Reader/Referer Experiment

April 20, 2007 by Kimberly Moritz

A couple of weeks ago, I posted about Jeff Archer, who’s doing an article about this blog for Education Week. One of the things that Jeff and I talked about was the number of “referers” to the blog each day. This is the way stats are shown on edublogs.

Jeff’s colleague, Jeanne, contacted James Farmer at edublogs.org and asked about the referers statistics. Apparently, most blogs follow page views rather than hits or referers. James Farmer responded as follows,

“I think it’s fair to say that hits, in the manner of her site (given theme choice), would correlate roughly to be divisible by 2-3 to page views”

I suppose this means that on April 15, when I had 3019 referers, I can estimate that there were 1000-2000 page views. I also wonder if this means that there were 1000-2000 readers?

More important, it makes me wonder who the readers of G-Town are. I know who some readers are through their comments or through the address listed as the referring URL. But I wonder who’s reading, from where.

So I thought we’d try a little experiment. If you’ve stuck with my post this far, please post a comment to this blog. Right here, right now. Even if you’ve never commented before, it’s really very easy. If you are reading this, post a comment that just tells your name or initials, where you’re reading from, and if possible, what you do. That’s all. For example, I would post a comment that says “ksm from Gowanda, high school principal and parent”. Nothing more is needed, but will tell an interesting picture of who our G-Town readers really are. Audience is important for any writer and I’d love a better view of who you are–your comments will be more valuable than any other stats.

Thank you for participating!

Posted in Blogging | Tagged Blogging | 67 Comments

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67 Responses to “Reader/Referer Experiment”

on 20 Apr 2007 at 5:26 pm1 Lisa

Lisa from Minnesota, HR Manager and parent.

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on 20 Apr 2007 at 8:30 pm2 Mike

MAF from Randolph, CIO

Keep up the good work Kim!!!

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on 20 Apr 2007 at 9:14 pm3 dave

djm; Vancouver B.C. Canada
high school principal
Parent of two university students

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on 20 Apr 2007 at 9:45 pm4 Steve Poling

Always reading from AZ….Steve, principal, daddy, husband

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on 20 Apr 2007 at 9:47 pm5 James

James, from, um, Edublogs

You’ll find that a lot of referrers will be people coming to other pages of your blog, in fact 90% of readers will never see the front page (just come in to a particular page and then leave again).

Also, noone ever comments when you ask them to

And you have to take into account bots and stuff as well.

I could go on

Anyway, you should, so keep up the great work!

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on 20 Apr 2007 at 10:11 pm6 Matt Hillmann

Fellow principal from Minnesota. BIG fan of this blog! It is part of my daily reading…thanks for leading us!

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on 20 Apr 2007 at 10:20 pm7 Tim McKeever

TMcK Gowanda BOE.

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on 20 Apr 2007 at 10:55 pm8 Denise

Denise from NJ, Proud and exhausted 1st year principal. Your blogs have been the reason for many much needed “exhales” this year. Thanks!

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on 21 Apr 2007 at 12:41 am9 Exhausted Intern

EI, admin intern from Washington State.

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on 21 Apr 2007 at 9:08 am10 Sue King

MS Principal in central PA, parent of near college grads (2), regular reader!

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on 21 Apr 2007 at 10:06 am11 Frank Fonti

Frank SE Teacher Gowanda

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on 21 Apr 2007 at 10:50 am12 Jay

Jay, Online teacher and parent, lansing , Mi

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on 21 Apr 2007 at 12:01 pm13 David O'Rourke

Hi Kim.

David O’Rourke — your neighbor at Silver Creek CSD. Parent of three girls, and Director of Instruction and Technology.

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on 21 Apr 2007 at 12:24 pm14 Linda Fonti

LMF, Gowanda BOE, Registered Nurse, Parent

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on 21 Apr 2007 at 1:02 pm15 Jonathan

j, a math teacher, math-policy-involved person, and active union leader (in my building) in a high school in nyc

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on 21 Apr 2007 at 1:05 pm16 Jen M.

Jen- School Counselor, Gowanda.

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on 21 Apr 2007 at 1:45 pm17 Gerald

Gerald, Science Teacher, Pierre Van Cortlandt Middle School, Croton on Hudson NY

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on 21 Apr 2007 at 3:06 pm18 Lisa

Lisa from Oklahom, high school assistant principal and mom of three

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on 21 Apr 2007 at 3:26 pm19 Lori

Lori, Superintendent in Western NY, parent of three Gowanda Central students, Gowanda Central Alum

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on 21 Apr 2007 at 7:35 pm20 Jeremiah

assistant principal from portland, or
brand new father
relatively new blogger: edhocracy
found you via chris lehman
read you everyday
thanks

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on 21 Apr 2007 at 8:12 pm21 Gowanda alum

SS, Gowanda alum currently living on left coast and wondering how far GHS has come.

