“Do you look at your online stats more than once a day? If so, you may be a candidate for a free medical trial going on now… just call…”
Ha! That’s so funny. I crack myself up. It’s so true that most of us check our stats way too often. When we were working on the list of subjects to include in our ongoing ten week post, video, and audio series on blogging for success on Etsy (see the first post here), we wondered if we were leaving out a huge component by not talking about stats.
Stats are important, no doubt, but what we realized is that they really don’t matter that much. They don’t impact the course of action. If the stats stink, you still follow the plan. That’s the only way the stats will ever get better!
If you’re looking at your Etsy Shop and your blog as a business, the only stats that really matter have dollar signs in front of them. How much money are you making? How much money is something (like an ad) costing you?
If you’re like me, however, your blog isn’t only about business. I wish I could look at it more businesslike, but I can’t. Maybe I should join the study group…
I care about my stats because they give me some validation for my time, my effort, and the “me” I put into what I do, which is a ton! So when I see good traffic numbers, high comment counts, or lots of social action on something I’ve done, it makes me happy.
But it’s dangerous! Because when things are not so great, it makes me sad!
Just remember to keep it all in proper perspective. Even if I write a post with no comments, I still have a life full of family and friends who love me and are right in front of my face!
They are not statistics, and they matter more than anything!
My family rocks!
I have a sweet husband that’s super helpful and two growing boys. Oh, and two dogs {Shar-peis}, a hedgehog, two tortoises and a gecko. Wanna share about your family? Do you have lots of pets…maybe a chicken? We used to have about 25 chickens…lol! I can’t wait to read your comments!
~Kim
I just recently discovered your blog and have been following now for a few weeks! I am signed up for your series …. just the perfect time for me as I am trying to get the nerve up to start my own etsy store! Re this post – in addition my hubbie and two kids – we have a cat, bird, dog, fish, and lizard (which brings along crickets) …. fun times!!! 😉 Thank you for such an inspiring and informative blog!!! -Melinda
I have a husband going to school to be a Physical Therapist, a three year old son, a two year old daughter, a brand new etsy shop,
and I work full time… I have no time for pets:)
My mom and step dad have a little farm with two cows, three goats, and six chickens… my kids get all the pet loving they need, and the mess stays at grandma’s:)
.-= Amanda Joy´s last blog ..Mingle With Us =-.
I am the same way about letting stats affect my mood…it’s so addictive to see high numbers of views/comments/clicks but then it’s discouraging to seem them on the lower days. Blogging definitely gives validation and that is nice!
.-= Tricia @ SweeterThanSweets´s last blog ..My Memories Digital Scrapbooking Software Giveaway ($40 Value!) =-.
OH MY GOSH!! I am obsessed with Craftopolis and then Etsy had to go and add shop stats, ans then there is Feedjiit for my blog!! LOL I have issues!
I have a GREAT hubby – The Chef, a grown daughter – The Cupcake Goddess and a 14 year old daughter – Tiger on a Leash! We have 3 dogs – Mattie, Iacocca and Balto!
.-= Michele´s last blog ..♥ Pinterest Love . . .♥ =-.
I have a rabbit called Tilly, she doesn’t exactly help with all my crafting, what does she do? Oh yeah, hinder 😉
.-= Alison Wood´s last blog ..Knits To Give: Great Gifts For The Whole Family =-.
Count me in as one who loves you!!
Great Words!
xoxo
MomL
.-= Pat Layton´s last blog ..To Tattoo or Not To Tattoo? How about YOU? =-.
By the way that little thing that shows your commenters last post is very sweet and very cool! I love your web designer too! 🙂
.-= Pat Layton´s last blog ..To Tattoo or Not To Tattoo? How about YOU? =-.
Oh that’s funny! And something I’m definitely guilty of. It’s probably a waste of time to check them so often when I could be getting more things done!
If nothing in the rest of my day comes close to making me smile, I can rest assured that you will, Kim. =)
I have to share this: My daughter is 18. She has always loved chicken. She would eat chicken for lunch and supper (maybe breakfast too) 7 days a week if given the choice. Her friends tease her about it, it’s kind of funny. Anyway, my daughter started college this year (that’s a blog series in itself, I’m still adjusting…), and we were on Facebook chat today. My daughter has a serious boyfriend who lives in the same college town as her. She was telling me how she had written a love note to her boyfriend, which included a hand-drawn (yay) picture of what she envisioned their future family looking like. She also told him that she wanted a CHICKEN FARM!!
Knowing my daughter’s chicken obsession, I asked her if she just wanted the chicken farm so she could easily go out to the backyard and strangle her own supper each night.
She told me I knew her so well.
* I should also add, that my children have helped in the raising of chickens from the time they are adorable and fluffy and yellow, to the point they’re running around prior to butchering. Somehow, the part between cute and fuzzy to “where’s my supper?” doesn’t seem to phase them.
Interesting. I have raised unfeeling brutes I guess.
They may be candidates for medical trials…
.-= Jenn´s last blog ..Cherry Quartz Teardrop Faceted Wire Wrapped Teardrop Earrings (4553) =-.
hi..I’m Leslie and i have a stat addiction. (HI LESLIE) …boy did this hit home!! i have sales, i’m happy, no sales, i’m sad. and yes, it’s very easy to be consumed by our businesses and forget the things and people around us that should make the difference in how we feel on a day to day basis..thanx for the reality jolt..loved it!!
