I’m devoting a few minutes in this first week of 2025 to blog reflections.
2024 Blog Reflections
Stats
Since I started blogging in 2017, I’ve experienced a steady increase in views. Overall, my 2024 views stats were down (-20%), and I ended the year with fewer views than the previous year. I did have three good months, but they were not enough to offset the other months. I’ve noticed many bloggers complaining about lower views this year. 2024 just felt sluggish. If you are a blogger, did you experience lower views?
Don’t misunderstand, I still have an excellent number of views this year (237.9k)! Thank you! I feel a little guilty complaining about them because I know some bloggers would love to see the same stats. I’m a fierce competitor with MYSELF, and I live for an upward trend.
I wrote 205 blog posts in 2024 and have written 1,255 blog posts since July 2017. Most viewed post: Book Club Kit for James (9,602 views)
I did pass one million overall views in 2024, so that was FUN!
WordPress
If you use WordPress, you might be interested in my musings here.
- I’m very comfortable with the Block Editor these days. I update the old Classic Editor posts to Block Editor when I come across them….usually when writing Throwback Thursday Posts. I’m not stressed about updating all my old posts. They are what they are. I’ll eventually get to most of them.
- Recently, a bored WP staffer changed the JetPack app for no apparent reason. One day, everything is in a different location. I finally had to ask a Twitter/X friend how to find the WP Reader.
- The most annoying change:
When creating a new post, I often selected “Copy” and then used the old post as a template for the new post or I copy one of my templates. This function no longer works (although the Copy option is still listed). I’m not sure if this is a permanent change or a temporary glitch. It took me a few tries to stumble upon the following workaround: (1) open an old post or a previously created template (2) click anywhere in the post and go to the three small dots at the top right and scroll down to select the “copy all blocks” option (3) close the post and select “write a new post” and paste (4) from here you can create your new post…the only thing that will not copy over is your title or settings. If you have not used the Copy option or have not used Templates, this will not make sense. Carry on. If this glitch or change bothers you, please share your workaround! - Assigning color to text continues to be cumbersome with the Block Editor.
Social Media/Promotion
When Threads arrived on the scene and my Instagram friends were migrating over, I started a Threads account. I haven’t left Instagram, so now I’m using both. Likewise, when BlueSky was introduced and my Twitter/X buddies jumped ship, I started a BlueSky account, and now I’m using both. This happened with Goodreads and StoryGraph as well. {{{{{sigh}}}}} How are you all handling social media/promotion these days? Have you fully embraced the new platforms or are you straddling the fence with me? Most of my blog views come from these sources: Search Engines 147.1k; WordPress Reader 3,617; Pinterest 1,806; WordPress Android App 1,149; Twitter 861; Facebook 779. Link to my socials are found near the end of this post.
Blogging Goals
In 2024, I’m satisfied with my blogging routines and overall progress. I treasure the bookish friendships and blogging connections!
- My FREE Book Club Kits have received many views and I trust they have been useful. I’d love to hear from you, if you’ve used one for your book club! My initial goal was to create one per quarter and I’ve only created three. My blogging goal in 2024 is to work toward creating one Kit per quarter. They are time-consuming but rewarding! You should see a new one coming in January. See my FREE Book Club Kits here.
- I would love to increase my number of blog followers in 2025. If you enjoy my reviews and bookish content, please consider following the blog! That way you’ll receive an email notification and never miss a post. THANK YOU to each one of my current followers….it means more than you know! #GiftABLoggerByFollowing #TellAFriend #FreeReviews
QOTD:
Do you look at year-end stats??
Let’s Get Social!
Find me at:
Twitter/X
Blue Sky
Instagram (Threads link in bio)
Goodreads and StoryGraph
Pinterest
SubStack: @carolreadingladies
Reading Ladies Book Club on Facebook
These are fantastic stats for this year! I’ve noticed the trend of less views despite managing to still get a decent amount of visitors. I was also miffed when overnight I didn’t know where the wordpress reader was to read other blogs, so annoying when they keep trying to ‘improve’ wordpress only to make it worse. Hope this year will be a good one for you and your views 🙂
After the recent WP update I was sure that a staffer drew the short stick and had to work the weekend and was bored and a bit vengeful! 😂 I had to ask someone in our Twitter group how to find the WPReader. And it’s out of the way so I don’t think to check it nearly as often. Wishing you a new year of amazing stats!
Carol, the copy function works for me. I launch it from “All Post” and it opens into a new post. I immediately save the draft and go back to All Posts to edit.
Thanks for the tip! 🙌
Very interesting post. I’m hoping to make time to check out/create an account at StoryGraph soon since learning it was done by women of color.
Thanks! SG is good…I just can’t let go of GR.
Neither can I. I don’t know which social media I’m keeping. I love the horror show of X as entertainment, but it is so toxic. Blue Sky is a maybe. Threads? Idk. I’m trying them
True about x 😂 I rarely look at Threads. Blue sky book sky seems very friendly!
When I was on WordPress (I was self-hosted for a while, it didn’t go well), I created templates. It had the HTML in a text file and just copy and pasted those when I was doing new posts. I created those for Blogger too. Makes it easy to whip up new posts and they are easy to edit in the HTML editor once I am creating the post.
Thanks for sharing! 🙌🥂
Fantastic stats Carol! The copy post function still seems to work for me. I have a few posts I keep as drafts (eg Top Ten Tuesday or WWW Wednesday) and from the draft posts page, I click copy post from the options to the right. I don’t open it, just do copy post. Not sure if that will help you or not, but maybe worth a look.
Thanks Joanne. I’ve tried and tried without success…using a work around for now!
I’d definitely sell my soul for those stats 😳 and have not upgraded to new platforms. They are such a small percentage of views I don’t think it’s worth starting over on all the new platforms
Many of my friends joined new platforms and I don’t want to lose them! Bluesky/Booksky is a friendly place! I’ve made new connections there I wouldn’t have made otherwise. Every little bit helps! Give it a try!
I don’t normally look at stats, but while reading your post I checked mine. Overall views were up, but likes and comments were down. I only gained a few new followers in 2024. I’m okay with that. I would love more comments, but it is what it is.
Comments are difficult to generate! You are my most loyal commenter! 🥂
Aww, shucks.
I am always annoyed about all the changes at Blogger and have been advised often to change to WordPress. Looks like that’s not much different.
😂 overall I’m satisfied with WP!
That’s nice. Is this your first site or have you been with another one before, especially Blogger?
This is my first and only site.
I see, that means you can’t tell me which one is easier. That’s okay, I will see what I’ll do.