Recently, I was looking at the Google Analytics for our website – LarryJordan.com. This isn’t something I do very often because, most of the time, I forget that these stats are there.
We don’t track individual access or movement on our site. I feel very strongly about this – I have no idea who is visiting at any given time. But we do track aggregate data and I thought it would be fun to share some of this with you.
This data looks back over the last week (Nov. 13 – 19, 2016). According to how I understand these statistics, we are on track to have around 3.5 million visitors for the year. Which is very, very cool. Thank you for sharing your time with us.
VISTORS
First, what impresses me is the number of new visitors to our site. It is always good to have regulars. But new people fuel growth. Two-thirds of our visitors are new.
And the visitors are from all over the world. Every month, we have visitors from every country on the globe except eight: Western Sahara, Mauritania, Gabon, Chad, Central African Republic, Turkmenistan and North Korea.
It is also interesting to me that, while this site is exclusively in English, we get visitors representing every possible language.
Here, for example, are the top ten countries, ranked by the number of visitors, for last week. What fascinates me is that the US is barely 40% of our traffic; the US is the largest group, true, but still less than half of our total visitors.
Another striking statistic is that more than two-thirds of our visitors are between 18 and 44 years old. I find that level of interest very encouraging. It is good to know that learning more about editing and media continues to appeal to both young and old.
Though, it’s also true that when you are starting your career, finding answers to difficult questions becomes an issue of job survival. I’m also tickled that we still get a lot of visitors who are into retirement age. We are never too old to learn new things.
While it doesn’t surprise me that most of our viewers are male, it is discouraging that so few women are interested in learning more about editing. I’m not sure what I can do about this, but I am giving it more thought.
SUMMARY
It is fun, from time to time, to learn more about our audience. And, since you are a part of it, I thought I’d share what I learned with you.
5 Responses to Analytics: Who We Are
For older people editing is a hobby. Most of us come from the film to VHS and now this fast circle video software. We still have a phone at home but hardly any person phones us. it all mobile. The same, your survey younger people are the future. We older folks have the cash. But time is not on our side to get heavy involved. I have the new version of FCP and your training video. But Larry… I cant understand Roles no matter how many times I watch it. I see how it works but something is not sinking in my brains. It frightens me to use it.
Thanks for you newsletter throughout the year. Alway look forward to Monday.
Frank
I am older and I am getting more involved not less. Now I have the time and some money (not that much though). If you can not understand roles look at different training materials and come at it from different angles perhaps and keep it as simple as possible. Experiment with it too because sometime that is only way to understand something.
I will go out on limb here because I normally only “lurk” at discussions like this. I am truly the minority of the minority. . . an older woman. (Don’t everyone run away!) I was born too early and the wrong sex. Absolutely. In my early 20’s I took a photography class and the instructor did a slide show put to music. I was awe struck. I had no money nor time then but in 2000 I discovered iMovie, quickly moved to FCE and now to FCPX. It has been a lonely, difficult path. But editing is definitely my one true gift & I’ve been in love with the editing process right from the start. Men aren’t the only ones who are visual & visual learners. There are young women out there who probably have “the gift” but it will never be tapped because it’s never held out to them as a possibility. It’s not for nothing the Army’s motto for 20 years was “Be all you can be.”
Patricia:
Lurk no more – you are MOST welcome here. Ask any questions you like. My articles are fully-moderated, which means no flame wars, no personal remarks – only lots and lots of people from across the world trying master all this new technology.
You are absolutely correct, creativity spans genders and age groups. I see that in every class I teach – the wide range of ages and interests. Telling stories with pictures is magical and the more voices we have telling these stories, the better for all of us.
Welcome!!!
Larry
Thank you so much, Larry. I shall persevere; given how much I love this form of storytelling I can do no other.
People like you give people like me Hope.