Quick update to my Wordpress theme
I’ve been receiving quite a lot of traffic from the seriously addictive StumbleUpon web site, but to be honest have been somewhat frustrated with the lack of return visitors, lack of comments and lack of people sticking around on my site.
I just realized that 99% of the StumbleUpon traffic has been to posts displayed on a single page layout. In simple Wordpress terms what that means for my custom theme is:
The cymru66 header
The post contents
The cymru66 footer
What has been lacking (and I don’t know why I didn’t realize this before) is my custom sidebar. The same sidebar that contains all my “cool stuff” - my BlogCatalog widget, my subscribe to RSS links, my search feature, my Technorati and StumbleUpon links, my hand-picked affiliate advertising links, my categories, my archive list…….need I go on? Basically anything that could possibly keep a visitor on my site has been missing. No wonder people don’t hang around!
Anyway, a quick 2 minute edit to single.php and I think I’m good. Nothing appears to have broken and I’ll keep an eye on my stats to see if it changes anything.
If you’re reading this, please stick around. Please click a few links. Please feel free to leave a comment. You’ll be welcome back anytime!
Technorati Tags: StumbleUpon, Wordpress, custom theme, BlogCatalog, Technorati
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May 14th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
Hey steve…
I don’t think that’s the reason people don’t hang out that much at your blog.
In contrast I had all those feature in my blog but it took ages for the page to load…I hate it that the pages took too long to load but in the same time I couldn’t just omit all the widgets as most of them are required…if I’m participating in affiliates campaigns or blog directories for instance…
Sigh!!! I think you just have to keep on posting posts which get people to read…and make sure it’s an interesting one
Hope you will make it in the end…
May 14th, 2007 at 12:53 pm
Thanks for the reply. Yeah, you’re probably correct. Write good content, make it interesting and genuine readers will keep coming back.
Maybe I cover too many topics on my site and I should branch out to several different sites?
Decisions, decisions…
Steve
May 14th, 2007 at 3:20 pm
Stumblers don’t often stick, but they’re good for your Alexa rank (and ego!)
More blogs are good, but addictive
May 15th, 2007 at 9:47 pm
Well, I’ll be a regular visitor. You write well, and I’ve enjoyed reading your posts. And some of those syumblers will stick…and the more there are, the more will stick.
May 15th, 2007 at 9:48 pm
I wish you had editable comments
correction: “stumblers” not “syumblers” - a “syumblers” is a drunk stumbler.
May 16th, 2007 at 8:53 am
We’re all working on gaining that elusive traffic that will stick. Good content + time will hopefully do the trick. Best regards! Your fellow “syumbler”
May 16th, 2007 at 9:07 am
One more thought: unless I missed it, I would suggest adding an “about” page. This way you can let your readers know what your blog is all about.
June 8th, 2007 at 8:50 pm
lol Steve… you are too funny. I too am addicted to stumbling.
I would suggest that What would Seth Godin do plugin and comment relish plugin.. I am going to use it for my photoblog… i sent you the page with the plugins.. yes?
June 8th, 2007 at 9:15 pm
Yes you did, thanks. Just need to find a few minutes to download and install them…