'Dialysis from the sharp end of the needle' is one year old

[okarol]

December 26, 2008
DSEN is one year old

By Bill Peckham

I started this blog one year ago. 800 posts later what have I learned?

About blogging I've learned that it is something I like to do - I went back and reread some of the early posts; I think I have gotten better but I can also see that there is still plenty of room to improve. When I started I would write and rewrite a post. Now I try to post my first draft. It doesn't always work out for the best but I like the challenge.

Not all 800 posts are mine. One unexpected development has been having Anna, Peter and Mel contribute (I'd really like other contributors - particularly on PD and/or additional non-US perspectives; anyone interested in writing about the industry). And the commenters - there have been 384 comments. Between contributors, commenters and the dozens of CKD blogs, listservs and discussion boards that I now follow more closely I feel like I know quite a few more people with CKD. It is also clear that more people feel like they know me, which I don't always remember.

I get weekly emails and phone calls from those who suddenly find themselves diagnosed with CKD or are thinking of going to home hemo or want to travel or are having a tough time.  I wish I had better answers. I also wish I had more time. I spend more time reading than writing - you could spend your whole day reading and replying to the discussion boards - but there is just far more data than time to process it. I'm a hobbyist at this; I find it's tough to maintain all the connections that have come out of blogging and/or participating in the online CKD community.

Besides the time I spend following industry and dialysphere developments, I (and Anna) spend a lot of time looking at the stats. The word obsession has been bandied about. I really had no idea how many people would read DSEN when I started this but because of the generous linking from RenalWEB, NephrOnline, HDCN, the discussion boards and other CKD blogs I get a steady stream of traffic, beyond the click throughs from Google and other searches.

I didn't install the Sitemeter traffic counter until February, so I don't have traffic data for DSEN's first month; since February I've had over 45,000 visits. The busiest day was back in June when HR6331 was a developing story and I had 600 visits in one day. I'm not sure how many people have me bookmarked or subscribe to the blog feed but it is more than me and Anna reading the posts. Zach commented earlier this week on one of my first posts - a New Years resolution post of sorts. I'm pretty sure Zach is a faithful reader - maybe he takes notes - but no I didn't quite achieve the New Year's goals I set for myself.

I had it in my head that I could post three times a day, I haven't maintained that pace or even been able to post every day - I think it is inevitable that something will come up trumping the importance of maintaining the blog. I had even less success achieving my goal of a completing a legitimate chin up. By the summer I had to concede that the gym membership was not a good use of money - my attendance was too spotty. Ah well there is always 2009.

http://www.billpeckham.com/from_the_sharp_end_of_the/2008/12/dsen-is-one-year-old.html

[okarol]

  Well done Bill!

[Wattle]

    

[aharris2]

December 26, 2008
DSEN is one year old

By Bill Peckham

I started this blog one year ago. 800 posts later what have I learned?

About blogging I've learned that it is something I like to do - I went back and reread some of the early posts; I think I have gotten better but I can also see that there is still plenty of room to improve. When I started I would write and rewrite a post. Now I try to post my first draft. It doesn't always work out for the best but I like the challenge.

Not all 800 posts are mine. One unexpected development has been having Anna, Peter and Mel contribute (I'd really like other contributors - particularly on PD and/or additional non-US perspectives; anyone interested in writing about the industry). And the commenters - there have been 384 comments. Between contributors, commenters and the dozens of CKD blogs, listservs and discussion boards that I now follow more closely I feel like I know quite a few more people with CKD. It is also clear that more people feel like they know me, which I don't always remember.

I get weekly emails and phone calls from those who suddenly find themselves diagnosed with CKD or are thinking of going to home hemo or want to travel or are having a tough time.  I wish I had better answers. I also wish I had more time. I spend more time reading than writing - you could spend your whole day reading and replying to the discussion boards - but there is just far more data than time to process it. I'm a hobbyist at this; I find it's tough to maintain all the connections that have come out of blogging and/or participating in the online CKD community.

Besides the time I spend following industry and dialysphere developments, I (and Anna) spend a lot of time looking at the stats. The word obsession has been bandied about. I really had no idea how many people would read DSEN when I started this but because of the generous linking from RenalWEB, NephrOnline, HDCN, the discussion boards and other CKD blogs I get a steady stream of traffic, beyond the click throughs from Google and other searches.

I didn't install the Sitemeter traffic counter until February, so I don't have traffic data for DSEN's first month; since February I've had over 45,000 visits. The busiest day was back in June when HR6331 was a developing story and I had 600 visits in one day. I'm not sure how many people have me bookmarked or subscribe to the blog feed but it is more than me and Anna reading the posts. Zach commented earlier this week on one of my first posts - a New Years resolution post of sorts. I'm pretty sure Zach is a faithful reader - maybe he takes notes - but no I didn't quite achieve the New Year's goals I set for myself.

I had it in my head that I could post three times a day, I haven't maintained that pace or even been able to post every day - I think it is inevitable that something will come up trumping the importance of maintaining the blog. I had even less success achieving my goal of a completing a legitimate chin up. By the summer I had to concede that the gym membership was not a good use of money - my attendance was too spotty. Ah well there is always 2009.

http://www.billpeckham.com/from_the_sharp_end_of_the/2008/12/dsen-is-one-year-old.html

hey bill you forgot to mention IHD in your post, tsk tsk tsk

cheers,

Rolando



Edited: Fixed quote tag error - okarol/admin

[pelagia]

Happy Birthday to Bill's blog! 

[Romona]

 

[Zach]

 

[monrein]

Good stuff Bill.  Keep up the good work. 

[kitkatz]

I see lots of important things crossing the boards about your blog. Congratulations Bill on your first year! 

[Bill Peckham]

hey bill you forgot to mention IHD in your post, tsk tsk tsk

The slight wasn't intentional. I definitely value IHD; I do see traffic coming off IHD links. I appreciate when a post is cross posted even if I don't take the time to comment every time I would wish.

When I think back on my year in blogging links coming from industry sites have been very motivating, I didn't anticipate that. I get to talk to you guys all the time but when the industry sites link I see hits from .gov and the renal companies. People I wouldn't otherwise connect to, maybe they're lurking on IHD and the other boards too ... I don't know

I think IHD is my number one out click by far. In other words I can see what a person clicks on when they navigate away from my blog and the most common next destination is IHD.

[Rerun]

You and Epoman could have done great things together.  Both named Bill.

Congratulations on your efforts.   

[thegrammalady]

congratulations, a year is a big milepost. think of all the good you are doing.

[Sunny]

I check your blog regularly. Keep up the good work. We are counting on you.