Hey Bloggers, What Numbers Are You Looking At?
I made a decision a little while ago. I’m giving up on statistics…I’m keeping Google Analytics and Stat Counter installed but I’m not looking at them. I’m fed up with playing the numbers game. Even if I’m only competing with myself you know what watching the numbers obsessively does? It sucks the joy out of blogging…out of writing…out of story telling.
I’m not the world’s greatest storyteller but I love this blog. Love it. It’s seen me through some really hard times, some really lonely times and some really amazing, wonderful and joyous times. I’ve made some great friends and have connected with a lot of truly amazing people. (*Ahem* that’d be you).
And you’re not a number.
I’ve always said that if this blog connected with one other person and made them feel a little less lonely, or a little more encouraged in their life then it was worth it. Counting the page views flies in the face of that thinking…and I’m done.
There’s one number I have been checking in on – not obsessively but every few weeks and that’s my subscriber number. Since I stopped checking my daily stats I’ve found that my subscriber numbers have increased 114%. That means that since the start of the year 60 new people have subscribed to my blog. That’s 60 more people who have connected with me and this blog since the year started.
It’s not that subscriber numbers are the be all and end all, or that they should be a bloggy idol. But as a blogger, as a gatherer of people, that’s a number I’ll be happy to see rise.
But you know, if you’re a blogger and your obsessing about numbers and comparing yourself to other bloggers – don’t. Just stop. Right now. You’re on your own path, not someone else’s. Sure, have some goals – but make them about people, not a graph. It doesn’t matter if 1 person, 10 people or 10,000 people read your blog post. I know, it’d be great if you had 10,000 people read it. I . I know 10,000 hits a day?! I’d love that too. I get it. But we’ve all got to forget it. This blogging gig is about relationships. Full stop. So ditch the numbers and remember the people.
Thanks for being here, this blog just wouldn’t be the same without you.
xx
Do numbers matter to you? How do you stop yourself getting caught up with “keeping up with the Joneses”?
Mummble
Stitch Baby + Kids
Absolutly agree hun and I love the line “this blogging gig is about relationships” so true! Ive made so many gorgeous friends through my blog And i dont even post that often! Which makes me cherish them even more :)
xxx
Tara @ Mum-ments recently posted..Week 2 & 3 ~ 52 weeks to simplify your life
That’s amazing Tara and so true. I am so thankful for the friends I have made through blogging x
So true. It is so easy to get caught up in the wrong numbers! It really is all about relationships and community.
Tracy recently posted..Sunday Sessions: The Stones and Lana del Rey
Absolutely!! The community side of blogging is just amazing too!!
Good morning Louisa
Have you read The Little Prince? Just in case you haven’t it’s a French children’s book which is based on how silly our world is to be concerned with ‘growing numbers”. It very much looks to what is precious and unique in an individual whether that individual be a little prince, pilot, sheep, fox or even a rose. Easy to find in bookshops and a must read for adults. Kids already know that ‘what is essential can not been seen with your eyes what is essential can only be seen by your heart’ (forgive my paraphrasing Antoine St Exupery.
Do forget your numbers The Little Prince would be proud of you.
Hi Leisa, I haven’t read that book but it sounds like one I am going to have to check out! Thanks so much for telling me about it xx
100% with you in this Louisa.
I don’t check numbers, I don’t look to see who has subscribed or who is following on facebook and I don’t look at facebook insights. I found when I DID do those things, it changed the way I would do something. If someone ‘cool’ subscribed to my blog, I started writing posts I thought that person would like, rather than just writing what I wanted, thus disregarding everyone else who had subscribed/followed on facebook!
Of course it is easier when you are NOT trying to make money from your blog to ignore numbers etc. But I would challenge even people who ARE trying to make money to forget about numbers for a while and just do/write the things that make their hearts sing.
Kelly Exeter recently posted..Lifehacker Tip #5 – The 10 minute tidy
I hadn’t thought of it like that Kelly, but that’s a good point (the knowing who has subscribed thing, I mean). Always so inspired by your enthusiasm for…well, everything!
Ha ha – oh thank you Louisa. You have kinda just made my night!
Kelly Exeter recently posted..The Friday wrap up … on a Sunday
Oh Louisa, I do look at my stats for the purpose of a media kit, but that’s about it. I blog because I love it, I just hope the rest falls into place. I’d love to increase my readership but don’t want to be writing posts specifically to drive attention. Does that make sense?
Mandy recently posted..How to Run a Competition on Facebook
Yep, totally makes sense! I’m enjoying the freedom of not checking them and just writing what I want, when I want and tweeting it when I feel like it and just letting it all happen…it’s so liberating!!
Amen to that.
Kelly recently posted..DIY: Stunningly Simply Hanging Wall Vase
xx
I dont have stat counter working on my blog at all. Those and the subscriber numbers are not the ones I think about, unless I am close to a big one, like at 100 or 200 I just like to make it even.
