It's tax time again.
And what better reminder of the need to take inventory of where we're going and where we've been. In fact, audits are a great assessment tool for growth and reflection in other areas.
This realization brought to mind my blogging efforts. So I conducted one.
For educational and informational purposes, here's what my analysis revealed:
1. My followers doubled.
2. I spend an average of about 4-6 hours a week on posting.
3. Comparatively I need to spend more time commenting on some of my favorite blogs.
4. I guest posted at about the same rate for 2009 and 2010.
5. I need to schedule more guest posts for 2011.
6. Guest posts at my site in some instances generated more comments than my own. Which serves to support the theory that they're a good thing!
7. My Google Page Rank increased from "3" to a "4".
8. I landed 3 paid blogging gigs. One as a relationship blogger, two as a business blogger.
9. I tend to be a "lark" blogger. Most of my posting is done before 6:30 in the morning.
10. The weekends are when I get most of my new followers.
11. I love blogging, but need to be more mindful of the hours I log into the computer. :-)
12. I changed the theme and the blog description about 3X this year. Whadda' you think?
Well, that's it folks. How about you? What would yours say about your success and your blog status?
I didn't have a guest post, but by having a book giveaway with one of the most prominent names in the field attached to it, I've gotten a LOT more traffic.
ReplyDeleteI'm still fairly new, not yet a year out, so I'm still in the learning part of all of this.
Do you have any tips or suggestions that could help my growth as I continue into the year?
Great idea to assess where you've been so you can see where you'll go. Question, how do you find out what your Google Page Rank is? I've never heard of that.
ReplyDeleteWaningwoman,
ReplyDeleteGrowth takes time, but it appears you're on the right track. For details, please see my Blog post here under "How to grow your followers to 100 plus without social media."
Wendy,
ReplyDeleteGood question. In the right-hand section of this blog, under the comments, you'll see the icon for Google Page Rank. Click on it and it'll take you to their site where you'll be asked to key in your blog address. That's it.
Thanks for the post, and your blog in general. I have a lot to learn about this.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty new to blogging, but in the past month I've started attracting a few followers whom I've never met, rather than just friends. I guess the word is slowly getting out. It takes patience and perseverence, like everything else you want to do right. -Anne
http://anneejohnson.blogspot.com
Hi Anne,
ReplyDeleteWelcome, welcome! How true--blogging takes time to yield results. Stay the course. :-) Thanks for your feedback and the "follow".
This is wonderful food for thought, Jennifer. I've not really evaluated my blogging this way, but think it's high time I did! And, like you, I definitely need to track how much time I spend on the computer in general. :)
ReplyDeleteHeidiopia,
ReplyDeleteSounds like a plan! Keep me posted. :-) Thanks!
Have to agree I think this is a very useful idea.
ReplyDeleteI've only been Blogging since New Year 9Maybe that's longer than it sounds?)
So far I have 15 followers and have been fortunate enough to encounter several wonderful lines of correspondance with new friends.
I've guest posted twice and already have another guest post slot lined up ( do love this guest blogging idea - sort of makes it very fresh to write on someone elses page)
There was one week where I was unable to post as work got on top of me. And one or two others I've struggled to fulfil the remit I said I would. But I'm keeping it going and even if I have to play catch up here and there I'm doing it. It's very motivating!
I definitely spend too much time on my computer, it's my life!
Drew,
ReplyDeleteGood to hear from you. Thanks for sharing!
My blog has certainly grown in recent months, that's for sure! I need to evaluate it and see what areas I need to tweak it.
ReplyDeleteYep. I'd say it has. Seems like last time I stopped by I saw more followers.:-)
ReplyDeleteThis is a great idea! I need to do this, not just for my blog, but for my other writing. Thanks, Jen!
ReplyDeleteKaren,
ReplyDeleteHope you find a lot of useful stuff if you do. :-) I think that you will. Thanks much!
This is timely counsel! I've been blogging for just over two years, and have made a shift in focus from what feels like a generation of writing for my life to writing for a living.
ReplyDeleteYour list of evaluations is great food for thought as I move forward. I'm eating it up:)
Thank you.
Yvonne,
ReplyDeleteBon appetit! Thanks!
Jennifer, you've gotten some good traffic on my site today (Thank you for guest posting!)
ReplyDeleteAs for my own blogging challenges - I completely changed over and went from a blog about my own experiences and life to a life development blog. That was a change (though, I've been a ministry leader, so even my personal blog tended to have a life coaching feel to it). I changed the name. And I began having guest posters - which helped introduce new people to my site and helped me not to have to post as much. :) Thanks for that. :)
Bryan,
ReplyDeleteI really like the fact that you seem to be receptive to self-evaluation and change. Growth is a process. And your success speaks to that. Keep on keepin' on. :-)
B/T/W/ Readers please check out his awesome sight by clicking on his name or see Elevationlife.com/
OOPS! That should read "site" not sight. :-)
ReplyDeleteI don't think you can actually check out his sight. :-)
And folks, on a final note...
ReplyDeleteJust remember to find a method to back up your (blog)work in the event of any mishaps. Take it from someone who knows.
Just like you might take copies of documents and retain them for tax auditing purposes.
Hi Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteYou've made some great progress. By the way, you're a fabulous writer.
I'm pretty new to blogging and I think I'm finally landing into a comfort zone of knowing what to do. I don't have it all figured out, but I'm getting there.
I'm happy that my subscriptions have increased and overall traffic. I have so much work to do thought...but I'm knocking it down a little at a time.
Thanks for sharing your audit results.
Take care.
JK,
ReplyDeleteHow cool to hear from you. Thanks so much for the compliment, and for stopping by. Blogging takes some time, and believe me, regardless to our niche or know-how, we're all still learning. I wish you well on your blogging journey. Hope to see you here again soon. :-)
hello jennifer
ReplyDeletehow are you?
it's great to read about your progress
i started reading your blog in january andi must say i've found it very informative and karen langes guest post on interviewing really helped me.
i dont know how the previous theme looked but i love plain backgrounds and easy navigation which you've got.
i still have a long way to go in the blogging world but it's so reassuring to learn from others.
take care and enjoy the rest of the day
ayo,
ReplyDeleteHi there. Glad you've found useful info here. Thanks so much for your kind words and thoughtful comments. Be well. ;-)