After blogging about SQL Server for just over a year, at some in the last month I went over 100,000 reads in total for my blog posts.

That breaks down today as about 17,500 reads on my WordPress site, and 89,000 on SQL Server Central where my blog is syndicated, across 52 posts. I’m sure this is nothing for the better-known bloggers out there, but for me it has far exceeded my expectations.

Thanks to everyone who has read my posts, and a special thanks to everyone who has commented, liked, or corrected me when I’ve got something wrong. Especially at the beginning, it has meant so much to have your feedback.

When I started, I didn’t really know who – if anyone – would read what I was writing. I think if I’d eventually averaged 100 reads on each post I’d have been more than happy, to average two thousand per post has been amazing.

So, if there are any of you out there who are thinking about starting a SQL blog – but aren’t sure – I say go for it, you won’t regret it!

And, if the same as I was, you wonder where your readers will actually come from, then seriously consider syndicating on SQL Server Central. You just need an RSS feed, which most blogging platforms will provide you by default. I’d say to get a few posts under your belt, then drop them an email – they do everything for you and are super helpful. Here’s a link:

http://www.sqlservercentral.com/blogs/steve_jones/2010/07/23/syndication-on-sqlservercentral/

Also, consider joining the SQL Server Community on Slack. There’s an #blogging channel where other bloggers are happy to help you out – or share your woes, and there’s the #blogs channel where you can set up a feed so your posts automatically appear there.

Trying to explain and demonstrate something in a clear manner is one of the best ways to harden and deepen your own knowledge of a subject. I’ve learnt so much since I started this blog. The blog also starts to become a great repository of knowledge for your own use – more and more often now I try to remember some aspect of SQL Server’s behaviour and then remember the answer is in one of my posts.

And if you’re thinking that everything you have to say has been said before – some of my most popular posts are rehashing old ideas, or going quite basic concepts. In fact, the one’s where I’ve done deep research and feel I’m presenting information that hasn’t been seen before are often far less popular.

Some of the highlights of the journey so far

Being shared in the Brent Ozar Weekly links – the first time it happened the traffic blew up so much on my WordPress site I thought I must be under attack!

WHO’S HACKING MY SITE??!!

Being featured on the SQL Server Central homepage quite a few times.

Having a colleague tell me he had found a great resource on Always Encrypted – only to then realise I wrote it.

Having a great deal of fun writing my post “How to be a bad interviewer” for T-SQL Tuesday #93, a stream of consciousness rant that had to be toned down a few times before it was suitable for publication.

It’s been a fun and rewarding undertaking, am now looking forward to the next big milestone –  250k!