I've been in despair for the past several days because Google Analytics says only one person (I think of him or her lovingly as "Old Number One") has visited ' The History of Gin ' .
Google Analytics is a neato tool that can be used with Blogger to count visits to one's Blog. It keeps track of many aspects of each visit, but it boils down to counting visits. Analytics is neato because without it one doesn't know if anyone is visiting and it's FREE.
Some may claim Analytic's only flaw is that it doesn't tell you your Blog visitors' street addresses so you can show up unexpectedly for dinner. But then, some privacy whackos probably would think that's a "Good" thing.
Anyways, like the Ads I've mentioned, Google Analytics gives you some HTML code to embed in your Blog in every page you want it to monitor. I thought the best place to put the code would be in Blogger's basic Template for my Blog. . .That is, under the "Template" tab and "Edit HTML" option when Customizing a Blogger Standard Format Blog. At that point, put the Analytics code among the other HTML code you see where it won't cause any trouble -- just be careful because you're looking at Blogger's fundamental code for your Blog's layout and format. All danger aside though, if you put the Analytics code in this Template, which Blogger uses when composing every page in the Standard Format Blog, then it will be in every page of your Blog, just like Analytics recommends.
AND Just Don't Put It Where I Did.
The thing is, HTML and related web languages have little things called "Comments". . .consisting of stuff (mainly comments) NOT to be executed. . .that are delimited by special combinations of characters (tags), like < !-- and -- > or / * and * / .
Like quotation marks or parenthesis, these delimiters can span several lines. . .even vast geographical expanses of lines. . .and you Might Not Even Know It (Although some text editors used for viewing HTML code flag sections of code with different colors).
AND I put the Google Analytics code for my Blog in the middle of one of these huge comments, so it's HTML code was not active.
Long story short, that's why no visitors were counted. I don't know how Old Number One managed to get counted on Aug. 5th. . .maybe it was Magic ? ? ?
Bottom line is, do like Google Analytics says (when one finds the place they say it) and put the Analytics code immediately before the < /body> HTML tag near the bottom of the Template for you Blogger Blog. If one doesn't use Blogger, then the Analytics code still can go immediately before the < /body> tag in whatever Blogging tool one is using.
I found the Helpful Link entitled " How can I confirm that I've entered the tracking code correctly on my pages? " on the right side of the Analytics page surprisingly Helpful in resolving my little issue.
And remember, Analytics reports data up to the prior day, so Aug. 12th data isn't shown until Aug 13th.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Adding more Ads
I've now signed up for Ad Affiliate Accounts with Amazon and iTunes, in addition to AdSense Ads.
'The History of Gin' now has one Amazon Ad box for Books and another for DVD's. In both cases, I selected the class of products; Books and DVD's, and some general categories within those classes; bestsellers, sci-fi, TV shows, drama, etc..., and Amazon displays several varying suggestions that can be selected in the Ad boxes. I also had to choose the shape and orientation of the Ad boxes, narrow & tall, broad & short, a small square, etc.... Amazon has a good selection of box shapes BUT the shapes have to fit within size limits for New Page Elements permitted by your selected Blogger Standard Format. For instance, elements inserted down the side of my Blog can only be 150 pixels wide. With the Amazon "narrow/tall" boxes, only one width, 120 pixels, fit within the 150 pixel limit, which greatly reduced my selection of Ad boxes. If a box is too big it gets cutoff -- AdSense seems to prevent selecting a box too big.
The Blog also has an Amazon Search Box, which is just a place to type keywords and go to Amazon -- it has a similar AdSense Google Search Box. Apparently, if a search leads to the purchase of something recommended at the Amazon or Google site, one makes a commission.
