According to my Google Analytics account visitors to my blog are down 17.49% over the past two weeks as compared to all previous two week periods. Judging from the number of comments on last weeks posts this is no surprise.
You might think I would be upset, and I will admit I'm a little confused, but I expected there to be a period of contraction anyway. I mean I've had over 200 followers for over a month now but rarely do more than 10% of those people leave a comment.
I've actually decided that I'm okay with it. I mean when I first started blogging I was amazed to get even one comment, then Justine and I had a conversation in the comments one day and a friendship was born. It was never about popularity or seeing who could get the most traffic anyway. The important thing to me is the relationships I've built because of this unique venue.
I now correspond daily with other writers, some of them published even, I have a great critique group, and though I'm writing a little less (creatively) than I was before blogging, I'm confident that my writing is now better, which is great.
All that being said, of course I would prefer more traffic to the blog, especially when I am featuring other writers, but if it doesn't happen ... I'm okay with it.
For now those of you who do keep coming back please just remember to be sure to visit this Friday, 7/9, for the week's guest blog post. It will be done by Guinevere from This Is Not My Day Job, so it should be great!
41 comments:
I've noticed the same thing on the two blogs I post on too, Matthew. I know for myself, I'm commenting less purely due to time constraints. Last month my kids were finishing up with school, and their myriad of activities kept me hopping. This month I'm preparing to be away on holidays and just don't seem to have five minutes to spare.
I think things will ramp up again in the fall. In the meantime, keep on posting - your stuff is great!
...I'd bet the paycheck from my cursed day job on the time of year being the primary reason for the downward trend. It's summer...people are departing the keyboard and heading for the pool. Don't sweat it, come October...business as usual:)
I hear you about the blog traffic. Really, Matt. It's summer. We all are finding it difficult to manage...eh, like everything. LOL. I'm sure it's just the heat.
Perhaps a number of your followers, and more to the point, your regular commenters are taking time off blogger over the summer holidays/ traveling to exotic places/ busy with their offspring/ and all the other things people get up to in the summer?
I've noticed that a commenting ratio of about 10% is average/normal.
Your stats may be down, but I think if you take into consideration the holiday weekend, it's justifiable. A lot of people head out on vacations about now.
Other frequent commenters are probably hitting that wall where they are no longer able to make the rounds to everyone every day.
I agree. The numbers are interesting, but it's not why I do this. I do it because I like reading what everyone has to say and I like connecting with others.
Hey Matt. I'm still shocked when people leave comments on my blog! Honestly, as I've increased the number of blogs I follow, I find myself unable to comment on all of them. I usually browse the "recently updated" a couple times a day, but I don't always comment, and also miss some good stuff too. I think you've got to take the ebb and flow! I'm a lot of your followers (248!, Wow!) are reading and not commenting.
Hope you're having a good summer!
that should have read, "I'm sure a lot of your followers..."
too early for me... ;)
Two things, The time of year plays a factor in blog numbers as well as turnover. With turnover, people come and go frequently so the large majority of older followers will be inactive.
Hey Matt, I completely understand. I just posted last week about my very first contest giveaway and I've only had two people sign up. I had expected to drive some serious traffic with free books, and I've been recently pondering what I should do now. Any advice? Did you ever do any contests to attract followers?
It's easy to get caught up in all the stats/visitors/etc...but like you said, the important thing is the friendships you make and all you can learn from all these great people :)
When I started blogging at the beginning of the year and I had gotten one follower/commentor I was elated, I never thought I would make it but I did and now I feel more confident when I started.
I of course love all the comments I receive and I would always love more but I know that people don't always comment but they do stop by! Friends are born here and I'm glad to have met some awesome people such as yourself!
I have no idea how you find those google things out but I think it's neat!! See you here on Friday! I love Guinevere!
PS Is it just me or is blogger being weird with comments today??
I traffic daily (I try)! I *heart* you Matty!!!!Woo!!!
(PS, my traffic's been down too. Must be the summer air)
Ah I wouldn't worry about it at all. Don't forget it's summer too, so people are more out and about! :o)
Looking forward to it!
And blog readership may be down because of Summer. Most people are spending more time outside, rather than on the computer. :D I'm sure it will pick back up by September.
Like Slamdunk said, this tme of year is notoriously slow for internet traffic. Everyone is outside doing things, or vacationing or doing whatever it is people do when they have a life.
I post regularly on a art and review forum, and the posts have been cut to almost half every summer.
And some could be like me, too busy to do much more than quickly browse a few sites each week, then use their very rare days off to try and catch up...
Reminds me of something a blogger recently said, that life takes precedence over blogging, a comment that helps me keep my priorities intact. I've been blogging just over three months and have realized you just can't comment on everyone's blog every day. You'd never get anything else done! And I think right now, as Slamdunk said, it's the time of year. Bottom line: If you're going to blog, enjoy it, even if you only get a few comments. Otherwise, why do it?
i stopped looking at my numbers. They just depressed me and i realized i needed to do with my blog what was right for me, first and foremost. Otherwise the blog would just explode.
So even if i have less traffic and followers have slowed, i'm in a much better place in relation to my blog.
also, it's summer...
