As Dark in the Dark approaches its three year anniversary on December 27, I’m going to try something new here and write some facts and figures about this blog and talk about 2011. If numbers bore you, don’t forget to skip to the bottom to see my favorite reads and music from 2011.
The Stats
Since I started this blog in 2008, there have been over 460,000 page views by over 230,000 unique visitors. In that time, I’ve posted 419 items, which makes for a little over 2.5 posts per week. I think that’s pretty good. Here is a graph of visitors for 2011 (traffic numbers shown here are visitors per day):
Some things you might notice:
- Halloween is the time when all the spooky ones come out and visit my site. Thank all of you. You’re beautiful. Each and every one of you.
- See that dramatic dip in February? Dark in the Dark got hacked with a WordPress “pharma” hack, and it was the sort of hack that gets a blog de-indexed by Google. After I cleaned up the site, it took a couple of weeks to recover.
- As you can see, my traffic has still not fully recovered to pre-hack levels. I’m not sure if that’s because of the lingering effects of the hack, or if the famed Google Panda update (which happened at the same time) kicked my blog in the crown jewels. We shall never know.
A map of where all you beautiful crazy people live. 40% of you are in the United States. The U.K. comes in second with 10% of all visitors. After that, the most visitors come from: Canada, Brazil, and Australia.
The most popular page on Dark in the Dark, even more popular than the home page, is my Internet Shrine to the lovely, mysterious, and terrifying Other Mother. This page garners 11% of all pageviews, with the home page clocking in at 5% of all pageviews.
Favorite Reads from 2011
As usual, my favorite reads are books published in different years.
The Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart by Jesse Bullington (2009)
Infernal Devices by KW Jeter (1987)
Anno Dracula by Kim Newman (1992)
Favorite Book Actually from 2011
Harbor by John Ajvide Lindqvist
Most Deserved Thrashing Given in 2011
After I published this review, I got an email sincerely thanking me for my honesty. I also got a damage control note from the author. The review: Jason Dark Dime Novels by Guido Henkel
Makes Me All Itchy and Scratchy
But only in the best of ways: Gail Carriger’s Parasol Protectorate Series.
Favorite 2011 Albums
I haven’t actually reviewed it here yet, but my favorite album from 2011 is Chickens
by Orion Rigel Dommisse.
Favorite not-2011 album: Welt by Ohgr (2001)
Favorite Vintage Photo of 2011
Vintage photo albums were something new I tried in 2011 and they have been a great success.
Treasurer’s Report
$137.41 is all the crazy cash I raked in, from December 7, 2010 to December 6, 2011. I’ve never seen stats on how much anybody makes from their blogs, so here it is. This total is mostly the result of book sales on Amazon. So if you’re ever thinking to yourself, “Gee! I keep hearing that book review bloggers get all the babes and rake in tons of dough.” You should probably start a blog where you review expensive kitchen toys instead, or find better ways to monetize your blog than I have (or get much more popular). So what’s the point of all this?
- It’s about the love, really.
- You guys, the ones who won’t click my links when you buy the books I review? You can relax, because you’re not in any danger of spoiling me or making me feel like I’m made of sparkle dust and righteous shoes.
- Book bloggers do get all the babes, or at least this one does. You know, the ones with snakes for hair, multiple arms, and human skull necklaces? Those ladies.
And Finally
It is all about the love. Here’s looking forward to 2012. My flying monkey army and I hope to see more of you there.
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