The Blogging Years

~ beetleypete

If I make it to this (my 70th) summer, I will have been blogging for ten years. I know many of you have been bloggers for a lot longer than that, but it only feels like last week since I tentatively pressed ‘Publish’ on my first ever blog post.

A lot has happened since then.

I have made amazing friends, and lost quite a few of them too soon too. I have had stories/articles/blog posts published online, in paper magazines, and even in a published anthology book. Outside of my family, and Ollie of course, blogging has become ‘what I do’, and I have even been recognised in Beetley by strangers, because of the photos I have published of Ollie.

I have published 4,608 posts, including this one, and had 580,000 views of my blog from 188,000 visitors. On one day, I had over 820 views, still the best so far.

My posts have been shared almost 16,000 times on Twitter, 6,800 times on Linkedin, and 6,700 times on Facebook. I am not even on Facebook, so that’s a bonus!

I have been ‘Press This’ 42 times, and I still don’t know what that means. 🙂

16 of my posts have been shared by email, and each post has averaged 45 comments. (As I reply to all comments, you can halve that to 22)

As of today, the lovely Jennie Fitzkee at https://jenniefitzkee.com/ is currently my top commenter. But Jennie is American, and very polite, so always adds ‘You’re welcome’ when I thank her for her comments.

Could there be a better hobby/pastime than blogging? I don’t think so. You can do it anywhere, inside or out, and you will meet some marvellous people from all around the world, if you do it right.

So, to all you ‘New Year’ bloggers. Keep at it. Don’t give up.

It will enrich your life.

107 thoughts on “The Blogging Years”

  1. Congratulations on 10 years of blogging, Pete! Wow! Terrific stats and here’s to finally discovering what ‘Press This’ really means! I imagine blogging has its own time and like you feel it wasn’t long since I started my own in 2015! I’m sorry to learn about your losses during your time here and experienced this sadly for the first time last year.

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  3. Congratulations to this anniversary too, Pete! Its wonderful to have you here, online. All your postings are so entertaining, informative, and the shortstories are also very adorable. Even thought some of them as a movie would breaking the length of usual serials. Lol Thanks for all! xx Michael

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  5. Wow, congrats on ten years of blogging! I’ve been blogging for fifteen years come this February, but I haven’t had the same blog for all of that time. Your stats are also amazing. Here’s to many more years of blogging for both of us.

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    1. Thanks, Shelly. I mainly write fiction serials, stuff about my dog and living in the countryside. I also post film reviews, a LOT of blogging moans and tips, as well as memories from my childhood, and working life. It’s a random selection, most days.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  10. Congratulations on your ten year anniversary. But more thanks for your help over the five years I have posted. Each time I get in a fix you have been able to help. That makes you a real friend.

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  21. I wish I had started blogging earlier it’s such a wonderful way to make friends from around the world with people we normally wouldn’t have met even though much of it is virtual…Here’s to another 10 years, Pete 🙂 x

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  23. Keep on trucking, Pete. I’m convinced that keeping our bodies active and minds engaged is the best way to live, especially as we age.

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  25. Pete! I was enjoying reading your post, and then got to the ‘Jennie’ part. That is so nice! I had no idea I was your top commenter, and of course saying ‘You’re welcome’ never goes out of style. Thank you for your kind words! Congratulations on ten years of blogging. If it makes you feel any better, I do not know what ‘Press This’ means, either. 🙂

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  26. Congratulations, Pete.
    Here is to many decades of blogging!🥂
    I am stepping into the second year of my blogging and enjoying building a beautiful circle of friends.
    Thank you for guest posting my writing, introducing me to some prolific writers and encouraging me to keep on blogging.
    Best wishes.
    Chaya

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  30. There is such a great community of bloggers out there – I am so happy to have met so many of them, and happy that I got my sister to follow you as well Pete! Here’s to ten more years of great stories, long walks with Ollie and so much more! Cheers!

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    1. Thanks, John. It has been a joy to get to know you and Alex, see all the crazy stuff on your blog, the nice food, and your foreign travels. 2022 will be another great year for blogging, I’m sure.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  31. You are especially talented Pete! When I was talked into having a blog I couldn’t imagine that anyone would be interested in anything beyond my slightly irregular childhood. I figured when that ran out I would be grasping for topics. But somehow I am still going and it’s fun meeting new and fascinating people online. It’s a positive side of the media.

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  36. So true, Pete. I’ve only been blogging for a little over 9 years and I’m 71, so I can relate to all you’re saying – except having a buddy like Ollie. Who could match that?!!

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  42. Aye, you are almost my grandpa’s age! I shall be referring to you as Sir then. I have only been a recent follower of yours but I look forward to your posts, especially the musings and crime fiction serials. Congratulations on almost ten years of blogging, you’ve come a long way! I’m sure you’ll be here this summer.

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  45. I joined WordPress because I seemed to be the only writer / Indie Author not on it and my original Website to ‘promote’ my books ( cynical laugh ) was not interactive. I aimed to post once a month, but blogging soon became a way of life. Along the way I have sold a few books to fellow bloggers, but having comments and knowing people have enjoyed reading my blogs and short stories has been most important. The past two years blogging has been a godsend for most of us in various states of physical isolation.

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    1. You are a big part of this community, Janet, and these last months have been far from easy for you. But your sense of humour has seen you through, and we are all grateful for that.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  47. 10 years, that does sound like a long time, it truly has flown by. Long may you continue. I have just written a post so once I add pictures tomorrow I will press the publish button…its that long since my last post its almost like starting again 🙂 Cheers!

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  48. (1) Beneath a button on my universal TV remote there is a sticker that reads, “If your television fails to turn on, press this button 42 times, cross your fingers, and make a wish.” (Okay, but what about checking the batteries?)
    (2) “I have had stories/articles/blog posts published online, in paper magazines, and even in a published anthology book.” So you’ve done it all…maybe.
    (3) Big Brother:
    Winter 2020-2021: I know what you did last summer. You screamed about the weather.
    Winter 2021-2022. I still know what you did last summer. You still screamed about the weather.
    Future Winters: I’ll always know what you did last summer. You’ll always scream about the weather.
    (4) We all know that Ollie is your ghost blogger.
    (5) A moron from Oxy once proclaimed, “With blogging, you Spend a lot of time Enriching your life.”

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  49. Congratulations on your longevity. I have been blogging for 8 years now but dont have the same stats to show for it as I have taken too many breaks during that time due to some blogging frustrations. Overall I love it and enjoy readings peoples posts. Keep going Pete.

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    1. Thanks, Bob. I almost gave up blogging over frustrations with the Block Editor. I was seconds away from pressing the ‘Delete blog’ button. Then Classic Editor was retained, (for now) so I carried on.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  50. Ten years is a very long time and it’s so good to hear how blogging has become such a wonderful part of your life. It’s the same for me and the friends I’ve made over the years because of it are very much a part of me now. I think I would’ve missed out on so much had I never started blogging seven years ago. It’s all such a blessing. Happy new year! 🎉

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