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.
Well done for donating the proceeds of Web Analytics: An Hour A Day to charity. I'll send you a picture of the book taken in bonnie Scotland at Hogmanay as soon as I get back to the office. Happy New Year Jim Glasgow.
Hmmm !
Great . . .
Congratulations Avinash for a very successful 2007. Thanks for imparting your wisdom and providing valuable guidance on a wide range of topics.
Best,
Rahul
Avinash – I can't believe you donated all of the proceeds. What an amazing feeling that must be. Keep up the great work. You are an inspiration.
Happy New Year – see you in SF in May.
Jodi
Congratulations for your great 2007. I wish you a
Happy New Year from Spain.
Fotonatura.org looked great in your blog!
Best wishes,
Fernando Ortega
Fotonatura.org
Hehe so much for the three week vacation without internet access! I know I wouldn't be able to live without it for 3 weeks, either :-)
I'm glad to see you've exceeded your expectations when it comes to the sales of your book!
Do you have the official figures, yet? And has anyone bought the e-book instead of the book?
happy new year!
I bought your book once I knew the proceeds went to charities. The book is very concise, I keep it around for inspiration. I hope to hear you speak in person some day. Have a great New Year!
Happy New Year, Avinash (and everyone else reading this blog!). Enjoy Macau and here's to seeing each other more in 2008!
Congratulations Avinash on your journey to author, entreprenuer and philanthropist. I really enjoy watching the evolution of your thinking through your blog posts. And to think "I knew you when.." Happy New Year.
Avinash, Happy New Year from Lisbon,Portugal.
Your posts are an inspiration too all, I will buy your Book but if i go to amazon.com it will cost 19$ plus transports, if I go to amazon.co.uk it will cost 19£ plus transport and taxes, is there any site that i will buy in PDF format? it's more green.
ps: For those who don't know Portugal and Macau are bond together for historical reasons.
htp://ittechguys.blogspot.com
Jorge : Thanks for the kind words and support. You can buy a e-book version of Web Analytics: An Hour A Day at:
http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0470175052.html
-Avinash.
P.S: Hello from bright and sunny (today) Hong Kong!
Best wishes in 2007! I'm in Denver and will be happy to take my copy skiing and send a picture! I was very touched when I read in the book that the proceeds were going to those organizations. The advice, expertise, and fun commentary you provide in your blog are enough to make me purchase the book, but the donations to these worthy causes make it even more meaningful. Thanks so much!
Congratulations on your success, Avinash; it's well deserved. I have to admit that I'm slightly jealous (ok, extremely jealous :)) that you've accomplished so much in so little time.
Heh. I wondered if/when you'd use that photo. Roof deck not quite so alluring now – is more like the deck of a fishing trawler in the North Atlantic. Congrats on all you've achieved in 2007 – here's to a great 2008!
Cheers,
Ian
Avinash, I'd like to thank you for a superb book – one that I now cherish a great deal. I'd also like to thank you for the wonderful attitude you have: the tone that you have when you talk about analytics is refreshing, and I think that your donations to charity are a great gesture. Congratulations on your successes to date – I'm certain they will continue.
By the way, I have some questions I'd like to ask about some points raised in your book. What's the best way of reaching you?
Kindest regards, and Happy New Year!!
Adam King, UK
PS – When are you speaking in London?
Great Book, thanx for writing it. For the german interest groups in web-analytics i hope there will be soon a german translation.