Roller Coasters Aren’t For Toddlers

March 21, 2012 in Creativity, Dreams, Life with 36 Comments

Photo by Dirk Jankraan (Creative Commons)

I’m a toddler. Maybe even a newborn.

Any way you slice it, when I walk, I’m still very wobbly.

I’ve only been writing seriously for about 6 months.

I’ve been on the page-views-watching roller coaster and I’d like to get off of this ride.

My stomach is upset, face is full of tears and I think my diaper needs changed.

I’ve believed that page views are my main measure of success as a writer.

I know it is a false premise. A large portion of my page views come from Google image searches. It’s pretty doubtful that those folks are interested in reading my blog if they are here only to take an image from it. (Probably for their own blog!)

Okay, I am going to type this a few times to make it sink in.

More page views do not equal success.

Have you fought this battle too? Do you have any tips or tricks for a fellow writer? Thanks!

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http://gabrielgadfly.com/ Gabriel Gadfly

You know, I’m not sure about this one. I keep track of my stats every day, and I carefully analyze them for trends or changes or new traffic sources. Page views, and making sure they trend upwards over the course of a year, are vital the success of my business as a writer — every new page view is an opportunity to convert someone from a visitor to a returning reader,

What I don’t do is let them influence my confidence in myself. Good writing can create traffic growth, but without relationship building and easy sharing functionality and an eye for developing a community around your work, random strangers across the world will never have an opportunity to discover your work, and if they can’t discover you, they can’t share your work with others.

And trends are more important than numbers — that is, look at the numbers over a broad swath of time. What are your averages for the entire month of February, and how do they compare to your averages in February last year? If, six months ago, you made a concentrated effort to start engaging a new forum or website, are you starting to see referrals from there? Day to day numbers fluctuate wildly, and really can’t be trusted — but trends over time are almost always reliable.
- admin
  
  I agree there is some value there Gabriel–but for me the challenge was separating the day to day numbers from the “big picture.” Now I only look at my stats on a monthly basis for the most part. Otherwise, it becomes and obsession for me.
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http://mindfullyhealing.com/ Kim

Um, YES! I’ve only been blogging since the end of December. When I started, I didn’t even expect anyone to read it; I was genuinely just writing for myself.

When I had that *first* page view, something shifted and I started looking at stats and wondering why some days there were so many visits, and some days only one or two. Why some days I had like and comments, and some days it was just tumbleweeds and chirping crickets.

I’m still working with the tension of writing for me vs. writing for others. I’m happiest when I write for me. I try to hang onto that, and trust that everything else will fall into place however it’s supposed to.

Thanks for this post, and for your honesty, and for putting words around the struggle!
- http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods
  
  Thanks Kim. I know that feeling for sure. It’s like ummm..did I say something to offend EVERYONE? But remember, it’s not remotely about the numbers-it is about relationships and friendships. I know a few of my amazing writer friends will stick around even if I do somehow manage to offend everyone. Obviously that is not my goal, but I’ve kind of come to the conclusion that if you stick around long enough, I’m going to say something stupid. (I think we all are just wired this way. That and my wife is an angel haha)
http://deuceology.wordpress.com Larry Carter

I put images im my blog for a while. I did not see any difference.

I used ti write things that I thought would stir people to think. The problem was that I wasn’t being real.

I simply started writing to make me happy. I have seen my traffic increase. I’m not sure if that makes me successful.

I have been consistent for 315 days. I think that may be it. I have developed friendships in this blogging community.

That’s about all I’ve got.
- unknownjim
  
  Great advice Larry, thanks so much! I think you are on to something!!!
- http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods
  
  Awesome stuff Larry. You are an inspiration to me. You write more in a week than I do in three months!!
Yvette Carol

No Jim I can’t help you on this one. I’m wobbling after you! Although I’ve been writing all my life I’ve only been active on social networking (via Facebook) for a couple of years and only started actively following blogs as of this year!! It’s a whole new world to me. However I can share what another writer said this year, on another blog, re building one’s ‘presence’ — he said, ‘be authentic, write and have patience’. I wrote it down immediately. I thought that was brilliant! Sometimes simple is best…
- unknownjim
  
  Thanks Yvette that sounds like good advice!
- http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods
  
  I’m sure trying to do that Yvette. Be authentic, write and have patience. I really like that. Well, other than the patience part, but that’s a work in progress! haha
http://twitter.com/tdiddy1234 Todd Foley

