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11/27/2003 Entry: "Happy Blogday"

A first blogday greeting to Darren Rowse of LivingRoom. He's put up a PayPal button so you can send him a donation if you'd like. If it comes to that, so have I.Anyhow, LivingRoom is one of those blogs I try to visit every day -- it is consistently thought-provoking and spirit-lifting and if you haven't read it yet, you should. Uncle Richard says so.

One thing that bothers me slightly about Darren's blogday post is this business of statistics. I don't like to be a downer on a mate's blogday and hope the three links so far makes up for it a bit -- but I wonder what we think it means when bloggers make a thing of their web traffic? Don't misunderstand me, Darren (that's 4 now!) is absolutely a top bloke. If I could gather any half a dozen bloggers in a hostelry for an evenings informal team building, the good DR (5) would I hope be one of them. So I'm not criticising him as such. If he had a fan club, I'd join. But he's not the only blogger whose done it, and I genuinely don't understand the purpose it serves. Maybe I'm too British (Decorum, old boy!), or maybe it's that horrid streak of socialist jealousy that I'm told I have. Or perhaps I'm missing something glaringly obvious. I dunno.

Clues?

Posted by Owen @ 12/01/2003 03:18 PM CST

In the survey I've been doing....I'd say thatDarren's hit count is an exception as opposed to the rule, he is an outstanding blogger which certainly doesn't hurt his traffic.:^)He is also a struggling minister holding down an extra job.And given everyone's uniqueness, I think different people can handle different levels of hits.Darrens care and respect for his readers is only going to keep them coming I think.:^)

And you have me pegged Clarence, asking was really difficult and I had to wrestle with my pride.

If you look at the comment IreneQ left at my blog, financial costs are dependent on a lot of factors. Most of us outside the US have to pay for our services in US dollars. And it must be tough for some in the US that are students, on pensions, etc. also.

Maybe we need to be a bit more sensitive and think about who is behind the blog and not be the kind of reader that says nice post and then go our merry way.I suggested that we begin to pray for those blogggers we read, with the awareness that God may prompt us to help in practical ways.

Lots of tech people give very freely and unselfishly of their time to bloggers.We all have something to bring to blogging or we wouldn't do this. Maybe some people can give financially.

Because ordinary people blog, and can do it so well; like blogging itself, perhaps we need to be thinking a bit more 'outside the box' as they say,(I think we already are!) Blog on!

Posted by Bene Diction @ 11/30/2003 10:57 AM CST

it is an interesting topic to talk about.

I guess we need to have some balance when we think about traffic. I personally don't have a problem with wanting to increase traffic - I agree that that is partly what blogging is about - if we didn't want people to read us we would all be writing journals in books or in word processing documents. I don't find checking stats or doing things to increase traffic as a bad thing - but I worry that for some it can become obsessive and too tied to ones ego and self worth. I also find it rather arrogant when people continually refer to it and post graphs and big note themselves.

As far as paypal buttons go - I obviously don't have a problem with them - although have resisted it for a while now. People have occasionally wanted to support financially so I've added it. I won't be referring to it too much in future except when I'm trying to raise money for a charity in my blogathon.

I too believe that God will provide the money I need to keep blogging. So far it doesn't seem that paypal will the be way this happens - but something else will come up.

In answering Susan - my stats went up because of a number of posts I did about Blog Tips, Matrix and Australian Idol - as well as an increasing amount of hits across the board from Google. Its partly just a seasonal thing because of those topical posts - but partly an ongoing trend. As far as cost goes - I'm not sure exactly yet. It will be in the order of hundreds of dollars not thousands. I don't want to make a big deal about it because its not huge, just something I've been wondering about.

Posted by Darren Rowse @ 11/30/2003 02:45 AM CST

I'm really wondering what has caused the statistic to grow so dramatically in the last month? and also what kind of cost will this bring that you have to ask for donations. hundreds? thousands?

Posted by Susan @ 11/30/2003 02:20 AM CST

Richard, I agree. That's something of the point I was trying to make, albeit poorly. It's not about the numbers that traffic represents, but it is about the readers that traffic represents. Else, why this medium? If I didn't have a group of readers in mind, however small or large, I would capture my thoughts and references in a more private format.

Ironically, the bulk of my traffic comes from my Recipe Log, the blog I created for personal reference.

Posted by Ian McKenzie @ 11/29/2003 03:15 PM CST

You are correct Bene. It is what we need to be doing and I personally think we need a lot more of this. I hope I was not unkind with any of my comments. Being the curmudgeon that I am, I often find myself in a position of needing to apologize for something. As I said, I'm working on being wise. I am not there yet. I'm not even sure if I have enough time left to make it.

With that thought in mind I tend to rush my writing to the point of being blunt. No diplomacy, no tact.

If you were anything like myself Bene, you wouldn't have been able to ask for help and who knows what may have happened. You may have disappeared from the Blog scene all together. That would not have been a good thing.

In that sense, Blogging is a lot like life in general. What is our goal in life? All I ever wanted out of my own life was to leave the world a better place than it was when I first came into it. To live in such a way, that when I am gone, a few people will miss my presence and think of me often. That in itself is a form of immortality. Is that an egotistical way of thinking? If it is then was Jesus an egotist?

I believe it is important for all of us to understand why we Blog. Doing so will help us to understand ourselves and possibly change for the better.

I honestly don't believe Blogging has been around long enough for anyone to see themselves as an "expert" in the field. Aren't we all still in the learning phase?

We are here right now, discussing Blogs because Richard asked a question, one that needed to be asked and addressed by those involved in the process. Everyone's input has a measure of value. It's how we learn.

