I'm guessing that most of the people who stop by and read what I write here are folks who also have their own blogs. If you are like me, you also enjoy taking a peek at the web stats that your blog generates.
In my case, I use StatCounter to see how many people stopped by, what they were up to while visiting, and so forth. It is interesting to me to see what influence other things I am doing on the web have on the numbers.
For example, I contributed for the first time a couple of weeks ago at Joyful Jubilant Learning. The link in my JJL post back to my blog gave people who were curious an easy way to stop by for a visit, and it seemed that many did.
In another case only a few days ago, I stumbled upon a trackback on one of my posts. This led me to two moms who started a monthly award program back in 2006. They choose a group of posts by bloggers all over the place which they feel are posts which support and encourage social justice. The July awards were done August 10th, and one of the posts I wrote in July was chosen. It's harder to determine what, if any, influence this selection had on my numbers, but it sure felt good to know a post I wrote was selected!
It is their "Just Post" badge which I have added below my JJL Contributor badge in the right column. I have already read some of the other posts selected--you may find them as enlightening and well-written as I have!
Today, I am also adding a new badge. One might call it, The Great Badge of Humility. In fact, that's exactly what I call it. A couple of weeks ago, I saw that my statistics for one day, a weekday, reflected exactly zero page views. I laughed out loud when I saw that, because it is not easy to have zero page views. In other words, not a single person even stopped by the front page of my blog. Not one. For 24 hours, not once did someone come use my virtual porch swing.
So, I asked my very-talented artist/author/speaker wife to design a badge for me which reflected my special day. She did, and you can see it in the right column. She did a great job.
I'd like to make an open offer to anyone who has had a zero-page-view day to grab this badge and post it proudly among their other blog bling.
About Me
- Rick Hamrick
- I'm a computer geek with an oft-underexpressed, tender-artist side.
Welcome to my front porch. Set a spell, have some tea but don't get the porch swing goin' too fast. Aunt Elma dang near got killed when her boys had her swingin' so fast she 'bout fell out. Crazy woman was laughin' the whole time, too!
Email: rickhamrick@gmail.com
Yes, it's true. I am an ambassador...
Patti's book, which includes an illustration by yours truly
Joyful Jubilant Learning
The Great Badge of Humility
Zero? Really? Could you count again to be sure??
Go ahead...
Make My Day!
Indeed! If I am not inspired, you won't see some sorry excuse for a post here.
Blogging without obligation
37days: Complaint-free
Sacred Life Sunday--continuing the My Sacred Life adventure
6 comments:
Oh, that's too funny, Rick. And now, today's a day you're not entitled to claim that distinction, cos I, at least, have been here. I have no stat-counters at all on my blog. Hmmm.
Imelda, thanks for helping me out so early (at least, early here) on a Tuesday. I can relax the entire rest of the day!
Of course, I'm mostly just poking fun at the idea of getting too caught up in things such as one's popularity. I should have known better, considering how far from popular I have always been, to take up the viewing of my web stats.
Still, I love statistics, be they about something of mine or corn production in Iowa, so I'll keep glancing at them now and again.
You know Rick, there are frequently days I look at my blog stats and strangely wish for zero again (and my caveat here is that this comment refers to the blogs I write myself, and not JJL, for my greater wish is that everyone find our community there). It is not that I am wildly popular, but the mere fact that four years into online publishing, the search spiders have made my zero days a past memory. I get data that I feel quite lost at interpreting correctly and a big fat zero would give me such relief for I know exactly what that means - there would be nothing to be curious about and frustrated with!
Then there is what I do know and do not at all care to admit to... I use StatCounter too, and having the stats there to check certain things is a nice convenience, but for the most part, I prefer to stay out of them and fall in love with my own illusions.
I have also learned to skim them fairly effectively though, for I do want to say thank you to those who give me the link-love referrals you mentioned... oh darn, I'm going to have to take a peek now.
Oh, Rosa, you big stars always are claiming that "if only I could be one of the little, invisible people again...that would be great." [big grin]
Sorry I tempted you back into that black hole where time seems to evaporate known as StatCounter. At least you can quit looking any time you like, right, Rosa? Rosa? Stop staring at that pie chart describing visit length, Rosa, and step away from the browser.
Seriously, thanks for visiting, Rosa, and I look forward to many interactions as we touch base with each other and I'm able to defeat the big zero one more day.
not way to turn what some would call a failure into a SUCCESS!
Thanks, Beverly!
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