Yesterday I posted a short story tip I thought people might enjoy. I kind of expected the usual suspects would give me about 60 views, maybe a reblog from someone who likes writing tips.
When I woke up this morning, that kind of looked like the case. A good post by my usual standards, some nice comments. Then I checked my stats. This post had over 450 views.
I thought one of the heavy hitters might have reblogged my post, but that wasn't the case. There are no reblogs.
I dug deeper, and my new visitors all came from Flipboard. This is the outfit that absorbed Zite magazine who I really loved. I have it set up to gather topics of interest for me. One of the things I can do is set up my own magazine, so I did that a few months ago and called it Entertaining Stories. Unless I'm just whining, I throw a link to my posts in there and don't pay a ton of attention to it. I've also thrown out posts by friends when they have a new release, or something particularly interesting.
I've shared all of the Lisa Burton Radio posts there in an attempt to drive my guests some traffic. Same thing for blog tour guests.
To be real honest with you, I thought it might be Facebook, or even StumbleUpon. I never expected this kind of traffic from Flipboard.
When I went to check it out, I was the top article in two different writing categories. I snapped a photo to share it with you.
Geez, if I'd have thought everyone was coming over I'd have gone with a book cover or something instead of my bronze bust.
The rest of the stats are kind of baffling. Take a look at these:
I'm over 2000 views at the time of this writing, and it's still climbing. Most of those people probably aren't in the WordPress system, because I only have 27 likes. This is my most popular post of all time, but without the likes it won't get into my top 10 in the sidebar.
Don't take this as a complaint. I'm happy to get action anyplace I can. That also means a few people read one of my micro-fiction pieces. There are even a few sales of Notebook to sweeten the deal.
Now if I could only figure out something intelligent to say about my other books, I'd be golden. I have no idea how to duplicate this process, but maybe something will come to me.
You can bet one thing, I'm going to be sharing more posts on Flipboard. This is another reason to have your characters appear on Lisa Burton Radio too, because I'm sharing the posts there.
I'm off to Atlanta in the morning. I'll probably manage a short update from the road, but I expect to be pretty busy.
Have a great trip.
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Thanks John.
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🙂
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Wow, I didn’t know you could create a magazine on Flipboard. I’m going to have to look into that because I use the app (still liked Zite better). I think the fact you used the bronze bust is going to help drive traffic It’s unusual and that would make me take a look when twined with the topic. Congrats, and have a good trip!
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Sounds like I should take them more seriously too.
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I agree. Your bust gives you the look of someone distinguished with authority, and it’s unique, rather than the typical photographic head shot. I’d keep it. Congrats on the stats. I’ll check into Flipboard. Never used it…another learning curve.
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That’s why I shared this. Maybe it’s someplace we can all gain some traction.
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I also agree about the bronze bust, it’s great.
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Good to know, thanks.
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Congratulations Craig! You are going viral! I’ve had a similar thing happen to me a couple of times. For me, the traffic was all generated from fb. I never worked out how to replicate what it was that clicked with people, either… it’s so random! Just enjoy it while it lasts, and I hope it’s the first of many more for you. 😁
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Thanks Ali. Maybe I’d better get some more short story tips together.
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Woohoo! If anyone deserves to go viral, it’s you. 🙂
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Thanks, Doc. I’ll have to put my thinking cap on and come up with something intelligent again some day.
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The pressure!!!!
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It burnssss.
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That’s awesome. Congrats and enjoy your trip.
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Thanks.
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Interesting! I’ll have to check that out.
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Sounds like I need to pay more attention too.
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yeah, I went on today and couldn’t figure out how to use it. I got to a point where it had me ‘add magazine’ but I was under the impression you could also post your blog there. For me it just ended there.
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I have to copy the address here and paste it into my magazine. It’s pretty easy though. It’s nice to be able to skip one if I’m just complaining or doing something boring.
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Okay, I’ll give it a try, thanks.
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That is spectacular!
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That’s wha tI thought too.
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This is fantastic Craig! Well done and it was a great post with some really constructive advice in it 🙂
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Thank you
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Ahhh yes – flipboard is awesome – it gave me my best views ever too! Bravo, congrats *champers* all round 😀 😀 😀 off I go to read this post!
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That’s pretty cool. Blew me away.
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its awesome but was a total one off for me, never managed to replicate the success although I am sure there is a method to doing it! if you figure that out let me know.
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Will do. Maybe the blog bash will light it up again.
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I doubt that – Flipboard is more article based – basically someone put my post as a featured post on their writing magazine – but it was like the central magazine as opposed to someONE’s specifically. I guess the equivalent to being freshly pressed – so it sounds like thats whats happened to you. It’s super awesome, hope you get lots of sales out of it too. 😀
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Thanks. I’m running to the airport, but might check sales when I layover in Denver.
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have a safe flight 😀
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Reblogged this on Anita Dawes & Jaye Marie.
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I read this on Anita Dawes &Jaye Marie and popped over to connect. How do you do. I have flip board and read every day but didn’t realise you could do this! I will be looking much closer from now on. Thank you. 😇
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Sounds like a few people are going to dig deeper into Flipboard. I set mine up as an afterthought. Thanks for following, and I followed back.
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I hope you find some things you like. I refuse to be genre led and post music? story, poems, facts, comedy and if you look close you’ll find pieces of me. 😇 Thank you.
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Congratulations.
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Thanks Don.
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Congratulations, its funny how a post can sometimes generate so much traffic out of the blue. Its happened to me a few times, but I find its never really an exact science or that predictable. Sometimes it something I’ve written ages ago that suddenly seems to get a lot of views ect. Very nice though. Oh & Enjoy your trip as well 🙂
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Thanks Paul.
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Isn’t it awesome when you write something and get a lot of replies? Writers need love, too!
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It was pretty cool. Thanks.
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Wow! I’m really happy for you. Must feel great waking up like that!
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It was pretty cool. Still getting hits today.
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Gosh, who knew?! Great view stats there, I’ve never even heard of flipboard, I’ll have to check it out. Well done you 🙂
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Thanks. It was my replacement for Zite, and I set it up on a whim. Who knew?
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Well done, Craig! Well deserved hits they are as well. Apologies for my long absence. I’m still here, barely have a blog pulse, but I’ll get myself back up and running soon. In the meantime, Flipboard away, buddy! What an accomplishment! Roll on sales… MH
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Hey stranger. I’ve been wondering what happened to you. Glad you’re still around.
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Life has got on top of me for the past few months – still hoping for a break in the storm. Not bad things, just things that have kept me ON THE GO pretty much constantly. 🙂
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