Don't worry, Matthew. I think it simply has to do with the summer months putting even more pressure on our daily lives and taking away our blog reviewing times.
I'm lucky right now if I get by to see your blog twice a week, even though you (along with Justine & Jessica, among others) are in my "always" check on these blogs list. Hell, I can't even manage to keep a steady pace with my own blog post updates!
Darn you Time, for not bending to my will!
Yeah, I figured Friday's post wouldn't get as much attention since it was going into the holiday weekend. I'm sure it's the time of year.
Yeah, I figured Friday's post wouldn't get as much attention since it was going into the holiday weekend. I'm sure it's the time of year.
I've been reading but haven't had anything interesting to say. I feel the same way with my blog - I just had what I thought was perhaps the most interesting thing happen on my blog, and I had the fewest hits in ages.
This is kind of funny now. I was like basically TRIPPIN, all morning, trying to hold it in, because the only two comments showing up were Slam and Jen's. Now all of a sudden, at 12:30 PM, blogger fixed itself and there are a normal amount of comments!
Phew! I was so worried I had done something to make you guys hate me (I was thinking it was the stuffy week of old classic English poetry posts), but now I realize I need to get over myself and stop being so sensitive.
It's summer! Go have fun! What the hell am I doing checking my blog every hour or so rather than running around outside? Oh yeah, I'm at work ... shhhhh.
Also to answer your question Mesmerix I have never done any contests or ever even returned the awards that some generous friends have bestowed upon me. Mostly this is because I'm lazy (and don't have much to give away) but also because when I started I decided I wanted people to come here for the content, not free stuff.
That being said I don't think there is anything wrong with doing those kinds of things. I even won a contest once which awarded me a free 30 page critique from an agent - which is awesome. I'll probably start doing some some day. I suppose if I ever get to 500 followers I'll pretty much have no choice.
Man, I've been working my ass off. I haven't even commented on MY blog posts!
- Eric
Everyone out soaking up the summer sun. I'll admit I'm a lurker sometimes too. I'll read but feel I have nothing special to add comment wise, so I'll move on. Have an awesome day! :)
yeah i'm going to have to agree -- i think a lot of people are on vacation, matthew. *looks around inconspicuously* *clears throat*
hehehe
don't worry -- these things fluctuate all the time.
hang in there! :D
you should get statcounter -- that way you can see exactly how many people are visiting vs. leaving comments. as long as you're reaching people, you're doing your job!!
I think half the bloggers are on vacation.
I think it's just summer. I know I've been spending less time in front of the computer these past few weeks.
Sometimes blogging feels like a full-time job, so it's only natural to feel a LITTLE disheartened when it feels like people aren't interested. But you're taking the right approach - this is how the internet works ;)
You do have a great thing going here, I hope you know :D
I'm still here! :)
Lots of bloggers are unplugging for the summer!! The moment autumn and winter hits - you wait!! Lots will be back!
:-)
Take care
x
I agree that the drop is mostly a function of season. My traffic has likewise dropped about the same as yours. However, it's not quite the shock as when after the A to Z Blog Challenge my traffic was dropping by about 50% for a few weeks. Now I think I'm leveling off to a number that will be a bit higher than pre-A to Z.
I normally get comments in the range of 5-10% of my followers count, but the commenting comes from a pretty consistent group. I too have been commenting much less due to trying to allocate time to other things. My decrease in commenting I'm positive contributes greatly to my decrease in comments.
I still believe traffic is important for most of us who are thinking like career or avocation-minded writers. I have still not explored many of the recommended methods of increasing traffic, and I sure there are many, but I firmly believe the quality traffic that comments and returns is more valuable than revolving door visitors. Conversely you have to have that continual stream to find new readers who will become regulars either long term or short term.
Keep us posted on your stats and if you discover any helpful hints to increase traffic.
Lee
Tossing It Out
Summertime. Traffic on my website (not blog, my blog is always slow, LOL!) is always down reliably in the summer months. Peeps are frolicking in the sun.
I know at my house the kids are out of school and demanding my time. I am barely keeping up on the blog reading, and barely commenting. :)
I follow your blog but I've started reading a lot of my blogs in Google reader so I don't always leave comments.
I think summer has slowed down traffic. At least, that's what I'm blaming it on. =)
I visit the blogs on my list daily, but being a shy kinda girl I rarely comment.
Everyone's on holiday, man. That's it! But we're still checking everyone's blogs out, just not commenting as much! :)
Good golly miss molly, you're doing great! We have that many followers and it's a good day if 15 comment. ha! I think the writer peeps are just overwhelmed and probably follow way more blogs than they can physically read and keep up with. At least that's my story :)
If I paid attn to blog traffic, I'd probably be depressed. But, I choose to let my blog grow organically and not by novelty. Word will spread, my friend. How do you think I ended up here the first time?
Matthew - Thanks for the followup. My contests are part of the new Author Interviews I'm doing once a month, so they're not the main function of the blog, but should (ideally) get people interested in the author who's book I'm giving away. I'll cross my fingers and just hope for the best. :)
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