QAQnA Celebrates One Year of Blogging!

It has been one year since I sat down at my computer, took a step of faith, and decided to give this "blog thing" a try. It took me ten minutes to set up my blog on Blogger and write my first post. I'll confess that it started as an experiment. I didn't want to spend money (yes, I'm Dutch) and I figured I could always walk away at any moment if I deemed the results weren't worth it.

My blogging mantra has been simple - "slow and steady wins the race". I realized early on that I wasn't going to set the blogosphere on fire. I may never be a Seth Godin or Guy Kawasaki, but if I simply continue to provide a few thoughts, insights, and links that are helpful to people then readers will stop by from time to time. "If you build it, they will come" (yes, I'm from heaven - er - Iowa).

So one year down and what are the results?

The stats:

• Technorati ranking went from 1.2 million to as high as 31,000
• 0 subscribers to 203 (see chart above)
• 0 links from 0 sites to 383 links from 113 sites
• Traffic to our company website has more than quadrupled
• Search engine presence has increased greatly to both blog and website

The ROI:

• I've spent well less than $1000 dollars
• I've probably spent, on average, 4 hours or less a week blogging
• We've added at least two new clients with revenue that more than justified the time/money spent
• The value of networking, increased web traffic, and exposure is hard to calculate, but can't be dismissed. I can't imagine another marketing avenue that could produce such results such minimal investment
• What I've learned about web publishing led us to move our (cob)website to blogware. It looks just like the old site, but we have complete control of content and I can update it more quickly without paying web developer's fees. This savings along, over time, will more than pay for my blogging investment.

Intangibles:

• The possibilities are endless...the future is brighter and opportunities are greater because of blogging
• The amazing network of friends, business contacts, and acquaintances that came to me through blogging has made me feel like George Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life - "The richest man in town

Thanks...to those who've provided encouragement, support, knowledge and friendship:
Mike Sansone
Terry Starbucker
Ellen Weber
Maria Palma
Anonymous Cog
Chris Cree
Liz Strauss
Central Iowa Bloggers
Heidi Miller
Michael Wagner
Phil Gerbyshak
Zane Safrit
Ann Handley
Mark True
Service Untitled
Jam Mayer
Easton Ellsworth

Comments

[Robyn McMaster]

Tom, "you've come a long way, baby." I've been inspired by the great tips you give to readers and especially the great stories you tell.

Keep up the great work!

[Ellen Weber]

Congratulations Tom! This was such fun to read and I too have blogged about a year - it will be one year on April 11th - so we're in it together!

Wish I could throw a BBQ at my home to celebrate a fun year brimming over with new friends and colleagues Online.

Here's to many more years Tom TO GO LEARN 'EM!

[KermitFan]

Congratulations Tom! Keep up the good work!

[Liz Strauss]

Hi Tom!
Congratulations. That's not only a great analysis, it's fantastic progress. It goes to show what an authentic voice writing quality content can do. You are a joy of my past year of blogging. If only I could get you out of the theater . . . . once in a while. :)

[Glenn (Customer Service Experience) Ross]

Happy Anniversary Tom. I look forward to many more.-)

[Mike Wagner]

Tom - the encouragement is mutual

Your writing is a wonderful blend of business insight, human wisdom and story.

Slow, steady and real wins the race. And you are the real deal.

Plus, you're so close to Des Moines --- I doubt I'll ever see Seth in the local coffee shop soon.

Thanks...keep creating,
Mike

[Douglas]

Hi Tom,

Happy One Year Blog Anniversary! It's been great working with you and has certainly been a great year.

Congratulations!

[Joe Rawlinson]

Happy Blog Birthday Tom! I always enjoy your thought provoking posts and insight.

All the best in year #2.

[Terry Starbucker]

Congrats Tom! Imagine being able to get clients out of this.....must be your excellent writing skills. :-)

You will forever be my first blogroll link - my thanks and appreciation are boundless. I am honored to call you my friend.

All the best.

[Chris Cree]

Happy Blogaversary, Tom! Those are some great numbers. I'm guessing you are now officially a fan of business blogging.

[Ann Handley]

Congrats, you old man! (In blogging years!) I love your mention of the "richest man in town." So true.

p.s. I didn't realize we launched at nearly the same time -- the Daily Fix launched on 3.23 (I think?) or thereabouts...

[Easton Ellsworth]

Happy Blogging Birthday, Tom! One year older and wiser too - by such small means are great things brought to fruition. Excellent work here and I wish you an even more successful second year with this space!

[Mike Sansone]

Tom! Happy Bloggiversary. I was just wondering the other day if I had missed this date...I knew it was close.

Success was easy to forecast because dedication and diligence were present from the first (remember the snowstorm you drove through?)

Stay contagious!

[Maria Palma]

Tom,

Wow! It's been a year already? Congratulations on a phenomenal year and here's to more prosperity in the blogosphere!

THANK YOU for all your great thoughts and support ;)

[C.B. Whittemore]

Tom, Congratulations! and what a fabulous way to highlight your accomplishments in one year! Way to go!

[Drew McLellan]

Tom,

Your posts are always helpful, generous and right on the money. They say a blog reflects it's author and clearly that's so in this case.

Happy Anniversary! Here's to many more!

Drew

[Phil Gerbyshak]

Congrats Tom! Quite an accomplishment. Glad to have met you in person and on the blog. You are the real deal!

Here's to many more years of blog parties!

[Grigor]

Tom,
happy anniversary!
We want more! We want more!

[Anonymous Cog]

Congrats, Tom!

You deserve it! You are one of the good guys.

AC

[Ted Demopoulos]

Happy birthday, and thanks for your insights in my book. Looks like you are quite popular after all :)
Looking forward to the year two update!

[Rory]

Great post, Tom. And, well done on the first year.

Your blogging mantra went a long way with me, and I find myself residing in your camp (if you don't mind the company). Thank you for the encouragement, and writing that has reached the heart.

[Mary-Louise]

I work for Guy Kawasaki. Thanks for the the link to his blog!

Congratulations, Tom!

Mary-Louise
http://blog.guykawasaki.com/

[Tom Vander Well]

Thanks to everyone for their comments and well-wishes. Here's to another year of continued success!

[Meikah Delid]

Congratulations Tom! May you continue to inspire more people, esp business people, to do better simply by being humane. Looking forward to the coming years of insights only QAQnA can give. :)

[Sandy Renshaw]

Hi Tom,

Congratulations on your one-year B-day! It's really gone fast. It seems like a long time ago that we attended Mike's blogging workshop...

Sandy