About this time every year I get a report from WordPress on how this blog performed in the past twelve months, and this year’s report came in yesterday. The numbers are very nice. In fact, a note with the report said that this is one of the top read travel blogs published on a daily basis. Not just RV travel, but travel in general.
According to the report, in 2014 the blog received about 700,000 visitors. To put that in perspective, the report said the Louvre Museum has 8.5 million visitors per year. If the blog were an exhibit at the Louvre, it would take about 30 days for that many people to see it. That’s a lot of people!
Where did all of those blog readers come from? 166 countries in all, though most visitors came from the United States. Canada and the United Kingdom also provided quite a few readers. Some places surprised me, such as the 233 visitors from Russia, 15 from China, 114 from Thailand, and 34 from Vietnam.
Besides the visitor numbers, the report has some other interesting information, such as that I posted 365 blogs in the last year and never missed a day. I wish I could say that my school attendance record was that good.
Of those 365 days, the busiest day of the year was September 6th when the blog titled Snobs, Slobs, & Outright Idiots received 4,332 views.
Other popular posts were 15 RV Blogs You Should Be Reading, RV Fuel Mileage, What’s The Worst That Could Happen?, and 10 Myths About The RV Lifestyle. The most commented on post in 2014 was Sixteen Years.
We also get a lot of comments on the blog. The more active commenters in 2014 were Elaine Loscher with 127 comments, Jan Mains with 90 comments, Elizabeth (no last name given) with 79 comments, Nancy Kissack with 42 comments, and Dave W5, who made 40 comments.
People are always asking me what the secret to success as a blogger is, and I tell them that you must blog on a regular schedule to build a loyal audience. Once or twice a month won’t do it. You don’t necessarily have to blog every day like I do, but you have to blog often enough and on a regular schedule so your readers know when to expect something from you.
What do you write about? It depends on you and your readers. While this is an RV travel blog, those of you who read it regularly know that not every day is spent traveling or touring interesting places. So sometimes I write about our day-to-day life as fulltime RVers – how we spent a day at home when the weather was cold and gray, swapping our RV refrigerator for a residential model, visiting with friends, or whatever comes to mind. And occasionally nothing comes to mind so I cheat and throw together a list of favorite places we have visited, favorite RV blogs I read, and favorite two lane roads. I try to write at least 500 words for every blog, though sometimes I get wordy and go over 1,000. To put that in perspective, 500 words times 365 days equals 182,500 words. My Big Lake novels average a shade over 76,000 words, so the blogs come out to about 2½ – 3 novels a year.
And while I love sharing our lives with all of you everyday, let’s be honest, blogging is also a very important part of our business. The commissions from the ads in the blog contribute to our income stream, and when I announce I have a new book out, you wonderful people download a copy and tell your friends and family about it.
And what’s in store for the blog in 2015? More of the same, because what I’ve been doing seems to be working. But I have a couple of other things in mind that I might add to the mix. Maybe one day a week I’ll do a blog on 10 or 20 overlooked places, state by state, that you might find interesting. Something else I toyed with in the paper years ago that I’ve thought of reviving for the blog is a weekly feature on a different fulltime RVer, who they are, what their background is, how they got into fulltiming, how long they’ve been on the road and things like that. What do you think? Would either of those interest you?
And finally, before I close I want to thank all of you for reading the blogs every day, for your comments, and for your support. It’s nice to be a successful blogger, but it’s even nicer to know that this blog has made us so many friends in every corner of the country. There are times I get down, or frustrated, or unsure of myself and I come here to vent. And when I do, your comments and e-mails pick me right back up and help me get my head on straight again. Thank you for that, too. Terry and I appreciate each and every one of you.
Thought For The Day – Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value. – Albert Einstein
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Nick Russell
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Those are some very impressive numbers. I really look forward to reading your blog every day. Keep up the great work. See you in March at Escapade.
Congratulations on the high readership of your blog Nick. I always look forward to reading the blog on a regular basis.
Nick, I started following you (wait a minute, that sounds a little creepy!) earlier this year when my wife and I decided that going full-time RVing was what we wanted to do when I retire in a couple of years. Your writing style is down to earth, and that is so refreshing. You’re like a friend I haven’t met yet, and when you can communicate that through your writing, you have reached your audience. I look forward to meeting you at the Tampa RV Supershow in January.
Speaking of venting, Nick, you should let Bad Nick loose a little more often. (I’m sure it would help your blood pressure! 😉 )
Congratulations Nick!
