When I was first published, I became obsessed with numbers: how many printed, how many books were still in the warehouse, how many had sold … ? I don’t do that any more: I don’t watch my Amazon.com ratings, I don’t call the warehouse. When people ask how my book is doing, I tell them I haven’t a clue.
But lately I’ve been watching my blog and website numbers—now that I’ve finally figured out how to use Google Analytics. Through Analytics, I can see how many people are reading what (not many), how many move quickly on (most everyone), how many linger (only a few), and even how people got there (and what search terms were used if they used a search engine).
This is dangerously intriguing. Through Analytics I can see what pages on my website are most often visited. I can’t help but consider these relatively low numbers in terms of the thousands of dollars I’ve invested in my website, but will any of this information change how I do things? Doubtful.
I tell myself that I rather like talking in the dark, that I’m blogging for myself (this is true)—but too, I’ve a weakness for a rising graph curve, I know. Perhaps I’d better return to the 17th century.
Tess! I finally sorted out who “Tess” is: Teresa! How are you?
I like your research blogs!
http://iloveresearch.blogspot.com/
http://historyetc.blogspot.com/
It’s hard NOT to wonder how many times our sites/blogs get “hit”. I love your website and do visit it for info/articles etc. And your blog is on my blogroll :) Enjoy reading the posts about your writing process and every time you mention software, I want to get a Mac!
And so of course, Marg, I had to check out your blogs!
http://readingadventures.blogspot.com/
http://historicaltapestry.blogspot.com/
http://card-making-adventures.blogspot.com/
You are not alone there. I constantly check how many people have stopped by and how they got to my blog!