Finally, there is an iTunes Ad box which stays static (advertising NBC TV box sets in my case) rather than displaying recommendations that change, like the Amazon boxes. The iTunes Ad box really is just something to click that leads to the iTunes site where searches and purchases can be made. The iTunes Ad box selection wasn't as good as Amazon's. The iTunes Ads are administered, by LinkShare for Apple. In addition to Apple, LinkShare offers Affiliate Ad programs with other companies. . .but I haven't pursued this yet.
The AdSense Content boxes are behaving better, advertising things other than COTTON stuff, but still not much of interest to me. Supposedly AdSense works very well for people?
I also have an AdSense referral Ad, but that whole category is way too complicated and hard to set up. I'll have to work with it more.
Except for the AdSense content Ads, the necessary Ad code was generated by the Ad company and one inserts the code in a Blogger HTML Page Element. As I said before, AdSense Content Ads also can be inserted as HTML or by using the special AdSense Page Element.
For the Ads where I had input on content, I concentrated on books and DVD's. Since I also make Theme Song recommendations for the different chapters posted in the Blog, I thought an iTunes tie-in would be nice.
I've concentrated on Ad boxes so far, I haven't tried any Text Link Ads yet. They apparently are just words you click on to go to the advertised product.
The biggest problem with Ads is the size limitation imposed by your selected Blogger Standard Format. This problem illustrates why one probably shouldn't depend on Blogger, or at least Blogger's quick blogging tools, in the first place.
But the Blogger Standard Formats CAN be edited by delving directly into the Template HTML code for the format you choose. . .It's easy for someone comfortable with HTML. More on that later...
'The History of Gin' now has one Amazon Ad box for Books and another for DVD's. In both cases, I selected the class of products; Books and DVD's, and some general categories within those classes; bestsellers, sci-fi, TV shows, drama, etc..., and Amazon displays several varying suggestions that can be selected in the Ad boxes. I also had to choose the shape and orientation of the Ad boxes, narrow & tall, broad & short, a small square, etc.... Amazon has a good selection of box shapes BUT the shapes have to fit within size limits for New Page Elements permitted by your selected Blogger Standard Format. For instance, elements inserted down the side of my Blog can only be 150 pixels wide. With the Amazon "narrow/tall" boxes, only one width, 120 pixels, fit within the 150 pixel limit, which greatly reduced my selection of Ad boxes. If a box is too big it gets cutoff -- AdSense seems to prevent selecting a box too big.
The Blog also has an Amazon Search Box, which is just a place to type keywords and go to Amazon -- it has a similar AdSense Google Search Box. Apparently, if a search leads to the purchase of something recommended at the Amazon or Google site, one makes a commission.
Finally, there is an iTunes Ad box which stays static (advertising NBC TV box sets in my case) rather than displaying recommendations that change, like the Amazon boxes. The iTunes Ad box really is just something to click that leads to the iTunes site where searches and purchases can be made. The iTunes Ad box selection wasn't as good as Amazon's. The iTunes Ads are administered, by LinkShare for Apple. In addition to Apple, LinkShare offers Affiliate Ad programs with other companies. . .but I haven't pursued this yet.
The AdSense Content boxes are behaving better, advertising things other than COTTON stuff, but still not much of interest to me. Supposedly AdSense works very well for people?
I also have an AdSense referral Ad, but that whole category is way too complicated and hard to set up. I'll have to work with it more.
Except for the AdSense content Ads, the necessary Ad code was generated by the Ad company and one inserts the code in a Blogger HTML Page Element. As I said before, AdSense Content Ads also can be inserted as HTML or by using the special AdSense Page Element.
For the Ads where I had input on content, I concentrated on books and DVD's. Since I also make Theme Song recommendations for the different chapters posted in the Blog, I thought an iTunes tie-in would be nice.
I've concentrated on Ad boxes so far, I haven't tried any Text Link Ads yet. They apparently are just words you click on to go to the advertised product.
The biggest problem with Ads is the size limitation imposed by your selected Blogger Standard Format. This problem illustrates why one probably shouldn't depend on Blogger, or at least Blogger's quick blogging tools, in the first place.
