99% Of You Won’t Read This….But I’m Okay With That

Posted byFractured Faith BlogPosted inA Fractured FaithTags:, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I love the eclectic bunch of people who follow this blog. One of the joys of writing is meeting and interacting with other folk who, ordinarily, you would never have an opportunity to engage with. People who share your worldview and people who don’t. All walks of life converge on WordPress to create a wonderful creative stew of humanity. Community is the oxygen of blogging. Without it we wither and wilt.

This blog currently has over 6400 followers, an amazing figure given that we have only been up and running for fifteen months. It has exceeded our wildest dreams and I’m often left scratching my head as to why people keep hitting the follow button. We are grateful for every one of you and our blogging door will always be open. We encourage healthy debate and interaction no matter where you come from and what your beliefs are.

But it’s not all rosy in the garden. I’ve written before about the downside of blogging. The posts that sink without a trace for no apparent reason, the occasional not so complimentary comment and the hard work involved in writing original material on a regular basis. The post I put up yesterday got 68 views. 68. That means that roughly 1% of our followers read it. Approximately a tenth of them commented on said post.

99% of people just kept on scrolling down their feeds. That’s quite a stark statistic when viewed in the cold light of day. A statistic that could wreak havoc amidst my fragile self confidence if I allowed it to. People hate my writing which means that they hate me. I’m a bore, I’m a failure, I’m a fraud who will never amount to anything. This is the voice that whispers constantly in my ear, seducing me with its distorted version of the truth.

Raw statistics can be manipulated. They are malleable. Just ask any politician. Yes, I can brood over the 99% and feel sorry for myself. That would be the old Stephen. Or I can focus on the 1%, the people who cared enough to give up a portion of their precious time to read and comment. To share their wisdom and humour with me. The regular visitors, those who drop by once in a while and others who I will never hear from again. They made the post a worthwhile exercise.

Focusing on the 99% is selfish. Focusing on the 1% is selfless. It is a subtle, yet mammoth, shift in perspective, one that has taken me many years to acknowledge, let alone regularly practice. I am here to serve others, not feed my own ravenous ego. For, once you start, it can never be satisfied and the incessant hunger will drive you over the edge and into the abyss. The darkest and most lonely of places.

I have no idea how many likes or views this post will get. That’s not the point. The point is that it reaches out to one person and makes a positive impact on their day. If I can achieve that then my work is done here. Focus on the 1%. For that is where the real treasure is buried. They are the reason you will keep returning to your keyboard, even when it is the last thing you want to do. Persevere.

Jesus said something similar once about sheep. Leaving the ninety nine who were safe and sound in order to search for the one which had wandered off and needed help. You should look it up. You’ll find it in the Bible. A big book about God. I don’t read it as much I should. But today might be the day I pick it up again. Today might be the day I become the 1% myself. For it is always there for me when I need it.

Just like this blog is for you.

99%? 1%? What are your thoughts on this post? Please comment below.

Published by Fractured Faith Blog

We are Stephen and Fionnuala and this is our story. We live in Northern Ireland, have been married for 17 years and have three kids - Adam, Hannah and Rebecca. We hope that our story will inspire and encourage others. We have walked a rocky road yet here we are today, together and stronger than ever. We are far from perfect and our faith has been battered and bruised. But an untested faith is a pointless faith. Just as a fractured faith is better than none at all. We hope you enjoy the blog.

90 thoughts on “99% Of You Won’t Read This….But I’m Okay With That”

  1. You caught me just about to sign off for the evening. Well HOO-RA for you and your huge following here! You must be saying something right, that resonates with many. Good on you and keep it up! As for me, I’m just a drunk, with less than 200 followers, but that’s ok. Keep on keeping on!

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    2. As your new follower, I’m definitely the one of the one percent of people who have bothered to read this post and every word of it, plus all of the comments below.

      As for “99%? 1%?”, perhaps one can be reminded of 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration! 😉

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  2. Well very true. Life is getting faster. And with so much content often a lot of good content is lost. Thats how life advances maybe. Random selection. All we can do is go on adding content and try that its good. And hope there is some impact.
    Go on with your good work.

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  3. well I for one love your content! Keep writing! I am an avid reader! No I didn’t read yesterdays post yet. but I will. Its buried in my email inbox! 😀 keep doing what your doing! you are amazing!