The number that I do get addicted to is the comments. If I don’t get any comments than I know that the post was a dud, sometimes I write the post more for myself and I don’t tweet or fb share it as I don’t really want comments. But the interaction is the bit I love.
claireyhewitt recently posted..Me and handwriting, we are getting back together again.
I’m with you on the comments – definitely! What I’m finding about that is the more mainstream blogging becomes, the more non-bloggers start reading and they don’t often comment. I think that’s in part why the subscriber numbers mean something to me – it says that there are people out there who want to stay in touch, want to come back for more. x
You are so right. It is only numbers especially if you write for pleasure. How does it feel to let go of that stress?
FayC recently posted..Family!?
It feels soooo good Fay!
I don’t care too much at the moment. A few weeks ago my numbers were huge, but it was clear to me something was wrong, and it turned out I had installed stat counter twice! It was a little depressing to realise that I was just me after that, so I stopped looking.
I do check after each post out of interest to see what days are popular, or what people want to read, but it’s not obsessive or driving me. It’s more for future planning. :)
I totally get that and I think there are lots of really good reasons for having stat counter or GA installed and I’m certainly not getting rid of them, just changing how I use them I guess. x
Oh and I came over here to subscribe! Sin I don’t have GFC anymore, I’m missing so much. Maybe that’s why your subscribers are going up too? :)
Jess recently posted..Mother of the Year
LOL!! That’s so funny. It’s quite possible that’s contributing, I guess time will tell. The GFC changes are a real pain!! Thanks for staying in touch xx
The more I worry about stats, the higher my stress levels! I’ve found I enjoy blogging more when I worry less about stats. (And I have that luxury because I don’t have paid advertising on my sidebar)
SquiggleMum recently posted..Prayer Works. Or Does It?
So true Cath, and definitely one of the perks of not having paid advertising – or at least not advertising that pays via those methods x
Great attitude. This is the kind of thing I think happens in cycles. Blogging mojo, stats-whoring and subscriber counting are all things that we do better and worse with at different times. I blog because I want to connect with myself, with other people and their stories. I have this one thing in my life for expression that is not beholden to the whims or considerations of anyone else. At the same time, a dear friend posted on FB one of my blogposts a couple of days ago, and broke my readership record, which was a selfless act and a pleasant surprise that brought me a little thrill. I won’t dwell on it though ;)
I think you’re right! I also think we each do what works for us and that constantly evolves – it’s easy to obsessive over pretty much any and every part of blogging! or is that just me ;)
“And you’re not a number.” It’s amazing how simple a statement can be so powerful. That’s the best reason I’ve heard for stop checking stats. If I have to update my media kit, I’ll look, or to see how a certain post has been read, but other than that, I forget half the time I have Stat Counter installed! Keep on writing Louisa, and I’ll keep on reading :)
Alyce {Blossom Heart} recently posted..Where Did Time Go?!
Thanks Alyce xx
I look at my stats regularly but I dont treat people like numbers. I look because I am curious to see where they come from, how they found me etc. I also watch out for people who find me after weird searches. This way I can remove words that are listing my blog in the wrong search results. Eg I dont want to pop up in porn searches just cos I said Fuck. And I need to know when someone googles my name and found my blog. It’s supposed to be semi anonymous. sorry to break the response pattern. Lol. Like I said, stats dont just mean looking for attention but also preventing the wrong crowds seeing my blog.
Silly Mummy recently posted..10 Cool Skills I’d Love to Learn
That’s a really good point, and especially important when your blog is meant to be totally anonymous! I hear a lot of talk in blogging circles about people feeling disappointed or despondent about their blog stats, lots of comparisons about what other people are doing and so on, so this post is really written in response to that, as some encouragement that stats and numbers aren’t what blogging are about and when you get distracted by them then you can easily lose the momentum and energy that brought you to it in the first place. I agree that they can be really useful, as long as they don’t become a distraction. :)
Great post! My absolutely favourite thing is when someone sends me an email or tweet or leaves a comments saying my post made them happy that day. The problem with looking at numbers is that it ends up to comparisons – and once you start comparing yourself to others you start to lose what you’re all about. x
Serena recently posted..Back to School with Mungo & Maud
That is so true – the emails mean so much!
I have to agree with you; I had to stop dwelling on my numbers. I look at them whenever I update my media kit and I’m pleasantly surprised by the changes. I’d much better have a nice surprise.
Kimberly Gauthier, Adventures in Blogging recently posted..Should I Respond to Every Comment When I Guest Post?
A nice surprise is definitely the best option! As much as I can see the benefits of looking at stats for very rational reasons, the emotional side can so easily take over and hold you back.
Maybe the number of comments!? That’s the only bloggy number that means anything to me. I don’t look at any others, to be honest. I don’t even know what you have to do! x
Maxabella recently posted..52 Weeks of Grateful: Food
You are the comment queen lovely lady!! Definitely a great indicator of community – thanks for popping over he and sharing the love x