Month In Review For April 2012

by Michael Good Posted on May 1, 2012

For the next few months, at the end of each month we are going to be posting a Month in Review. This is something we have really enjoyed reading on other blogs and we thought it would be fun to include it in ours as well. In each review, you can expect to be filled in with some of the behind the scenes details of our blog.

For starters, here are our 10 most viewed posts:

  1. The Lighter Side: Start!
  2. Conducting Inventory
  3. Introducing Top Monthly Commenters
  4. Introducing Myself To Strangers – IDC #15 (guest post by Chris Peek)
  5. The Lighter Side: Casually Broke
  6. How To Like Your Life
  7. Why Some People Change And Others Do Not
  8. Get Back On Your Horse!
  9. How What I’m Wearing Makes Me Feel
  10. Make Your Work Calendar Mirror the School Calendar (guest post by Justin Lukasavige)

Not all the posts are from this past month.  This is something we like to see as it’s an indication our content is continuing to rank higher with Google and other search engines.

If fact, the most viewed post, The Lighter Side: Start!, was posted about two months ago. It was viewed over 8 times the average number of views for our other posts. Yay, Google!

Two of the posts above are guest posts. We enjoyed branching out in this area and will continue to do guest posts from time to time.

We also introduced the Top 10 Commenters this month. It was a month of changes! We are really enjoying it to say the least! If you haven’t already, check some of these folks out. They are all doing some pretty awesome things and Claudia and I are honored to know them.

Drumroll please…

Here they are (you guys rock!):

Rob Clinton 59 comments

Michael Wright 34 comments

 

Joe Lalonde 33 comments

Ann J Musico 30 comments

 

Ryan Ash 20 comments

Cindy Hirch 17 comments

 

Kent Julian 13 comments

Chris Peek 11 comments

 

Rob Coburn 8 comments

Crystal M Good 8 comments

 

April was a great month for us! One additional highlight was Claudia guest posted for Nina Nelson of Shalom Mama. You can read the post here.

Question: What was one highlight from April 2012 for you? If you blog, what was your top post (please include a link!)?

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  • http://www.trailreflections.com/ Chris Peek

    Wow, I made the one of the top 4 posts. I’m always open to being adopted as a long-lost cousin of the Good family so I can continue to bring my contingent of rabid followers over to Rise 365 (ha ha ha).

    • http://rise365.com/ Michael Good

      Haha, love it Chris! Thanks again for guest posting!

    • http://rise365.com Claudia Good

      Awesome Chris! I knew I had a missing cousin somewhere out there!! ;) btw cuz… there is rumor that your house is on our way to our vacation in OBX with my family in Sept. is this true?

      • http://www.trailreflections.com/ Chris Peek

        I have cousins everywhere, so I’m definitely glad to add a couple more! Yes, you almost have to go right by our house to get there. Would love to connect! We’re pretty flexible, so feel free to stop for a meal on the way down or back (or even for a place to stay if you want), or we could always meet you down there to hang out on the beach or for a meal.

        • http://rise365.com Claudia Good

          I think Michael was already planning on it!! ;)

        • http://rise365.com/ Michael Good

          We’ll get to try your wife’s cooking which I’ve heard to much about!

          • http://www.trailreflections.com/ Chris Peek

            Definitely. What are you favorite dishes? Knowing her enormous, completely stuffed boxes of her own recipes, I’m sure she’s got the perfect one for whatever you guys love.

          • http://rise365.com/ Michael Good

            Sweet! We’re good for about anything. I like to try different things or maybe Karen has a favorite (btw, I meant “I’ve heard so much about Karen’s cooking” in the earlier comment).

          • http://www.trailreflections.com/ Chris Peek

            We definitely have our favorites, although I haven’t had a bad meal yet. We can throw out some ideas as we get closer and know when you all will be here!

  • http://cindyhirch.com/ Cindy Hirch

    One of my favorite blog posts from you and Claudia is “How What I Wear Makes Me Feel.”

    My blogs are relatively new and just gaining a readership base, but the one that seem to resonate the most with folks was http://cindyhirch.com/dancing-to-fireworks/

    • http://rise365.com/ Michael Good

      Cindy,
      Your post is a powerful one! Your journey and transformation is inspiring.

      Thanks for sharing.

      • http://cindyhirch.com/ Cindy Hirch

        Thank you Michael – all I can say is that it has been the journey of a lifetime.

    • http://rise365.com Claudia Good

      Cindy,
      I really loved reading your post. I think our own stories are the most powerful!
      What first led you in your new direction? I am always curious as to what different people’s catalyst was for change.

      • http://cindyhirch.com/ Cindy Hirch

        Thank you! Actually Claudia a blog I posted last month would best answer that. It was a pivotal moment in my life. It is where all the changes began to take place even though I didn’t really recognize them at the time. http://cindyhirch.com/a-season-of-reflection-and-change/

  • http://cindyhirch.com/ Cindy Hirch

    One of the awesome things I love about both of you is your willingness to share the spotlight with others. In our “all about me” society it’s refreshing to see folks who want to help others grow. Thank you for your generous heart. I appreciate you both very much!

    • http://daddydifference.com/ Ryan Ash

      I totally agree, Cindy!

