Cable Fever
July 21, 2009 by admncc
I’m writing this at 12:30 as I wait for the Time Warner Cable representative who was supposed to be at my house between 10:00 and 12:00. I hate those cable windows of time, because I have absolutely no faith that they will be honored. And as a result, I had to take two hours off from work and my cable still isn’t working.
Anyway, on a completely different note, hopefully by tomorrow at this time, you should see a new look for The Constant Complainer. With the help of MEC Systems, we’ve developed a new logo. We’re also going to change the layout to three columns and upload a new theme with different colors. In the meantime, that’s why the banners and widgets are temporarily deactivated.
Working on the new look for the site gave me the chance to reminisce about this past year. Considering I started it from scratch and knew nothing about blogs at the time, it has worked out pretty well.
The idea for The Constant Complainer came to me while driving early last May. By May 28th, we were live. In just under 12 months, we’ve had 141 posts. Of those 141 posts, 50 were Guest Posts by 11 different authors. We’ve approved 3,410 comments and had more than 38,000 visitors. Those 38,000 visitors have looked at more than 120,000 pages and we have an average length of visitor stay of more than six minutes. Our Alexa rating has been as low as 1.4. We won a “Blog of the Day Award” from Famous Blogs, “Best Blog in Cleveland” from Cleveland Scene, the “Eff You Award” from Mom’s Crazy Life and were nominated for three “Bloggers Choice Awards.” Not too shabby for a non-daily blog!
People often ask me how many blogs I follow. The answer is 43. That means that I try to visit them as frequently as I can and comment. Keep in mind that most of my blogging is done late at night after my family has gone to bed. That’s the only free time I have. But my wife has been very supportive of this project and I’m very grateful for that.
Anyway, I guess I got a little carried away with the above-statistics. The Constant Complainer may not compare to your blog’s numbers, but I’m proud of my accomplishments in a little over a year. In theory, they say that you have a good blog if you have content vs. visitors vs. comments. We have all three. And I’ll continue to work hard to keep this site entertaining.
But I have to tell you; the coolest thing about blogging is the people you meet. You know; the blogging circuit… Three of my best teachers have been Christina Bledsoe, Extreme John and Dani. They all run successful blogs, I’ve reached out to them on numerous occasions with questions and they’ve been there for me. Thank you! Like I said, I didn’t know squat about blogging when I launched this site. I just had an “idea.” And to the countless other people I now correspond regularly with, like Jennifer Juniper, Jenny Georgio-who, SFL, Reforming Geek, C. Princess, Kat and Jen, it’s been great getting to know you. And to the original core followers like Neo Con Don, Leo Nevoli, Tristan, Mike, Zig, Steve, Tall Elf and Sugar, I couldn’t have done it without you. I’m sure I missed someone, but it wasn’t intentional. Here’s to another year of fun!
P.S. Click here to see an article Neo Con Don just sent me. This guy was arrested for threatening a telemarketer on the phone. LOL. This story was too funny not to mention…
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I’m proud of your accomplishments as well 🙂 It’s been a pleasure corresponding with you over the last year and I am more than happy to help out any way I can. Best of luck in the upcoming year.
Congrats CC. Also, get a satellite dish. And Don’s article was funny.
It’s been great getting to know you too through your blog. I enjoy reading about your complaints. You should be very proud of your accomplishments. Like you most of my blogging is done late at night too.
Now I feel like an idiot. Well thats usual, but I had no idea that when I clicked my “The Constant Complainer” rss feed in my Feedly that it was going to throw me smack dab in the middle of a party!
I would have brought flowers…. ok maybe a UFC DVD instead.
C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S !!!
Your blog IS my favorite blog, has been since I started interacting with other “bloggers”, all though I prefer to say friends. You couldn’t be more on point when you say that you have ALL 3, you certainly do.
Before I get out of here, thank you for the mention all though I think you gave me entirely too much credit, but you know I would help you with anything. Anytime.
