At 10 pm last night, I noticed that I had 7,001 followers, according to WordPress stats. The total is made up like this.
WordPress Blog Followers. 6605
Email only followers. 45
Twitter Followers. 351
Total, 7,001
Whenever I exceed another 1,000 followers, it is my habit to celebrate that with a blog post announcing my good fortune. I last did this when I reached 6,000 followers.
Somehow, I feel this is the right thing to do. Not only marking off the significant moments in my blog, but also thanking the followers.
But of course, as we all know, this is only ever a number, and does not relate to the popularity of my blog in the real world.
Around 35% of those followers have never read a post, or left a like or comment. They have only followed me in the hope of selling me something, leaving a link to their own site, or hoping to be followed back.
On a good day, this blog might get 600 views. Most days, it now gets between 400-500 views, as long as I have posted some content.
Even the most popular blog posts will rarely get more than 50 likes, and perhaps 45 comments. The majority of those comments come from people who have followed my blog for more than five years, and are in regular contact on a daily basis.
My reckoning is that I actually have around 700 real followers, or 10% of the stated figure. I’m not complaining about that, as they are 700 of the best followers any blogger could ever hope for. And I suspect that if I ever reach the figure of 8,000 followers of higher, it will be those same loyal stalwarts who are still around, liking and commenting.
And for that, I thank you all. And of course send you my best wishes.
Congrats, on your numbers. All the best!
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Thanks very much, Marva. I left a comment on one of your blog posts.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Congratz, really impressive numbers 🙂
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Thanks very much, Jesper.
Best wishes, and a happy new year.
Pete.
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Once again I salute your numbers, but more importantly I thank you for the ever available advice to new bloggers. My blog gained followers because of your needed advice in the beginning. Thanks again.
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That’s good to know.
Many thanks, Elizabeth.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Wow! You combined stats with wisdom…Perfect!!
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Thanks for your much-appreciated comment.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Congratulations, Pete! I am the one “behind the zero’s”. Lol
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Thanks for being a great follower, Michael. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Thank you for your kindness, Pete!
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Congrats!@
The sad truth is indeed that not everyone will be active followers.
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Just as well really, as I could never cope. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Congratulations
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Thank you, Rosida.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Congrats , Pete and well done…it makes blogging so worth while and enjoyable to connect and interact with our faithful followers…Have a great weekend 🙂 x
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Blogging is all about that connection. Without that, it’s just a ‘message in a bottle’.
Best wishes, Pete. x
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Congratulations, Pete. I’m so glad I’m one of the 7,000.
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And I am glad you are too. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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😍
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You will always be Pete, never a number 🙂 congratulations!
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Cheers mate. Thanks for sticking it out since the beginning.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Missed this one Pete. Congratulations on 7,000 and growing! I finally passed 1,000 a while ago but feel as you do it doesn’t represent ‘true’ followers. I agree with your 10% assessment and a smaller number who more often view, like &/or comment, like you my friend. 😊 And I am happy for all of them.
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Thanks, Susanne. I am vey happy with my 10% or so. If everyone was a genuine follower, I would have to employ staff! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Real followers are where it’s at. Glad to be one of the 700. Today I’ll sign off in true beetleypete form.
Best wishes,
Pete
(I can actually get away with this since I’m also Pete.)
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Yes, it’s good to have the same name. 🙂
Thanks, Pete.
Best wishes, Pete.
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You have a tremendous achievement with this blog Pete. Truly remarkable! Best Wishes, Trace
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Thanks very much, dear Lara.
Best wishes, Pete.
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This is a good amount of good followers. You are very fortunate, but you certainly put your all into it. Well deserved and congratulations.
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Thanks for those kind words, Margie.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I’d celebrate, too! Well done!
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Thanks very much, Angela. I always feel those ‘big numbers’ need a mention. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Well done Pete. Highlight of my day is reading your entertaining posts, long may they continue
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Thanks for those kind words, my old friend.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Congratulations. And on vehalf of all of us. You are most welcome. Warmest regards, Theo
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Thanks as always, Theo.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Probably help if I could spell 🙂
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The Loneliest Road in America is right here in Nevada. Millions of people know about it. Very few actually ever drive it.
