"I've noticed that the availability of statistics in blogging leads almost inexorably to a desire for increased numbers," says pastor and blogger David Bayley. "It's amazing how a ranking instrument such as Truth Laid Bear or Technorati or Site Meter almost automatically turns us into statistics-addicted influence seekers."
Not only are numbers important to bloggers, the more you blog the more you want other bloggers to link to your blog. The result is a self-referential series of quid pro quos wherein we mention other bloggers positively and link to them so that they will in turn mention and link to us.
More often than not, this circularity is accompanied by rather obsequious expressions of praise from smaller blogs to more prominent blogs in the apparent hope that the more prominent blog will link back to the lesser-known blog--a form of vassal-lord relationship in which the vassal renders fealty and honor and the lord in turn grants a place in the penumbra of his blogging glory. In the end, the outcome is a self-reinforcing system of mutual admiration.
I think Bayley raises an important issue. And because my modest site passes for what would probably be considered a "prominent blog", at least within the GodBlog ghetto, I thought it might be useful to share the perspective of a recovering statistics-addicted influence seeker in the penumbra of his blogging glory. The following is a few thoughts and lessons learned during my 21 month blog career. (Note: This will be of absolutely no interest to non-bloggers so feel free to skip this post entirely.)
Statistics -- I’ve been blogging for 638 days, produced 1259 posts, and received 29,007 comments (including spam I’ve yet to clear out). That averages out to a dismal 1.97 posts per day, 23 comments per post.
I blog every night, Sunday thru Thursday. The first part of every evening is spent eating dinner, attending to household chores, and spending time with my wife. Around 9 pm I begin catching up on my daily blog reading, responding to email, and writing my posts. If I finish early I get to bed around 1 am. Most nights, though, I slip off to sleep around 2:30 or 3. (This typically leaves me with five hours before the morning alarm sounds at 7:30.)
Last month I spent approximately 97 hours working on my blog and received $252.40 in ad revenue. I earned $2.60 per hour for blogging (minimum wage is $5.15 per hour). Needless to say, I don’t do it for the money.
Some perspective on site traffic -- According to Sitemeter I’ve had 654,632 total visits, an average of 1,026 per day for every day that I’ve been blogging. Compare this to last Sunday night at 10:00 p.m., when the WB network ran a rerun of Charmed and had 1.2 million viewers.
Don’t Believe Your Own Press Clippings -- On the eve of New Year’s Eve 2003, Hugh Hewitt made the following prediction for National Review Online:
The Evangelical Outpost and Powerline become the must-read blogs of '04.Perhaps you've heard of Powerline, an obscure little blog that led the way in exposing Dan Rather and the Memogate story, gained the attention - and begrudged admiration - of the major media, and receives an average of 1 million hits a month. Oh, and it was named Blog of the Year by Time magazine. Okay, so Hugh looks like a genius with that pick. And the other one?
Um, not so much. In fact, his selection is reminiscent of another underachieving prediction.
In the 1984 NBA draft, the Houston Rockets took Hakeem Olajuwon with the first pick. The Portland Trailblazers, with the No. 2 selection chose a 7’1" Kentucky center named Sam Bowie. In making the choice they passed over Charles Barkley, John Stockton, and His Airness, Michael Jordan.
Bowie promptly developed bone chips in his left leg and missed most of his second season. Then, after playing in five games the following season, he snapped his right tibia. During his ten season career he earned an average of 10 points per game.
I am Sam Bowie.
The lesson: Don’t let praise go to your head. Your blog is only as good as the work you produce.
On Newspapers (part 1) -- The first time I was interviewed about my blog by a newspaper was for an article in The Fort-Worth Star-Telegram. The reporter and I talked for nearly two hours, discussing everything from the economics of blogging to the future role of Godblogs in the church. I had rehearsed a half-dozen sound bites that would look good in print and delivered them flawlessly. I was thrilled to see that the story had made the front page (bottom corner) and bought several copies to show to my friends and family. I read through the article and found myself mentioned in the last paragraph. The only quote they used was an off the cuff remark I had made in a moment of candor: "My wife hates that I blog." My wife read it and snickered. No one else ever mentioned the article. Newspaper coverage is overrated.
