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:
- Maryland Homestead Tax Credit Is No Longer Automatic
- Waterfront Homes for Sale in Anne Arundel County, Maryland
- Fort Meade - What to Expect When You Arrive
- Anne Arundel County MD Real Estate Trends - ABSORPTION RATE
- STOP, You Need a License to do That in Maryland
- Your Online Relocation Package for Anne Arundel County, Maryland
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.
Copyright 2006-12. All rights reserved.
DISCLAIMER: Information contained in this post is deemed reliable on the date of publication, but it is not guaranteed and it is subject to change without notice.
________________________________________________________________________________________
Margaret Woda, REALTOR and Associate Broker
Direct: (301)346-2923 or click on EMAIL
FREE home search online (No registration required)
FREE home search APP for your iPhone/iPad (demo)
Check my references on Zillow
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc., 2191 Defense Hwy., Crofton, MD 21114 (410) 721-1500
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 too need to do some fall houseblog keeping to see where I should be going!!! Thanks, Fran
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.
No one does Localism better than you do Margaret. I have also seen my Localism posts "outshine" my regular blog posts at times.
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! :)
Cordially,
Bruce
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.
Hi Margaret, I'm starting to get some hits on my Localism posts also ! Keep posting !
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!!
Maragaret, I read this and had to check my stats and you are sooo right ... Localism is bringing in the numbers! Thanks for the focus.
I too need to check the stats and see what's hot and what's not. Thanks for pointing this out. Your Localism posts are to be commended.
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!
You know I just clicked on satistics for the first time ever after reading your post. Kinda cool, thanks.
The consumer rarely if ever comments on Blog posts. However, they do telephone and say, "I read you blog about .. . . . . . "
That's good enough for me.
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.
Lenn - Yes they do! Isn't it terrific?
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!
very interesting....it would be nice to know where the clicks were coming from...
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.
I guess I should go check my stats. Thanks for the prodding Margaret.
How do you all have time to write Localism posts...I'm working 12 hours a day...for customer's...
Wayne - You're quite welcome!
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.
Hmm I need to look at my stats now and refocus my efforts. Thanks for the tips and advice.
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.
Great info and thanks for sharing the stats with us - I have not posted to Localism yet but hope to soon.
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.
Very interesting! Maybe I need to take a few minutes to check out my stats. Thanks for the reminder. You are a GREAT BLOGGER! GBU!
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!
Sharon - I'd rather have the quality leads than comments, but the comments are reassurance that someone is reading. lol.
Russell - Glad to help!
Anne Marie - Again, as mentioned elsewhere in the comments, it's probably really the keywords that generate traffice, and not Localism.com per se.
Jason - I'm sure your local posts generate LOTS of traffic!
Harrison - Thank you. I will.
Elizabeth - 'So nice of you to say that. They take more work, I think, but it does pay (in the form of live leads).
Bill - Thank you. I read one of your local posts just this morning.
Great info Margaret. You always seem to provide great local info! Good job! :-)
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.
HI MARGARET!
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.
I always make time to blog even if I am working 12 hour days! Always keep generating!
Nick - That's so true! Important to be consistent.
Yvette - I saw the email from you, but haven't had a chance to open it.
Joan - Yes, it is.
Lyn - Congratulations!
James - Thank you!
Margaret - What a great reminder to keep track of what viewers find interesting. It's a good way to focus our efforts.