Google Analytics?
It's a tool that can tell you
a lot of things about
your website or blog.
It shows all sorts of percentages
and counters and reports...
mostly I don't pay
much attention to it.
But there are a few things
I find really interesting.
One is that it can show you
your top landing pages.
Landing pages are the pages
people arrive on when they
visit your blog or website--
they've either done a search
or clicked on a link
and they "land"
on a page on your site.
Last week I wrote a post called
"Five Times on the Road to Hana."
I had debated about whether or not
I should even publish it
because it was so ridiculous.
But that post has quickly become
my number one landing page!
Who knew?!
Another thing I've found out
is what search words
people have used
to land on my blog.
The most popular
search words for my blog are
"Happy WWI Soldiers".
Almost every day,
someone lands on my blog
after searching for something
about World War I soldiers.
That's all because of this photo:
This is my grandfather
and some of his buddies
during World War I.
He is the second from the right.
Isn't it amazing
that Google knows
that the soldiers
in this picture are happy?!
I posted this
on Veteran's Day 2009
along with an article
written by my grandmother in 1981
about Armistice Day.
I'm not sure if any of these searchers
take the time to read
her moving words
about the ending of World War I.
I think most of them
take a look at the photo
and then they move on.
But they really should read it.
It's the best part.
_________________________
It has nothing to do
with Google Analytics,
but now that we're talking
about Veterans,
and my grandma and grandpa.
and other tender things,
I want to share an excerpt
of those beautiful words
written by my grandma in 1981.
If you'd like to read
the whole thing,
and I think you should,
you can click here.
It will probably
make you cry.
An excerpt from
"Armistice Day of World War"
by Lillian V. Perkins, my grandma.
"Then, Oh! The blessed day of November 11th.
"We had just arrived at the store and were preparing for work when the church bells all over the city began ringing, trains in the railroad yards were whistling and ringing their bells, cars on the streets were honking, people were screaming, running and calling out, "The war is over! The war is over! The Armistice has been signed, the war is ended!"
"People working in the business houses just put on their coats and walked out and doors were closed. Everyone on the street was embracing everyone else, it didn't make any difference who you were, we were all one and people were hysterically celebrating.
"Another girl and I were riding on the front fenders of a Model-T Ford and my new beautiful winter hat blew off and sailed over the high board fence enclosing the railroad yards. ...and that is the last I ever saw of it. No one could stop for a mere hat even though it cost $13.00 of my meager earnings!"
Click here to read more.