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  4. I love your blog! But I definitely know about that 1% thing. I have 396 followers and some of my posts have had less than 20 hits. And that’s after sharing the posts on every social media account I have. In my blogging circles, it’s hard not to get discouraged; since I’m a chronic illness blogger, many times in order to do any solid promotion, (like promoting products) you need over 2,000 hits a month. I come close sometimes, but not enough. It makes me feel inadequate, but I have a fragile psyche, lol. Keep doing what you’re doing, Stephen! 😊

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  5. TBH, I don’t really care about how many followers I’ve got (not as many as you!) as I think a lot of mine just follow me in the hope I’ll follow them back. Which I don’t do. In fact I don’t follow any blogs. I just dip in and out when I can. Comments matter a bit more, because it shows people have read my post & found it interesting enough to say something about it – although I don’t always comment on people’s blog posts because I don’t think I’ve got anything interesting to say! However, I’m becoming a much more regular visitor to Fractured Faith – a lot of what yopu say resonates with me. Except stuff about running – that means nothing to me, as I’m an exercise-phobe!!

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  6. Hi Stephen, Yes, I often keep right on scrolling. I tell myself I’m too busy to read a ‘whole’ blog. Hogwash! I may be too distracted, but rarely am I so busy that I couldn’t stop to consider what you (and others that I follow) have to say. That’s a sad statement, because I enjoy reading these and quite often have my views challenged (in a good way) by the content.
    Thanks for writing this. I, as one of the 6000+, am going to make a real effort to become more engaged in these conversations.

    Blessings,
    Chuck

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  7. Couldn’t agree more. You have to not focus on the numbers, and trust that someone out there will be encouraged, might be challenged by what what you say and just not even comment. Write for you because you have a story to share. I love the verse you referred to by the way … been my favorite as of late

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  8. ONLY 68 views? I’d love to have that many FOLLOWERS. I’m pretty new to this, but my faith helps me believe that if someone needs to read what I write, God will use my blog to help give that person a “divine perspective.” Part if that perspective is believing that someday I will get to meet all of the people who benefitted from my blog at one time or another that I don’t know about now. (I Iike to remind myself of the man who led very few people to faith in Christ, maybe just one, but that one’s name was Billy Graham…)

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  9. I’m part of your 1% so keep on writing.

    FYI, for five years, I was a co-blogger on someone else’s blog who had a big following. However, most of that audience was primarily interested in other genres and topics other than my content. Now, I’ve a much smaller following but we seem to share the same eclectic tastes and broad views. So, I’m much happier now and don’t worry about the numbers.

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  10. I was about half way through this when I had to leave for work. Instantly the song Reckless Love popped into my head. I arrive at work and finish this in my car and you have written about what that song is about. If you haven’t heard it, look it up. It was one of the camp favorites this summer. 1500 teenagers can’t be wrong!
    Glad to know I’m not the only one that looks at my stats but my blog is more of something for my kids when I’m gone. Great crazy insane family stories.

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    2. For your kids – what a great thought! I will keep that in mind. My sister also recommended that when I have accumulated enough blogs that I publish them together as a devotional.
      I just sang “Reckless Love” around a campfire with some teens Saturday night! Great song! Another favorite of mine that has been inspiring me lately is “Dream Small.” The lyrics are profound and SO true!
      Bless you!

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  11. So I have recently struggled with this same question. In my own blog I have encumbered myself with an extensive faith-based series and as I continue down that road my page views have dwindled. I even wrote about it.

    One thing that had amazed me during this series, though, were the personal conversations I had with readers that revealed to me that not all reads are page views. For most of my followers, my posts are emailed to them and they continue on with their lives without making it to the blog site to be “logged” as having read the post.

    I am not saying that is 100% the case, but I do know I have had personal conversations with many more people than I have page views and that has helped me personally to soldier on.

    That and the faith that I am living my own message by continuing to do what I love to do (write) whether or not I receive the validation I crave.

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    1. I also have a faith-based blog, and I try to keep in mind that it is not up to me to get people to read what I write. If they need it, Someone else will see to that. I expect that someday we will both be surprised to meet and talk with many people we were unaware of who read and benefitted from our blogs. (Do you think Paul had any idea how many people were going to read his letters??)

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  12. I just started blogging and then got extremely, and had multiple surgeries. What I realized is that I write for me, my sanity, and to relieve stress. If I help one person then I have done my job, but if people don’t read my blogs, I have also done my job because it helps get all the chaos out of my head, and I can go on with my day. You are an amazing writer, and I love your insight. I am still learning all of this, but once I have a second I will be following others who help me get the ”chaos” out of my head.

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      1. I can totally relate to getting the chaos out of my head. It’s one of the main reasons I started blogging as well. Thank you for the kind words about my writing. You might not think that after you have read a 350 page manuscript penned by me lol. I will e-mail you later today about it. Where do you live? And by that I mean country in case there is a time difference between us. We live in Northern Ireland. Thank you again for offering to help out 🙂

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  13. Sadly, my reads of your blog are rarely recorded as I receive all of your current blog posts to my email through WordPress. I wonder how many other folks are out there like me and read via an email distribution?

