Revealing how I approach and how I actually study what I see working with my blogging here in the Rain is what this post is all about. (Its NOT about the goofy picture to the left... that is just to make you smile a bit.)
First I know that blogs that have fresh original industry related content reigns in the Rain. Yes, the fun and quirky personal posts add an interesting dimension and they do help to reveal your unique personality and differentiate you from your fellow bloggers. But all in all, industry related posts that inform are the posts Active Rain Moderators like and want to feature. Moderators KNOW this will keep others coming back here to learn. LEARNING is key to those that come to Active Rain.
But lets face it, after one has been blogging for any length of time it is inevitable that you will run a bit dry when it comes to new subjects to blog about.
So where can you go to look to be informed about your own "voice" to know what worked and didn't work with what you wrote? Well, one place to look is back at your own "voice" and see just what you best said. By studing the simple statics Active Rain provides you, about your blog, you can gain some great insight about your own voice. (If you do not know where to find your own statistics, please read the post script note below for instructions.)
So to help make my point LET ME SHOW YOU MINE: Below are the stats from 5 of my most popular posts. When I examine these stats I am most interested in my CLICKS. My "views" and my "comments" are something I look at, but they are really less than secondary to my CLICKS. Clicks tell me that people REALLY wanted (and still want) to read what I had to say in this particular post.
In my case I see that people were interested in what I had to say about Home Staging Training, Photography, the Home Staging Industry, and Marketing Home Staging. Knowing this, these general subject(s) definitely will (and have) informed me on what to blog about in subsequent future posts. These post STILL draw attention... months after they were initially written. So it is imperative that I look at the statistics for they help me understand my "audience". As will your stats help you with yours.
Date | Title | Comments | ||
01/08/2007 | 47 | 5310 | 2523 | |
10/03/2006 | 64 | 2019 | 1600 | |
05/13/2007 | 70 | 5900 | 1230 | |
05/10/2007 | 66 | 4756 | 1225 | |
03/04/2007 | 58 | 2811 | 1128 |
Oddly and interesting to note is the fact I have seen in my stats on post like this one, where the subject is "Blogging on Active Rain", might do great for a day.... but will NOT attract readers over time. Even if this post ends up being Featured and it gets tons of comments, that is NO guarantee that it will have a long life and find readers ongoingly in the future. Personally, I would rather have a post that attract readers ongoingly.
BUT WAIT! There is MORE to show YOU about YOU...
While your statistics will show you just what DID connect with your audience, your statistics will also show you what did not work. But as you are looking back at your statistics keep in mind that you are also looking at your body of blogging work. Some of your early work, where you were just beginning to find your "voice" might now be a subject worth revisiting. Don't get me wrong... I am NOT saying you should REGURGITATE the same-old same-old. But giving a topic a fresh more mature blogging once over might be a great way to to show us yours.
Blog It Forward...
Me
Post Script: WHERE TO FIND YOUR STATS? Once you are logged into your account, click on your "MY HOME" tab in the upper right hand corner of the screen. One you are on YOUR Home Page, look at the column to the far left side of the screen. There you should find a "STATISTICS" button... click on it. If you do not see it... you may need to scrool down lower on your personal Home Page.
Neal the Blog-Log will show you WHO comes in if they have a profile set up with Blog-Log. And it is kind of a snapshot of NOW... not over time but it is not very telling for a SPECIFIC post.
ME
My most popular post was about Hate and it had the most public comments I've ever seen at least on my posts. interesting was that for every public comment I got an equal amount of private e-mails.
3608 clicks...I'm assuming that means people clicked on to read it...am I right?
I'm with Neal about that photo...who are those people...good grief!
Craig,
Yes I know..I'll never forget you comment on one of my blogs that you were caught viewing it and had to leave me a comment...I know you were there in spirit! :)
Neal: I guess it is a case of... I'll comment on yours if you comment on mine. HOW SICK IS THAT?
Monika: Fascinating... I am off to read your post right now.
Shoot, Craig -- I just finished writing a "Blogging on Active Rain" kind of post! Should've read this first! ;o)
(And hey, I think I know those people!)
AHHH...I can't get that image out of my head....Craig, you were saying something about reaching your audience? I can't see!!
