My last post was my 500th on this blog.
I began this journey nearly three years ago on November 29, 2010. My first post, on the first day of the Christian year, was about our family tradition of allowing Jordan to set up our Christmas creche. Since then I have tried a variety of things. I want to review what I have done, the ground I have covered and then take a moment to consider what could be ahead.
I will start with some statistics.
The posts that have gotten the most pageviews:
Jul 6, 2013,
I am not sure to make of that list. I do know that the top few have gotten many "spam" comments. I did try to see if they were posted or linked from somewhere that gets more traffic, but I haven't found anything. Anyway, I am not sure they are worth people's linking from them. One is just about an old camp song and one about a lesson Jordan got distracted during. Hmmmm.
I am not sure to make of that list. I do know that the top few have gotten many "spam" comments. I did try to see if they were posted or linked from somewhere that gets more traffic, but I haven't found anything. Anyway, I am not sure they are worth people's linking from them. One is just about an old camp song and one about a lesson Jordan got distracted during. Hmmmm.
The posts that have received the most comments, not counting spam, have been:
Books are Dangerous
Two Steps Forward,One Step Back
Craft Time: Giant Chess Board
Those are three very different posts. Actually far more of my posts get zero comments than any. Comments increase when I comment on other people's blogs.
My longest running "series" is Song for Sunday. I have posted in that 62 times, more or less consistently since October 7, 2012. Before that it was sporadic. I hadn't originally intended to make it a weekly series but it grew into that. Like the rest of my blog it is fairly eclectic, mixing Christian, popular, TV and children's music. It's been fun. I think I'll keep it for now.
I have participated in the Ultimate Blog Challenge, which involves posting 31 posts in a month, several times and actually finished it twice.
I tried running a blogging challenge myself. It was titled "Wednesday Encouragements: A Christian Blogging Challenge" and the idea was that participants would each write a Christian-themed blog post every Wednesday during Lent 2012. It didn't work very well, though. Only one other person signed up and she didn't finish.
I also started a Comment Circle. Six people committed to write comments on each others' blogs for 12 weeks. It started out strong and people wanted to keep going so we tried monthly themes and added new folks. All women, though we didn't limit it to that. Just worked out that way. The group seems to have run its course now. Activity has been low. People are prioritizing other things over blogging and commenting. That's find. "All good things must come to an end." We might try starting up again later.
Just for fun: Here's where people have visited my blog from. The U.S. has almost double the next on the list, but it's a pretty good spread.
What have I accomplished with this blog? I don't know.
I haven't made any money to speak of.
One of my goals is to promote the Christian Youth Confernce at Ocean Park, but I don't think I have brought any campers to the program because of the blog.
I have spoken out about some important topics like modern day slavery, drunk driving and victim-blaming, but I don't know how much of an impact I have made.
I have shared housekeeping tips, organizing ideas, recipes and homeschool activities that I hope were helpful to somebody.
I have written about the Gospel of Jesus and his amazing love. Maybe that led someone to a new understanding of faith.
The most consistent benefit is that this blog has helped me to organize my own thoughts and clarify my own views of things.
So what are the plans for the future?
I am going to keep writing. It will continue to be an eclectic blog, but I hope to bring more focus to the posts. One of my goals is to reduce the number of labels so that people can find things of interest more easily.
I will continue the Song for Sunday series and I plan to add a Thursday: Craft Time series, though I doubt that will be permanent.
That is what I am working toward for now, trusting that God will lead me and "musings" in the directions He wants us to go.
How's your blog going?
What do you like to read about on a blog?
Congratulations, more than 500 articles is a big milestone. UBC
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI've been blogging for a long time too. I'm good at cooking, cleaning, organizing, living a healthy lifestyle, and staying motivated - but trying to adapt to new technologies has had me in tears a number of times over the years. I don't know how many times I have blown up the blog trying to implement something new!
ReplyDeleteWhat do I like to read? I read all sorts of blogs. I haven't had time to nose around yours yet, but I'm going to do that right now.
Thanks and welcome!!
DeleteFirst, I *love* Song for Sunday! Second, I'm looking forward to your Thursday Crafts. I started a knitting project recently and I often think of your knitting devotional as I knit. And as far as impact? You just never know. I am amazed each and every time someone says "I love reading your blog." At a recent gathering of friends I heard one reader's husband (she couldn't be there) telling a group about my blog, how his wife loved it, and how she felt closer to me because of that connection. Who knew?
ReplyDeleteI love your blog, Heather. Thanks!!
Delete