ActiveRain - The Official ActiveBlog

In this series, my sincere hope is that the information has been useful to you.  With simply applying some of what's been shared, there's no doubt that you can take your Blog on ActiveRain and your Business to the next level.  In a world of constant change, diversity, and adversity, we must always be looking for new and improved ways to better our systems, tools, and relationship building skills.  May your Blogging experiences and efforts Flourish even more now, and in the years ahead. :-)

Brad - Thank  You, I'll have to try these other options.

Brad - Thank  You, I'll have to try these other options.

Brad,

Thank you, great information and as always very much appreciated.

Sharon

Thanks for the info.  I really need to spend an entire weekend reading all the great resources here on ActiveRain.

Thanks so much for the tips!  Have a great weekend while you are thinking about more new suggestions for ActiveRain members.

Very interesting - thanks for the information.

How Ironic: I just got this email from ActiveMeter not 5 minutes ago -
Click on it to see some of the new FREE Online Marketing tools they're now offering.

Thanks for mentioning this. Homework for the weekend!

I miss being able to use stat counter because it really helped to give me good feedback on what I should write about.  That being said, the last option looks interesting to me...

Thank YOU!

well for pete's sake, who knew this feature even existed.  I hate to look like a total rookie, but I have never even noticed it before and I thought I had been to every link and option available here.

Blog-n-Roll Brad...

Now see, didn't I tell all of you there was such a thing as free parking? No one listens to me anymore :)

TLW...ROAR!

Oh...

I forgot to mention that I'm a little nervous about you pushing widgets :)

P.S. Do you know they give me points for not making a point? :)

TLW...ROAR!

I'll try some of these on my website and see which works best. Thanks for more to try...

Great tools, I'm bookmarking this page!

WONDERFUL!  I have long wondered how to track Active Rain, since google analytics doesn't work here.

Roy - I don't think I'll ever run out.  :-)

Courtney - there should be enough here to out do anything statcounter can do.

Robert - I still discover links here and I've been around a couple years.  lol~

TLW - haha - I listen!  Not to worry, these are mostly hidden widgets. 
the data and reports actually comes from their sites.

Penny - you'll find these resources more than competitive to GA

Brad:

Everytime I log in I find something new from you.  So much to learn and so little time.  I'm loving it though.  The lady with the whip in her hand is a little scary!!!

Brad - I learned something new today from AR, like always! I use the cluster maps and pay attention to my statistics, but haven't used or heard of Active Meter or Get Clicky. Thanks for the heads up!

Cool, I've now got top blog on,but if I make a new header at 468 x 60 how do I get a url for it on AR?  Karen

Karen - If I'm understanding your question correctly, the header won't have a URL and the recommended size for AR headers is  (Recommend size: 960x130)  -  (For the AR Outside Blogs it is 960x134)  The URL link to headers on Outside Blogs defaults to your Outside Blog Home page. Your AR Blogs (like mine here) have no link to any URL, they are just images. 

Brad  I want a header on TopBlog.  Their site asks for the header url.  Karen

I got ya Karen - you'll have to find a server where you can upload it so you can create a URL to it.  I have access to my own server, that's where I put mine.  Sorry, I misunderstood your question. :-)

Great tips...simple strategy to track results.  appreciate your sharing

Brad  Thank you,  Karen

Brad,

I really like the global mapping!  Thanks for sharing this.  As always your posts are extremely informative.  One of these days I may actually get this stuff!

A definite bookmark on this one, Brad!

Hi Brad - Great tips for measuring/monitoring traffic.  Thanks.

Brad,

Love the series! Will explore the other 4 but have a tip to share about our AR Statistics.

One can copy the grid into Excel and then sort it. I've sorted by # of comments, # of clicks - and run some ratios to see %. Let's me track my popularity...

Brad, between the 1000 points Local Business Challenge and this, I just may be able to leave the house for an hour this weekend.  I've bookmarked and printed this and will begin installing!

Can't thank you enough for the Building Better Blogs series. 

Brad.......SHUT YOUR MOUTH!!!!  I knew one of these...that's it.  This stuff is insane.  Bookmarked of course as I'm on vacation. Thanks brother...you've rocked my world!