      • http://cindyhirch.com/ Cindy Hirch

        Ryan – I see many that are so protective of their own work they never see the value in helping others get started or grow. It’s refreshing when you see just the opposite taking place. I remember when they posted a specific topic awhile back and I felt a blog I had written could help someone I asked if I could post it as part of a reply. It wasn’t about promoting me, but about blessing someone else. Michael was so gracious and said – go for it! I have to admit it caught me by surprise.

        • http://daddydifference.com/ Ryan Ash

          That’s just the type of people that they are. I’m blessed to know them!

    • http://rise365.com/ Michael Good

      Cindy,
      We really appreciate that kind words and are glad to have connected with you recently!

    • http://rise365.com Claudia Good

      Cindy,
      You bless us! I think we sharpen one another on this journey… so glad to be walking beside you!

      • http://cindyhirch.com/ Cindy Hirch

        Thank you Claudia – it’s awesome to watch how God puts people together in ways to help encourage and strengthen one another.

  • http://www.fatherofone.com/ Michael Wright

    I think I could speak for everyone highlighted here and say a big “THANK YOU” for what you guys do. And you’ve only been up to this since October?!?!. Can’t wait to see what another year brings for you two on your journey!

    On a side note – what tool do you use to determine the most read posts? Is it Google Analytics or Feedburner, widget, etc?

    • http://rise365.com/ Michael Good

      Hey thanks, Michael!

      We use both the Jetpack site stats and Google Analytics. For the most viewed posts, I found it easiest to just use the Jetpack site stats (I think this is automatically installed with each WordPress site).

      Go into Jetpack from your dashboard, click on site stats, find “Top posts and pages” and click on “summaries,” click on “30 days.” This will give you the total number of views for each post over the past 30 days.

      Let know if that makes sense or not.

      • http://www.fatherofone.com/ Michael Wright

        Got it installed now, Michael. Much appreciated.

    • http://rise365.com Claudia Good

      Michael,
      oh my, that is so exciting to think where any of us could be in a year! If I am given the gift of a year… wow! hmm 365 whole days!!! :) …

  • http://daddydifference.com/ Ryan Ash

    Thanks so much for the mention, Michael and Claudia! Thanks most of all, though, for the motivation and inspiration that you both continue to provide here! I think that it’s more valuable to people that you all will probably ever realize!

    • http://rise365.com Claudia Good

      Our pleasure Ryan!
      Wouldn’t be here at all without your support that’s for sure.
      btw Michael and I were just talking yesterday how inspired we are by you and Ashley’s hard, hard, hard work and persistance to pursue your heart’s callings. blessings

      • http://daddydifference.com/ Ryan Ash

        Thanks, Claudia. Persistence & hard work have definitely been happening. :) Just hoping that it all pays off soon!

  • http://rise365.com/ Michael Good

    Love your post, Joe! That was one I missed; thanks for sharing.

    I remembered reading that March was an exceptionally good month in terms of blog traffic for you which would explain lower numbers this past month.

    Why do you think March was such a good month?

    • http://www.jmlalonde.com Joe Lalonde

      Glad you enjoyed it. That post was fun to write.

      I’m unsure why March had such an increase in traffic. Maybe the search engines are starting to index the site. It’s only been around for 6 months. That would be my best guess.

      • http://rise365.com Claudia Good

        Joe,
        Michael told me about your rockin post, so I had to check it out for myself.
        Really enjoyed that, thanks for the reminder that it doesn’t take much to start changing the direction of your life. Powerful.

        I guess we would have started our blogs around the same time… you said you started yours 6 months ago? What was your catalyst for starting it?

        • http://www.jmlalonde.com Joe Lalonde

          I just saw your comment on my blog about that. Glad you enjoyed it.

          Yeah, it’s been about six months, I believe it was October. The catalyst was a bunch of different factors. The fact that guys like Michael Hyatt, Kevin and Dan Miller, and others were so heavily promoting the idea, I was encouraging others to have a platform(I have a couple of friends who are authors but had no outlet to connect), and then the deal I got on my domain name and hosting was the final straw.

          I’m glad I took the jump. It’s been a fun 6 months. What got you guys to take the leap into blogging?

  • http://twitter.com/mikepurcell24 Mike Purcell

    Great idea on the Month in review and posting the top commenter s!

    • http://rise365.com/ Michael Good

      Thanks, Mike! We’re having fun with it. Glad you like it.

  • http://www.threedimensionalvitality.com/ Ann J Musico

    Love all you are doing – and this monthly recap is very cool. You both have a beautiful generous spirit that is so refreshing! I feel very blessed to have connected with you.

    • http://rise365.com/ Michael Good

      Ann, thanks for the kind words. I’m thankful we’ve been able to connect with you and so many of the other folks as well!

  • http://www.180coach.com/ Rob Clinton

    Wow, this is awesome… Hey, Hey I’m number one! =) Thanks so much for bringing this encouragement to light. Very honored to know you both; so glad we connected… Here’s to another amazing month! :-)

    • http://rise365.com/ Michael Good

      That’s right, Rob. Number one! Thanks for your support!

      • http://www.180coach.com/ Rob Clinton

        Honored! Thank you… :)