In the blogging world, each year it is customary to spend a bit of time reviewing how the prior year went on the blog.
WordPress and jetpack compiled my site stats for the last year and shortly before year end, they emailed them to me. Now that the holiday festivities are over, I thought it would be a good time to review.
Blogging Challenges
2015 was a challenge for me personally as a blogger. I had some health challenges which kept me from the blog. I felt like I was always behind and struggling to catch-up.
Hubby and I had a wonderful fall and spent a lot of time up at our cabin which allowed plenty of time to take the brown dawgs hunting. The brown dawgs loved it. Here are a few of their photos from the 2015 grouse and wood duck hunting season.
Of course the internet is terrible at the cabin so although the time up there was wonderful, it required me to limit my posts to four rather than five times a week. The drop in posts is reflected in my posting stats. A happy trade off.
My Top 5 Most Viewed Posts
This list was a surprise to me. Three of my top five posts were review/sponsored posts. I admit that I struggle with how many reviews/sponsored posts to do each year, or whether to do them at all. I struggle with running ads on the blog or adding affiliate links. I want the blog to be about the brown dawgs and their escapades just as it says on the tagline and so far I have decided against running ads and adding affiliate links.
I do accept a limited number of reviews and sponsored posts but I am selective about which opportunities I accept. The topics/products I review need to be something I am interested in trying or something I think my readers might be interested in learning more about.
Here is the top five list:
1. Merrick Backcountry Dog Food Review #Wild4Backcountry – June 2015
My most read post of 2015 was a sponsored review of Merrick’s grain-free raw-infused food which I posted in June as part of their #Wild4Backcountry campaign. If you are looking for a quality food for your doggies, please check out this post.
2. Surprise Your Pet With Surprise My Pet–Review And Discount Code – March 2015
My second most read post of 2015 was a review of Surprise My Pet’s subscription dog box. This is an affordable gift box and maybe that accounted for the post’s popularity. Please note the discount code offered in my post is long expired so hopefully if you wanted to try this box, you were able to use the code before it expired.
3. The Truth About Dog Shows – February 2015
I am overjoyed that this post made the top 5 and had so many views and so many shares. Unfortunately there are people who like to criticize dog shows even though they have never actually attended one or made any attempt to learn the purpose of a dog show. These criticisms seem to reach a fever-pitch right around the time the Westminster show is televised. This is my attempt to explain what a dog show is all about.
4. The AKC Senior Hunt Test for Retrievers–Part 1 – April 2011
Ever since I wrote this post in 2011, it always ends up being in my top five most read posts each year with a significant number of views each and every year. I wrote this when Thunder and Storm were just starting their training toward their Senior Hunter titles as an explanation of the requirements of that test. You may note that the post itself has only one comment from a blogger who has long ago abandoned their blog (which is unfortunate because I enjoyed their blog). The fact that it is still read 4 years later makes me very happy.
5. Five Reasons to Consider An Electric Fence for Your Hunting Dog – January 2015
This was a sponsored post so I received compensation for posting it. We use an electric fence in our yard and I am very familiar with the topic. I was happy to share the information. Of course the topic of electric fences can generate a lot of discussion which is wonderful. Thank you to all who took the time to comment.
The Site That Referred The Most Readers To This Site In 2015
By a mile it was facebook. Thank you to all of our readers who hop over from facebook to read our posts. I know there are a large number of you and I truly appreciate it. I also appreciate it when you share a post. The way facebook is structured, I have no idea who shares a post unless it shows up on my timeline so I cannot thank you individually so here is a great big THANK YOU!
Speaking of posts which were shared, my top shared post for 2015 was Let’s Hear It For The Purebred Dog – May 2015.
This post was shared 442 times on facebook, but oddly enough did not end up as one of the top 5 viewed posts for the year.
Top Commenters
Last but not least I would like to acknowledge and thank my top commenters for 2015. I really appreciate everyone who stops by to leave a comment, including these 5 bloggers who were extremely supportive over the past year.
If you do not know these talented bloggers, you may just want to pay them a visit. I think you will enjoy their blogs.
Once again thank you to everyone for making 2015 another successful year.
What a great year you all had! I don’t think I was following you back when you wrote the post about the hunt tests. I have it open so I can read it next!
Congrats on a great year!
It’s always fun to look back and see which blog posts turn out to be the most popular. Good luck to you in 2016!
i still haven’t had the chance to really look over my 2015 year in review. I’m constantly behind in reading other blogs, it seems like. And just when I get caught up, I fall behind again. (((SIGH)))
We got rolled over by reviews and sponsored posts the end of 2015. We try to limit them to one a week at most, but suddenly, we found ourselves posting one practically every day. Having lived through that, we will be much more careful and selective the end of this year. Posting 5 or more days a week is hard work, but we do see a big difference if we cut back, so we try to keep it up, joining a couple “easy” hops to cut down on the work. Cheers to a successful 2016!
I adore your blog, because you’ve exposed me to things that I know nothing about OR that I have strong opinions about, giving me an opportunity to slow my roll and reconsider my stance. Thanks!
Thank you. That is very kind of you!
Congrats on a pawesome year! Hoping whatever health issues you experienced are well in the past! DakotasDen
Thank you. I hope so too.
What a wonderful year! Here’s to a healthy 2016 filled with many fun adventures. We look forward to sharing the journey with you. Cheers!
Reviews have become a staple on your blog, and you write them well. I hate reviews on other blogs, but on yours, I LOVE to see the Brown Dawgs’ responses to whatever treat, toy, or goodie is being offered. I hope you do LOTS of reviews in 2016.
You are too kind. Thank you. I try not to just do a review but to make them unique in some way. Some turn out better than others. This time of year it can be more difficult to manage. Sometimes mother nature does not cooperate for outside photos.
That’s a great year you had, dear friends! Wishing you a 2016 filled with love, peace, joy and good health.
What a great year! I enjoyed seeing all your stats!
I love looking back at the year in review. One of my most viewed posts was an older one too. (One I wrote to Sampson on his birthday.) It’s nice to see something that continues to bring in readers.
Thanks for the shout out, I’m thrilled to be in the top five. 🙂
You are welcome. That post is always in the top 5 and it is so old. lol. I think it is cool that your Sampson post is on your list.
Stats are very interesting! People are looking for the right stuff? My favorites are always the photos! Since we have Chessies (including one who shares similar personality traits, wonder why?) it is fun to compare their antics,
see their skills develop and enjoy their individuality. Thank you for the time spent educating and sharing.
Looking forward to your insights this coming year,. I could never be as faithful to this as you have been, What a terrific chronicle!
I like posting the photos too. My blog is always very photo heavy. 🙂
I’m so pleased to be your top commenter! I’m glad you were able to get your health issues out of the way eventually and get back into the swing of things later. It’s hard enough to stay caught up without that, isn’t it?
I’ve been doing more reviews lately, but I try to remember not to get too carried away with it. There are other blogs I read that suddenly became nothing but sponsored posts and that turned me off. I hope I’m finding a good balance. I also always try to make my reviews personal…not just a dry review, but somehow tying the review in with a good story or lots of fun photos.
It always surprises me each year, which posts make the most popular list. They never seem to be the ones you expect. Either way, I truly enjoy your blog, I love seeing you wonderful photos of the brown dawgs, and I have learned much about them!!! Thanks so much for the shout out!
ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!