Problem, though, Brad: Get Clicky is NOT for free. Yes, they have a free trial period, but if you want it permanently installed and have access to it, it has to be paid for. I got an e-mail to that effect from the Get Clicky people at the beginning of this week. I've been keeping track of my AR stats for awhile...considering I have an average of 25% ratio of views to clicks, I'm not complaining anymore. I still hav to figure out how to read the stats from statcounter, sitemeter, and the other metrics you've mentioned.

...note to self ... put 'B.Andersohn' on next Presidential Ballot ...

Brad -  this is a question not just about these specific tools but about the A/R stats in general.

Is there a way to differentiate between traffic on my outside blog and my regular A/R Blog?  The stats are certainly helpful butas I look at the stats screen, I have no idea people are clicking on my A/R blog,  Localism, or my Outside Blog.

I've had my outside blog for a month or so and if it is helping me to generate more traffic, I would consider starting a second one.  It's not a great deal of money but, even so, I have no idea if it's worth it.

Thanks, Brad! These are great tips!

Kewl.

I'll definitely give these a look to see how my blog is doing.

Brad - This is crazy ... thanks for the info!  I really appreciate the tips!

Clicky is my favorite...  I have Google Analytics, as well, but Clicky serves it up in the right format to get it through my thick skull...

Brad - Thanks for yet another important item to consider on the web.  Lots and lots of info.  :)

Thank you.  I need to see how to get Google Analytics on my outside blog and may want to try some of these others.

How did you ever learn all this stuff!  Are there any good resources or is it all by using the tool that you actually lern as well.

Brad - more bounty for folks wanting to measure their results. If you had to pick one, what would it be? I look at my AR stats all the time...it's very enlightenting to see what really gets the clicks as compared to the posts getting more comments (most time, those that are featured).

Jeff

Brad, wow...great information! I've been away from blogging for awhile, but trying to get my groove back. Stopped by to see you. ;-)

Hi Brad -- Great info.  I hate to admit it, but in all this time on AR, I've never visited or really looked at my stats page.

Brad - you've done it again... Lots to explore here. Bookmarked again.... Thanks

Brad.. Looks like a great way to get the over all picture of your blog.. Thanks for sharing

Brad you are going to have to stop blogging.  My to do list is getting longer not shorter.

Brad these are all great tools of course but what about mybloglog. Of all of them I think that one is invaluable!

Thanks for the info. This is something I have beenthinking alot about.

The information you guys have put out over the last few weeks has been amazing. Keep it up. You are going to end up with the best bloggers in the world! :)

Thank you Brad - once again!  I am continually amazed by how much information you personally have shared with all of us at Activerain, and what a positive impact you are on our businesses.  This is great info.

Hi Brad,  I love statisitcs, and I also use myblog statistics, I find that helpful to see terms readers are googling...

I just added clicky. Thanks for the advice!

Brad--my widgets are not showing up. I pasted HTML as instructions said, for Clicky + twitter, zillow, trulia. None are showing.

Great advice as always. I use Google Analytics on my main web site blog, and I want to incorporate the tools for here. I love the trafiic sources tool. I suspect but don't know how much traffic is cirected here from Facebook but i want to know about this and others.

Bookmarked for more work.  Gee thanks. I guess that's payback for me telling folks to call you in my deadbeat rainer post. Hope they called other folks too.....sorry about that one!

you rock!

Bookmarked as well! Thanks for being such a great resource!

Uhhh, you gotta have a website to use this stuff right?!

Good info, we use Clicky, Clustermaps, ActiveRain stats, and BlogLog. We also have Google Analytics set up and Kevin reviews that with our other sites.

I think I need a technical makeover.  Great information!

Irene - fantastic idea, thanks for sharing that.

William - I have been using GetClicky for quite some time, the FREE version is not the same as the trial or paid version.

Rick - these tools work on your AR Blogs and most sites. For the outside Blogs, I recommend Google Analytics.

An - there are many resources out there to learn this stuff, just consider me one of those.  :-)

Jeff - If I had to pick just one?  Hmm..  I don't think I could, they all offer something different and of value to me.

