As a blogger, it’s far too easy to fall into the classic trap of constantly checking the stats for your blog. You refresh the page and watch the numbers go up, down or stay stubbornly at the wrong number and you’re wondering if your posts are getting the attention they deserve. Well, first of all, I can say that of course it deserves the attention! Keeping an eye on your growth is natural, but obsessing over views and visitors can take the joy out of blogging altogether. After all, most of us didn’t start writing just to chase numbers. I certainly didn’t, even though I hope to reach a wide audience in time. Instead of letting the stats dictate us and out blogging experience we can focus on what truly matters which are creativity, connection with others in the blogosphere and the long game of building something really useful and meaningful for both you, the writer and you – the reader.

I’ve found a tight knit community instead of chasing numbers

The best part about having a blog, and especially having a blog on WordPress.com is not the stats – it’s absolutely the people! If you’ve been around for a while, you’ve probably noticed the same familiar names popping up everywhere. They’re in your reader feed, the comments, and it’s the people that are liking your posts over and over. But that is what makes blogging so much fun. We all support each other in this community and it’s not about getting thousands of visitors and subscribers, not really. It’s about engaging and connecting with the audience that really cares about your content. Instead of worrying about the numbers, why don’t you focus on the joy that I’ve found being part of this tight-knit blogging world? The real reward isn’t views, but conversations, encouragement and the shared creativity that makes this space online special.

In order to make this happen, I have a few key points, I’ve heard from friends forever who have blogged before and currently and all of them (including chatGPT) are giving the same advice. The advice are these key points:

How to Overcome the Obsession with Blog Stats

• Focus on Creating, Not Measuring
  Instead of checking stats multiple times a day, put that energy into writing, experimenting with new formats, or engaging with your community. I can spend hours each day in the reader, leaving comments, lurking and reading with others and I get tons of inspiration and knowledge from doing this
• Set Meaningful Goals
  Shift your mindset from “I need X views” to “I want to write a post I’m proud of” or “I want to connect with more like-minded bloggers.” Not to brag, but it seems these days since I found my rhythm for this blog that almost every post I write is a real brilliant creations. At least that’s true according to those who choose to comment and tell me that so that has turned into a goal of mine – writing truly inspirational words that catches your breath and blows your mind
• Engage with the WordPress.com Community
  Instead of waiting for visitors to come to you, visit other blogs, leave thoughtful comments, and build real connections.
• Limit Stat-Checking
  Set specific times (once a day or even just once a week) to check your stats instead of refreshing them constantly. I don’t have a specific schedule, but even though I spend a lot of time with my new and fresh blog, I don’t spend it all checking the stats
• Celebrate Small Wins
  Did someone leave a meaningful comment? Did you publish a post you love? These are more valuable than any number on a chart. Every time this happens to me, that I get a happy comment from somebody thanking me for writing “such a crowning achievement ” I get tears in my eyes and my day just got better, so please – if you like something, tell them so by leaving a comment
• Remember Why You Started
  Most people don’t start a blog to obsess over analytics—they start because they have something to say. Keep that passion front and center. I have lots to say, with privacy being key and learning to be the goal and I will try and achieve this one post at a time with you as the reader by my side
• Trust the Process
  Growth takes time, and consistent blogging naturally leads to more engagement over time. A single post may not explode in views, but your body of work will make an impact.

Why Obsessing Over Stats Can Be Harmful

It shifts your focus from being creative to just looking at the numbers and that drains the fun on blogging and it takes a huge toll on you. Remember that views fluctuate for many reasons and many of these are out of your control, like algorithm changes and seasonal trends. I’ve heard some say that during the summer and winter months, reading blogs is down a lot and that might be true for me as well.

Only time will tell if it is and while we wait to see what’s gonna happen it’s a bad idea to compare your stats to others. That’s because it can lead to unnecessary self-doubt. The reasons why others may have better stats than you can be because of multiple reasons. They might have been at it longer than you and they’ve built up a following already. I’ve heard and seen that posting multiple times per day can also lead to high numbers in views, but do you want to spam your readers feed? Perhaps you would not, so stick with your gut. Blogging should be about expression and connection and just not numbers.

Final thoughts about stats and choosing where your focus lies as a writer

Being unfocused is simple, because many of us are for absolutely logical and fair reasons. It’s hard to write if you have kids to take care of or if your sole income relies on your blog. then I can really understand why you might freak out over low stats, but as a blogger starting out? Well, that’s just sad, even though I can relate and understand.

I’ve mentioned before that I’m not perfect, because no single person is in general. We’re all biased towards what perfection is and obsessing over our views and stats is certainly the wrong way to go. If you’re reading this and you’ve been there, I’m only here to lend you a helping hand and to help you get through this ordeal and focus on what matters – writing and connecting with others.

As usual, if you have any ideas or thoughts of your own, feel free to share them below in the comments. I always appreciate you, no matter if you choose to comment or not, but coming in and saying hi makes it more fun for both of us.