I read your blog religiously every morning. It is a real blessing in our lives, as we are part time rv’ers and learn so much from you and Miss Terry.
Your thoughts on some changes for 2015 are good ones! We would love those added features. Keep on doing what you do because YOU do it best!
Congrats Nick! Your blog is the first thing I read every morning with that first cup of coffee. Sorta like letting the dog out so to speak. LOL! Now get back to your ‘puter and finish that new Big Lake book before I go into withdrawals.
Congratulations Nick, that is an outstanding
report, you have every right to be proud. As
with many others it is a great way to start my
day, everyday. Yes I would like to read about
full timers and other interesting people you
run across. We never made it full time but still
try to get in 6 mo. per year. Happy New Year
to you and Terry.
You are a very good writer Nick. Your time as a newspaper guy shows through in your ability to write a column about something as mundane as a rainy day reading emails and snoozing on the couch, and yet still making it interesting reading.
Now if only you had a nickel for every read.
Nick, your blog starts this “wanta be full timers day everyday. And I share your thought for the day with about 12 friends everyday. Your my Cheeros!
I too would love to see Bad Nick much more often.
Thanks for thr daily posts, I always look forward to them. Seems as if I am not alone, congratulations on your numbers.
Congrats on the numbers Nick. I don’t miss a day myself. You have kept me interested daily. Keep up the good work young man.
By the way, would like to see a little more of Bad Nick! Always entertaining!
Dave Mingus
Killer numbers!!! Congrats!! Here’s 43 … you guys are the best. Thanks for all the RV help you’ve given, whether you knew it or not!!
Nick, Don and I both start every day by reading your blog. You know I’ve been a “Nick Groupie” for many years since first meeting you and Miss Terry at Life on Wheels in Idaho. It’s nice to see your report that lends facts in the form of numbers to the popularity and following you’ve developed by your daily blog, Gypsy Journal and many books. We would love to see both overlooked places and features on fulltimers in future blog posts.
Best wishes and continued success to you both in the new year!
Congratulations, Nick! I know by experience it is not always easy to write that daily blog, and I commend you for sticking with it. Your writing style and the humor you show keeps your blog interesting regardless the topic on which you are writing. I have learned much from your RV tips and it is very helpful when you point out the folly of some so-called “experts” who offer advice about RV topics. People trust you, and you are valuable to our RVing society.
I can thank you for all the help that you have given when you didn’t directly hand it to me and those “helpful” responses to my e-mails when you did hand out opinions from your experiences directly to me. Given your experience in the RV lifestyle and the people you have met, I feel confident that your newsman sensibilities will recognize great stories when and where ever you find them. Will everyone love everything you write about…..ah, well no….but then Mr Lincoln had a quote to cover that…..May the new year bring you opportunities to continue experiencing many new adventures and meeting old and new friends.
I like the idea about a feature full-time RVer each week. As a younger person at 42 who would like to explore this option down the road I am learning so much.
Keep up the great work. We look forward to reading your blog every day.
Congrats Nick… Wow 40 I have a number, now 41 lol.
I consider you a doughnut with my coffee every morning beings I can’t have them anymore. You Two are informative, funny, and full of ideas. As a matter of fact I started reading GJ before we got our bus MCI 5Cs and when we finally got it I followed your build pages to get ideas like the rear cabinets Terry built. Ours are very similar to those because as a Contractor We could see the value in all the storage there is back there now. Thank You Terry.
Thanks again for sharing all your knowledge in a very easy way to read it. Hope to meet you two in the future out there in the RV ing world. Will be at the Q 14th – 20th for the first time.
Dave
Congrats Nick. When I run into a new RV’er or a wannabe I always tell them to check out your blog and go and read the Forums on RV.net. I do not know any better place to get quality RV info in such a quick any easy fashion.
guess next year I won’ comment so much lol;
I think whatever you write will be great! Enjoy the blog and all your books!
Thanks!
There’s nothing better than posting a blog and finding out that someone has taken the time to comment. Keep up the good work.
Don’t you wish you had a dollar for every view? You could retire. 🙂
I love to start the day with your blog! Lots of interesting places to go to and visit that I would not have seen or visited had I not read your comments.
Skp hugs,
Cathy and Jan Emrick
Really enjoy your blog each day. I miss a day occasionally but always go back and catch up. Would love to hear about the overlooked places in each state. We are always looking for that type place. Hope you and Miss Terry have a great 2015
Anne
I am one, that read your blog daily, and enjoy it. Keep up the good work. And your books ain’t bad either. Travel Safe