I won’t deny that I enjoy following the blog stats. I mentioned recently how I’ve been getting more comfortable following the Technorati numbers (favorite me while you’re thinking about it). But I can honestly say that I haven’t really done all I could to make my stats explode. There are a ton of tricks and techniques that I simply haven’t bothered with. My basic plan has been to network with people with similar interests, and try to comment on at least a few blogs per day. I typically can’t get out and dive into heavy discussions, but sometimes I’ll find myself unable to resist.

Recently however my blog stats have been blowing up. Not just a little bit, but nuclear. I had been enjoying weeks and weeks of around 4,000 hits. Then 5 weeks ago it made a jump to 4,800, and then to 5,700, and it kept on jumping until now this week I’ve averaged 2,700 per day.

How crazy is that?

Lately I’ve been wondering what all the fuss is about. I clearly don’t write that many amazing posts. I do try to keep it fun though. My objective has been to create a blog that I would want to read every single day, and I’m happy how it’s turning out. But I think I accidently helped myself with two decisions right up front.

1. I chose the name The Original Mud Puppy.
This was a moniker that I hadn’t used in many years. For some reason it just came to me when I was creating my first blog. You can read the story of how I got that name here. But I think that name is simple and original enough that it makes it easier for people to remember me when I’m out there mixing it up.

2. I chose to use a goofy picture of me as my icon.
Sometimes at work we like to goof off and play gags on each other. One day I made this picture and set it as a desktop for a coworker. It seemed like a fun picture to use as my icon when I started blogging, and I get tons of attention as a result.

I’m positive those two things got me to this point. Had I used my real name and a boring picture of myself it would have taken me much longer to get here. But now that you’re here it’s up to me to keep you coming back.

I’m think I’m up for the challenge.

Related:
» Be A Better Blogger
» Blog Etiquette