Blog gut check

2,375%

That’s the increase in traffic on my blog from Monday when I posted The Journalist Diet to Tuesday after I tweeted it and it went around the world.

To date, it’s been shared on Facebook 78 times, tweeted 197 times and viewed 827 times. The actual pyramid, which exhibits my rudimentary p-shop skillz, has been shared another 50 times or so.

I never imagined it would go that far. I even forgot to turn my comments on. I guess my little graphic struck a nerve among photographers and editors, TV reporters and bloggers, students and long-time professionals.

I don’t talk shop on my blog for a couple reasons. I keep the blog part of my website to record the little adventures I find myself in every day. (More like once a week.) Mostly, after staring at a computer screen all day, the last thing I want to do when I get home is stare at a computer screen.

But I should. Writing energizes me. I forget that after a 12-hour day with two meetings, three interviews, a blog post and a 20-inch story. The journalist diet reminded me of the power of the platform, of how the web and social media can propel messages and media thousands of miles and overseas.

I should use this space for more than weekly updates and vacation photos. I hate saying, “I’m going to blog more.” So I’ll say this: “I’m going to diversify my posts.”

Don’t worry, Grandma, I’ll still post about running, living in Wyoming and spending time with my sister.