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Does it have milestones? 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Congratulations, Pete. It’s the loyal followers who make blogging so worth while.
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It is indeed, Mary. 100 of those are worth thousands who never actually read the blog.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Congratulations, Pete. Not only is your blog great, your regular readers/contributors have great blogs also. Too bad WP doesn’t wake up to the fact you are one of their brightest stars and listen to you on Classic versus Block.
That number is truely amazing!!!
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Thanks for your kind words, and also for being a fully-engaged follower, Don.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Congratulations Pete….thanks for sharing that insight…I notice that most of my comments come from a small core of people, and nothing drives me crazier than having a friend tell me they like the blog…I ask them why they don’t leave a comment or “like” the post and they always say they never do that – it’s that shadow following…I get that all the time on Facebook as well…not really helpful for determining if posting stories is even worth the effort
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Thanks, John. I have a lot of silent followers who I know about, but my main core of those who comment has hardly changed over the years. They (incuding you) are much appreciated.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I also notice a huge discrepancy between the number of followers and the views / comments… I guess many users are not that active, or prefer not to read what they are supposedly following!
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Some just don’t stick around, Sam. Others never intended to follow, and just wanted a ‘follow back’. But having between 600-900 ‘genuine’ followers is very pleasing, nonetheless.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Absolutely! You should be proud (and you deserve it)! :–)
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Congratulations!
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Thanks, Pit. I like to mark the ‘big numbers’. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Bravo my friend!
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Thanks, Kim. It’s a nice big number. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Well done, a Pete!
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Thanks, Sue. The number looks good, if nothing else. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Congratulations on another milestone, Pete. And I agree with your reasoning with the actual followers. Still, a big number is a big number and cheers to that – it’s a result of your dedicated wonderful work! Take a bow.
Love from us on the coast and a big pat for Ollie,
Dina x
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Thanks very much, dear Dina.
Love from Beetley, Pete and Ollie. X
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Should I unfollow you so its a round number?
Congratulations.
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7,003 now, David. So that won’t work. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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You’re welcome Pete, and all the best to you. Cheers, Jon.
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Thanks for all your support, Jon.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Thank you, Pete! These milestone celebrations reminds us that blogs are living, breathing creatures affected by affection of those who touch it! Thank you for writing so well that we feel like connecting!
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And thank you for always being so kind, Shaily.
Best wishes, Pete. x
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Incredible. I still have only 38 on Blogger plus about 30 on my WordPress mirror site. I think follower numbers are partly related to frequency (and of course quality) of posts, and followers then begat followers. But 7001 – you’ll be in demand as an ‘influencer’. Awesome! (sorry)
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🤣🤣🤣Awesome! 🤣🤣🤣
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HAHA! 🙂
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Thanks, David. As I said, 700 is nearer the truth. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Congratulations, Pete, from a new follower who actually does read and enjoy everyone of your posts. I discovered your blog through Kim (By Hook or byBook), who also used to blog on my favorite erstwhile blogging platform (BookLikes, which collapsed earlier this year under an onslaught of spammers). Being a new follower, your “alphabet“ series of posts came just at the right time to get to know you (just a bit), and I absolutely loved the idea!
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Thanks very much. I assure you that you are appreciated. My A-Z and other Alphabet series are always very popular. I have done others on Films, Words, and so on. They can be found by typing A-Z in the search box. Here’s an idea.
https://beetleypete.com/?s=A-Z
Best wishes, Pete.
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Something to be proud of Pete. Congrats 🙂
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Thanks, Arlene. It’s just a number, but a good number. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Well done Pete!
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Thanks, FR. We all know it doesn’t mean much, but I still post about the big numbers. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Congrats! chuq
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Thanks, chuq. As I said, just a number. But it looks good. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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CONGRATULATIONS, PETE 👍😃
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Thanks very much, Chris. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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