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on 22 Apr 2007 at 1:05 am22 Geist

AG from Buffalo, GHS Teacher

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on 22 Apr 2007 at 10:21 am23 Matt

Matt from Missoula, MT. English teacher in an alternative program. Love seeing a principal blogging about what matters to her in education (with a little real life thrown in).

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on 22 Apr 2007 at 1:14 pm24 Leah

LS from Bedford, Virginia–Teacher

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on 22 Apr 2007 at 7:26 pm25 ake

ake, New Jersey, Assistant Superintendent and parent

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on 22 Apr 2007 at 8:36 pm26 proppspropaganda

CFP Gowanda High School English teacher. Mom of 2.

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on 22 Apr 2007 at 8:48 pm27 Cindy Crandall

Cindy – former colleague and regular reader of your great blog!

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on 22 Apr 2007 at 10:14 pm28 Carolyn Foote

Hi from Texas!

I’m a high school librarian!

Great to see all the blogging principals here!

By the way, Kimberley, hope you don’t mind me adding a link here, but I’m trying to gather some information from principals who use web 2.0 tools for a presentation I’m doing, in case you’d like to share some information with me about tools you find helpful.

http://futura.edublogs.org/2007/04/20/how-web-20-tools-help-administrators/

I really enjoy your blog!

And actually this was helpful since I was wondering what the statistics meant myself!

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on 23 Apr 2007 at 12:38 am29 bsnaxton

Brian Saxton, Assistant Principal Aptos, CA Aptos Junior High.
Read your blog consistently, great stuff

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on 23 Apr 2007 at 3:15 am30 Scott McLeod

Director, CASTLE, & Assistant Professor, Educational Policy and Administration, U. Minnesota

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on 23 Apr 2007 at 7:11 am31 Lee Mormur

DSM from Pittsburgh, PA proud mom of Kimberly

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on 23 Apr 2007 at 7:13 am32 Jess Shaw

Jess, from Gowanda- a teacher and an alumni

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on 23 Apr 2007 at 8:44 am33 Lynn S.

Kim, I check your blog daily, from school and from home, here in Gowanda. I am a monitor and a mother of three.

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on 23 Apr 2007 at 11:27 am34 Andrea J. Cooke

First time on this site, Very interested in having my own blog space. Seneca Language Teacher. Would like to share and learn from others!

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on 23 Apr 2007 at 11:43 am35 Courtney

Courtney, Student at GHS.

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on 23 Apr 2007 at 12:11 pm36 Bill C

MS Principal from Randolph, NY

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on 23 Apr 2007 at 1:20 pm37 Luke

lasr from Toronto, research assistant at Canadian Education Association

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on 23 Apr 2007 at 1:28 pm38 JLM

Elementary Principal, Randolph NY. I’ve been a reader for quite some time but haven’t left a comment. You are doing a nice job with this site. Keep up the good work.

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on 23 Apr 2007 at 2:16 pm39 Vinnie Vrotny

Director of Academic Technology, Winnetka, IL

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on 23 Apr 2007 at 6:25 pm40 Crystal F.

CLF Math Teacher at Gowanda, mother of 2 beautiful boys.

And can I say WOW! Your readership is from sea to shining sea. That in itself is amazing.

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on 23 Apr 2007 at 10:16 pm41 tgray

Very cool survey!!

Theresa – staff developer, teacher, learner from Hamburg, NY!! (But newly back from Aruba!!)

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on 24 Apr 2007 at 7:04 am42 Maggie

MK from Gowanda – GHS Teacher, just got my computer back!

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on 24 Apr 2007 at 7:44 am43 Brian H

BGH from Forestville
GHS teacher

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on 24 Apr 2007 at 8:20 am44 Ziggy Mormur

Kim’s long lost (not really) brother, Science Applications International, McLean VA.

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on 24 Apr 2007 at 8:20 am45 Cindy

Cindy,Secretary in District Office at Gowanda Central. Parent of two college grads and one high school student lucky enough to have Kim as her principal.

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on 24 Apr 2007 at 3:42 pm46 JODY

Jody, other secretary in the district office, mother of four, two of whom are teachers (one in GHS and one who wants to transfer here because of all the good stuff she hears. My family has been in the GCS school system since the early 1800’s and never have we seen such fabulous improvements in moral, learning, and overall well being. I am proud to be a part of it.