On Newspapers (part 2) -- This past March my blog was mentioned in the New York Times. From this experience I gleaned the following six insights: (1) No matter how many times a blogger trashes the Times, they are excited to see their blog mentioned in the Old Gray Lady. (2) The most respected newspaper in the world still manages to get basic facts wrong. (3) No one actually reads the NYT unless their name is mentioned in an article. (4) Being mentioned in the NYT will not increase your site traffic. (5) Being mentioned in the NYT does not impress as many people as you might think. (6) Getting a two paragraph mention in the New York Times is not as significant for your blog as being recognized with a link and a one word response by Glen Reynolds.
On Instalaunches -- I’ve been linked by Glen Reynolds exactly once. Being mentioned on Instapundit will not increase your site traffic for more than a few hours. Also, being mentioned on Instapundit does not impress as many people as you might think.
On the TTLB Ecosystem -- I spent a year attempting to rise to the level of Mortal Human in the TTLB Ecosystem. Traversing the stages from Insignificant Microbes to Flippery Fish to Large Mammal, I checked the page daily and longed for the glorious age when I would reach the upper echelons. Though I rarely check TTLB anymore, I looked at it today and noticed that I was ranked #12 (oddly enough, behind two fellow evangelicals, Andrew Jackson and LaShawn Barber). While it may be a glitch in the system, I am currently ranked higher than Volokh, Eschaton, and even Hugh Hewitt. From this lofty perch I can now share with you what such an honor means:
Absolutely nothing.
No, actually, that’s not quite true. What it means is that lots and lots of people link to my blog. I’m flattered beyond words that so many people would consider me worthy of inclusion on their blogrolls. I’m not sure why they do so, but I appreciate it nonetheless.
But aside from instilling a sense of gratitude, being a Mortal Human has no effect on my life. It hasn’t increased my site traffic. It hasn’t increased my ad revenue. It hasn’t made my blog more popular, or more interesting, or more worthy. In fact, it’s much like getting to the end of a game of Monopoly. You realize the thrill was in the striving and the acquiring and once you have a big pile of (fake) money and nothing to do but collect rents, it’s not so much fun anymore.
The Good Stuff -- Lest I give the impression that I’ve gained nothing from blogging, let me highlight a few of my favorite moments: Being mentioned by Hugh Hewitt on my second day of blogging. Appearing on the Northern Alliance Radio Network. Corresponding with Marvin Olasky. Being mentioned by Hugh Hewitt in two of his books. Having lunch with Tgirsch from Lean Left. Sharing my faith with unbelievers. Being invited to speak at the GodBlogCon. Having the opportunity to discuss issues with people who often disagree vehemently with me. Discovering hundreds of interesting blogs from my referral logs. Passing on links to great posts that I stumble across. Seeing other bloggers find each other through this site. Getting free books (especially from Justin Taylor). Receiving encouragement and career advice from hundreds of people when I made the decision to leave the Marine Corps for civilian life. Having lunch with Keith Plummer from The Christian Mind. Sponsoring the Intellectuelle blog. Getting a job at the Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity for no other reason than because Matthew Eppinette reads my blog. And meeting hundreds of the most interesting people on the planet.
Over the next 638 days I’ll continue to put in 24 hours per week churning out my 1.97 posts a day, hoping that I’ll be able to get 1,026 hits, 23 comments, keep my 1500+ links, and earn $2.60 per hour. But I’ll do so knowing that those numbers don’t really matter. What I’ve gained from blogging - friendship, community, education - can’t be quantified. The best things in the blogosphere are the connections you make, the relationships you form, and the posts that amuse, inform, and surprise - and those are things that can’t be measured by Sitemeter or Technorati.
1
Thanks for that post, Joe.
Entirely correct, and entirely timely.
Thanks for sharing some of your heart, and your life, with us.
(and for putting me on your blogroll when I was just a little feller! Well, ok, I'm still just a little feller. Still - thanks :D)
posted on 07.12.2005 4:32 AM2
Does this mean I should stop bragging that I was mentioned in Evangelical Outpost last week? ;-)
Thanks for this post. I'm a sitemeter checking, TTLB climbing, technorati watchin' junkie in need of a twelve step program myself!
posted on 07.12.2005 5:55 AM3
David Bayly's post really hit me, too. Thank you for elaborating on your "recovery" and helping put things in proper perspective.
I'd rather have lunch with you than be a Mortal Human any day.
posted on 07.12.2005 6:45 AM4
Do you think that the name of your blog has any effect? By calling the blog "Evangelical Outpost," you've staked out fairly broad intellectual territory, and perhaps have made the blog more appealing to newspapers, etc, which want to mention or link to a general Christian blog. "Joe's Blog" with exactly the same content might not have the same appeal.
posted on 07.12.2005 7:59 AM5
Thanks Joe,
Very encouraging words! My hits have dropped off of late - not that they got very high to start with - and I've been struggling with that.