Posted by Clarence @ 11/29/2003 11:26 AM CST

I don't think it's about traffic at all Ian. It is about readers, but not necessarily their number. "Some" is obviously better than "none", but I don't know that thousands is necessarily better than hundreds.I don't know where I'm going with this -- just thinking aloud.

Posted by Richard @ 11/28/2003 11:32 PM CST

Great, now how am I supposed to post about my blog's increase in traffic??? ;->

While it may not be all about traffic, it must be some about traffic. Otherwise, wouldn't we just write in our journals at home?

Posted by Ian McKenzie @ 11/28/2003 08:13 PM CST

Thanks Clarence:

It probably did a lot of us good to see what happened at my blog.People that read it, probably know how difficult it is for many of us to ask, and maybe it was a indicator that blogging can be about more than an individual.

I think Darren just got a wee bit of backlash to other bloggers that post their stats with the 'it's all about me' attitude. I don't think anybody needs to be apologizing, we are discussing stats posts kindly, and maybe thats what we need to be doing.Richard asked a fair question.I have that awe that Darren has too. Blog on!

Posted by Bene Diction @ 11/28/2003 08:04 PM CST

The hits on my own Blog have increased by 300% and I'm tickled pink by that info but I seriously doubt that anyone else out there really cares.

It matters to me because I like to know that I'm not just whistling in the wind. What matters more to me than stats is having others post a comment about something I've posted.

I may be old but I still don't like talking to myself. Yes! I like being the center of attention when I get together with people. Some of them actually think I have something to say or that I'm funny or that I'm just a bit more intelligent than the average Bear. I've worked hard to build up my knowledge base and am presently working on the wisdom I need to use it with the greatest benefit to all. God says "If you need it, ask me for it" and I'm a asking all the time. Can't have enough wisdom as far as I'm concerned.

Yeah! I guess I'm full of myself and that's why I called my Blog "Can you hear me now?" I'll worry about the stats. I'll trust others to tell me if I'm saying anything important.

Sorry folk. I just don't get the Pay Pal buttons. If I get so popular that I can't afford the dues, I'll shut up. If God thinks I'm doing something good for Him, he will make a way as he always has for me. God is good and he's smart enough to know if I'm a good investment or not. I'm not in this for the profits, not that I'm trying to say others with buttons are but we must learn to trust God for all that we need in this life.

I loved seeing how people responded to Bene Diction's need. He's got to be doing something right. I love you Darren. I'm praying that God will send you so much help you won't be able to contain it.

Posted by Clarence @ 11/28/2003 05:50 PM CST

Thanks Darren.

Just to be clear (poor misunderstood soul that I am!) I wasn't makingany accusations. I really do think that he is a top bloke. It was just that his piece prompted me to ask why bloggers post about their web traffic. On reflection, I wish that I'd done my wondering on a different day because it struck a negative note that I didn't really intend.

Posted by Richard @ 11/28/2003 03:46 PM CST

I think Darren had two good reasons to post them, 1)To show the increased cost the blog may take to maintain in the future and 2)To show where has has been and where he is now, readership wise. The stats dramatically show the growth that his blog has seen from his first post.

I didn't get the feeling that Darren was bragging or anything like that, it felt more clinical, more "Just the facts ma'am."

Posted by Christopher @ 11/28/2003 03:08 PM CST

thanks for the link - all five of em.

on the stats thing - to be honest I ummed and ahhhed about putting them on there - its the first time I've ever done it as I really don't like when bloggers go on and on about their stats. I don't mind the occasional reference if they have had an interesting boost in hits - but can't stand it when they talk about it all the time.

I'm not exactly sure why I eventually went with it. There are probably two main reasons as I consider it now...

1. I'm still kind of in shock that anyone would be popping by to read my blog - let alone an increasing amount. I really don't understand it as I break virtually every 'blog tip' I write. I guess I find it interesting that people will read even my crazy collection of thoughts - perhaps that might encourage some other collector or eclectic thoughts to post.

2. I am fast approaching not being able to host my blog anymore due to the traffic. (its a nice problem to have but a problem none the less) I guess I'm starting to wonder what to do about it and posting the stats is an indirect way of broaching the subject with my readers. I'm not in the business of asking for money - thats not why I blog - and I'm not at desperation point - but I worry that things are getting a little out of hand.

Lastly I guess I felt that if I was ever going to post them my blogday was the one day I might get away with it :-)

Anyway - I am uncomfortable with posting the stats - its too late now to take it off as they are down the page a bit and all my regulars have seen them.

Oh well.

Hope that shed some light on my motivations.

Posted by Darren Rowse @ 11/28/2003 12:33 PM CST

I don't know that there's anything "wrong with it" Swan.It's just that when I've read those "my hits have grown by 3000% in the last three hours" type posts on other blogs, I've always reacted badly to them. I didn't do that at LivingRoom (presumably because Darren's a pal) and it set me thinking about why bloggers sometimes post traffic reports. What do we mean?

Posted by Richard @ 11/28/2003 07:43 AM CST

What's wrong with mentioning that your readership has grown over the past year since you started the blog?His post doesn't look like he's over-interpreting anything or like he's thinking he's better because he has a lot of readers or something. Just enjoying that he's able to meet so many people through blogging.

Posted by Swan @ 11/28/2003 12:50 AM CST

You gave me pause for thought.

I don't think publishing stats says much one way or the other, but I did at first. I've changed. It's a bit like saying your church is better because X number of people come. It simply isn't true.I like a blog that has them available on the side bar though....which got me thinking about priorities and costs and gifts and needs etc.

Posted by Bene Diction @ 11/27/2003 09:16 PM CST

The best that can be said is that it hasn't cost me anything.

:o(

Posted by Richard @ 11/27/2003 02:01 PM CST

Hey, Richard - has anyone ever given you money through that button?

No, me neither.

Posted by Wood @ 11/27/2003 01:42 PM CST