    I’ve been blogging for a decade now, mostly with but a small following of friends and family. My first blog detailed my journey with body image, weight, and bulimia. It barely received ANY public comments, but it was the few consistent private “Me too” and “Thank you for talking about this publicly” and “I feel less alone now” emails I received from friends that kept me writing then – and has for my last two blog iterations.

    Sometimes, blogging is more about putting it into the Universe and just believing in its inherent worth.

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    2. I like your name! (I was a French teacher for a while.) I too struggled with body image and bulimia, and I felt like the only one. Your blog would have helped me back then, and I’m sure it has helped many people you don’t know about (yet). Keep it up! 👍

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  14. I really enjoy your writing and your style. It always makes me smile.

    Still fairly new to blogging, I’ve come to accept I will never have hundreds and hundreds of followers because I write poetry and it’s not for everyone. With regard to your high number and those that actually read the blogs, I would liken it to a mailing list. When you are promoting a product and you want to send out a direct mail piece, you would buy a mailing list based on age, income, post code and interest in the type of product you’re selling. If your mail list has 3,000 addresses on it you can expect 2-3% response. Based on that I would say you are on target.
    Keep in writing Stephen. Those that read it, love it!!

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  15. I didn’t think I’d ever get into WordPress. I thought I’d write the odd blog to help order my thoughts and keep myself sane.
    Then I discovered this whole community of amazing individuals with writing to share.
    These last few weeks I have read your blog, along with others everyday. During my time of recovery from my stroke you have challenged, inspired and proved laughs when I didn’t think possible.
    Thank you.

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  16. What I like is that you post every day. It becomes something I can count on, no pressure to keep it up though, truly! Daily blogging is a tall order when it comes to all of the other commitments in our lives. Currently, I’m working on a new novel, 15 minutes a day, but doing anything daily consistently takes a lot of discipline. It pays off in the end.

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  17. I usually read it right there in my email feed, but I almost always click LIKE. Here’s a little Bible for you. I watched a great sermon that reminded us that this psalm tells us that God does all this for HIS name’s sake.In other words, we have to stop thinking WE are the center of God’s universe. A reminder I needed. 😀
    Psalm 23 King James Version (KJV)
    23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

    2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

    3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

    4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

    5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

    6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

    King James Version (KJV)

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  19. Love your posts. 🙂 I head over to your blog every day to check in with you and see what interesting post you have for that day!

    Keep on writing! 🙂

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  21. Congratulations on 6400 followers that’s fantastic, and I love your blog. The 1% are the ones through reading your blog and perhaps posting a comment or sharing something funny or poignant that you’ve written is what eventually attracts those other 99% and maybe not everyday, but even once in a while is better than never. Just my rambling thoughts.

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  22. I am sure for most of us, the primary joy in blogging comes from the act of writing itself. But in the interest of honesty, I will have to confess to a regular yearning for some level of recognition that the work connected with someone, awoke a dormant emotion, or pushed a secret button.
    Keep up the good work! Your writing is a source of encouragement to me.

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  23. Words have powers. Powers to influence, evolve, and conqueror the world.
    I like to read your blog because I’m inspired by your writing style. You’re very down to earth.
    Writing is meaningful, when you take time to read. I know I come away learning new words, methods of writing, humor, and great ideas.
    But I agree number of subscribers, likes, or comments can be obsessive so I’m focus now on just writing and encouraging others. If I’m lead by the spirit.

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    1. Thank you Tiffany for the kind words. I try to be humble in my outlook. Ego lies at the heart of all sin. Putting our own needs before the needs of God. That’s what leads to disobedience and straying from the path you were created to be on.

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  25. I receive your blog posts through email, and that is where I usually read them. Sometimes I like or comment which directs me to the website, but I admit that there are times I like what I read but don’t get around to taking the step to follow through with the action, because I might be on my cell phone, preferring to do my commenting and website browsing on my laptop.

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  26. 63 views for one post in one day would be great for me because that does not count any of your other posts for daily views. However, I totally hear you on the average count. You know what your average views are for one post in one day, as do I for my stats. And I think we sometimes become extremely fixated on those numbers and somehow…feel validated in them. Or, that’s my struggle, I have to admit.

    What I’ve worked on is, like you shared, being thankful. Trying to really dig into the community of amazing people who comment especially and be thankful for those who read and like. We are not entitled to anything, and the fact we have others reaching out, taking time out of their day, I must humble my own thoughts with this.

