Wouldn’t you like to expose your newer readers to some of your earlier posts that they might never have seen? Or remind your long term followers of posts that they might not remember? Each Friday I will publish a post I wrote on this exact date in a previous year.
How about you? Why don’t you reach back into your own archives and highlight a post that you wrote on this very date in a previous year? You can repost your Friday Flashback post on your blog and pingback to this post. Or you can just write a comment below with a link to the post you selected.
If you’ve been blogging for less than a year, go ahead and choose a post that you previously published on this day (the 4th) of any month within the past year and link to that post in a comment.
This was originally posted on November 4, 2017.
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You’re no doubt familiar with the philosophical riddle, “If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?”
I have a slight variation on that philosophical riddle. “If you publish a post and hardly anyone reads it, does it matter?”
Why should I spend my time thinking about and writing posts that few people read when I could invest that same time and effort doing something that does matter?
I’m proud of what I write. In fact, just the act of writing what I believe to be high quality posts is all that really ought to matter. Having said that, though, I do admit that it’s reinforcing to know that others read what I’ve written, like what I’ve written, and comment on it.
So the question is, should blog stats be the proxy for blogging success?
I try not obsess over my blog’s stats. In fact, I rarely even check my stats. Not more than 15 to 20 times a day, anyway. I check them to see whether or not what I’m writing and posting is being seen by, and resonates with, others.
The good news is that some people do read my blog. The bad news is that fewer people are reading my blog now than they were a few months back.
I started this blog in late May and slowly gained an audience. But, as you can see from the chart below, my views peaked in August, dropped in September, and dropped yet again in October. And what’s even more disconcerting, comments dropped considerably from September to October.
Should I be concerned about this downward trend? Good question.
Each of us, as bloggers, has our own definition of success. We use certain metrics — blog stats, perhaps — to measure success. It may be the number of posts you’ve published. Perhaps it’s the number of views or likes your posts get.
Maybe your primary measure of your blog’s success is your number of followers. Or the number of comments your posts generate.
I admit that views, likes, and comments do matter to me. And the more I get, the better I feel. At least it let’s me know that someone besides me appreciates my efforts.
But, again, are my blog’s stats the best proxy for success for me to be using? What do you think?
Written for today’s one-word prompt, “proxy.”
This, That, and the Other 
Not many people read my posts, but those who do read it regularly, and I think that counts for a lot
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Count me in as a regular reader.
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And I appreciate it 😊
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If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, were their hearing aids switched on?
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I’d rather have a handful
Of bloggers to engage
Than scores of active followers
Engaging me on stage
Scores of active followers
Might appeal to you (you=anyone)
But I’d be left with no time for
Creating what I do
Having always to respond
To comments on my posts
No time would be left for me to
Do what I want most…..
Create……..
Bottom line – I write basically for myself but a few pats on the back every now and again is nice. Someone out there appreciates me……
I did worry at getting enough likes/comments at first, but no longer. I’m happy with my handful.
I have 800 so-called ‘followers’ . Congratulations FCS, blogger Tommy T is now your 799th follower, and will receive blah blah – Rubbish. Means nothing. Why some celebrate reaching 200 followers with bells and whistles mystifies me
Then again, each to his/her own………
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Pat, pat, pat!
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I feel all warm and fuzzy now. You’ve made my day…..
That was a draft write still in my notebook. You opened an appropriate place to do it…….
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Yes, but they were out of range. Or out of batteries, maybe.
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Presumably since then you’re happy with the upward trend? I think it boils down to this amorphous thing “enjoyment”. I enjoy the fun of the banter in the comments, and I’ve discovered I enjoy the creative writing process. If I wasn’t publishing to my blog I doibt I would be writing at all.
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Ditto….
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Same here. Blogging is my outlet for writing.
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It’s all up to the fact how much you’re enjoying the blogging by itself
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One thing I have learnt, people have lives and if they take a miniute off to read, like or comment and I am grateful. But on days when I see a lot of activity I would be thinking the world is less busy🙂 today!!!
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Yes, I’m always forgetting other people are busy with jobs etc etc. Not like retired me who can write as much/often as I like……
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One more than my brother says people have lost patience to read or watch anything and that is why Youtube shorts are so popular! 🤷♀️
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I enjoy it when readers engage, but I understand that we don’t have time to comment on every post…
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This is the closest I could get – Nov 6, 2020
https://theelephantstrunk.org/2020/11/06/best-laid-plans/
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I think our stats are grossly under-reported. But I’ve thought that for years. It’s the way the do the counting. Maybe it’s the best they can do. Or maybe, they just want us to pay more for accuracy.
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Thanks for all your posts, Fandango. I think blogging is fun. It’s a way to express yourself and if just a few people read your posts, it’s enough. I blog, firstly because I like writing and secondly to have a record of my travels. I also enjoy other people’s blog posts. I’ve made a few virtual friends all over the world this way. So yes – it’s fun and it’s also an outlet of expression. I do check my stats and they’re not amazing but I still carry on blogging for myself and the few who care to read my posts.
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Then you are a successful blogger! 👍
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I look at my stats and gage my success on whether I’m being read, seen etc. Its natural to do that. After all, everyone wants to have a successful blog IMO!
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