JohnCr8on’s Snapshots

I’m still learning about blogging.  I have now experienced on this blog something others not only know but intentionally exploit:  A blog post title, key sentences and photos can help to drive traffic to your site.

The most viewed blog post I have written, Taste of the World, is one that received little attention when I first made the post.  It suggests that the regular readers of my blog were only mildly interested, if at all (I always assume there are some accidental and courtesy clicks).  But this particular post is visited five, six, sometimes seven times per day.

Why?  It has nothing to do with content.  The post was about the meal a friend and I prepared for dorm mates in grad school: Manwiches.  I added this picture at the bottom of my post.

A picture that gets clicked

When a person Googles manwich the photo shows up on the first page of results.  When you click on the photo it leads you toward my blog.

I know this sort of phenomenon is old news to many.  It’s still interesting to me.

I will be interested to learn if this post becomes one of the most viewed, too.

The blog has been up for almost six months.  It’s been far more fun than I ever expected.  Writing posts has proven to be a good way to relax at the end of a day.  The comments from friends old and new have added to the enjoyment.

A curious thing happened this month.  My post, Disney-Pixar’s Up – It Could Have Been a Classic, became the most viewed post in the short life of this blog.  By accident, I created a post that shows up on search engines when people “google” the movie.  This post has been viewed for 21 consecutive days.

Another post from the past few weeks, Tastee Treet, received more comments than any post I’ve made by a 2 to 1 margin.  It’s a reminder that the Tastee Treet (yes, it’s spelled correctly) was much more than a business.  It was a community icon.

Other frequently viewed posts from the past 30 days include:

I’ve Been Everywhere Man, Mr. Bray – How Dreams Come True, Goodbye – Not What It Used To Be, and The Easiest Job Ever.

Karen Aldridge Eason, friend, collague and Flint native, made the 200th comment responding to a post I made about my experience in Flint.  One of the best I’ve ever had.  I called the post: Finding What We Hold in Common.

For the almost six month life of the blog, the top overall posts are:

Disney-Pixar’s Up – It Could Have Been a Classic, Goodbye Too Soon, Tastee Treet, Thank You Joe, and John’s Dew Drop Inn.

Thanks to everyone who reads, sends kind comments and adds comments to the blog.  I look forward to future “conversations.”

I’ve been writing the snapshots blog for almost three months.  It’s been much more fun than I imagined.  I have especially enjoyed all the reconnections I’ve made with old Atwood and non-Atwood friends.

A few people have asked how I have time to write.  One, I stay up late a lot.  Two, many of these posts have been half written for two or three years.  I’ve just decided to dust them off and collect them here.

One thing I’ve noticed is the posts I like are not always the same ones people like to read.  It’s been fun to watch what gets noticed and what doesn’t.

I have always liked standings.  That’s one reason I follow sports in the newspaper (or online) more than I do on television.  I like to look at the standings.  I can even tell you the NASCAR standings. 

Here’s some standings from my blog.

Most Read 1^st Three Months

Goodbye Too Soon… A life too short.

Thank You Joe… Joe rescues our vacation.

Ramon Comes Marching Home Again… A seven year-old’s perspective on a wartime homecoming.

Stand Up… Paul rescues Silas.

The Wedding Dance… My favorite Atwood tradition.

Least Read 1^st Three Months

Uncle Edmund… A seldom seen uncle changes my career path.

Emma Played On… Emma perseveres through adversity.

Political Name Dropping… On the plane with Bob Dole.

March Madness… Remembering the 1980s Jayhawks.

Canoe Champions Still?… Devine intervention at Lake Atwood Days.

I began posting “snapshots” in earnest one month ago.  It’s been a great experience.  The best part has been hearing from people who I normally only see or talk to once every five years.  I’ve also had the chance to talk to Atwood alum who I’ve never really known.  It’s been fun.

I posted more essays than I planned this month.  My goal was three per week.  I’m averaging just over four posts per week.  I seriously doubt that I’ll maintain that pace.  My goal is still three per week.

I have been learning a lot about writing a blog and its relationship to Facebook, Twitter and email.  So, I am achieving at least one of my goals.

In the first month, here is a list of my posts in the order of least viewed to most viewed.

You Can’t Do That… I discover a different side of my Grandfather Creighton.

Flying Firecrackers… A favorite pastime; dangerous but fun.

Grownups Are Complicated… Good people have bad days.

Emma Played On… Emma overcomes adversity to finish her concert.

Political Name Dropping… Powerful people still need help.

Bill Horton… When I’m around I make Mr. Horton tense.

Parenting in a 24/7 World… Finding the right balance of danger and restraint.

Looking in the Mirror… Are we willing to love our enemies?

Scout… Another ice story.

Unsupervised Play… Learning to work and play well with others.

First Harvest… I learn the meaning of work on Deloit Peterson’s farm.

Last Homecoming Parade… The Class of 1983 makes its mark.

Miss Mary… Coming face to face with pain and tenacity.

Family Narratives… The power of family stories.

In Ben’s Name… Lessons in love from a short life.

A Community Role Model… A Valentine to my father.

Don’t Fish Much Do You… John Mickey learns that his daughter is engaged.

Stand Up… Paul Hayden rescues Silas Horton after he falls through the ice.

People We Depend Upon… Alec gives a shout out to the people who give us quality of life.

Sting of Political Organizing… A lesson in the risks and rewards of political organizing.

Ramon Comes Marching Home Again… An eight year’s view of a joyous homecoming.

Thank You Joe… Joe saves the day(s).

Goodbye Too Soon… A life cut short.

Thanks for reading.