24 March 2012

Reaching a Milestone...


When I first started blogging back in June 2009 I was busy posting away to what I thought were just two followers. I didn't mind, I was new to it, tentatively learning about this new blogging world and enjoying  being able to write about my own gardening experiences.

Initially the idea was to share with my customers my own gardening experiences to help to give my fledgling business some credibility. As time went by I started to include tips and advice, recipes and anything else that popped into my head.

It was a few months before I found my stats page and delightedly discovered that more than two people were actually reading my posts. Whoopee - what a lovely surprise!

In 2010 I joined the KLCK Bloggers Network Group and my approach to social media took a new turn. The speakers at the group shared their vast experience and knowledge with us all, made us think differently about our content, encouraged us to plan our posts and have goals. Goals? Strategy? Yikes! All I wanted to do was write. Something must have been sinking in though as my page views steadily grew. As I realised that people were actually looking at my blog, my confidence in writing it began to grow too.

Over the past couple of weeks I've watched the page views get closer to that magic milestone number of 50,000, helped along considerably by the unashamed pimping for the latest competition (thanks to everyone who's helped there too). I found myself asking why I blog and where is it heading, what would you like to see, do stats matter, are they important? I was happy to write when I thought there was nobody looking, is it any different now that I've had 50,000 + page views? The answer is yes and no. No in that I still write because I enjoy it but the fact that you are reading the blog makes me think a lot more about what I'd like to include in it. The stats help me to see what interests you, where my writing came be of more help.

So for any newbie bloggers who are reading this now, or for anyone else who's interested, as I pass my magic milestone I'm sharing the top five reasons why I blog...

1. Top of the list is because I enjoy writing. I find it therapeutic and like to lose myself  here (for too long my husband might say...)

2. It's a source of information for 'my' gardeners as well as for anyone else who likes to grow or eat vegetables or cares about the environment. It enhances my aftercare service as customers aren't just left alone once the workshops or advice has finished.

3. I can share recipe ideas that we've tried and tested at home. Lots of people new to growing their own haven't eaten or cooked many of the vegetables they're growing.

4. Blogging helps to keep me focussed and continue with my own education. Some of the articles I've written I've had to seriously research, for instance the GM post. If I wasn't blogging I'm not sure I'd be keeping quite so up-to-date about current and topical issues.

5. Because my blog's a mixture of personal and business, it shows there's a real person behind the business name who has as many successes, failures, angst and elation as the rest of you.

And to share the top five most popular blog posts  since I began writing it....

1    Yummy Courgette Cake
2     World Naked Gardening Day
3      Mealy Cabbage Aphids on my Brussels Sprouts
4      Pesticides & Fungicides Using Kitchen Ingredients
5      Potatoes - all you need to know

So a massive thanks to everyone who's dropped by - I hope you'll be visiting again. There's still lots of posts bubbling around in my head that I hope to spill out over the coming weeks and months. In the meantime, if there's any topic you'd like me to write about, please leave a comment here or on any of the other social media sites I frequent (and for anyone who knows me, that's most of them by now) and I'll try and include them.

Dee x


14 comments:

  1. It's wonderful to see your blog go from strength to strength Dee and as someone who has found their life transformed through blogging, I really am in complete agreement with you that there are so many benefits to it..and it's fun too :-)

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    1. Thank you Marie. Yes you're completely right about it transforming life too. I love blogging and have made some lovely friends through it, both real and virtual who wouldn't be in my world now without it.

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  2. Lovely post Dee and I empathise with so much of it - I find writing to be therapeutic too and I also have lots of posts in my head that I just don't have time to write down.
    well done on reaching your milestone :)

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    1. Thanks Lorna. The tip on writing down potential blog posts we learnt at KLCK has been a bit of a saviour as I don't think I'd have a hope of remembering all the ideas without it.

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  3. Hi Dee,
    contratulations on your fantastic achievement and I particularly like the bit where you said that blogging helps you to continue your own education. As a wise man once said to me, the best way to learn is to teach and in your case it has been by researching and sharing valuable information with your readers that you continue to strengthen your own knowledge and become a real expert in this area. Wishing you continued success and looking forward to your 100K milestone!!:)

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    1. Thanks so much for your lovely words Oliver. The wise man was dead right, gardening books are my main reading material these days. They not only strengthen my knowledge but are a constant reminder too!

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  4. Keep up the good work! You have a very interesting and informative blog and I enjoy taking part in the knowledge you impart through your posts.

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    1. Thanks so much Mr H. I'm delighted to read that as you've been with me for most of my blogging days :)

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  5. WOW! 50,186 as I write!!! Congratulations Dee! That's amazing! As you know I've just started blogging so this post is truly inspiring! I love your blog because although you have a business you're writing style is friendly and personal - you can tell by reading your posts how much you enjoy both your writing and your work, maybe that's the secret to a successful blog - loving what you do. I look forward to the next 50,000!

    Sharon

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    1. Aww thanks Sharon :) Glad it's helped, am sure you wont be long catching up with your lovely pictures and posts. Thanks for the feedback too, am glad you like it.

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  6. Well done! Brilliant milestone to reach! Keep it up... and I agree so much... it sometimes helps to keep me sane!

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    1. Thanks Margaret- have lots more posts in the pipeline!

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  7. Congratulations Dee - it's so great to get affirmation from so many page views that you are doing the right thing!! I felt that for so long that I was writing for so few people. It's so great to feel that you are offering something to people -which you are!! Keep up the good work.:) and enjoy this fabulous weather!!

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    1. Thanks Lisa. My blog has rarely been one to attract lots of comments (not helped by Bloggers inability to let people comment at times!) and I'm so often caught for time to comment on other people's even though I read them. The page views are a real boost in that regard.

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