I had written this before, but since I killed my database, I’ll write it again. This time much shorter:
I was over on Cool Daddio’s site reading the results of his survey about blogging. It struck me that the reason, probably, that we blog is to get comments. When I first started blogging last May, I think, I was overly concerned with generating traffic to my blog. I found that in order to get a lot of traffic, especially for photo only blogs, you have to go out and post on other’s blogs. As Chantal said in one of her previous posts, it’s so ‘Junior High School’. I’ll post on yours if you post on mine!!!
In looking around, I found a few that I really liked and continued to read and look at the pictures. I still do that. I visit only a few blogs per day and comment, if I have something to say. If not, I just don’t comment. It doesn’t mean that I don’t like the image/topic, it’s just that I have nothing to say.
I’m not a big fan of drive-by commenting. These people drop by and give a one or two word comment and then they are on their way. The object, I suppose, is to get you to come to their blog and post a meaningful comment. I might drop by to see what’s going on, but will rarely make a comment.
Looking at Google Analytics, I see that I have about 20 or so people visit every day. Some people from my job, some from my wife’s, and of course, you good people.
I rarely concentrate on the numbers, except for one. Visitor loyalty. I can see from the stats that my return visitor count is about 71%. Now that, is wonderful news. It means that you guys and gals keep visiting over and over. That means so much more than the 30% new visitors.
So, thanks ever so much for stopping by every day! I sincerely appreciate it.
Now, I just have to figure out how to get some traffic from Africa! No hits there!!! 
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OOooooOOo…all gone? That really sucks. Try to get them back up if you can.
I think it’s the loyalty that is most important. Whether they leave comments or not, although I do like to read comments and share ideas and thoughts.
Like you I tend to have a somewhat “wordy” photoblog/diary. It helps me in a lot of ways and I just enjoy writing so I tend to leave long comments on a few of the photoblogs I visit.
I hope you can manage to restore the lost data. Oh and it’s possible that you may be getting traffic through Africa and other places you don’t realize. I know that it can be routed via satellite through other countries. For example I get a visitor from the Middle East, but it gets routed through the UK.
Hey Paul,
I’m one of the loyal ones … no connection to you but I’ve enjoyed your site this last month or more. I have a folder with about 15-20 sites that I open first thing and check. Only intelligent and interesting sites in there. Good work and keep ‘em coming.
Dan
Only discovered your blog a few weeks ago, but you’ll be keeping that dot over Dublin – Ireland from me for the forseeable future! You’re in my daily blog list too
I can only completely agree to your thoughts Paul! A good part of that “loyalty” might be due to your great mixture of photos and assorted thoughts around them.
Thomas
PS.: Hey, I can see myself on the Geo map overlay!
Paul, yours is a joy to visit because you combine warmth with photos. I like that, and it’s why I linked to your site early on. Keep up the good work of inspiring us.
WoW! I hope you get it all back….I really enjoy reading your blog. I also enjoy your photography.
Hmmm… Paul, you visit William Braggs website too?
I think loyalty is certainly important. I get about 40 hits a day, but most of those people don’t stay for more than 1 second! The few people who do return regularly are the ones who sustain your blog.
I enjoy your blog, don’t leave a comment all the time, but I enjoy it. Your images are top notch accompanied by some fantastic writing. I agree with you and do not concern myself with blog traffic and try to remember the personal reasons why I post.