{discussing analytics}

If you have a blog that brings you income {or if you blog to build your business} it’s soooo important that you are tracking your visits. Why? Because you need to know what has become a good investment and, alternately, what has not. Just ask the professionals — they are all doing it.

It’s also key to remember that advertising takes 1-2 months for it to become a good investment. Paying for one month won’t change your life {well, it could…} but what is really key is repetition, continuity, etc. The more often you are seen in the blogosphere the better off you are.

Personally, I’ve had to put myself in the shoes of a buyer more often than the shoes of a seller. If I was buying, what would I pay? If I was buying, what would I want? If I was buying, how many times would it take to actually buy?

Most blogs offer multiple month discounts if you become a sponsor. Take advantage of those discounts, advertise on multiple blogs, and then sit down once a week to analyze your analytics.

Ohhhh, sounds sexy. Or confusing.
Actually, it’s neither! :)

I use Google Analytics and SiteMeter. It’s easy to tell who comes from where, what they typed to find your site {this can be really funny some times :) }, and what percentage of change your blog experiences.

I really look forward to looking at my stats. It’s fun to see where and how people find my blog, especially when I advertise on other blogs and that investment proves to be a good one! It’s a great pat-on-the-back when a decision I make proves to be a great decision! Yeow! Don’t you just love when you’re right? :)

Another AMAZING analytic feature is knowing how how many visits your website receives a day, week or month. Want to know if your blog is growing? Track your anaytics! I mean, look at all this wonderful goodness:

This is where I’m at to-date with my stats. And I bet you have wonderful goodness going on with your blog, too. The question is: Are you using all available tools?

Here are the top 7 sites that give me the most traffic {thank you, thank you}:

1. The Nester
2. (in)courage
3. Where Women Create
4. Ashley Ann Photography
5. Made By Girl
6. Jessica Turner – The Mom Creative
7. The Pleated Poppy

For some more fun, a shout-out to some of my blog sponsors ♥

Kara Rosenberry Co. — clever cards & what-nots

b’s {blog} boutique — darling blog designing