Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Happy Half Birthday To Me

Today marks six months since I started blogging. On the same day that I wrote my first post, The First Question About Daddy, I also signed up with FB and Twitter. On the one hand half a year has gone by very quickly, but on the other hand, I cannot now imagine a time without blogging, FB and Twitter and, of course, all the lovely people that I am now in contact with daily. Below are a few things that I have been reflecting on recently.

My Name. Midlife Singlemum may have been a mistake - I can't decide. I chose it to include words that would show up on searches and firmly establish my niche. In that respect it hasn't disappointed (although I have branched a little into expatland). However, I am a bit tired of having people greet me in the street with a, "hello Midlife!" It's beginning to sound more middle-aged than I like to feel. Other jokes include Midlife Crisis and Midwife. I tried to think of a way to shorten or change it without losing my place in the blopgosphere (Like MTJAM for example) but MLSM sounds like a text message or, worse, a hospital superbug. Any suggestions gratefully recieved.

Blogger. I love my blog. I love the layout and that I can put a picture behind the page. The template designs are a bit limited in what they can let me do, but it's fine for now. The only big question I have is what is the story with the All time stats? My top story has been my first post for the entire six months. The All time stats for this post show between 207 and 209 views (yes it  goes down as well #illogical). However, the very same post receives more views regularly. I have tried to ask Blogger but so far no reply. Which is why I wonder, should I switch to another host before I try to grow any bigger? Is it worth paying for the security of technical support and back-up facilities. Again, I would be happy for the advice of more experienced bloggers.

How to Monetize. I have an unusual situation whereby, although I have many readers in Israel where I live, I find myself writing more for readers in the UK. This excludes me from most promotions, competitions, and advertising. On the other hand, I am putting so many hours into blogging it's a shame not to be able to make money out of it. I'll have to think more about this one.

Traffic. In the beginning I was thrilled when I averaged 50 views a day. Then I started to join other sites and clubs - Tots 100, Netmums, Britmums, Expat Blog, Go Overseas. I participated in memes, carnivals and linkies - Silent Sunday, MUMenTUM, Meal Planning Monday, Blow Your Own Blog Horn and Tracks of my Years. Suddenly it seemed to take on a life of its own and I can have up to 250 views a day (on a good day). I know I'm still among the small fry compared to the big fish out there, but it still fascinates me to see the unlikely traffic sources on my stats page. And you can't aim higher if you don't know where you are now.

Klout. What can I say? There seems to be no rhyme or reason. In a week that I decided to socially engage with a vengeance on FB and twitter in order to up my Klout score, I initiated some long FB threads and in the same week I picked up two new followers on the blog, several on twitter, new friends on FB and got more pageviews than ever before, my Klout score went down. To be fair, it bounced back a bit after two days. This leads me to think that they may have a 48hr delay in filtering data. Who knows? However, it all adds to the fun and I do love the number games.

SEOs. In case you are wondering why I have linked to so many sites on a post that is essentially about me. This is something I learned from Jax at Making It Up. As my current techno-guru she advised that linking up increases your search potential and leads to more traffic on the blog. So I do link up at every opportunity. It's a win-win situation.

And that's it. Not the initial lessons about starting a blog that I learned and listed in A Blogging Marvelous Month, five months ago, this is I think a slightly more sophisticated set of ponders befitting a half-year veteran. Let's see what the next six months has to offer...

24 comments:

  1. Happy half birthday to you. I love my blog and wouldn't be without it. It is a pleasure to have met you online

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  2. Happy half birthday! I'm honoured to be included in your links :)

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  3. Emily - I am honoured to be in a position to link to you :)

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  4. I use statcounter for stats. No idea what Klout is, should I know?
    I rather like Midlife Singlemum...it sums you up. But if you're changing it, do it soon, before your audience grows.
    Have never worked out how to make my blog pay. Some people instal a paypal account and ask for tips..or sell stuff...

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  5. Keren - I think I'm stuck with Midlife Singlemum so lucky you like it - what do you mean it sums me up?!
    Funny you don't know what Klout is as you appear on my Klout analysis as someone who influences me. Your Klout score is also around 49/50. So you must have signed up once.

    I think it's hilarious when I see donations gratefully received on a blog. I wonder if they get any. I think the only way to monetize is advertising and promotions.

    Is statcounter the stats page on the Blogger dashboard?

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  7. Happy Blogversary. Pretty impressive stats for half a year-may they continue to grow.

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  8. Thanks Susie - I thought of you when I wrote about living in Israel but being connected to the UK bloggers. Not exactly what I wrote but I thought about you in this context.

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  9. This is a very technically savvie post. Go you!

    And hippy happy birthday to you and your blog

    Liska xx

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  10. Thanks Liska - it's amazing what you pick up after such a short career in blogging :)

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  11. Hey there, I really like this post, I think that we are at pretty much the same kind of level with our blog traffic (which is actually a bit depressing because I have had mine for like 3 years now). Though SEOwise you seem a lot more savvy than me. Thanks for putting up all the links I am going to go off and hit up the relevant ones and see what happens.

    Oh and with regards to the name I really regret not having Israel in the title as I reckon I would get a load more traffic with it

    Cheers and happy half birthday!!

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  12. Thanks Marc. Expat Blog is good for traffic, but beware of emails (internal on the site) from people saying they want to come and live and work here, and they've never even been here to visit. Ignore them, don't get sucked in.

    I enjoy your blog very much btw.

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  13. Hi Happy half birthday
    I know what you mean about the competitions, reviews etc nearly all are Uk, My blog is the same although some readers here in NL most are in UK. I tend to approach offers anyway even if they do say UK and make them see that I do have other readers and could be beneficial. The competitions are always a no though so I dont read them anymore ;)

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  14. Windmill - I'll have to chack out yout blog. Re competitions, I sometimes enter and make a point of saying that the prize wiould be for my sister but I agree that it's better not to read them at all as it just makes me irritated. From the promotion side, I understand completely that they want only UK entries in order to spread the word about their product in the UK.

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  15. how times flies and well done on all your success! best wishes and good luck for the next few months - I wish I could offer some advice but you are beyond my meagre knowledge!

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  16. Thanks for your lovely message Gemma, however, there is no way I'm beyond your knowledge. I've picked up a bit of jargon that's all :-)

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  17. Thank you for your lovely comment and link :)

    Has it really only been 6 months? Seems like I've known you forever. I really enjoy connecting with you, and love the insights into your life and lifestyle I get from your blog and pictures. I'm glad I've been able to help a little and do feel free to pick my brains further if there's anything else I can help with.

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  18. Liveotherwise - I also can't believe it's only been six months. Thank you for your lovely comment. I've also learned a lot froom yuo about home education and living-past re-enactments. I love it - Tahnk you.

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  19. Happy Half blogerversary, it has been lovely getting to know you a little and I hope to know you more.

    I use blogger but their stats are completed scrambles, install another package like google anayltics of stat counter and you will have better info. 250 page views a day is not at all bad.

    Mich x

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  20. Mich, I've enjoyed getting to k now you too. So glad you said that blogger stats are a complete scrambles. I've just installed statcounter so we'll see how I do with it. 250 is an extremely good day :) btw.

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  21. Blogger is definitely having some fun with my stats at the moment, not sure what is going on.
    Happy half year, glad to have met you!

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  22. Thanks Alexander Res. - Everyone seems to have problems with the stats but they never say anything about it. Glad to have met you too :)

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