And this article talks all about tracking your stats...

There are a lot of ways to track your blog's traffic. In fact there are enough ways that it actually can become a distraction for some people. I am probably guilty of looking at my sites traffic way too much.

If you are a web stats freak you can get your fix from a couple places. The two biggest I know of are StatCounter and Google Analytics. Both of these are great services and can tell you pretty much everything you need to know about your web visitors. Analytics can extend that functionality a bit by tying into other Google platforms like AdWords. For most people, one will work just as good as the other. One issue some people might have is that Google's traffic stats are not completely real time. On the bright side both services are free.

I guess your search for a website analytics tool is over then. Or is it?

A relative new comer in the game (although they have been around since '09) is Woopra. It is dedicated to catching the live data - it tells you who is on your site right now and what they are doing. It works remarkably well and it seems to have no effect on my sites load time - which is always a bonus.

I think one of the coolest features about Woopra is the desktop client. It allows your desktop to process the pictures and charts and maps. Seems to be quicker to navigate than a browser based traffic tool.

On top of speed the actual client looks pretty cool. I know that doesn't mean that much, but it does seem more intuitive than the Google layout. It is easier for a new person to read in my opinion. The desktop client is black with colored charts, links and a very interesting looking map which plots your web guests as beacons in their home cities.

You can get a lot of info about your live web visitors by checking out their profiles. Web browser, OS, resolution, location, their click-stream and more can all be found easily. Even more impressive is that Woopra offers a chat feature. You can start a chat with anyone on your website and they don't have to install anything.

The traffic statistics market is full of great free options. You really can't go wrong with any of them. If you want real live info on a desktop client that looks and works great - maybe give Woopra a spin. They offer a free package so it can't hurt!

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Writing a blog

Here is a great article from Vanessa Wood

You've heard you need a blog to add content to your website, but when article writing isn't part of your job description it may seem like a huge hurdle. Answering these four questions will get you started on a strategy for your agency's successful blogging.

Who Reads Your Blog If you're working on the myth that Twitter is for kids and only old folks need insurance, you're missing out on the next generation of marketing and your next generation of clients! Insurance is no longer the domain of brown-suit underwriters. Quotes online changed the face of insurance long ago and national insurance carriers' launching smart phone apps makes it clear that this isn't your grandpa's insurance market anymore!

Knowing your audience is key for any marketing strategy and it's true for blogging too. Your ideal blog readers are people who have a new risk which they must insure and those who are underinsured for their current risks.

What Do You Blog About? When you have a specific market in mind, that makes blog topics choices more obvious: recent college grads, new homeowners, business owners, new insurance trends like technology businesses, alternative-fuel businesses, or risk trends in your geographic area (like earthquakes, hurricanes, and flooding). Your blog is the place to discuss news events and what type of insurance is available for that risk, home values and how they skew on insured value, etc. Sharing your knowledge instills confidence that you are a trusted expert.

How Do I Connect to My Community? Write about local topics to demonstrate that you are informed about risks that specifically interest for and potential to affect your customers. You are probably already staying abreast of news and developments in your field; think about breaking them into brief, easily digestible blog articles. National news stories are also blog-worthy and a way to alert customers to how they will be affected at a local level.

A blog is also where you can announce new products and events that reflect your community interest. For example, if you sponsor a Little League team, you can tout their wins. Or, if you are a Kiwanis or Rotary member, you can support them by announcing events and showing your agency's involvement.

How Do I Find People to Subscribe to My Blog? It's important to integrate your blog into your marketing efforts. If you attend a BNI group, announce or remind members that you blog. Put your blog name on your business cards and sales receipts. As you are handing out your card or slipping a receipt into a bag, remind people you have a blog and what kind of news they'll get by following you. Are you asking new businesses for their email address? You should! A friendly email reminder to subscribe to your blog will motivate new readers.

Vanessa Wood believes "All the world's the web!" There's room on the internet for your venture to be the next Internet phenom. Vanessa has years of corporate and small business experience that she brings to clients' web and blog design. She is the owner of Design to Spec LLC. Vanessa is an avid blogger on social media topics and best practices for the web. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vanessa_Wood