Milestones and Reflections
Image via WikipediaToday this website is 6 months old.
Which means it’s no longer an itty bitty baby website but a full fledged toddling website. 
At least according to Technorati that is. Who will now start removing links counted as quickly as they are added (okay, well hopefully not QUITE as quickly).
It also means I won’t be visiting Technorati on a daily basis JUST to see if my authority has increased. At least, I don’t THINK I will. I’ve never reached the Technorati 6-month threshold before so this is a new experience for me. My blogger blog hadn’t been on Technorati for 6-months yet when I shifted.
I just checked and my authority has dropped by 4. Which means 4 of you who linked to me when I first moved haven’t linked since!!! I think.
So what are you waiting for? Quick, go and link to me already. Before I have a Technorati meltdown!!!
I’m only kidding. I’m not THAT insecure. Most days. 
This post has nothing to do with Technorati (other than it being the reason I’m AWARE this website is now 6-months old) and everything to do with reflecting on the past 6-months.
The Decision to Move to Self Hosted
Was one of those really well thought out ones where I (in a weak moment) sent an email to Snoskred saying something along the lines of “can a total technological noob like me actually manage a self hosted blog?”
I’d been reading her “self hosted” rocks type posts for a while and thinking how it sounded all well and good. For those not technologically-challenged like myself.
Nevertheless, with her help, this website was born (I can so call it a website and not a blog can’t I? Since I have my own dot com and all? Yeah?).
And it surpassed my wildest expectations.
And it caused me to tear my hair out figuring out how to USE it.
Yet now, it’s as familiar as my comfy ugg boots (and no Kelley, I don’t wear them out - I love them too much to subject them to mud and other filthy stuff outside of my own little world here).
I don’t really know exactly how much of this I can attribute to the move to self hosted…
BUT
Blog Milestones Over The Past Six Months
I had 20 readers via feedburner (that I knew of) when I moved. I now have “IwishIknewhowmany” readers. But it’s a LOT more than 20. Feedburner is being rather temperamental of late but I think my total readers stand at around the 170 mark now (on a good day).
Technorati Authority was just over 50. Is now over 200.
I made it onto the Top 100 Australian Blogs Index.
I made it onto the Top 100 Australian Women Bloggers list.
I wasn’t expecting ANY of that to happen!!!
If You Think This is All About Me, It’s Not Meant To Be
I’m not mentioning these milestones as a way of “tooting my own horn”. One of the things I do love about blogging is that you don’t get anywhere alone. A blog isn’t just about the blog owner but about the community that gathers at that blog.
Without the help of Snoskred, I would never have made the move to self hosted (well, most likely never anyway).
Without my readers, I wouldn’t have a reason to write.
Without those who take the time to comment, I wouldn’t have such a feeling of connectedness with the outside world. And I wouldn’t have such a great incentive to write and share what I do.
Without other bloggers linking to my blog and people in general spreading the word, I wouldn’t have the readers I have today.
So my heartfelt thanks go out to all of you.
Most Viewed Posts & Pages in the Past 6 Months
2. Blogroll
3. Reducing the Grocery Budget - Fruit & Vegetables
Top 10 Search Terms Over The Past 6 Months
1. Lightening
2. Lightening Online
3. Square Foot Gardening
4. Things I Love About You
5. Tightwad Gazette
6. Bowling Cake/s
7. Smiley
8. A Journey Of a Thousand Miles
9. Grocery Budget
10. Nervous Breakdown
Top 5 Referring Blogs (not including Mr Linky Links)
These are the blogs who have brought me the most traffic in the past 6 months.
1. Lightening’s Thoughts Musings & Happenings (my old blog location)
3. Fit Cat Blog
4. His Princess
Top 5 Referring Websites (non-blogs or Mr Linky links)
1. Entrecard
2. Stumbleupon
3. Rocks In My Dryer (giveaways linky)
4. Biblical Womanhood (Frugal Friday linky)
5. Daily Meme (linking to my Smiley Saturday)
Where Did You Go?
Excluding my own sites, these are the top 10 places people have clicked from this site:
2. Dances to the Beet of Her Own Drum
6. Miscmum
7. Ecosilk Bags
8. Home of Slightly Cracked Dreams
10. Magnetoboldtoo
Latest News & Hopes for the Future
I’ve recently updated my About page and included a couple of pictures for your viewing pleasure (maybe ).
The Travelling T-Shirt is making it’s way around the world (well, parts of it anyway), hopefully helping to spread news of my blog.
I’m getting distracted by Twitter and Plurk. Are they “mini blogging”? Too “mini” for me most days - I need more characters to say what I want to say. But when you’re after something a little more “instant” than blogging, they can be useful.
I hope you’ll all stick around a little longer (okay, a LOT longer). Thanks for joining me on my journey thus far.
Guess I should start thinking up some fabulous celebration for the 1st birthday shouldn’t I? It’ll come around fast enough!!!!
Similar Posts:
- PARTY! PARTY! PARTY!
- 100 is My “Lucky” Number
- Smiley Saturday : Ultimate Blog Party
- Sneak Peek
- Lightening Online on Facebook
18 comments:
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That is so weird cause I don’t think I have ever seen someone come from your blog to mine. Why would that be? BiSarre. (comment thingy wouldn’t let me spell it with a z… hmmm) Wonder what they think when they get there *gaffaw*
Happy 6month birthday babe, I will be coming up to that soon. Not sure when, will have to check.
Oh and YOU are the reason I moved to self hosted and YOU were my knightress (it is so a word) in shiny blogginess that saved me just before I went live with my New! and Improved! Shiny! blog. And for that I will be eternally grateful.