THANK. YOU. JIM.
- http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods
  
  You bet Todd, my pleasure.
http://www.storywrought.wordpress.com/ Elizabeth Hudson

I can’t offer any advice, but I know that one day I just stopped caring. I stopped worrying whether anyone was listening or not. I don’t even check my stats anymore. What changed? I have no idea, but you’ll get there. If only because you’re sick of refreshing the stats page. Keep up the good work, Jim!
- unknownjim
  
  Interesting Lizzie. Thank you for the kind words, I appreciate it!
- http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods
  
  Thanks so much Lizzie. I really appreciate that. I hope you’re right. I think I am a weird-balance of an analytical personality and creative personality. That might be why I struggle with this more than you do.
http://twitter.com/Akos_Fintor Akos Fintor

Hey Jim,

I’m not a writer however I do have a blog.
If you want to brand yourself as a bad ass writer I recommend reading Gary Vaynerchuk’s “Crush It” . Short but powerful read with step by step instructions.

Akos
- http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods
  
  Thanks for the recommendation Akos. I have read that book and I thought it was pretty good. I remember Gary mentioning in “Crush It” that it will take quite a while to get the ball rolling, and to not rush it. (So much easier said than done isn’t it!)
http://sayable.net/ Lore Ferguson

Awesome! Glad you’re taking the plunge!
- http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods
  
  You make it sound like I’m jumping off the roller coaster and into the icy cold water, is that about right?
TheyCallMeKeeks

I was just contemplating this exact thought this morning: “More page views do not equal success.” I defined success for myself before I started writing my blog and it did not include stats of page views. However, I still struggle with knowing I am successful each time I write and thinking that my words have more worth only if they are viewed by x amount of people. It’s a daily process that does have moments of getting easier. I thrive during the times that I forget to look at stats or I don’t care to know. It is a beautiful thing to just write and write and write – doing what I am created to do.
- http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods
  
  That’s awesome Keeks. I need to just not look at stats at all. I want to build relationships and help others and have impact. Those aren’t measured by page views.
  - TheyCallMeKeeks
    
    I want to get where I don’t look at stats too, but I don’t do well with all-or-nothing mentality. Keep focused on the relationships and their impact (you are doing a great job of dialoguing with those who visit your blog!). I imagine each day you progress on not looking at stats the easier it becomes.
    - http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods
      
      Thanks! Yeah, I think you are right!
http://www.adamlasky.com/ Adam

Absolutely right Jim. We are not our stats. We write for ourselves. Because we can’t not write.
- http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods
  
  Great point. If I don’t write, I become a different person. I REALLY don’t like that person! He’s a cranky, goofy, pathetic mess.
Nicole L Bates

LOL…I completely agree. However, I must say that for “only” six months you are getting an incredible response! Must mean you’re doing something right! Keep it up
- http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods
  
  Thanks so much Nicole! That is so nice of you to say!! I’ll try my best to keep it up. Thanks again!
  - Nicole L Bates
    
    Welcome…and sorry about the extra image…feel free to delete that
    - http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods
      
      No worries we all need a smile on a Wednesday morning. haha
http://rebootingworship.com/ Jamie Kocur

“Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle.” I’m sure you’ve heard that line before. It took some time for that to sink in for me. Remember that this is your beginning, your practice stage, and your chance to experiment before everyone shows up. I think that’s what helped me; knowing that I have the freedom to write how and what I want and experiment with things without having to worry about “the crowd.”
- http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods
  
  Yeah, I heard that line somewhere before..haha. Sadly, I still would like to compare with others (especially new bloggers). Great points though, thanks for the reminder!!
- http://www.benjermcveigh.com/ Benjer McVeigh
  
  I’ve also heard it put this way (I believe from Andy Stanley): “When you compare yourself to others, you’re really comparing your everyday stuff to someone else’s highlight reel.”
  - http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods
    
    Good quote! Thanks for sharing!
http://www.eileenknowles.com/ Eileen

I sure have fought this battle, Jim. I think most people have. I’ve been blogging for 2 1/2 years and I do need to remind myself of the truth all the time. My identity comes from Christ NOT on how many people read my blog. Because, I’ll tell you something…it will never be enough readers. You will always crave more. On good days, when I have a firm grasp of this truth then I understand that if God uses my words to touch just one person today then that’s enough!
- http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods
  
  Great points Eileen! If you add some zeros to my numbers it only will get worse! I’ve said before, I define success (writing wise) as writing for myself first (to help me) and then just sharing it with others (to hopefully help them). I like my definition much more than getting more page views!!