When I had a few minutes to spare yesterday, I took advantage of the opportunity to check my ActiveRain statistics. To check yours, just click on "Statistics" in the bottom section of the left navigation bar on your Home page, as shown on the right.
Of my 435 posts to date, about 300 have been written since last September, and I thought it would be interesting to take a quick informal survey to determine which posts were most popular with readers over the past year. If nothing else, this information might suggest a focus for my next year on ActiveRain.
Without a doubt, How to Blog for Leads on ActiveRain had the most comments (140), views (5083) and clicks (3626). Another ActiveRain-themed post fared very well, too - The Second Commandment of Blogging (Learned the Hard Way), with lots of comments (116), views (4171) and clicks (3129). Both of these posts were quite popular and generated many comments even before they were featured, but that gold star certainly contributed to the high numbers.
Beyond those, however, most of the posts which generated a lot of views and clicks were LOCALISM posts:
Do you find that as surprising as I do? All of these LOCALISM posts combine for a total of only 75 comments, yet they each had at least 1500 clicks - more than most of my other ActiveRain posts. Food for thought, isn't it?
If that doesn't validate the concept of posts on local content, I don't know what does! Several buyers have said they read my blogs, and now my statistics are saying that, too. I'm gonna have to check those statistics more often!
Copyright 2008. Margaret Woda. All rights reserved.
50 Comments on My ActiveRain Statistics are Speaking to Me, and They're Saying...
Margaret-you are right, as if I doubted it. Though my clicks are not as high as yours the most clicks are on the Localism posts and some of them have zero comments. I have two new buyers heading to Ft Belvoir who both have said they read my blog. So I guess I know where some of the clicks are coming from!
Margaret- I think your Localism posts are great, so it comes as no surprise to me. My thinking is that the consumer will "lurk." When they come across your blog because of a localism post and like what they see, I think they will tend to return unannounced so to speak, until they're ready and comfortable enough to contact you. And I doubt many would choose to make that initial contact through a comment.
Margaret- Interesting statistics. I am gearing up to get my feet wet with localism and now I am going to gear up a little quicker. Thanks for the nudge
Margaret, I've stayed away from our Localism because it really tends to have a significant number of posts that are nothing more than copying MLS listings and reposting them on Localism. Maybe it's time to take it back for it's intended use.
All of these LOCALISM posts combine for a total of only 75 comments, yet they had more clicks than most of my other ActiveRain posts. Food for thought, isn't it?
Hi Margaret,
Thanks for the great info! It makes perfect sense to me. Consumers are obviously interested in what you're posting on Localism, but they probably won't make very many comments. Keep up the good work! :)
Just goes to show consumers re reading these posts. They may not comment, but they sure do read them... and in the end that's what we're after. Congratulations on the little gold star, btw.
Bill - Way to go! Keep posting them on AR and Localism.
Jesse - OMG! I didn't see that star. Thanks. It's so easy to gravitate towards AR-targeted posts for the comments. In the end, though, comments are not what makes a post effective.
Bruce - Thank you! Good luck with your new career.
Judy - How nice of you to say that! I do think it's interesting to see which posts have gotten so much notice. The Fort Meade one and Online Relocation Package don't surprise me, but the others do.
Richard - You're right, but I guarantee THOSE are not generating readership. And really, I don't know my "local" posts are being found on LOCALISM - they're probably found on ActiveRain. The point really is that this type of post generates so much interest.
Martha - I just can't take on Annapolis, because I've already taken on too much, but there is SO much to write about there! No doubt you could pick up some clients in the greater Annapolis area.
Matt - True, I find that anyone who comes to me after reading my blogs has read several of them.
Fran - I just checked this on a whim, and I was surprised at what I discovered.
Cindy - I want my local blogs to be just like yours when they grow up. I don't know anyone who writes better more interesting local information.
Margaret, besides a post that I wrote about real estate trainer Brian Buffini's house burning down (which still comes up #4 on Google in searches for "Brian Buffini"), my most clicked on posts are the Localism posts that I've written about local neighborhoods. A few of my videos have also gotten tons of views. While Localism posts may not receive the most comments, they do get the most consumer attention, and help the phone ring.
Margaret - I hadn't even used that feature before - thanks for the heads up - glad it was featured and it's no surprise to me that you're stats ROCK like you - thanks for sharing!!
A lot of bloggers put too much emphasis on comments. The clients who've bought and sold with me from my Live in Los Gatos blog never made any comments on any of my posts. I only knew that they were readers when they phoned or emailed me to set up an appointment!
Brian - No surprise - your posts about the local communities really rock. I need to do more of that, and you're a GREAT role model!
Cyndee - I LOVE your SandbarstoSunsets blog, but seldom take the time to comment; however, you'd certainly be my destination agent if I had a referral for Clearwater Beach. 'Guess that's kinda like the consumers who read our posts.
Pippa - Again, not surprised you're getting a lot of consumer clicks - Your posts are GREAT!
Georgina - Thanks for your compliment. I just try to remember the things I wanted to know whenever we made our military moves.
Mary - That's been true with me, too, but I never realized that some of those Localism posts were getting over 2,000 clicks.
Brian - Glad I helped you find this feature. I don't check it nearly as often as I should.
