I write on the web as a way of giving back to all those people who’s blogs I frequent and who have given me so much. That’s the altruistic justification and it is the truth. But it’s just as true that I write on the web to be…well…read. and I am interested in things that increase that readership. More specifically, I am interested in things that increase the depth of that readership. Getting hits on my site is gratifying and I, much like any blogger out there, like seeing that visit count go up, up, up. But, lately, I have found myself gravitating more towards the stats that tell me how long a visitor stays on my site. Is what I am writing compelling enough, to those that drop by my site, to keep them there. I write some fairly long pieces. If I receive a visitor who’s time spent on my site is a mere :30, well, they haven’t read much. They’ve dropped by, checked out what’s around and decided it’s not for them.
I read an article on the inter-webs the other day that passed along some sage advice. Subject of the article? Getting traffic on your website and keeping it there. Method? Write for your audience. In other words, if your site’s about puppies you probably shouldn’t be writing about your latest trip to the dentist. The puppy lovers that came to your blog didn’t come to your blog to hear about your tooth decay issues and they are probably not going to stick around to read about it. They might visit your site but that visit is going to be short-lived. They are going to go somewhere else. Give the puppy people non-puppy-focused content for too long and you’ve lost them. Possibly for good. For me, the piece also reinforced the idea that one should decide what that audience is in the first place. You have to decide who your audience is before you can write for them. In the end, if one is at all interested in truly communicating by blogging on a particular subject, it’s just a tad disrespectful to give a reader much else than what you have led them to expect they’ll find by coming to your site.
I find myself devoting a lot of my time writing on the subject of coffee. Coffee is a passion and a hobby and making it, drinking it, talking and writing about all gives me great pleasure. There is a quality coffee explosion happening right now, right where I live, in The San Francisco Bay Area. I’m having a good time documenting my experience of it. I think it deserves focus and I think those of you who are frequenting this blog to read what I write about coffee deserve a place of your own and to get out of your visit as much as you can.
To these ends, I’ve decided to start up another blog. Coffee focused. No puppies. I present to you: Daniel of Arabica.
I will still be posting here as well but If it’s written by me and it’s about coffee, Daniel of Arabica is where you’ll find it. Thanks for reading. Thanks for staying. Happy brewing. Happy drinking.
Daniel G. Markham
—26 June 2009 ∞ | View Comments
Two cuppings in one week. Somebody stop me. First, if you’re scratching your head at the word “cupping”, may I recommend a primer on the process? As I mentioned in “Cupping. A primer”, being able to attend one of these has been a long time coming. The first time? Stumptown in Portland a long time ago. Recently? Four Barrel. This time? Ritual’s weekly friday cupping. And as it turns out, three very different experiences. (Read more at Daniel of Arabica)
—29 May 2009 ∞ | View Comments
Cupping at Four Barrel
If you like coffee…I mean if you really love coffee, if you can’t wait to taste what a newly purchased bag of beans has in store for you behind those two bendy metal tabs, and if you spend any time at all savoring the taste experience of the brewed contents of said bag, then I highly recommend attending a cupping. It’s a wonderfully sensual affair (take that as you will). (Read more at Daniel of Arabica)
—20 May 2009 ∞ | View Comments
