Reflections on Building a Horology Blog from Scratch

In the late spring of 2015, I enrolled in a WordPress blogging workshop at our local community college, and it opened my eyes to the remarkable potential of blogging. At that time, I had already embarked on my journey of collecting and repairing antique and vintage clocks, making it an ideal moment to start a blog and share my passion for horology.

The initial months of blogging were met with considerable discouragement, a sentiment familiar to many bloggers. Building an audience and earning recognition on various search engines demanded patience and persistence. Page-views were few, content creation posed challenges, and I wrestled with the balance between catering to my audience’s preferences and conveying my personal enthusiasm.

While I never considered myself a writing virtuoso, I approached this endeavour with unwavering enthusiasm and dedication. To improve my craft, I closely observed fellow bloggers by becoming a follower, learned from their engaging sites, gathered insights from WordPress and other online resources, and eventually cultivated a style that felt authentic to me.

Blog articles composed in my home office

Come fall of 2015, there was a noticeable uptick in daily page-views, which spurred me to broaden my horizons. I recognized the importance of not only captivating those with a casual interest in antique clocks but also appealing to those with a deeper knowledge. While my blog wasn’t specifically tailored for expert horologists or professionals in the clock trade, I welcomed their occasional visits.

Clock parts and supplies

I’ve been fortunate to receive numerous comments from my readers, spanning from suggestions and advice on the projects I undertake to inquiries seeking guidance on specific clock-related issues. I’ve always been eager to provide assistance whenever possible, and I value constructive criticism as a vital aspect of my personal growth as a clock repair enthusiast.

Statistics, often referred to as analytics in the digital realm, serve as the lifeblood of any blog, whether one likes it or not. My most notable achievement in this regard occurred in February 2023 when I achieved a remarkable 999 page-views in a single day. On average, I now receive 640 daily page-views and accumulate about 4500-4900 page-views per week.

I began monetizing my blog in 2020 and receive a modest monthly stipend which allows me to pay for server space, domain registration, clock supplies, dues in two clock organizations and my Titan email service.

I find immense gratification in knowing that my blog has reached readers in over 100 countries, with the top six being the USA, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and Ireland. Witnessing the continuous rise in interest from mechanical clock enthusiasts worldwide fills me with optimism and shared passion.

I also stumbled upon a valuable strategy – writing articles well in advance and scheduling specific publication dates. This method has proven invaluable, particularly during times when I’m on vacation and unable to dedicate time to writing.

Admittedly, there are periods when my statistics experience slight dips, but I view these moments as opportunities to reassess my content, explore new areas of interest, and infuse the learning process with enjoyment. My recurring features, including “Tick Talk Tuesday,” “Crazy Clock Ads,” and “What Is This Thing For,” shed light on the lighter side of clock collecting and repair, adding a touch of variety to my blog.

Enjoy!


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4 thoughts on “Reflections on Building a Horology Blog from Scratch

  1. How are readings measured for articles people recieve via email? I do get all your articles through my email address and only visit your website when I try to find an answer to a specific topic, to see what you might have written on it in the past. I suspect I am not the only one that reads the article when it arrives as an email and don’t actually visit the website to cause a +1 on your statistics.

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    1. If you open the email and click on the link to the article then, yes, it is counted as a view.

      Ron

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