Love and smootches babe.
Funny, I am completley befuddled by what you have written! Except to say I just discovered Technorati, except that since I have now moved and I am but a miniscule mouse I will never show there anyway.
Do you follow the whole reciprical linking thing? Cos if you do, if people link to you then you are supposed to link to them, yes? If you don’t link back, maybe they removed their link to you?
(Now I have confused myself).
I have way more people on my blogline roll than I link to, oh, it confuses me.
Six months already? Woo-hoo doesn’t time fly…..I just realised I’ve been reading blogs for over a year now.
Congrats & happy anniversary!!
Congratulations on 6mths Jodi!
Look at all the wonderful things you have achieved in such a short time! Good on you, just imagine where you will be in another 6mths!
Congratulations on six months and I hope you continue to grow… I enjoy your blog..and wow didn’t it seem like time flew.
Good luck and have fun..
Dorothy from grammology
remember to call gram
http://www.grammology.com
Wow, what a fabulous milestone! I couldn’t believe it when I made it to 100 posts. Where does time fly?!
Congratulations Lightening. Have yourself a happy dance!!!!
Wow you have come such a long way in 6 months!
Can you blog about how your got to be such a successful blogger? and can you explain technorati to me - that thing totally confuses me… I do now how to favourite though so off to add you again
I still adore this theme - I like it better than mine with that raspberry purpley pink as the background color.
It doesn’t matter how much I look at it, it never gets old and it never makes my eyes hurt. We did good! 
I’ve been on Wordpress now for 10 months and despite my unhappiness at the recent releases of Wordpress I could never go back to Blogger. I also wouldn’t change my theme. I’ve just never found anything I like as much and I have used this same theme as the base for so many blogs.
Well done at making the move, and I think things can only get better from here.
Cheers,
Snoskred
Well done and congratulations!
Thanks also for introducing me to the addictive world of blogging (I think!). I’ve met some wonderful people.
Kelley - I have no idea. I’m only going on what my summary stats tell me. I guess maybe my visitors get lost amongst all your traffic.
On your stats page, it won’t always list every single referrer (if you get lots) only the top certain number. I wonder if you click on referrers and then “all time” whether that would show it up. I’ve never been called a Knightress before - I like that term! 
As for Bizarre - well, too many spammers using the word. Your comment should still go through if you press “continue” (well, mine do anyway).
Alice - no, I’m not a fan of reciprocal links. I link to someone because I choose to and only that reason.
However, links for Technorati “expire” after 6 months (only in terms of ranking - they’re still important) so you have to continue to get new ones. I guess it’s about keeping things fresh. They still count for google though so don’t anyway go deleting old links. 
I have more blogs in my bloglines than what are on my blogroll as well. And some on my blogroll that aren’t in my bloglines. I’m terrible at keeping it up to date.
River - Happy Blog Reading Birthday!!!
How did you ever survive without all of us???? 
How did I for that matter? I always enjoy your comments. Thank you.
Kez - thanks.
Leigh - who knows? The world’s our oyster, yeah? I think Aussie Bloggers are going to rock this blogworld in the coming months and years.
Dorothy - thanks. Time certainly does seem to go quickly.
Tracy - is sure does! I need to do the Gratitude dance I think. That always makes me smile!!!
Kate - Have you seen Lightening’s Blogworld? It’s bit of a mix of stuff to do with blogging but I do try to write about stuff I’ve learnt or done. I wrote a post on Technorati Basics there. It might help. If you have any specific questions let me know and I’ll write some more. I try to write a “how to” or blogging tips type post most Mondays on that blog.
Snoskred - this blog is still the BEST present anyone has ever given me. I’m part way through writing a post which talks about this blog as part of my overall journey to find myself. One of these days I’ll finish it. I hope I don’t get sick of it for a LONG time because I can’t imagine anything that looks better.
Sharon - you’re welcome.
You are my only FIF (Friend in the Flesh) that understands blogging. So far!!! I do of course plan world domination via blogging. Mwwaaahhhaaahhaaaa!!!! 
Congratulations Lightening. I’m sure your blog will only continue to grow. Your posts are a mixture of honesty, information, humour and sincerity. You were one of my inspirations to start blogging. Your 1st birthday will be here before you know it
Thanks Journeyer.
Well done Jodi - I’m too time poor to even update my blog these days! Although i don’t always comment I do read your blog via google reader
I can’t believe my little (very neglected) blog made number 9 on your list though!
take care
Lis
xx
Thanks for the reply, glad to see you are not a fan of the reciprical thing. I am like you, link where and who I want for other reasons. Thanks for the tech links too, they do help a dunby like me.
Hehe, that is totally cool you had readers come from my blog. I’m pretty sure from Smiley Saturday posts, I have to get those started again! Mind you the whole past month has been non-stop smiling for me.
I am going to have to go and re-read all your posts about life on a farm especially the shearing series ones. I have a standing invitation to go and visit one of the St George properties and I’m definitely going to take them up on it and if they’ll have me at shearing time too (my standing invitation extends to the kitchen since I love cooking and she doesn’t hehe). I loved life out there so much! It felt like I’d come home strange though that may be.
L, happy 6monthaversary!
Lisa x
Lis - thank you. It’s nice to know you’re still reading even if you’re not commenting. I often wonder when people disappear for a while. Like, “was it something I said?” or “did they just get busy”.
Alice - Glad you found it helpful. I knew NOTHING when I started blogging. It’s just stuff I’ve picked up over time.
Cat - help in the kitchen is DEFINITELY a wonderful gift at shearing time. I’m sure you’d be welcomed with open arms.
Lisa - thank you.