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on 24 Apr 2007 at 9:19 pm47 SGR

Here goes. I also work at G-Town. It’s my kind of place…great co-workers, great students and a great boss! It’s an atmosphere of support, respect, understanding, and of course, humor! What else could you ask for in today’s working and learning environment?! Thanks Mrs. Moritz!

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on 24 Apr 2007 at 9:36 pm48 Jeanette

Jeanette, Principal of a postsecondary Technical Center/Technical High School combination, Naples, FL

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on 25 Apr 2007 at 8:54 am49 Doug

Doug, parent of two GCSD kids, one currently under Kim’s supervision and the other soon to be. I found the blog on the school website, and am very happy I have. I don’t know how Kim has the time to keep up with the blog with all her normal responsibilities, as well as the many innovations she is bringing to the school. Keep up the good work.

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on 25 Apr 2007 at 10:27 am50 Sherrie Evans

Instructional Support – Technology – District, NC
I really enjoy your blog. As Instructional Support for Technology I have recommended your blog to all of our principals and I let teachers view your blog as an example of a great blog in my workshops.

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on 25 Apr 2007 at 11:07 am51 Neil Rochelle

Wow! You’re attracting quite the audience. I couldn’t be happier. Been having some challenges so haven’t read everyday but I still check up on you!
Neil, Superintendent, Elma NY

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on 25 Apr 2007 at 12:44 pm52 curritucktech

I’ve enjoyed the honesty you’ve shared in your blog. I’m a former high school principal and current Technology Director with Currituck County Schools in NC.

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on 25 Apr 2007 at 12:45 pm53 Shannon

SS-GMS teacher, mom of 2 boys

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on 26 Apr 2007 at 10:23 am54 Renay

renay howard former student

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on 26 Apr 2007 at 10:50 am55 Scott Schwister

Scott Schwister, Hamline University Graduate School of Education, Saint Paul MN

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on 26 Apr 2007 at 11:41 am56 Nate

Univ instructor from Rocky Mountain West. You GO, Kim! : )

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on 27 Apr 2007 at 11:41 am57 BAM

Bryna Moritz G-Town ALUMNI college student and LUCKY Daughter of Kim (who thinks I never read her blog)
HA HA ….. what do you think now?

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on 28 Apr 2007 at 2:32 pm58 Willaim C.

I think this is a great opportunity for all memebrs of your learning community to take part in. It enables everyone to see an administrator as more than just a principal.

I think this is something that some of the administrators in some of Erie County’s larger schools as well as the Buffalo schools should start in thier own buildings. All too often administrators do not have opportunities to “hear” from inidividuals in or outside of their own communities.

Instructor Genesee Community College

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on 28 Apr 2007 at 8:03 pm59 Derek Moritz

I started reading the blog as it was the only form of communication I had with my loved ones when they were away in Europe. The phone card I purchased was useless. I find it interesting that many of Kim’s readers take the time out of what I’m sure is a busy day to post a comment. I have the advantage of hearing Kimberly’s ideas first hand because I’m her husband. I know she cares deeply for the childrens’ future and will do anything possible to enhance their experience at G.C.S.

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on 01 May 2007 at 1:19 pm60 Barb Dempsey

Keep writing.

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on 02 May 2007 at 12:03 pm61 Ruth Ceglia

I’m a retired elementary school principal working with school administrators. I really connect with your blog and have had very similar experiences. Your comments on working with people are right on target, the ability to communicate with others and understand what is being said, and even more, what is not being said is the key to solving problems.

This is my first post on any blog.

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on 02 May 2007 at 12:05 pm62 Brenda Chase

I’m here as a tech coordinator. I am searching for administrator blogs to recommend to our school administrators! Thanks for your blog and your transparency!

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on 02 May 2007 at 12:56 pm63 Paul

GCS Alum (Class of 1974), Associate Dean of Libraries at Univ. of Washington in Seattle, father of 2 HS age daughters.

Nice work!

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on 02 May 2007 at 4:34 pm64 rlc

middle school teacher – central Ohio

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on 02 May 2007 at 6:15 pm65 Peter Rock

Peter from Africa. Teacher and parent.

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on 02 May 2007 at 6:18 pm66 Louise Standridge

I’m Louise, an elementary principal in Arkansas. This is my very first experience with a blog. I read about education blogs on the daily ASCD Smart Brief email. That took me to an Education Week article on blogs in which you were featured. I might even give this a try by setting my own blog.

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on 03 May 2007 at 10:22 am67 PFH

Supt from Wyoming. Yes…we have technology way out here! I’ve given some of our HS personnel the link to your blog.

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