Six years ago today on May 8, 2005, the first article was published on Phoenix Real Estate Guy.
It was not good.
Many more not-so-swift articles have followed.
Hopefully more goodness than suckage ensued in all the following years. That judgment will be left up to you oh avid reader.
I didn’t start using Google Analytics to track traffic to the blog until July 19, 2006, so I don’t know how many folks have stopped by here the past six years on their journeys around the Interwebs. I do know that since the day Analytics was installed, 2.2 million people have visited, viewing 5.8 million pages. I wish I could thank each and every one of those visitors, because without you, it would be difficult to put in the time and effort it takes to keep this place worthy of your valuable time.
It’s interesting (to me, in a geeky sort of way) to look back at the numbers from the early days that, to be frank, seems like a lifetime ago.
The first month of stats I have show an average daily visitor count of 61. Last month that number was 3,174.
This will be the 1,326 post to TPREG, for an average of one post every 1.65 days. Given there were only 39 articles published in all of Year 1, that’s not a bad rate. (Note to those just beginning your blogging journey, while quality counts far more than quantity, posting less than once per week in your first year isn’t the best way to build readership.)
It took a couple of months for the first comment arrive. “Stevie” left a comment on July 7, 2005 on the fifth post, Showing Homes in 108 Degree Heat. That post contains what is still one of my all-time favorite lines published here ”“ “I haven’t seen someone drink like that since my college roommate went on a three-day bender.”
Since Stevie’s comment, 21,198 others have chimed in here. Along with more than half a million spammers. I appreciate every single one of those comments ”“ the real ones, not the spammers. They can bite me. ”“ as you all contribute a great deal to the blog.
This little corner of the Internet has changed and morphed and grown up a lot over the last six years. It has been a labor of love. We’ve laughed, cried and shaken our heads in wonder and dismay. Thank you to all who have stopped by, I sincerely appreciate you. And it would be negligent of me to not extend a special and heartfelt thanks to my wife and kids. Granted, this is just a blog, it is simply words and code, but it takes a lot of time to hang around for six years, and the family takes the brunt of that. Without their support, none of this would be possible.
It will be interesting to see what the next six years brings”¦
Photo Credit: DairDair on Flickr. CC Licensed.
The Phoenix Real Estate Guy was started by Jay Thompson, and I have a little blogging problem... he liked to say...
Hey Jay,
Just wanted to hop on over and say CONGRATULATIONS and Happy Birthday to TPREG!! (For the most part) I remember TPREG when you first started and it’s gone through a few design iterations since then. Needless to say it’s been pretty rad to see it grow 🙂
Congratulations! Time flies when you are having fun.
Congrats on 6 Years and Cheers to many, many more! 🙂
Congratulations are in order. Real Estate is a tough business to survive.
That’s OK, Jay. Don’t worry if your posts are not so good – just keep a it and I’m sure you will get the hang of it ;-)).
Seriously, you have inspired a nation of Real Estate bloggers – and I am one of them!!
6 Years =s an eon on the web. I’m impressed you were able to start this blog given the daily attacks from T-rex and the lack of reliable electricity back then.:)
As a true pioneer you have managed to evolve your blog along the way into a true powerhouse. I have a very short attention span for blogs yet I read yours quite regularly. Always good stuff to learn from or comment on. Nicely done!
Jay, I understand your first blog posts were wood carvings, is that right?
Congrats on the great achievement! 6 Years is huge, and I hope one day my site/blog can have the same honor. As Bob, said you have truly inspired a nation of RE bloggers and I am also one. Thanks so much and keep on rocking!
I’m with Alex. Congrats on the great achievement Jay. 6 years IS huge. You do a wonderful job and are a shining example for the rest of us. Keep up the good work!
Congratulations, Jay! Here’s to many more great years ahead.
Many of us have been able to learn from your posts and have directly or indirectly benefited from your direction as we continue to try and make sense of our new and ever growing social surroundings. For that, thank you!
Again, congratulations.
Congrats Jay! Have really only been reading and trying to contribute for a short time. Thankful to have found your blog.
Congrats, Jay! Garbage Guy will be 6 next month! We have hauled a LOT of JUNK and improved a lot of properties in that time. I just wish I had written about all of it as well for the past 6 years… you can’t imagine some of what we have seen! Thanks for the inspiration!
Congrats on six years and many more to come. Keep up the great work!
Congrats Jay, you have built quite a following!
What a great accomplishment! Congratulations!
Congratulations on six years! You’ve done an amazing job building out your online presence, and I’m hard-pressed to think of many Realtors out there who have such a successful blog and website. Your blog is a great example of what just a little bit of time every week or day can become.
Looking forward to another six years!
CONGRATS!!
Trying to be just like you in Atlanta. Or at least end up with the same kind of site rankings..
Congratulations are in order. Real Estate is a tough business to survive.
Well done Jay..you’ve made an great real estate blog. Try to keep up the good work
Congratulations!!!!
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