As 2007 comes to a close, I thought I would take a moment to reflect upon the past year of blogging and set some goals for the coming year. As much as I love blogging, I find it quite surreal that I am setting goals for the new year just because I remember what it was like when I first started. I had no idea what I was doing. I didn’t even know I needed a web host for my website until I came across a company like HostiServer. From developing my knowledge, I was able to be consistent with my blog over the months and I am very happy with what I have achieved so far. I also think that I am feeling positve about my blog due to the advice that I recieved from friends. As they knew I was serious about blogging, they recommended that I created my very own home office, so I could be more productive at home, rather than constantly needing to visit coffee shops to get work done. As I thought this wa sa good idea, I did a bit of research and came across essentials that I could need for my home office, such as affordable office furniture as seen on Office Monster. It’s a start and I can’t wait to get everything in order.
Here’s to the new year and all the goals I hope to tick off my blog bucket list. Speaking of a bucket list, I still have some from this year that I know I will be adding to the new list. Just becuase you don’t achieve them in a year doesn’t mean you have failed. You just need more time to fulfil your dreams and that is nothing to be upset about. There is one thing on my list that I have been meaning to cross off for a while now, but life just gets in the way. I have always wanted to visit Australia, but I never seem to have the time or the money. I know it will eventually happen, but not sure when. If I have to wait until I am 80 and have to look into a site like www.keyadvice.co.uk, to give me advice for when I am an old man, then I guess that’s what will happen. As long as I go to my dream holiday destination, that’s all that matters. Bucket lists shouldn’t have a date on them, especially ones that requires money for certain activities to take place. But maybe if saving money is one of your goals, setting dates for yourself to have a certain amount would work in your favour. I can’t wait to see what I achieve this year.
The Genetic Genealogist was created just 10 months ago. My first post on February 12, 2007 was “New estimates for the arrival of the earliest Native Americans.†Interestingly, this research was just named one of the Top 100 Science Stories of 2007 according to Discover Magazine.
Since the debut, I have written a total of 211 posts. There have been over 32,000 visitors and almost 100,000 page views since February. My eBook, “10 DNA Myths Busted, and Other Favorite Posts”, has been downloaded almost 150 times. My top 10 most viewed posts are the following, which represent a wide array of topics:
- The First Personal Genomic Sequencing Test Offered for $985
- 23andMe Revisited
- Carnival of Genealogy, 35th Edition
- Navigenics – A Personal Genomics Start-Up
- A Round-Up of Discussions Following the Launch of deCODEme and 23andMe
- New DNA Analysis of Native Americans
- Genetic Genealogy in the Classroom
- 23andMe and Google
- To Sequence or Not to Sequence – That is the Question
- The Personal Genome Project’s “First 10″
To top the year off, I have met an amazing array of individuals through this blog, including professional genealogists, people in the DNA Network, The Genealogists Network, members of genetic genealogy companies, commentators, and many others. In addition, I would like to thank all of the readers and visitors who make blogging such a rewarding experience.
So, in closing and as part of the “Group Writing Project: 2008 Blogging Goals†by DailyBlogTips, here are a few of my goals for 2008:
1. I would like to increase the number of comments and promote conversation among readers;
2. I would like to continue to increase the number of readers and visitors to TGG (which would of course also help #1!);
3. And I would like to blog about a wider variety of sub-topics within the field of genetic genealogy (maybe a few interviews with surname project leaders, more about recruiting members to projects, just to name a few).
What are your blogging goals for 2008?
Hi Blaine!
I was referred to you by Jasia of Creative Gene fame. I had asked her how to join the Feedburner Genealogists Network, so she sent me to you. I would like to add my blog to the network. Please check it out to see if it qualifies. Thanks!
Isn’t it funny how things come full circle. I refer to how I got to your blog…twice. I saw on Miriam Midkiff’s blog the ad for The Genealogists and asked her how to get invited. She said, ” The Genealogists is a group that Blaine Bettinger, the Genetic Genealogist, put together. I can recommend your blog to him, and he can send you an invitation.” As I was making my Entrecard rounds yesterday, where did I end up, but at The Genetic Genealogist! My blogging goals for 2008 are to do more genealogical posts on my blog. I would very much like an invitation to join The Genealogists if you approve. Thanks!
@Ruth and webduck – I will contact you both through email. I’m always looking for new genealogy blogs to join The Genealogists!
I’ve been a faithful reader for…uhm…months now (that’s about as specific as I can get), but I’m a comment slacker by nature. I was away for most of December, and now I’m playing catch-up. While I’m at it, I’m making an effort to comment more. I hope to keep it up for the rest of the year, but I wouldn’t count on it. 😉 I do enjoy your blog though, and look forward to another year of reading it. Happy New Year!
Lee – thanks for being a long-time reader! I hope you enjoy reading throughout 2008.
I’m a newbie genealogist blogger. May I join your network to gather ideas on organizing my blog.