When I started this blog just over two years ago, I had what most mental health experts would label 'Delusions of Grandeur.' I thought I would have hundreds of followers yearning for my pearls of wisdom; nuggets of truth I'd discovered on my path to skinny-town. It wasn't beyond my imagination to think that a book publisher might approach me and ask me to turn my blog into a book. While I knew I didn't have those skills, I knew my husband and nephew did. I got their agreement to help with that little project when it came along. They, I'm sure, realized it was a promise they wouldn't have to keep.
It didn't take me long to realize the error of my ways. Actually, I'm OK with that. Even though those initial thoughts sound naive and arrogant at the same time. I don't think I was the later, but will confess the former! I routinely looked to see how many followers I had and looked to see how many hits I got from day to day. Over time as the blog morphed into my journal rather than a weight loss how to book in the making, I quit anxiously awaiting the next follower. I quit checking my hits everyday.
Now, I'll notice the number of followers and wonder when it went up. I welcome all my followers and follow most of them back. I don't mean to be a bad blog host, it is just that isn't as important to me as it once was. Every month or so, I still look up my analytics. I like to see how many hits I've gotten world-wide. It is fun to see if anyone in Bangladesh is reading. It is always surprising to me to see some of the places that have found my blog.
Yesterday, I decided to check that out once again. Since I'd only posted once last week, I expected to see a blip up on Wednesday and Thursday but not much at all before that. When I saw the line for the last few weeks was almost flat I was mildly surprised. It looked as though for the last few weeks I'd had almost no hits. I knew better since I'd gotten comments. When I moused over the line I saw the number of hits was more like what I was expecting, until I got to Thursday.
On Thursday, I got 157 hits. Really!?!?! How in the world did that happen??? I don't know. Maybe there was some sort of malfunction at google and my blog was at the top of their search list. I don't think I have that many readers, but if I do - 65MD and nephew better start polishing their writing skills. That book offer may come yet!
Lessons Learned
4 years ago
i read EVERY single time you post and comment more often than not, because i want you to KNOW i care! xoxoxoxo
ReplyDeleteI sometimes get hits and sometimes I don't but I do love comments!
ReplyDeleteI don't understand the hit thing either. I just write because I love it. If someone wants to read - great!!
ReplyDeleteYou're doing great ~ Maybe there will be a book deal one day! Keep writing!
Stay focused!
Interesting thoughts,Lori, especially since they kind of mirror something I'm writing on Monday. It's a fun goal that combines my passions for writing with traveling and it was born just shortly after I started my blog two years ago. But I've been hesitant about doing it because I was afraid it would be viewed at just a ploy for getting "followers" and nothing could be further from the truth. Now is the time and I'm excited about the blog helping me reach a goal I've had since I was a little girl. I never dreamed it could be a means of helping me do that. Stay tuned....actually I know you will! We've supported each other since the beginning of BOTH our blogs!
ReplyDeleteSo will you still talk to us when you're a famous author lol!
ReplyDeleteOh boy, I was looking about every 5 minutes for blog followers when I first started. haha. Then I lost that one follower and felt almost hurt. A couple weeks back, the number went down again by 1 and I wasn't offended at all. Today, I am back up again by 1, I noticed. So funny. But I used to obsess, and now I really don't care. My blog also has just become raw Staci on a screen, being honest and struggling for the world to see - but most importantly, for therapy for myself. Writing it out helps so much. So, what will you title your book? :)
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