Monday, October 20, 2008

I Love SiteMeter!

Judging from the sparse commenting here, you'd think less than a dozen people are visiting the blog. But according to SiteMeter, there's been over 3,500 hits since the blog's inception in mid-August. Now it could be that there are less than a dozen people visiting dozens of times a day, but somehow I doubt it! SiteMeter says the daily average is about 60.

Even more fun than the numbers is finding out where people are from -- Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, China, Germany, United Kingdom, Canada, Japan. And just about every part of the United States, too: Youngstown, Ohio; Fort Worth, Texas (Hi, Mom!); Dillon, South Carolina; Vacaville, California; Lawrence, Kansas; Massepequa, New York; St. Paul, Minnesota; Tacoma, Washington; Las Vegas, Nevada; Traverse City, Michigan; Sunapee, New Hampshire; Chattanooga, Tennessee.

But my favorite part is the "Referrals" list -- how it is people found the site. Some it's because I'm on other blogs' blogrolls, and I thank you for including me! Some it's from emails to listservs -- and thank you for telling folks about Adoption Talk.

And I love looking at the various searches that get people to the blog. Some make sense -- you do a search for "talking to kids about adoption," you're likely to find us. And how about the person in Japan, using a French version of Google, looking for corruption in Chinese adoption? Found us! Searches for books we've reviewed, articles posted (the Newsweek article about the decline in international adoption was a frequent search that got people here), topics we've discussed ("parent teacher conference & international adoption," "disabled orphanage," "discussing skin color with kids").

The weirdest one is the search of blogs for "wife sharing." EEEEWWWWWWW! How did THAT lead here?!

Anyway, thanks for the hits! How about a rollcall in the comments? Where are you from, how did you find us, why do you read?

15 comments:

Jeff and Madeline said...

Wendy--Ohio
Malinda was my referral! I also saw it on ChinaBirthParent search or was it Guiping Girls, I don't know just glad to be here!

Uh, I do hit the site about four times a day...sorry.

everythingismeowsome said...

Hi, I'm Elizabeth from Birmingham, AL. I found this blog through a Yahoo group--either adoptive parents China or Waiting Children China. We are just beginning our adoption journey for a little boy from China. We have one bio son who will be 2 this Halloween!! I enjoy reading your blog! Thanks!

Ann BF said...

After following your Xiamen blog, and following in your footsteps in Xiamen...I just can't get enough of you, Zoe and Maya...you feel like family!

Wendy said...

Wendy in Oregon. I found you through Wendy in PA.

You're on my Bloglines, but it hasn't been updating until today when it said their were 25 new posts!

Anonymous said...

Just to confuse things...this is Wendy from Pa. I think I found you on the Birth Parent Contact Yahoo group and encouraged you to join the China Birth Family Search Yahoo group, because you are a wealth of information. I usually check the site 1-2 times/day.

Jeff and Madeline said...

Wendy in Ohio again, Hi Wendy in OR--I am living in OH now, used to live in PA, so the new Wendy from PA is a different one! Ya know, I had only met one Wendy my entire life until three years ago (I am now 37) and now I know four others!

mimifrancoise said...

This is your mother and I ususally check 3 oor 4 time/day. This is my second time today and it is 4:30. I would like to ask Ann bf to post on th eblog. I checked last night and you haven't posted since shortly after you returned from Xiamen. I wonder how your children re-adjusted after one year in China.
Fran, Grandmother to Zoe and Maya

PletcherFamily said...

We were referred from another blog we read! WE think your blog is great! We adopted a little boy from China in August 2007. Your blog is a great resource!
Jennifer
www.pletcher5journey.blogspot.com

Joanne said...

Mia's mommy from NY - you met my daughter before I did :) You are my "angel" - remember that post?!
For those of you wondering what I'm talking about: Malinda and her daughters were on their way to visit the SWI where her daughter was from - it just happened to be we were waiting for LOA and my girl was "waiting" for us to come! Malinda saw Mia (and heard her!) and was able to get me 2 updated photos; which I treasure to this day :)
M, you can't get rid of me!!

park it said...

Hi Carol in FL
Followed your journey in China - single mom - and love your posts/articles!

Anonymous said...

Lisa - Texas. I found you through you telling me you were here. Thanks for all the interesting conversation and links! Love ya!

Anonymous said...

I'm in Austin, TX. Adoptive mom to one girl born in China, preschool age. Can't remember how I found you; I think I saw you mention it on one of the (many) adoption email lists I'm on. Back when you and your girls were in Xiamen, I read your previous blog, too. Keep up the thoughtful work!

Tracy said...

I just found your blog tonight-did a search of "Guiping Adoption" since my 4 year old is from Guiping. I originally hit your old blog, but decided to check out the new one since you are probably going to be posting about issues I need to be reading about....my daughter loves to talk about her adoption but hasn't made the birthparent connection yet.

Oh yea, Tracy from Nashville TN with Amelia (4 from Guiping) and Jack (2 from Hanoi Vietnam)

Anonymous said...

Elizabeth in KS. I followed your blog when you went to adopt Maya, while I was waiting to bring home my own little one. And on the small world front, about a year ago found my way to Dee in Hot-lanta's blog, and found out via her blog when you were hospitalized, because your moms were on the same grandparent group. I recently saw a comment on Dee's blog from Fran and thought "I'll bet that's Malinda's mom".

Sheri said...

Sheri in Maryland, also with a daughter from Guiping. Followed your Xiamen blog, too! You're on my blogroll, too!! I don't usually visit your site, tho (unless I want to comment) - I read it via reader.google.com once a day. Since I doubt that you get a hit counter from the folks who follow you via a blog aggregator such as Google Reader, you can probably at least double your number of readers! :)