On the impossibility of getting a monolithic organization to respond to you: I am currently locked into an impossible situation, caught between two monoliths:New Blogger and Sitemeter.
New Blogger tolerates my old template only under sufferance and the instant I try to do anything to the template, it will be rejected. That's not the end of the world as there's a new template to instal.
The bigger problem is Sitemeter. All my traffic count will be lost the moment I change templates because New Blogger doesn't recognize Sitemeter code. Clearly, the code must change. To do that, one must go into Sitemeter Manager.
I last did that so long ago that the password's lost. Also, my oasis e-mail is no longer operative. Therefore, I can't access the password to change ... etc. etc. So why not contact Sitemeter?
I have done so - over and over, day after day after day and there's not even an automated response. They have no facility to respond to the questions users might have. Sorry to sound so frsutrated but:
Sitemeter is a monolith which is not remotely interested in responding.
Thus this template is left in limbo, unable to be changed.
As for stats, The Cityunslicker made a comment about his and I commented on Iain Dale's. Chris Dillow, of Stumbling and Mumbling once said to me that it all comes with time. It really does expand, providing you're prepared to do a bit of work and offer something on your site. Plus, the Dales of the blogosphere are professionals, whereas we have day jobs.
In Ellee Seymour's case, she has a number of pluses - lovely modest lady, high profile Tory, interesting site. As for CityUnslicker, may I say his site and his content are so much improved and I'd say he's become pretty regular reading for many now. Seems to me that these things are what it's all about.
UPDATE: Sitemeter have responded and the issue seems to have found partial resolution.
James, I really wouldn't worry so much about sitemeter. Why not start with something different, I use http://my.statcounter.com/
ReplyDeleteJames, I've given up worrying about statistics.
ReplyDeleteI've been going for just over 2 years and my hit rate is erratic. It's strange what is popular and what isn't.
Some days I wonder why I'm getting so many hits. Other days I think I've posted something really interesting and no bugger reads it or comments.
It does seem though that the longer you are blogging and the more frequently you post the more traffic you get.
Also, as you say, being famous before you start probably helps.
Keep up the good work anyway.
I wouldn't worry about stats James. I find them highly eratic- I hover around a level normally but some days can be awful- and some can be just wonderful in terms of how many people come. As for sitemeter I wouldn't get too upset- I had to switch counters in November because my previous one blogpatrol kept just switching off randomly. I tried to install sitemeter on a mate's blog and it wouldn't work. I think the central thing is that you run a good blog and leave it at that- you get comments which says to me that your readers read and think about what you say and what more could you ask.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately Sitemeter is essential for the TTLB eco-system. If the worst comes to the worst James, you can note your hits to date, get yourself a new Sitemeter account, and increment your new meter with the number of the old hits.
ReplyDeleteGood advice from Tom. When I had my old blogger account, I didn't even have a stats counter on it for the first few months. I have never worried about these things, it's the interaction I enjoy.
ReplyDeleteTom beat me to it, that is what I did when I switched to New Blogger.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the mention
I switched to New blogger and still get to work ONLY on my html like I did with old blogger :)
ReplyDeleteNo layout option at all... I wonder how?
Update whatever you need to, start your new counter at your old last count. heh