It's true, most of my comments are from agents; most my contacts are from consumers. They're not interested in social chit chat, but they are interested in learning about their local market.
Margaret - As much as I love comments, the low comment posts have been the ones I get calls on. Thanks for this post, as a reminder that Localism pays.
I always trust your thoughts - I wanna grow up to be just like you!
Hi Margaret, The same applies to my posts, my localism posts (with low number of comments) has the most views. Must be the all important "Consumer". Yeah!!!!
Norma, I think this feedback is really helpful for new agents and ActiveRain Newbies. Thank you
Virginia, I don't know if it's localism, per se, or posts of local interest on ActiveRain that always seem to appear so high on the search engines - either way, it's clear that comments are not a "standard" percentage of clicks and views.
Cythia, I can't help agreeing, it must be potentiall buyers and sellers who are doing that clicking and viewing!
Sonia... Unfortunately, we'll never know for sure; we can only speculate. The numbers are so much higher than my other posts, it's pretty clear they're not my "usual" ActiveRainer readers.
Karen - To answer your question, less sleep! ...And maybe being more selective with customers so I don't have to work that much. 'Been there, done that earlier in my career, but I finally figured out it's not necessary! Nothing wrong with long hours, I just choose an easier route in my old age.
Margaret, statistics brings in some very interesting information. It's fun to look at. I remember I use to look at them when I first started and wondered why if I had so many readers they didn't bother to comment. But your take on it is much better.
Margaret, looks like you have been busy on AR. That's a lot of posts. Keep up the enthusiasm. Great info. I love that folks on AR like to help each other..
It is good to know that people are out there looking at the local content. I expect it will grow even more as Localism is opened up to the general public for adding content.
Margaret - I have very similar results, and I get phone calls off Localism articles. However, according to Statcounter they are being found by keyword searches, not by someone looking in Localism. I hope to continue to see Localism grow, but I think the highest results will always be from keyword searches!
Penny, you're absolutely right (and that sounds like another blog post!) I think, for example, that's why so many people read about the "Homestead Tax Credit" or "Waterfront Homes for Sale in Anne Arundel County". But it's the local-content blogs that contain those searched-for keywords.
Christine - True, but I think Penny makes an excellent point in her comment. We have to use the "right" keywords to attract readers to OUR posts.
Keith - Me too, and I love learning from them. (but read Cindy Jones' featured post today because she's right - not all free advice on AR is GOOD advice!)
Mike - I was pretty surprised to see how many clicks there were on some of these local posts.
Gena - I used to wonder the same thing, but now I just realize that some people are not going to comment. In fact, I find myself doing more and more of that.
Norma - This is the kind of info that consumers go looking for but - as Penny said - the keywords you use are REALLY important. No one out there in consumer-land knows to search Localism.com; what they do is search keywords and longtail keyword phrases. Learn everything you can about that. and put it to work in your posts on your local area.
Hi Margaret I am not surprised your localism posts in AR get the most looks. I have noticed the same thing. Part of the reason for that is the fact that the post will go to another URL that gets views as well.... i.e localism.
Margaret ... thanks for this article on concept of posts for local content and use of AR statistics to see what folks are interested in. Please keep up the good writing. Harrison
Margaret - I like to look at the stats from time to time as well, and some of the numbers are getting very large now with regard to clicks/views. You are dead-on accurate with your assessment.
Margaret, your post inspires me to both check my statistics to determine what's working and to consider how I can make Localism work for me in increasing readership of my blog. Thank you for your insight. ~ Anne Marie
At the risk of appearing obtuse, I was not aware of the statistics feature and now that Iknow I appreciate the opportunity to learn more! Thanks! Russell
Margaret - I also look at the statistics, and you make an excellent point. Perhaps readers are not commenting, but they are looking/reading the posts. Excellent reminder!
I check mine regularly and notice that the longer I blog the better my stats become! I blog for Localism mostly and I check the figures often to see how I am doing especially with content. I've even done a recent post where most of my results came from AR. Thanks for the reminders!
I am also seeing a lot of clicks on the localism posts. I think it is well worth the effort to continue to create good content for localism. I will be looking forward to the time when the public can make comments.
That is very interesting. Have you received many comments from consumers? Also, did you get the email that I sent you? I too, will be checking out my statistics.
Margaret Woda, Crofton Maryland Real Estate Crofton, MD More about me…
Long & Foster REALTORS
Office Phone: (410) 721-1500
Cell Phone: (301) 346-2923
Email Me
Real Estate and community information for homebuyers, sellers, and rookie agents in Bowie, Crofton, Crownsville, Fort Meade, Gambrills, Odenton, Millersville, and the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. Proven systems - combining local expertise, professional experience, and technology - to give you a competitive edge when you buy or sell a home.
Margaret Woda, Crofton Maryland Real Estate
When I had a few minutes to spare yesterday, I took advantage of the opportunity to check my ActiveRain statistics. To check yours, just click on "Statistics" in the bottom section of the left navigation bar on your Home page, as shown on the right.
Posted by 
Margaret-you are right, as if I doubted it. Though my clicks are not as high as yours the most clicks are on the Localism posts and some of them have zero comments. I have two new buyers heading to Ft Belvoir who both have said they read my blog. So I guess I know where some of the clicks are coming from!