Teri - thanks for stiopping by, love your new photo too.

Bill - MyBlogLog is another one that provides great info, I just ran out of time and room on this post for it.

Erica - Some of these widgets and tools don't actually show up on your sidebar, they are just stats that get recorded and need to be accessed on the sites providing them.  Call me later and we can review which ones you installed that should be showing up on your Blog.

David - these work right here on your AR Blogs and should work on most websites when installed properly.

I have Clustermap and check my AR Statistics often.  My website has a traffic analyzer but I will check the other ones.  Thanks for the info.  You're terrific sharing all these important stuffs with all of us here at AR.

I have WAY TOO MUCH to learn about Active Rain!  Is there a tutorial on here anywhere?

Thanks Brad. I just went to clicky and see how it works there now. Great advice, as usual.

Brad --- you amaze me --- every time I read your posts, I have so much more to learn ---I have read your post on how to write a post to obtain customers 4 times -- I keep going back to it.  Now, with this post, I have to go out and try these things out --  I just went to  Active Meter and did a comparison of our company web site to our main competitor --- really neat and we come out better than they --- Yeah!!!

Thanks, Brad.

Hi Brad,  So when you said - 

"these tools work on your AR Blogs and most sites. For the outside Blogs, I recommend Google Analytics." 

Does that mean the "statistics" on my A/R home page which shows comments, views and clicks does NOT include data from my A/R outside Blog - only my "regular" A/R Blog?

Thanks

Good information.  I take it most of these will not work on the outside blogs?  Could you guys open up the widget options a little on the outside blogs?

Thanks for the info. I was wondering how to tell. I am very frustrated because I wrote my first blog. It took some time trying to simplify for buyers. Thought it wasn't bad. I initially wrote it on Trulia and then copied it here. Now someone has gone and wrote a blog very similar(after mine), I know it was rooted from mine, he even broke down calculations like mine. His is showing up in Temecula search with alot of hits when I google and mine is nowhere. I missed a beat somewhere. Trying to figure this out, Grrrrrr

Damon - there are a few locations for tutorials: ActiveRainGuide.com, The Help/FAQ Group, & My eBook Tutorials should get you most of what you need or are looking for. :-)

Rick - The AR stats page only reflects your AR Blogs and posts, not Outside Blogs or Localism.

Dianne - without researching this in more detail, it's hard to say but Google usually finds your original content and that's what gets indexed.  As far as others writing about the same content or topics, there's really no control over that, as long as they don't copy and plagiarize your material, each person is entitled to write their own opinions and blog posts.  Let me know if there is anything else I can do. Thanks.

Thanks, I understand that they can do that. I just need to find the best way to be on the top of what I can control. I think that is going to be trial and error. I just do not want to keep making the same stupid error. It doesn't mean I thought my blog was better, it was just my first baby step(LOL) in this playground. 

So, if I change tags or heading in my blog, that will not get reflected in the search engine?

Thanks a bunch!

Thanks again for the helpful info.  I ran across a video tutorial on adding widgets and info to the sidebar, but can't find it today.  Was this one of your posts?

Dianne - It most likely will, yes.  Read my recent series of posts on "Building Better Blogs" which covers tags and headings.

Kryste - I didn't have the video tutorial, but I did do a written post about it.  There is a link in the post above.  :-)

Brad, Again, thank you for not only great info, but something to do on a Saturday evening. (I need a life!)

Hi Brad,

    Thanks for the great info. Do all these analytics slow down your active rain experience? I have visited some of my friends blogs and there are 160 items that have to download.

Great information as always!  I'm going to have to start time-blocking to put some of this great stuff into action!

Sal - these analytics tools alone will not slow down the AR user experience, even when all are installed. However, keep in mind that the more widgets you have installed, and depending on those widgets and their sites and servers, it could make your readers experience very slow including total lockup.  This varies depending on their browser, computer system and internet access and speed. Many variables....

I am guilty of having way too many on my Blog but this is the only way I can test to see what works and which ones Bring the most value to readers and to our members.  I hope my page didn't take too long to load.  :-)  One day I'll surprise folks and they'll all be gone!  lol~

Brad, As always thanks for the great info! ~ JC

Thanks I will try to one of your recommended websites.

