Do you ever wonder about the people who are new to your blog?
I can’t help but wonder what it is like to come to Arctic Llama for the first time and read some of the articles. If readers arrive via search engine, then chances are they start by reading a specific post, one that does or does not provide what they need depending upon how will their search results matched what they were looking for.
If readers arrive via a link, either one of mine, or someone else’s, then maybe the first thing they see is the landing page. Do they like the way the most recent articles are laid out end to end all the way to the end of the page?
It’s set up that way, because that is how I like to determine if a new site I encounter is one that I will come back to. Generally, I arrive for the first time via search engine and if I like what I find in terms of information, style, and content focus, then I’ll click the Home link or graphic and start reading down the list of posts. If I end up clicking “Older Posts” or whatever is at the bottom, then I’ve likely found a new friend. If I remember to move the laundry to the dryer after the second article, then we’ve probably seen each other for the last time.
Regardless of how they arrive, I have no intention of deliberately causing people to stay. That is for other efforts where the relationship is business and about money. Here, it’s about fun and helping others enjoy the benefits of quality writing whether as writers or purchasers of writing. So, I don’t study my Google Analytics or even ponder my rankings in search engines for various queries (though from time to time I find amusement at some of the things I accidentally end up ranking highly for).
Still, I can help but wonder what makes someone click on another link to read more of Arctic Llama? What makes them leave? What makes them subscribe to the RSS Feed or make a comment? Did they find what they were looking for? Were they entertained, or enlightened?
In the end when you do something for the joy and not for the money, you hope that what you do is worthwhile and well received. If it is not, then you can take solace in the fact that it was both for yourself.