Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Two Years of Blogging

I'm a little late with this. I somehow missed the two-year anniversary of this blog, which was August 7. I got a little closer last year with One Year in the Blogosphere

My goal when I started was one post per week. I pretty much stuck to it: 106 posts over two years. I let up a bit on frequency this summer. Hmm, think moving and getting two books out had anything to do with it? Plus I've been blogging every few weeks over at the Sisters in Crime New England group blog, Pen, Ink, and Crimes, which sometimes uses up all my available blogging energy.

A post I wrote about doing research on the Crane Estate in Ipswich has gotten a lot of steady traffic. But besides that, the top three posts have to do with finding the space to write: Retreating to Write, my report on Wellspring House, and Gathering to Write, about a four-writer retreat I was part of in June. I guess most of my readers here are writers (or would-be writers longing for retreat). Total comments for the two years is 519. Average of 5 per post? Seems high, but then those count my replies to all you kindly (and MUCH appreciated) readers who leave a comment.


One interesting stat: the first year more readers viewed the blog on Firefox than on Internet Explorer. That flipped this year, with a new fourteen percent on Chrome (what I use exclusively). More people continue to use Windows than Mac, although one percent read it on an iPhone. Other mobile devices are still under one percent. 


At the end of last year's anniversary post, I noted that I would "continue blogging on topics relating to Speaking of Murder (book One), Murder on the Beach (book Two), and, of course, writing and publishing." At the time I didn't have a publisher for Speaking of Murder, and now it's coming out in print (under a pen name) from a reputable small press, Barking Rain, in less than a month. See Tace Baker's web site for details, or preorder it!

And the Local Foods Mysteries series wasn't even a gleam in Kensington Publishing's eye at the time. Now it's a three-book contract signed, sealed, and delivered, and I'm about to send the completed and many-times-revised manuscript of A Tine to Live, a Tine to Die off to the editor this Friday! Watch for that release next June

That's a big change in a year's time.  I wonder what will happen in the next year. Despite several articles that foretell "Blogging is dead," I plan to continue for at least one more year. 

I thank each and every one of you for being a faithful or even occasional reader, and I'll randomly pick one commenter from today's post and send him or her a signed copy of Speaking of Murder, so be sure to leave a valid email address if you think I don't know how to find you otherwise.

Finally, do you think blogging is worth it? Do you read blogs regularly? Still write posts alone or with others, or has Facebook taken over that role? What do you think is next on the horizon?

30 comments:

  1. Interesting stats, Edith. I've often wondered the same thing. How much should one blog? Is once a week enough; twice a week too much?
    I salute you for staying with it and congratulations on your 2nd anniversary.

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    1. Thanks, Kathleen. I sure couldn't keep up twice a week, I know that, with a full-time job in the mix!

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  2. Happy Anniversary! It's fun to see your progress into print, Edith. Any predictions about the next two years?

    I read blogs when I have time and would dearly love to read lots, lots more than I do. I recently joined a second group blog, but it only requires a post twice a month and has nice exposure. I think it's still worth it. I see bumps in sales when I have an online presence, and nothing when I don't.

    Many times, a mini-discussion will ensue on FB, related to my notice of a blog post. I think lots of people don't like to comment on blogs, or find it difficult. I like blogger, where I can see my stats and can know approximately how many people are coming by, at least.

    Here's to more blogging!

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    1. Thanks, Kaye. I know you're active out there.
      Predictions? Let's intend big sales, renewal of contract for three more books, and more!

      Yeah, so far I haven't instituted captcha and (I think) I have an Anonymous poster identity enabled, so I hope people don't feel blocked.

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  3. Edith, if the blog topic in the subject line looks interesting, I look at various blogs. I'm not interested in 'buy my book' blogs. I enjoy blogs with different content only peripherally connected to writing or reading.

    Once a week! I couldn't do it but more importantly, I'd run the risk of alienating my blog readers. I know we've been 'told' to blog constantly, but frankly, with everyone doing it, where is the value?

    You are a trooper. Wish we knew how to measure these things more accurately.

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    1. Thanks, Vonnie. It hasn't been easy to keep up weekly, but it's also a useful writing exercise, and like with fiction, once I get my fingers on the keyboard, I usually come up with something to say!

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  4. Congratulations, Edith!

    Yes, I do follow MANY blogs, and follow them regularly. I post on my own blog every day, on Fatal Foodies weekly, and on a couple of others monthly. I like blogging better than "micro-blogging" on a social network, because anybody with a computer can read a blog, and only Facebook members can read what's on Facebook. Oddly enough, not everybody IS on Facebook! lol

    Again, congratulations on two good years of blogging. I'm so glad I found you last year!

