Inspiring Cats and Murder Around the World by Barbara Ellen Miller Davis Terrell Griffin

I just checked my “stats” on the blogger website and saw, to my surprise, that I had 2 page views from China, and one each from Russia, Austria and Japan.  I don’t know anyone in those countries.  I do have Facebook friends in Indonesia, India, Singapore and Moldova, though.  Apparently they aren’t reading my blog.  I’m pretty new at this and don’t really know how to increase readership.  An experienced blogger tells me that the title can be a draw based on what people google.  I try to have my titles more or less reflect the content, so I have to assume the subject matter is not Google-able.  (I know that’s not a word, but I’m sure it will be in the near future).

So I’m asking myself what topics actually interest Googlers in China, Russia, Austria and Japan?  And Indonesia, India, Singapore and Moldova?  Suppose my title is “Murder in Waycross Georgia—Global Implications”?    Or this one is bound to generate some curiosity:  “My Life as a Double Transsexual Double Agent in the Deep South”.  I guess it depends on how and why people search on Google.  I search for recipes, movie information, people, and at work, for resources for patients.  I also search for words for “Words with Friends” and most recently, rhyming words for a poem.  I have learned that absolutely everything can be found sooner or later. 

We all know everyone likes cat videos.  During a brief stint as a cat owner, I found that cats love to watch videos of birds and squirrels.  So would cats in the title be a draw?  Of course, the other favorite thing (at least on Facebook) is a beautiful scenic photograph with an overlay of an inspirational quote.  I don’t speak other languages, so do people in other countries look for American inspiration?  I’d have to say they’re barking up the wrong tree there; the best we can achieve is poor translations of the wisdom of other cultures.  Right now, Facebook is full of Paula Deen; surely they don’t google her in Austria. 

In Googling myself, I find I am now up there with actresses and singers with the same name.  However, who is really looking for me?  After 3 name changes, what are the odds that anyone would look for my current name?  Maybe if I put all my names in the title? 

I should also probably write more frequently.  I tend to write when inspired; I have a well-structured rationalization for my lack of inspiration:  the daily grind saps my energy, I need complete peace and quiet to write, and the dog is on my lap.  It is logical, however, that the more you write the more readers you will have.

Now that I have given myself a tutorial in blogging, I will try to put these ideas into motion.  Beginning with the title.