Web Analytics Blog: Reflections

A total of 73 posts so far in 2007. Tens of thousands of words in posts. Hundreds of comments. As the year closes a dilemma: how does one summarize the year?

Then a picture arrives in the mail. Solves the problem.

Why the dilemma?

Because it has been the a year of change and transformation: eight months of being an independent consultant, six months of being a published author, five months of being MarketMotive's co-founder, and along the way being a Speaker and Online Marketing consultant and general running around the US and Canada.

The picture though brought all that into perspective and crystallized the wonderful theme of the year: meeting all of you. It is the last picture on this page, and you'll what I mean – a perfectly beautiful picture for this time of the year, and there's the book! :)

Through the book, the blog and through all my speaking engagements . Lots of chances and opportunities to meet the people of web analytics .

Many of you, on my request, have shared your wonderful and creative pictures with my book Web Analytics: An Hour A Day . It is a kind gesture from all of you and I have a lot of fun seeing where the book has traveled and hearing your stories.

This post showcases some of your pictures (and please send me your picture, I love 'em!) because more than anything this has been a year of the blog empowering me to launch the book which has been successful beyond my wildest expectations.

The book has 43 reviews on Amazon, my goal was 75 (if you have read the book please consider writing a review for it on amazon.com). We are well on my way to meeting the goal! Thanks to all of you!!

The other goal was a donation goal. 100% of my proceeds from the book (author proceeds as well as amazon affiliate sales) are donated to charity. The book was launched in June and my goal was to donate $10,000 by the end of 2007 (six months of sales).

Two weeks ago I wrote a chq for $18,000 from my first payment from Wiley (covering a period of June – Oct). The Smile Train and Doctors Without Borders each got $9,000. All that from a little first time effort in a niche area of web analytics.

I am both proud and humbled.

Proud to help the to charities in a tiny way. Humbled at what you all have helped me achieve, your support means so much. Thank you.

Now here are the pictures of the people of web analytics with Web Analytics: An Hour A Day…..

David Hughes in Gwynedd, Wales, and yes that is a RAF Hawk in the background. This wonderful picture was taken by David's son Ben at Tal Y Llyn, very impressive!! David is actually in Web Analytics: An Hour A Day. I quote his wonderful idea of Non-Line Marketing.
 

In between breaks at Omniture University our good friend Simon Chen catches up on Web Analytics: An Hour A Day!!
 

Beth's not quite at University level yet, but is still getting a head start in Web Analytics! A bright future awaits no doubt. :)
 

Another tough day of working at home in Seattle ends with a gorgeous sunset. Time to close the book and the laptop and get on with other more important matters.
 

While for David from Holland the journey on EuroRail means work time. He kindly includes his notes in the picture, I am very impressed. Did you notice the Trinity? :)
 

Stephane and Maia help the Wicker Emporium in Canada thrive, the book does its tiny small part. Notice the nice Jaguar in the reflection?
 

Alexander (second from the left) wrote very kind words about the stress on Qualitative analysis and sent this nice picture with rest of his crew at myfamily.com. That's Shane, Alexander, Rick (book on head), Jim and Chris, thanks guys!
 

Fernando and Beatriz strike a pose in Spain. You saw Fernando's website fotonatura.org showcased in my last post: Web Analytics Demystified. If you have noticed my own humble attempts at macro photography you'll know why I am a huge fan of Fotonatura.
 

Shirley owns and runs American Bridal, she posed for this picture are SES SJC at the MarketMotive booth. The thing that impressed me the most was all the post-its that were stuck to various pages of the book, it is true delight for a author to know his work is more than a paper weight! Thanks Shirley!!
 

All work and no play makes Ben a…. very smart guy! In fact smart enough to be a Conversion Rate Expert!! Ben's enjoying the book in jolly old England.
 

Finally the picture that inspired this post! "On Christmas morning in the year 2007 I got started on my life journey in the hottest career on the planet: Web Analytics!!" I hope there were other presents under the tree as well!!!

I hope you have enjoyed the pictures.

If you want to see some older pictures you'll find them in these two posts:

July – The People Of Web Analytics: An Hour A Day and
Aug – Five Thousand Times Two Translates Into Goodness

Thanks to everyone who made the effort to share the pictures, I really appreciate that very much. It is never too late to send me your picture! I would love to have it.

Here's to a great 2008 for us all. Happy Analytics.

PS: Hello from lovely and historical Macau.