Just married!
Posted on by Debbie

2017 – the stats don’t lie!

“Facts are stubborn things, but statistics are pliable.”  Mark Twain

Thoughts of a Destination Wedding by the Mother of the Bride, was my most read post for 2017. Did you see it?

Sisters together at the wedding
Sisters together at the wedding

I’ll try not to make this one of those boring over the top posts highlighting a list of my top posts for 2017 but I can’t make any promises – it’s just something I always like to do at the start of the new year (along with almost every other blogger it seems)  🙂

2017 was a great year in my blogging world and the stats don’t lie!

Despite my concerns from this time last year, when I entered the world of retirement kicking and screaming, I must say I have actually thrived in my blogging world as well as real life! Isn’t it funny how things work out sometimes?

The stats don’t lie:

The number of people following my blog, liking and commenting on posts has exceeded my expectations this year with a massive jump from previous years!  I’m talking a MASSIVE increase in all areas!!!!! I’m so thrilled.

Why the massive increase?

I think this is as a result of a combination of things:

  • I’ve joined a few Facebook groups and these have increased my audience – especially the very generous Big Up Your Blog community who are all AWESOME bloggers!!
  • I’ve started as a co-host of the Blogger’s Pit Stop which is a place for bloggers to share their posts and take time to visit and make comments. I’m engaging with any more bloggers about all sorts of topics.
  • I’m interacting and engaging with many more bloggers than before and this has been reciprocated.
  • I’ve participated as a guest on many blogs this year and have gained more interaction as a result. I love these connections!
  • I’ve probably honed my posts to a more engaging audience – travel, retirement, midlife bloggers – and my more personal posts are always well received. I’m not here for the money folks!
  • I’ve actually had more fun this year and I’ve relaxed into it due to not having to go to work anymore!
  • I’ve made some great connections with similar bloggers and now consider them my friends.
  • I’ve started having guest posts on my blog too and have enjoyed this immensely. Sharing the love around is great fun!
  • I’ve made an effort to engage with various social media platforms and it is slowly starting to pay off, despite my trepidation in feeling like I am promoting myself.  Does anyone else feel like this?

According to the stats my most viewed posts for 2017 were:

  1. Thoughts on a Destination Wedding from the Mother of the Bride proved to be very popular and was one of my personal favourites too.  Maybe because it was all about my daughter’s wedding 🙂 and having my family together, a very happy event!

    How Fiji got under my skin, a glowing holiday in more ways than one at Outrigger Resort for weekly photo challenge
    How Fiji got under my skin
  2. Surprisingly there is a life after retirement also struck a chord with my readers!  I’ve been very honest with my thoughts on retirement and I’ve enjoyed keeping track of my journey. Life after retirement. Having been made redundant, life is looking good.
  3. Beautifully Dense was a surprise to me but I’m happy to have it reach big numbers. It’s a lovely part of Australia and a place everyone should see. This was in response to the Weekly Photo Challenge prompt.
  4. It’s a Dangerous World out there –  another surprise.  This was in response to the Weekly Photo Challenge prompt too.
  5. #Top 10 tips for Two weeks travelling in Tasmania was a fun wrap up post after a fabulous holiday to the Apple Isle.

    Halls Falls at Pyengana Tasmania
    Halls Falls at Pyengana Tasmania
  6. It’s all about me – my page where I tell all!  I always look for a blogger’s ‘about me’ page when I visit for the first time, as it gives me a sense of who I’m talking to. Do you do this too?
  7. Remind me again why I’m doing this – a post about my running journey, it’s not all fun and games!
  8. Tumbafest – our little town’s annual music festival gets a review! How to enjoy a perfect Sunday at Tumbafest in Tumbarumba
  9. How I made friends with Pinterest – I wrote this in response to issues I was having with Pinterest and finally engaged a helping hand.  I must say I have an ongoing love/hate relationship with Pinterest.
  10. Layers of Life – this very personal post involves my parents and is one I’m very proud of.  My father is slowly fading away and I wrote about the effects of his battle with Parkinson’s Disease on him and our family.

    Parents
    Mum and Dad

Photo Challenges:

Again, my Weekly Photo Challenge posts have been popular throughout the year and I’ve also joined in with a new 52 week photography project.  These are great for creative thinking and I’m learning new skills all the time.  Lately I’ve gone from using my iPhone for my photos to using a real camera (shock horror) and I am actually enjoying the results.

Where are you?

This year the USA has topped the stats for views, followed by Australia, UK, Canada, India and NZ. I think that’s because I’ve joined a few Facebook groups this year and many of these bloggers are based in the US and UK. I love reading posts showing a different world view to mine.

Comments:

Like every other blogger out there, it’s comments that make the world go round. Those who have commented the most during the year just happen to be some of my favourite bloggers  – Donna, Miriam, Suzanne, Sue, Louise and Su – there are many more who regularly leave me comments and I really appreciate every one of you.

So in summary, in relation to my blogging world, I think 2017 has been about fun, weddings, family, travelling (a lot), taking photos and connecting with like minded souls.  I can’t ask for much more than that 🙂

How has your blogging year been – good, bad or indifferent? Let me know, in the comments below, what your fave post was for the year and I’ll stop by and have a read.

Thanks again to everyone who has connected with me during the year. All the best for 2018, I hope you’ll stick with me!