Hi Leslie. It’s nice to meet you. Thank you for sharing. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist).
I agree with Kim, we all are sometimes looking for validation, which is really the “human” side of the technical side of handmade.
The best part is, at the end of the day Etsy can have millions of beautifully colored purses for sale and their website NEVER goes down for days. I LOVE YOU ETSY!
.-= Jenn´s last blog ..Cherry Quartz Teardrop Faceted Wire Wrapped Teardrop Earrings (4553) =-.
I’m one of the few who doesn’t check my stats a whole lot. I know…in the blog world, I’m a weirdo.
As far as my family, I have a wonderful husband and son, and one absolutely precious golden retriever mix. He is his momma’s baby. : ) My husband and son support my Etsy craft in so many ways, like creating a craft room out of our guest room (you can read about that story here). Just tonight my husband surprised me with a new glue gun. It doesn’t take much to make me smile. 🙂
.-= Heathahlee´s last blog ..Sending My Baby Off… =-.
I think I can hit refresh for hours to see if stats change, or if I have an answer to a convo or a sale. Lately though it has less of a pull though and maybe I will finally gain perspective (which I usually can only find in stressful situations). My husband recently loss his job, no warning, no good reason, just here one day gone tomorrow. We have three kids, including one with special needs. I am frantically rearranging drs visits to keep them under insurance (especially for my daughter who needs to see her cardiologist). So stats have actually dropped down in importance. I am at this point just hoping that the yearning to paint and create again comes back soon. I am sure this time will pass and maybe it will be a blessing in disguise. When it does though I hope I can keep my stats in perspective and not be crazy anymore 😉 lol that will happen, well maybe.
I have only recently discovered your blog as well! Where have I been? I must have been under a rock! I check my stats way to much during the day! I think it is because I am just starting and just can’t get enough of seeing what people like to see.
PS.. I am getting some chickens soon! Just have to get the old coop cleaned out!!
Thank you so much for this post! I really needed to read this…I too get sad when there is a lack of comments/traffic/sales and lose sight of what is most important – my family! Thanks again!
–Erin
Kim, you and I must be on the same page today!
I’m blessed to be married 20 years to a great, hard-working, God-fearing man. We’ve got two almost adult children, our daughter, Sara, a sophomore in bible college, who is a budding and talented photographer, and our son, Christopher, a home school senior, who is an amazing illustrator. We’ve got two cats and three chickens….mmmm, thinking of the chickens makes me want to make fried eggs for breakfast…gotta go! Have a blessed day, and thanks again!
.-= Malaika´s last blog ..Breathe =-.
I am not a “stataddict”. I tend to worry about finding time to keep the rest of life running somewhat smoothly.
I have in my life a wonderful hubby, 2 sons (11yo, 19yo), 5 dogs, 2 cats, 2 hedgehogs, 2 horses, 4 goats, 2 mini Zebu, 1 snake, about 35 chickens, and 11 honey bee hives. My youngest son has made most of the chickens into pets, by carrying them around and petting them. It’s so funny to head down the hill to the barn, because when they hear you coming, they’ll come running to the gate. Chickens running is something I find very amusing. We sell the eggs and honey to locally.
Just wanted to share…my most recent blog post is only three pictures, but you know what they say about a million words!
.-= Malaika´s last blog ..Priceless =-.
It’s too easy to get caught up in stats, to the point where they are no longer helpful. They can be helpful & deceptive, at the same time. It’s easy to forget to give an initiative time to work, to not take any information at surface values. Rarely does a plan show immediate results, so take time to breathe, don’t get discouraged & spend time with those that love you. Thank you for the reminder & the wonderful post!
.-= samsstuff´s last blog ..Freshener Sachets: a tutorial =-.
Love reading your blog.
I have a husband who supports my hobby/business/addiction, a son who is 19 attending community college and living at home who helps me with all this new technology (my built in IT guy), twin daughters, married with 2 kids each.
I have 4 dogs and 2 cats.
Two of the dogs were dumped at the end of my street on a vacant lot and after searching for their owners, well, that was about 10 yrs ago, they are still here. Another dog was my daughter’s who didn’t wanna take care of her anymore so we took her (the dog, not the daughter). A cat adopted from the humane society, and the other found at my husband’s job site starving (he ain’t starving no more)… and my baby girl, my yorkiepoo whom God gave to me to help me when I am having a flare up of my health conditions. She is the only one who was not dumped/neglected.
I am SO loving this post! Lol! Thanks so much for putting things into perspective about the things that really matter!
~Blessings to you and yours!
I look at my traffic stats way too much. And your right they totally affect my mood and I often have to check myself and say, “how many sales have I had this week?” that is what matters.
As for my family, they are the best and the best cheerleaders I could ask for.
As for the pets, we have way too many. 2 labs (one that is a 6 month monster), a guinea pig, a finch, 2 lovebirds, fish and we use to have 3 chickens but they woke us up every morning at 6 so my teenagers said they had to go LOL
Love your blog!