A couple of years ago, I started writing Johnny's Blog to cast vision for graystone and to create another avenue to disciple the men on our staff team and in my small group. Now, 560 blog posts later, Johnny's Blog has morphed into something MORE. Quite frankly, I am still trying to figure out exactly what that MORE is. Anyway, on more than one occasion, I have seriously considered discontinuing Johnny's Blog. Last year, Jennifer said that my mom and only a few others read my blog, and it was nothing more than my personal journal. She was right with one point...it is my personal journal. It is the Jonathan Howes WebLog. Jennifer was wrong on another point: MORE than a handful of people read my weblog.
This year, Heath (graystone's IT guy among many other things...up & coming speaker, program director, comedian, costume artist, head of the twentysomethings ministry, 6th grade boys small group leader, video editor, etc....he's single BTW) set up Google Analytics to track Johnny's Blog. This way we would know exactly how many people visit my blog. It also tells us: how many web hits per day, average time on site, which topics generate the most traffic (Tomorrow, I will post the Top 10 Most Popular Blog Posts for 2009), and a bunch of other scientific analytical stuff. Well, according to Google Analytics (And I'm not sure how accurate it is, but I will take it.) over 5,000 "absolute unique visitors" have found their way to Johnny's Blog in 2009. So, Jennifer, in the words of our firstborn son, "How bout them apples".
All joking aside, we have a great opportunity to "leverage technology" (Heath's term) to help way MORE people "know God and make God known" than we ever will on Sunday mornings at Graystone Church. (Although, I have been a little blown away by the number of people finding their way to graystone on Sunday mornings.) So, in 2010, we are giving Johnny's Blog a major facelift by increasing its capabilities, improving the design and possibly even changing the name to reach a greater audience. The content will pretty much stay the same and cover a few basic topics/themes: graystone, Bible, discipleship/spiritual growth, evangelism/missions, sports, church planting/growth, howes family, a little humor and various other random stuff.
So, I will keep writing Johnny's Blog (or whatever we choose to call it) for another year. I think it's a good practice at the end of each year to evaluate your life and decide what you want to add, delete, or make better. So, with all that said, THANK YOU so much for reading my weblog. I truly hope and pray that somewhere between the pictures of my kids and the meaningless MS Mullets updates that Johnny's Blog (or whatever we choose to call it) adds value to your life.
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6 comments:
It's okay to be proud of those numbers, my friend. The latest count for my blog has me at a total of 7 visits, and I couldn't be prouder! I'm hot on your tail with these numbers. (Maybe I should reconsider my content)
Steve,
You have to start somewhere and if no one ever reads our blogs, writing is a great discipline. You might want to consider spicing things up. Controversy seems to generate a lot a traffic on Johnny's Blog.
Keep blogging my friend...
well, i can try, but you know me; controversy and speaking my mind just doesn't come easy to me. i'm something of a recluse.
I check your blog frequently. It's a great way for new people to catch up and get some background on you and Graystone Church. Good Stuff!!
It's not easy maintaining a blog, but when you have good purpose and a target it's ALL GOOD!! And you've got purpose!! GO GRAYSONE CHURCH!!
What's a blog and has it ever been audited before?
Dale R
It has been edited many times but not sure if it has been audited.
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