written from the heart!
I have also enjoyed reading your blogs! Hope to hear more inspiration!
Thanks, Tiff. I’m glad you like them. Now I’ll just have to wait for more inspiration to strike! 🙂
Congratulations on a successful year of blogging! I’ve loved every one of your pieces but I completely understand where you are coming from. When that second book, or the promise of a short story or two starts niggling in the back of your mind all you want to do is set aside all distractions and get cracking. I, for one, can’t wait to see where you are going to go next.
I have revised the plot for my second book and have begun tweaking the stuff I’ve already written and will begin writing new scenes soon. Shall we share and critique?
Thank you, Susan. I do know that you understand this on a very writerly level.
Let’s share and critique. That’s all part of what I hope to have time for. My hope is to block off a day each week as “taken” so I can’t book anything else. Then I’ll have to discipline myself to make that my major writing day. Here goes …..
Congratulations on a wonderful first year of blogging. Its been great re-living/being reminded of some of those days of childhood that we kinda sorta shared, mostly simply by being a part of the same community of faith, or relatives, or whatever … I, too, have loved every one of your pieces, and do hope that they continue, even if on a very sporatic basis. Certainly don’t shut the blog down ..I often go back and re-read pieces in the “archives” and hope to be able to continue that privilege. All the best in your “return to normal life”…I do look forward to the next book or blog or whatever flows from your pen. I certainly will miss your regular postings, congratulate you on your willingness to go with the flow this past year, and wish you well in your future endeavours.
Thanks so much, Emily. Your words really mean a lot to me. I’ll definitely keep the blog “out there” because you never know when it might be a blogging kind of day. I’m sure they’ll pop up once in awhile!
I have been delighted to follow your blogs, Phyllis, and hope to read whatever you create. Please keep us informed of your babies so that we can continue to grow with you.
I will miss you, but I do anticipate lots of wonderful stories in the future.
Love, Patti.
Honestly, I think I’m going to miss writing these Patty, but it’s time to move to other things. Thank you for enjoying them.
I have loved your entries, and have found them encouraging at just the right moments. It was nice to read some of the entries that were geographically familiar, as well (I grew up in Scarborough). I know what it’s like to have so many things on the go that you are stretched so thin, you’re invisible. And now, for you, decision time – it’s time to stride forward into the new year and your new plans. Be sure to post when you’ve put together a new book. Thank you for sharing yourself with all of us.
Margaret
Wow — what great affirmation, Margaret. Thank you!