I do not know what to make of the stat counters that I use on this blog. The WordPress stat counter is fairly unsophisticated in comparison with the Sitemeter counter which lets me know where visitors to my blog come from. I love reading the names and it amazes me that people from as far afield as Iran, Macedonia, and the Russian Federation, and that readers from Hiroshima to Caracas happen upon my blog. I don’t know how many people return since each day’s record is erased by the following day’s stats. I notice interesting names and recognise some of my regular readers. I love the names of places such as Saint Cloud and Flower Mound and Dwingeloo. I’ll never visit them and have no idea what they are really like, but I like imagining them.
I’m intrigued, too, by the posts that are favourites. The Jesus Prayer regularly tops the list, which is as it should be. I think some regular readers must always access my blog via that particular page, or one of the other favourites?
I don’t think stat counters show the number of people reading through “feeds” most of the time, which is a shame. Numbers fluctutate enormously and fall away dramatically if I don’t post for a while. Loyal readers who return often are counted over and over again. 170 readers is a good day, around a 100 is an average, 50 reminds me how fragile it all it!
But the point of this is to say, please don’t feel you have to plough through some of the longer entries I post on this blog. I know that not many people are going to be interested enough to read them, that some of them are dense and dry, but writing them really helps me sort out what I think. I would love to get feedback – whether you’ve liked a post or hated it, agreed or disagreed. Thank you to those of you who do comment, or let me know that you’ve enjoyed reading something: I can’t pretend that it does not make things much more fun and worthwhile. I’ve removed the email facility for now, but since all comments are moderated, you can always make a comment but ask me to remove it once I have read it, without publishing it. I’d love to know who is reading my blog, even if you only want to say hello and then lurk again.
14 comments
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November 8, 2007 at 3:38 pm
cruxphoto
Beautiful photo!
November 8, 2007 at 3:58 pm
adifferentvoice
Dear Cruxphoto, is it one of yours? If so, may I have permission to borrow it, please? It is such a great picture… I see you have many more on your site.
I’m exercised by the issues of copyright in respect of images found using Google image search – which is why I reduced a few to thumbnail sketches last week. I will take down any photos where the copyright owner objects and credit any others who wish to be credited but will still give permission for their images to remain. I do not make any money out of this blog, and think it looks a lot better with photos to illustrate the posts. I use our own photos when I can, but also enjoy searching out images which are, to coin a phrase, stunning.
November 8, 2007 at 4:52 pm
cruxphoto
No, it is not one of mine. Most photographers are okay with small reproductions of their images for personal sites or blogs, but definitely be careful. Many photographers are making their living off their images, and even small uses on a public blog can take away from their sales. As for my images, if you are interested in using one, just contact me ahead of time, and provide a link to my blog or my website in the credit.
November 8, 2007 at 5:39 pm
adifferentvoice
Thank you! I’ve had another look at your site. Your photos are, well, awesome. Not a word we use a lot over here, but cannot think of any other that does justice to the scenery, the compositions, the extreme subjects, and the blinding colours. I would love to be able to take photos like that.
November 8, 2007 at 8:02 pm
ismini
I noticed that you used the name Macedonia to describe a country, some may get offended by that choice of name. The formal name of this country is FYROM (former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) it is a very sensitive matter for the Greek people at the moment since there is a lot of negotiations going on as to whether FYROM can use this name for their country. There is a long history behind it and I must admit I do get a bit upset when people use Macedonia instead FYROM. As always there are two sides in this story but as we have said several time people like me almost always accept the side that agrees with their beliefs.
I agree the photo is beautiful.
November 8, 2007 at 8:41 pm
adifferentvoice
Dear Ismini, you know I had no intention to offend. I’m just happily ignorant of the politics of it all – Macedonia is what comes up on the statcounter list. You can fill me in later!
November 8, 2007 at 8:57 pm
ismini
I never said that you intended to offend, in fact I know that you did not, not me anyway.
November 8, 2007 at 9:07 pm
ismini
http://news.ert.gr/en/c/11/28396.asp if you are interested…
November 8, 2007 at 10:40 pm
adifferentvoice
Ismini, thanks for the link, though I think they need to sack their translator … You can give me a seminar on Saturday!
November 12, 2007 at 2:24 pm
David
You might be interested in the metrics service offered (for free) by Feedburner. They compile statistics on who’s visiting you, how frequently, how they find you, where they link to you, etc. Thoroughly engrossing stuff, I’d imagine!
Overview avaiable at http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/blogs
November 12, 2007 at 6:54 pm
adifferentvoice
Hi, David. Thanks for reading, and thanks for the tip, I’ll have a look. I think maybe I’m better off only knowing about the readers I know about … I’m quite content with the few people that I know read my blog and savour their comments whenever they choose to write.
November 15, 2007 at 1:51 pm
adifferentvoice
David,
I’ve had a look now at the overview page. This is a WordPress blog still hosted by WordPress, which, I think (having read the overview) means that I won’t be able to use Feedburner because it refers to “self-hosted” WordPress blogs. Is that right? Never mind, if so.
November 29, 2007 at 6:01 pm
Ivan
Hi, my name is disman-kl, i like your site and i ll be back 😉
November 29, 2007 at 8:57 pm
adifferentvoice
Funny, because it says your name is Ivan …