(PS thanks for the advice, I have a ways to go before I get views like that)
Craig,
Thanks for the heads-up on where to find statistics. I never noticed that on the side bar before.
Fran
Craig,
Thank you for the education. Your posts are always so informative. I appreciate your generosity.
Craig... what an excellent post and contribution to our group. This the kind of thing eveyrone here on AR should know and understand.
Recently we've received a few emails from members asking about the criteria for being featured in The Art Of Marketing You group. There is no BIG secret.
In addition to everything you listed, another simple suggestion would be to keep your posts on topic and relevant to the group you are posting in. I'm constantly amazed at how many posts are even marginally related to what the group is about. I've seen other group moderators send out notices about this problem recently.
I'm featuring your post because it's a must read for every blogger and Rainer. Great job, well thought out, clearly explained, on topic content... thanks Craig.
Here are the stats for one of my cookie blogs - it has nothing to do with real estate. It is literally a recipe. . This is the one I find most shocking. This blog was only posted in the AR Recipe group. Who knew that the Recipe group was so popular.
OK I do have to say they are the best, most delicious cookies in the world. ;)
OK..I'll show my ignorance. What's the difference between clicks and views? And if view just means scrolling by without clicking...how does anyone(record keepers) know?
I'm still of a "little people living in the TV" mentality! LOL
Hi Craig! I do believe you captured my neighbors at their best!!
Great way to track what is working, but I have a question. . .I read your post before I was logged in, then I had to log in to comment, so essentially I clicked twice. . .do the gods of AR know it was me or did I get counted twice.
I think I am right there with Jane. . .little people, hmmmm. . .
I am still a baby here but I have gotten some reader...yeah! Here are my stats...
Could be worse I guess. ;)
Craig,
Learn something new everyday! I will good analyse my clicks & views. Thank you sooo much! :)
I will try that but not without me telling you that the picture is pretty NASTY!! YUCK and yes it did grab my attention as I am sure it did others. Where do you find these things?? Too funny!
Phyllis Pafumi
06/13/2007 And as for the rest of us, we have moved on... 47 617 459
04/12/2007 Seattle Kitchen Remodel Before and After's 38 1268 651
02/16/2007 Overcoming the Objections of Home Staging 44 1370 629
02/12/2007 Home Stagers; Where To Post And Why. 42 1728 910
01/10/2007 Home Staging Tip #3 - Bed in a Trunk! New Picture. 66 1865 1426
You are right...reviewing the past does shed new light on the subject.
Thanks Craig!
I am not signed in...darn! I don't want to start over so here it is anyway. Love it!!!
Here's some of mine:
So, I'm not seeing a common thread in these to be able to figure out what you did with yours Craig. Do you see one?
Interesting picture with this post, that's for sure! :-)
Ann
Craig, very well thought out post. At first, I thought that was you and your wife since I've not read your posts before. Seriously, I almost went right out......but THEN figured since Marti had featured your post, I'd take a look. Great information. I was aware of the stats, but have never found a good answer for the "how do they know" the click throughs with the just reading.......an enigma to be sure.
Great post Craig. I've still not quite figured out my 'voice'. I look at my stats and have yet to determine the connections...but I won't give up!
BTW, I understand what 'Clicks' are, but the 'Views' has me baffled. They are views of the 'blogroll'. What the heck is that?! I've wondered if it is when you go to a 'group' and you see the list of blogs posted...but if that is the case, it doesn't mean much...so I figure I must be wrong!
Hi Craig, again! I want to thank you for this post...I did go back and took a look at my stats for the umpteenth time. I took a different approach after a couple of minutes and had an AH, HA moment and who know how long it would have taken without your post today.
Here's my blog about it, Is Your Blog As Successful As You'd Like It Too Be? Or Are You Like Me and Just Thought It Was? Perhaps This Blog Post Will Help!, with a link back to here of course!
Craig How do the views get tabulated?? . i just checked my stats and posts that I have still in draft form are recorded with views... one has 128 views... and that wasn't me??
Ginger
Craig,
Who's the babe you're making out with?
Lucky :)
Lucky you are EVIL... that is NOT me.
Me
But I gotta admit now that I look at him he kinda DOES look like me
Craig,
Sorry, I couldn't resist the poke!
That could be you on a fat jeans day, a bad hair day, and a long tongue day!
But the girl is really hot!
Lucky :)