    On my side, I cannot get to every post on the day it is posted because 98% of the time I fully intend to read, like, and comment. I have a lot of people in the reader, and then I take breaks during the weekend, and when I feel a little overwhelmed trying to keep up with everyone. 🙂

    I’ve worked on telling myself when others do not connect with a post the first day it comes out that it does not mean people won’t get to it eventually, in their own time. In fact, I recently started looking at stats of my most read posts in the month, in the year. I have went through all the posts in the month of July just to see who comments the most, who comments a lot, and it really opened my eyes. I was seeing people, though I responded back to them, I did not realize how involved they have been with my posts. I needed that wake up call. 🙂

    …I always write more than I originally intend…can you tell I write stories? As I read through comments, I’m glad to know people who have an email following still can read posts it just may not show in stats. Your posts reach people, Stephen 🙂 regardless of numbers, and you know, a lot of people can’t say that. Keep writing. Keep reaching.

    I’m going to share this post on BOTH community spotlights for Inside Cup and Peeking Beneath. Extremely relatable, I hope others take something out of it. 🙂

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  27. Thanks for this! A great reminder. I need to tell myself all the time: I am reaching exactly who I am meant to reach right now, no matter the numbers.

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  28. If I looked at my numbers, I might cease blogging altogether! While I’d love to have a large following — and congrats re yours! — I’m happy that I’m able to post twice a week, despite my [major] time constraints. Things change every day . . . for the better, for the worse. We just have to keep the faith and go with that flow. I thoroughly enjoy your posts, as do so many others. Don’t stop and don’t look back. Look forward (!) to all that you have and all you can (and do) share. 🙂

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  29. I don’t feel the numbers of comments or likes should govern one’s confident or even their success. Anymore than I feel the subject one writes about totally determine if they are a Christian or not. Many people think I am not a Christian because of what I write about without having first read a single book I have written. I don’t post religious posts but I know the bible and many uncanonicalized books far better than many who do. I know it’s what you feel in your heart and the actions you carry out each day is what make one a Christian not studying the bible or going to church. Not that there’s anything wrong with these things. But the church Jesus was referring to was the hard human heart when he said, “Upon this rock I’ll build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevails against it.” The church lives within the heart. Not a physical building. You got the church in your heart if love abides there.

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  32. I think it can be hard. Some days I am very good at reading almost every new post from bloggers I follow because I feel focused and at my leisure in what I am reading. Then there are the days I am in a mad dash dealing with things in my own personal life and I only manage to read the few that attract my attention first. At times it’s by virtue of simply seeing the post appear first in my reader feed or if it’s a topic that personally speaks to me and I feel the urge to read it. Other times unfortunately I miss good posts because it’s buried in my reader feed and I don’t see it unless I were to scroll way back. With this post of yours, I did miss it at the time it was posted and I manually visited your blog in catch up.

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  33. I apologize, I suppose I’m part of that 1%, but I tend to fall off the face of the earth most times with social media and posting for weeks to months at a time, but I scroll my feed and read them when I get back on

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  34. Pingback: Community Spotlight | August ’18 – Inside Cup
  35. Pingback: Community Spotlight | August ’18 – Peeking Beneath

  36. I was going to bring up the sheep story in my comment before you mentioned it at the end, hehe. This is such a relatable post. I’m always trying to balance my desire to grow and increase my outreach with a healthy dose of humility so I don’t become insincere or cynical…and so that I can handle my less popular posts with grace. Easier said than done. Not saying this in a lecture-y way, but I agree with your comment that you should open the Bible again. 🙂

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  37. Hello,

    I’m glad I stumbled upon this post. It’s a very sober reality that people aren’t really reading anymore. I was just told yesterday by a friend that not many people are into blogs, and it seems that even bloggers don’t read and engage on some occasions. I definitely find it important to focus on the 1% and not the 99% in this case. And even if it’s not about the stats, I think its a good idea to focus on the reason you blog in the first place. Are we here for recognition, or for the enjoyment we get from sharing our ideas? Growth and traffic are great and add to the experience, but I feel they’re only by products of the main thing, which is an authentic expression of ourselves.

    Thanks for the post.
    Kiana

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  38. You can’t take the 99% to heart. it doesn’t mean that your writing is great, which it is. or that it’s not relevant, which it also is, but that life is busy. very busy. i’m usually among the 99% and try to at least read a little to show support and leave a like. but that doesn’t mean that if i had the time, i wouldn’t read their precious words. You are blessed with the amount of followers and that is a testament to your writing skills. be happy. 🙂 you’re good… from a 1% wannabe. someday maybe you’ll teach me how to get that many followers, i’m ok if they don’t comment, as long as i can help them get and stay active 🙂

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