But the Blogger Standard Formats CAN be edited by delving directly into the Template HTML code for the format you choose. . .It's easy for someone comfortable with HTML. More on that later...
Saturday, August 11, 2007
A Tale of Two Cities - Pt. 2
Learn Why I Have Two Blogs. . . (Continued)
In my prior Post I mentioned, among other things, that something at the end of my prior prior-Post illustrates why I must run two Blogs. Before plunging wildly down a tangent (as often I am wont to do) I began explaining that my Primary Blog (tho a thing of beauty) probably cannot generate the High Traffic it needs to be successful and lucrative. I suspect another Blog that is more Active and (dare I say it) more Interesting might help generate traffic for my " raison d'etre ". . . ' The History of Gin .'
Actually, if I were to enclose this paragraph in " Colorado 's trade mark ' Heartfelt Honesty Box ' (a bull - free zone) ", I'ld have to tell you folks that a multitude of exactly ONE has beaten a path to ' The History of Gin 's door over the past couple weeks and though there's no way to know if that person is an " adoring fan " or not, it's quite obvious he or she never came back. Now I am a complex man and my intent in Blogging also is complex, but my disappointment is very simple. ...And the reason for this mind-numbingly underwhelming performance is that no one knows my wonderful biographical corner of the world exists.
On the other hand. . .as was evident at the end of my prior prior-Post. . .all I have to do is mention HTML code in this Blog and Google picks it up in an " E.E.'Doc'Smith " INSTANT (if not faster) and delivers references to it by the Billions in search results.
Truely. . .the Universe is indifferent. -- Which by the way is a cornerstone of Existentialism.
And I'm not complaining; I'ld rather an indifferent Universe than one having inscrutable "plans" for me.
So don't think I'm in despair sitting on a dirty linoleum floor drinking cheap Scotch like some people we know. Prior to launching this Secondary Blog I already had taken steps to make ' The History of Gin ' known to all by submitting the Blog to applicable Blog Carnivals (in fact, I believe my belov'ed lone visitor was a scout dispatched by a Carnival). More on Carnivals later...
In my prior Post I mentioned, among other things, that something at the end of my prior prior-Post illustrates why I must run two Blogs. Before plunging wildly down a tangent (as often I am wont to do) I began explaining that my Primary Blog (tho a thing of beauty) probably cannot generate the High Traffic it needs to be successful and lucrative. I suspect another Blog that is more Active and (dare I say it) more Interesting might help generate traffic for my " raison d'etre ". . . ' The History of Gin .'
Actually, if I were to enclose this paragraph in " Colorado 's trade mark ' Heartfelt Honesty Box ' (a bull - free zone) ", I'ld have to tell you folks that a multitude of exactly ONE has beaten a path to ' The History of Gin 's door over the past couple weeks and though there's no way to know if that person is an " adoring fan " or not, it's quite obvious he or she never came back. Now I am a complex man and my intent in Blogging also is complex, but my disappointment is very simple. ...And the reason for this mind-numbingly underwhelming performance is that no one knows my wonderful biographical corner of the world exists.
On the other hand. . .as was evident at the end of my prior prior-Post. . .all I have to do is mention HTML code in this Blog and Google picks it up in an " E.E.'Doc'Smith " INSTANT (if not faster) and delivers references to it by the Billions in search results.
Truely. . .the Universe is indifferent. -- Which by the way is a cornerstone of Existentialism.
And I'm not complaining; I'ld rather an indifferent Universe than one having inscrutable "plans" for me.
So don't think I'm in despair sitting on a dirty linoleum floor drinking cheap Scotch like some people we know. Prior to launching this Secondary Blog I already had taken steps to make ' The History of Gin ' known to all by submitting the Blog to applicable Blog Carnivals (in fact, I believe my belov'ed lone visitor was a scout dispatched by a Carnival). More on Carnivals later...
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