One of things I like best about
blogging is seeing where my blogees come from. Typepad’s stats page is one of simplicity and I use it often; each page
view is tagged with a link. After great reflection, my crack
research team has concluded that most people who come here are either referred
by other blogs (no Surprise here), or are friends, business associates or other acquaintances here
to check up on what the guy from Airborne (or the guy formerly of Just For
Laughs) is yammering about.
But then there are those who
stumble upon “Pow!” via Google, Yahoo!, Technorati or other search
vehicles. They are an element of my constant
delight and Surprise, because what they’re looking for is rarely what they find,
when they find me.
I thought of this while laying down Thursday’s post. I wonder how many fans
of Dr. Dian Fossey or future zookeepers will join our merry band in their search
for “Gorillas”? Or how many Vietnam buffs
stopped by Surprise Central on their quest for “Guerillas”?
Other posts attracted equally
diverse audiences and equally perverse searches. For example,you wouldn’t
BELIEVE the traffic spike I’ve enjoyed ever since writing this one.
If I were a traditional marketer, I
might bemoan this turn of events. I
mean, just think of the inefficiency of my reach; about 33% of my traffic is
here purely by accident.
But as the Sultan of Surprise,
thinking about their reaction upon landing here, I couldn’t be happier.
To them, I share the sage words of
J. D. Clampett: “Y’all come back now, hear?”