As usual great information but I thought one of those mentioned either ActiveMeter or SiteMeter wasn't working correctly with the changes a year or so ago?  That's why I took that one down/off.  Installed ActiveMeter and also got the email tune up message from them with special's.

I really value the information you give out.  Thank you for explaining how to make my Active Rain site even better.  I can't wait to get started on some of these new ideas.

Hi Lyn - I think the product you're referring to was called statcounter which had some "javascripts" that weren't compatible with the AR network for various reasons.  Our programmer had to remove any widgets with those types of scripts to prevent any malicious or potentially harmful activities to our site.  These sites and tools in this post have been approved and are all safe to use on your AR blog. :-)

OK - one more question regarding stats on my A/R Outside Blog.   Since the platform for posting on the  inside and outside blogs is simultaneous -  do the keywords, tags, etc effect both blogs.  The outside blog entries do not show any tags.

I guess another way of asking is this -  if I post the same post on inside and outside and assuming I do an incredible job of creating the post for maximum Google juice -  what happens if someone does a Google search and my wonderful post comes up very high in the results?  Which blog will the results lead them to?

The reason I am asking is because if readers are just as - or more than - likely to find the inside A/R blog than the Outside one - what is it I gain from having the outside blog?

Rick - great question.  I have seen many cases where the outside Blog post comes up first and visa versa.  You'll notice at the bottom of each post where we are pointing the original content to be.  If you post to your outside blog, we are doing what we can to let the search engines know that the original post was authored there.

Of course we have no control of how Google ranks, rates and indexes Blogs, posts and articles, but this has certainly made a significant difference.  There are too many other variables to give you a black and white clear and concise answer, but hopefully this helps.

The benefits of the Outside Blog include much more than just search engine results, feel free to call me and I'll explain in detail some of the other benefits you may not have discovered from them yet.  This post is about tracking so I'll refrain from the details here. Thanks. :-)

Brad, thanks for the info.  I'm guessing these tools will only work with an outside blog correct?  I mean, we probably couldn't use them with our ActiveRain blog, right?  I forgot about ActiveMeter and I like the idea of the ClusterMaps tool...

Chanda panda

Chanda - these all work on your AR Blog, for the outside Blogs I recommend Google Analytics. :-)

So, Brad, where do we sign up for the Masters Degree in Blogging SEO? And I assume AR is working on its accreditation? rofl!

Sharon

Hey Brad - As of August 7, Get Clicky stopped registering searches phrases. I've written to them, and they seem to think it should work but can't give me any answers. Could this be an AR problem. Their code requires JavaScript. Worked before.

I really miss not getting search phrases that brought readers to my posts.

Hi Judy - I don't think it's an AR issue other than the possibility of certain javascripts getting rejected.  How get clicky reports back their analytics is something we have no control over.  As far as the widget goes, I use the html widget and not the javascript codes.  Most of these types of sites offer alternative codes for members to use. 

Very helpful information.  I am new to active rain so I am learning TONS from you past blogs!  Thank you!

Lisa - Welcome to the AR Community.  You'll find lots of great information here.  I look forward to your involvement and wish you all the success possible on our network.  :-)

As always you provide the best information. I hope this helps me track what drives readers to my posts. Thanks!

So much good stuff here.  Thanks Brad.  The challenge will be deciding which widgets to use and which ones I'll have to do without.

Brad, I missed this but saw it reblogged and will bookmark for weekend work.

Brad, I found this re-blogged.

I don't think we can use Site Meter here, right?

Just asking....

BRad - When I try to install Sitemeter I get html code showing, NOT a logo, nor is it invisible. Help!!

Jeff

Missy - as far as I know, you can. I have it on my sidebar, you just can't use the HTML with Javascript in it. :-)

Jeff - they have a couple options, be sure to NOT use the javascript code and select the option to not show button if that's your choice.

Brad -

I missed this when it first came out.  I'm glad that I found it!

Brad, Is there a way to get the analytics from localism?

Steve - not currently for Localism.