Nice to know that in the end that isn't what this is all about anyway - but you do know that's a hard thing to for us small fry to believe don't you?
Well I'll keep on working, and praying and see what happens!
posted on 07.12.2005 10:57 AM6
Excellent post, Joe...really puts things in perspective.
Unfortunately, it still doesn't throw much of a damper on my quest for increased readership. :) I've been a Large Mammal briefly, but I always slip back to Marauding Marsupial.
But, yeah...perspective.
posted on 07.12.2005 11:55 AM7
Joe, I agree, and I even eliminated a site meter from my blog. The only reason period that I blog is because it is an outlet to practice writing by placing it under the constraints of public scrutiny. I have no illusions about much of anything, I just enjoy the 2 or 3 posts a week about things that are important to me. If someone else likes it, great, if not, eh, no big whoop.
A site meter had become a matter of pride, not something I wanted to encourage.
posted on 07.12.2005 12:01 PM8
Hey Sam Bowie, getting to the big leagues is nothing to feel bad about.
This is a great post -- entertaining from beginning to end -- it's funny 'cause it's true!
The only thing I disagreed with is, "That averages out to a dismal 1.97 posts per day, 23 comments per post." One or two posts a day is a demanding and very respectable schedule. But of course, the quantity is not the first consideration, the quality is, and your quality is very high, especially considering how much of your blog is original material. I would be very proud indeed to have a blog that performed at your level.
Hugh Hewitt and Powerline are excellent blogs, and more popular than yours, but I personally read your blog more regularly than theirs.
9
Interesting post. It is something to think about, isn't it? All of the little nuances and so forth. I think the syndrome you noted in the beginning of the post, though, eventually goes away, and the blogger can settle into their own 'routine.'
That said, I am totally jazzed when you link me. lol!
posted on 07.12.2005 1:10 PM10
In the interest of obsequiousism ;) I will add this post to my collection n blogging.
It gives added value to my day to think that somebody gets something from what I write.
posted on 07.12.2005 1:27 PM11
Bayley says:
"More often than not, this circularity is accompanied by rather obsequious expressions of praise from smaller blogs to more prominent blogs in the apparent hope that the more prominent blog will link back to the lesser-known blog--a form of vassal-lord relationship in which the vassal renders fealty and honor and the lord in turn grants a place in the penumbra of his blogging glory. In the end, the outcome is a self-reinforcing system of mutual admiration."
This is interesting, but it's only half the game. The other half is criticizing what the big dogs say (and sending emails to let them know you're out there, checking every claim twice! Bayley's going to hear from me on this one!!!
Irony.
posted on 07.12.2005 3:00 PM12
It's not hard to do, but you brought tears to my eyes (and not just because of the Intellectuelle sponsorship, though I was practically bouncing off the walls the day I got your email). It's just nice to know I'm not the only neurotic Christian blogger who blogs a bit for the wrong reasons, but mainly for the right reasons. I've been debating whether to attempt GodBlogCon but now that I know you're going to be there, I think I'll try harder to make it work.
posted on 07.12.2005 5:45 PM13
Thank you for a great post! I've been blogging since February and have found that the blogging world is an interesting one, full of its own unwritten rules and expectations. You've brought some great perspective with what you have written here. My blogging has been guided by a quote from one of my favorite presidents...
It is better to be faithful than famous.
-- Theodore Roosevelt
14
I've been blogging for about 18 months now. I've never gotten an Instalanche. I've never been quoted in the New York Times. I've never had lunch with Keith Plummer or Tgirsch. I've never had any ad revenue. I've never had 1000 hits for two days in a row. I've never been in the top 12 in TTLB.
But I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express a few weeks ago :-)
posted on 07.12.2005 7:41 PM15
Quote: "Getting a job at the Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity for no other reason than because Matthew Eppinette reads my blog."
Hmm.
Not trying to bust anyone here, but it's hard to take this advice seriously when it appears that you got a good job based in part on your blog (or your reputation as a blogger.)