Deb xx

You can also follow Deb’s World here – let’s stay in touch:

Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, StumbleUpon, G+, Facebook and Flipboard

 

51 Replies to “2017 – the stats don’t lie!”

  2. Great look-back post. The last month of 2017 was a turnaround for me. I decided to knuckle down and put myself ‘out there’. I started writing more posts and then got brave enough to share them to my LinkedIn page. Not quite brave enough for facey yet, but my latest post, today’s (thanks for reading and commenting Deb), I also shared to Google +. Slowly, slowly I am getting out there. Maybe 2018 will be my best writing year yet!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. I hear you! It can be hard putting yourself out there so you’re doing the right thing by starting small in your sharing, you have to be comfortable in what you do. All the best to you and I look forward to reading more from you in 2018. Thanks for commenting on my post too, I really appreciate having visitors over, especially when they leave me a comment 😊

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  3. Well that was quite an overview Deb and I’m so glad you can see fruit from your labours. I think blogging is one of the best kept secrets of Midlife – who’d have thought there were so many friendships to be made and connections and lessons and goodness knows what else. I must say I enjoyed your destination wedding posts the most too – they brought back fond memories of our daughter’s wedding 5 years ago x Happy New Year!

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    1. I agree Leanne, it’s a well kept secret, blogging in midlife is so much fun!! The wedding post was very special and I’m glad to hear you were transported back to your daughter’s wedding all those years ago!! Looking forward to more connections in 2018.

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  4. What a good look back at 2017, May you grow from strength to strength and have even more fun and better stats in 2018. I thoroughly enjoyed your #1 post. Read it at the time. Awesome. Hope to see more of you in 2018. Happy New Year to you all

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  8. Your Layers of Life is the post that made me stop and stick around, I think. Though I love all that you share! Happy 2018, Deb. My the words be with you. ❤ I got back into blogging and 2017 my best blogging year since I started. Looking forward to 2018, with a little help from my friends.

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    1. Thanks for that feedback Lorna, it was a hard one to write! I’m enjoying myself and keeping out of trouble so that’s got to be good 😊 you’re going really well with your blog and should be really proud of your comeback year. We’re all friends here ❤️

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    1. Thankyou Terri, that’s so lovely of you to say!! I enjoy writing and am always surprised that others enjoy reading my posts too 😊 all the best to you for the year ahead and I look forward to reading more of your blog.

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  13. What a fantastic overview of your year Deb. It’s no wonder I love your blog and leave comments so much (thanks for the mention by the way) because you just cover things that are so relevant and down to earth. As you know I’m just branching out slowly with my FB YOLO group and insta, though I’ll be honest Big Up Your Blog overwhelms and intimidates me a little. Maybe I should try and give it a good go this year. Wishing you another great year of fabulous blogging, real life adventures and combing the two. 🙂

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    1. Much gratitude to you Miriam, it’s great to have you along on my blog as I love your comments! You’re inspiring with all you do and I applaud you for your new FB YOLO page and insta, it all takes time to get comfortable doing it. Don’t worry about feeling overwhelmed, I’m often so scared of what I’m doing that I consider giving it up. Yet I keep going as I enjoy it so much. Just do what you feel comfortable doing is my ‘expert’ advice 😊😊

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  14. Congratulations on a very successful blogging year, Debbie (and a very successful first full year of retirement). I believe the reason that your blog has been successful is that your personality shines through so vividly. Reading your posts, is like sitting in your living room (or your deck) and having a deeply engaging chat! Wishing you a great year ahead!

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    1. Thanks so much for your lovely comment Donna! I’m so glad to hear my blog makes you feel that way, truth be told I do love a good chat 🙂 It’s going to be an even better year for us all, I can tell! All the best to you x

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  15. So great to hear another blogger who says “I’m not here for the money,” Deb. I blog because I enjoy blogging and engaging with the blogging community. For me, it’s all about the fun.
    Wishing you continued success with the blog during 2018. I hear we may be seeing you at this year’s Bloggers Bash? 😀

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Hi Hugh, it’s lovely to hear from you 😊 Yes that’s right, I’m coming to meet you all for real!! So excited.
      I regards to blogging, I’m with you. The fun I have while sharing my thoughts and reading other blogger’s posts is all I need. I think we’re a rare breed at times. All the best to you for 2018 too, I love having your support and blogging knowledge to draw on.

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  17. Deb, that was a very exciting year review. We love having you host with the Blogger’s Pit Stop, it is great to read so many posts, I learn new things every week from them. I enjoy knowing that despite you not wanting to retire, you have had an awesome year. I bet you wonder how you ever had time to work. Keep up the great posts.

    Kathleen
    Blogger’s Pit Stop

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. That’s lovely to hear Kathleen, thank you very much for your kind words! I really do wonder how I ever fitted work into my busy schedule not to mention my overloaded brain! I also love learning new things from all the blogs I read 🙂

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  18. Deb, I found you through Blogger’s Pit Stop and have enjoyed your blog so much. All sorts of helpful information, and your personality shines through — no wonder your blog is doing so well! My favorite post of 2017 (thank you for asking!) is http://www.delightfulrepast.com/2017/10/travel-review-paso-robles-wine-country.html (I occasionally bust of my food niche and do a travel post) — I hope you and many other people will enjoy it. I missed one or two on your list of 10, so will go look at those now.

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    1. Thanks so much for your lovely comment Jean. I really enjoyed your post and left you a comment too! I love to travel so will be back for more 🙂 Blogger’s Pit Stop is a great way to find new bloggers isn’t it?

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  20. I go back and forth between Our Little Castle and Shopgirl because it is easier for me to promote the fictional character of Shopgirl who keeps up with all the retail gossip, than to think that anyone would be interested in my personal journey on Our Little Castle. Like with one I’m just promoting a brand and that’s easy to separate, while the other I feel like I’m so full of myself to be promoting it…the struggle is real.

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  22. Stats like these are great for validating the pursuit of something you love. Knowing that your writing resonates with other people is deeply satisfying, in my opinion. Great job!

    Liked by 1 person

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