    Marian Allen
    Fantasies, mysteries, comedies, recipes

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    1. Thanks so much, Marian. Daily - wow! And yes. I know for a fact my non-facebook brother reads this blog (Hi, Davey!) and others, too. I really want to reach all readers, of course, not just fellow writers.

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  5. Congrats on your two year blog anniversary!

    The way that I think blogging is worth it is if I do it primarily for myself. One can never know what really matters in terms of promoting oneself, so I figure I can do the things that are also fun. Sure, I could be lazy instead ;) -- but if I'm going to do something, it's going to be something fun.

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    1. Thanks, Gigi. That's a good approach - do what's fun. I think I do a mix, and try to keep posts at least remotely related to the subject matter of my books or the craft of writing. Most of the time it's fun!

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  6. Happy Blogaversary, Edith! Congratulations on two years!

    The horse blog is going into its fifth year now. (!) I started blogging three times a week, then daily for my first Triple Crown race season. That's when my blog had its highest Google Rank, but daily is a pace I can't keep up. And Google changed its logarithms recently anyway.

    I may turn some of the essays into a book someday or even a travel book, but I don't want to be distracted more by non-fiction than I already am. The horse blog has been "berry, berry good to me." It's let me meet cool people and it got me the gig with Glenfiddich Explorers AND has been a labor of love, but I often wonder if it will translate into a career for fiction, even for horse stories.

    Anyhoo, that's my blogging story, morning glory. :) Seeya at the Twain House! =:-D

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    1. Awesome, Rhonda. Even three times a week sounds overwhelming for me, but if it's worked for you, that's perfect. I'll see you in September... (Why am I humming...?)

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  7. Happy Anniversary, Edith. Although I print out my blog each week and keep it in a binder, I never thought of taking the time to do stats on how many comments I get. Of course, I've only been blogging with Writers Who Kill since last January. Yes, it's time consuming, but I think it's worth it as much as for getting my name recognized, albeit in a very small way, but because it's good discipline to keep writing whether it's on a book, short story, poetry my journal or my blog. Which is on Thursdays at Writers Who Kill - hint, hint :-)

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    1. Gotcha, Gloria! Thanks for stopping by. I've been by Writers Who Kill and will up my perusing on Thursdays. ;^)

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  8. Much success, Edith. You've worked hard for it.

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  9. Happy Anniversary, Edith. Both your series sound like wonderful reads. We're over our two year mark over at WWK. Sometimes blogging once per week plus doing interviews takes me away from my writing. But, I think promotion is part of this business. Blogging promotes your name and gives you a place to display your "wares." I'd like to say something astounding every week, but I think once per month I hit the mark. It's also a place to supplement your series for your readers. Keep up the good work!

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  10. Hey, thanks, E.B! Once a month is a good goal, for sure.

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  11. Edith,
    Happy Anniversary. I try to read blogs, especially those written by friends. I almost always leave a comment. I've recently joined a group blog, Make Mine Mystery, and will be blogging twice a month. I don't blog as often as I should on my own blog. I've no idea how much blogging helps sales. I regard it as another way of keeping up with readers and my fellow writers.

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  12. Hi Edith. Congratulations on your two year anniversary and your recent sales. ALL of your books sound wonderful. As far as blogging, I am the slowest writer ever and since my series is a humorous mystery series, I feel that every post also has to be funny. And sometimes I just run out of funny! So I guest blog about 5 times a year and only post on my own blog every few months. But when I post something, everyone know it will be a fun read so I usually get between 50 and 150 comments. Twice a week I take time from my own writing to check out other blogs and I'm so happy I happened upon this post. I'll be checking on your from now on!

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    1. Thanks, Cindy. I don't find it easy at ALL to write funny but I love reading it, so I will look up your blog.

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  13. You've had a great year. I'm glad for you. I'm a regular blogger and blog reader/commenter but I am struggling with the amount of time it takes and whether it's the best use of my time. May have to make some changes. Best of luck on Speaking of Murder.

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  14. Two years blogging. That is awesome. That is a lot of time spent and you wrote a book too. Wonderful.

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  15. Congratulations, Mom! You've worked so hard for this, and you deserve to be successful!

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  16. And, Gloria Alden wins the free book!

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  17. Congratulations mam!I give you a standing aviation for your hard work to maintain your blogging efforts!! PSD to WordPress

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