Next time I expect an invitation so I don’t look so foolish.
P.S> Screw the cable guy, they all blow.
Congrats, and thanks for the opportunity to speak out. It wouldn’t be any fun without the rest of the crew too. It’s been a lot of fun so far, and I’m looking forward to another year of spirited debate, and glorious failure from the Tyrant in the White House!
Congrats and thanks for mentioning me. I enjoy your blog and hope that you keep it going for a long, long time. I’ve seen so many good bloggers basically quit. I guess life gets in the way sometimes.
I appreciate that you make the effort to visit other blogs. Reciprocation is always appreciated in the blog world.
Connecting with other people is also one of my favorite things about having a blog!
Very exciting statistics! So glad that I’ve been able to be a tiny part of your wonderful blog. It has been a lot of fun meeting so many people even if it is only via cyberspace. Keep up the good work and I look forward to keeping up with you in the year to come.
Being a new reader here, I can tell from your post that you operate a very successful blog. And by successful, I mean you have PASSION about what you do…and that’s what blogging is all about!
I too have enjoyed meeting people all over the world through this wonderful medium of blogging. And some of them I’ve had the pleasure to actually meet.
Congrats to your success! I wish you many more years of happy blogging and I look forward to seeing your new look!
It’s very nice meeting you!
Thanks! I like the new setup!
Awwww! How sweet! Althought I only stumbled across this blog a few months ago, I can honestly say that its one of my favorites! I could only wish to get as many hits and comments as you do! The topics here are always interesting and the comments are a riot! I’ve never been to a blog that had such interactive comments!
Next time you schedule an appointment with the cable guy or telephone company or any of those other companies that give you a large window of when they plan to arrive, you should mention casually that while you wait for them you will be updating your blog, The Constant Complainer, about how hard it is to get quality service. I wonder if they’s speed up!
CONGRATS CC!!
I love the online community you have created, and am honored to be part of it.
Thanks for the name drop. This is the only blog I comment on regularly, even though there’s some people (*cough*) who wished I wouldn’t. Seriously though I have a good time here and good luck in the upcoming year. I’ll keep posting if you keep complaining.
Yeah yeah yeah..congrats and all that. But did the cable guy show up on time?
congrats!!!! i’m digging the new layout!
Yes, most of my blog reading/ commenting is done late night as well…after my husband and… oh wait. It’s just me. And I’m an insomniac. Who has no life.
Nevermind.
Hooray – liking the new look. Very pleasing on the eye 🙂
It’s interesting to read your stats, I really need to sit down and look at mine. I’m usually having so much fun posting and commenting I don’t really need more than that 🙂 Thanks for the shout out, it is fun connecting on this level. It’s great your wife is supportive…hmmmm…guest poster spot for her someday? I’d LOVE to hear her perspective on some topic you post.
Dig the new layout. I forget what sitcom it was, maybe Seinfeld….Cable people said, “We’ll be there between 9am-12noon, or between 1pm-6pm….Love it.
Jennifer, following your statistics can become a very addicting practice. LOL.
They sure can! 🙂
I quite enjoy the new layout.
In regards to the TWC issue you experience, that is one of the reasons that I selected to have a dish, vs cable. Not that a snow storm doesn’t wipe out my TV, but honestly, the cable companies seem to have more “delay” time where as with the dish, most of it can be done with the tech rep right on the phone.
CC, I have been pitching your blog, and have seen a few viewers that might be drummed up from a Motorcycle ride I took earlier on this summer. “I feel a blog coming on” had to be explained, which leads me to a “blog” moment for a later post.
BTW, would I be able to get some stickers to get out on cars here in central NY?
It is hard to believe that this has only been around a year. Keep on posting
[…] The Constant Complainer mentions Extreme John […]
I LOVE your blog! I can’t even remember how I found it, but I’m glad I did!
Way to go amigo! Those are impressive stats. I can’t wait until you make it BIG…then K.O.W. will make it! Hahaha, j/k! Good luck going forward.