I think there are a lot of bloggers who would like to change places with you if this is how it works out in the end!
posted on 07.12.2005 9:48 PM16
I think that this post will really hit home with quite a few bloggers. I started blogging because I felt like putting what I had to say out there, mainly for my friends and family, but also for whoever happened to stop by. It has been fun to integrate myself into the blogosphere, and my writing (and blogging, which is a much different skill ) has improved greatly, and I've learned quite a bit.
But.
I still check sitemeter and TTLB obsessively, worried about referrers and average return visitors (my favorite stat). I agree with blessedwithsons, I need a 12 step program.
I blog because I have fun doing it, but, like most bloggers, ego tends to quite often try to sneak its way in!
posted on 07.12.2005 10:03 PM17
David,
Glenn is very random about who he chooses. Much of the infamy that my blog got for a while was from this post. Michele, that lovely blogger from A Small Victory (man that felt like I was bathing in acid to call her that) called me names over it and then didn't have the intestinal fortitude to actually respond to any of my rebuttals of her claims. I lost a lot of respect for the big timers over that. Just goes to show that many of the big timers have the same personalities that their MSM counterparts do.
posted on 07.12.2005 10:50 PM18
Wow....
It's a disease, isn't it? I think I may have it bad. And I've only been blogging 4 months, and I'm only a slimy mollusk. Good to know I'm not the only one.
Can I resist adding a plug here? I probably should. But I do want to help people, especially Christians, protect their money (my blog is about investing). It takes money to fund God's work on Earth, and there are real financial dangers out there. The info is free, so no harm to you readers (you can hear the rationalization coming, can't you?). Plus I make a lot less money from bloging than Joe (aka Sam Bowie). I can't resist. Here goes:
http://watchfulinvestor.blogspot.com/
Forgive me.
posted on 07.12.2005 11:28 PM19
I wouldn't say Glenn's choices are random at all. He links the same people over and over.
Right now, even as we speak, Austin Bay is having "thoughts."
Joe, what's your average visit length? ;)
posted on 07.13.2005 12:04 AM20
I've had a couple of Instalaunches. The first one I was new enough to be impressed:^)
They were small compared to a link from Jeff Ooi, an english speaking pundit blogger from Malaysia.
I never know what is going to catch people's interest. I wonder if tag searches have changed blog reading patterns a bit?
posted on 07.13.2005 2:40 PM21
Mike T, you said:
"Michele, that lovely blogger from A Small Victory (man that felt like I was bathing in acid to call her that) called me names over it and then didn't have the intestinal fortitude to actually respond to any of my rebuttals of her claims. I lost a lot of respect for the big timers over that. Just goes to show that many of the big timers have the same personalities that their MSM counterparts do."
I haven't read your post, and hadn't heard of A Small Victory - but have to ask, if one blogger is unfair to you how does that translate into all the big timers having the same personalities and being like one blogger you had a run in with?
Have you had the same from all the big timers? (Whoever they are supposed to be). I've had some instalaunches in the past - Instapundit, Hewitt, and some others. Joe is right - it's traffic to the particular post for a day or two. I appreciated it - the instapundit one was to a collection of posts on Darfur by 23 different bloggers so the traffic went out to the whole group. I appreciate the links Joe has provided too. I guess he's a big timer compared to me - but I don't see him having the personality you describe. A problem with one person is not evidence of general psychological failings of a group of people just because they have more readers than you.
22
What would be the blog equivalent of Galilee?
posted on 07.14.2005 7:34 AM23
Thanks Joe, for your frankness. I also found myself elated when I jumped from an Insignificant Microbe to An Adorable Rodent is just a few brief months of blogging. Then I found myself checking my stat counter just a wee bit too much...
So yes, I must watch myself and not let pride take over my motives for blogging. Still, one reason I blog is that I sincerely want to influence others for Christ, and the more people that visit my site, the more opportunity I have to do that.
So ya'll come see sometime, ya hear? Jordan's View at http://jordansview.blogspot.com :)
posted on 07.14.2005 11:04 PM24
This post is a keeper!
So there's my rather obsequious expression of praise from my smaller blog to your more prominent blog (in the apparent hope that your more prominent blog will link back to my lesser-known blog)and render me a place in the penumbra of your blogging glory!
Whew! That's a mouth-full!
posted on 07.16.2005 11:23 AM25
OK, I commented on Bene Dicton's blog with this remark, but I stand by it: High-stats bloggers who say stats aren't important remind me of very rich people who say money's not important. Yeah, it's not important if you've got LOTS OF IT! :)
posted on 07.18.2005 9:06 AM