Story: Why, Wyoming?
TweetIt’s nice to know who comes to visit
Like other bloggers who track their online stats, I use Google Analytics to learn about the visitors to my blog: how you find my site, what stories you like, why you stay.
From all that data, I can learn what interests you, what draws in other readers, and what you might want more of. It helps make sure that I stay true to the vision of what Life with Dogs and Cats is all about.
Every once in a while, I look at the locations of my readers–where you live, or at least where you access my site from. Google Analytics provides this in the form of a map.
Below is the map of the United States, showing relative numbers of visitors to my site. The darker the color, the more people from that state.
Why, Wyoming?
What you’ll notice is a very large gaping hole in the western half of the U.S. For those of you who might be geographically challenged, that’s Wyoming.
Not a single soul from Wyoming has come to my site. Not a one. Out of half a million people who live there.
The empty space on my map: Wyoming
I thought perhaps it was an anomaly. Maybe nobody goes online in Wyoming in August.
So I started expanding the time frame month by month to see when someone from Wyoming has stopped by to visit with the dogs and cats of my site.
October 2013. To be exact, October 14, 2013.
If I include October 14, 2013.
Whoever it was never came back. Nor did anyone else.
Why Wyoming? Why only one person? And why did you come and then leave? Was it something I said? Something I didn’t say?
A recent story in The Washington Post, featuring data from market research firm Euromonitor, showed the numbers of dogs and cats in each of our states–and in countries throughout the world. Wyoming came out even Steven. Same number of dogs as cats: 100,000 of each, according to the research. So you’d think they might like a website dedicated equally to dogs and cats.
But no.
Digging into the question
In search of an answer, I checked the facts and symbols page on Wyoming.gov, where I learned that Wyoming is known as The Cowboy State.
Maybe you’ll come if my dogs wear cowboy hats?
‘Course Lilah had to wear the white hat, because she’s always the good dog. I thought about putting a sheriff’s badge on her, but I thought it would go to her head.
I guess that’s a little cheap, huh?
Or perhaps if I point out that living in a house with three dogs and four cats has a lot in common with westerns–good guys and bad guys, staredowns, showdowns, ambushes, herds of buffalo–ok, that’s my cats running up and down the stairs, but still…
Let me show you what I mean how much our home is like a western (in 7-second clips.) Imagine the opening of typical western movie. The camera pans over a desolate landscape. Pushed by the wind, a tumbleweed sweeps past the remains of an animal. In my house, it plays out like this:
I admit it’s not exactly the same. My version takes place in my family room floor, and the remains are what’s left after Lilah finishes chewing the head off a plush horse. The tumbleweeds are the stuffing she removed from said horse. But still…
Or another scene from our western, where the sheriff waits in ambush, and runs the bad guy outta town:
In my house, it’s cats chasing each other. But still…
(For more scenes of our version of a western, check out my post The Good, The Bad and The Snuggly.)
Is there anyone out there who knows someone in Wyoming? Someone who can tell me why? Or maybe someone who might just enjoy the fun, warmth and craziness of Life with Dogs and Cats.
Send ’em our way. We’ll welcome them with waggy tails and doggy kisses, head bonks and purrs.
What movie genre does your house remind you of?
You may also like:
- The Good, The Bad, and The Snuggly
- Lights! Camera! Jasper!
- Scene 2, Take 1: Jasper’s next scene
- Behind the scenes
(We’d truly appreciate your vote for Dawn in the Hauspanther Cats Climbing High photo contest. She’s in photo #1!)
Today we’re taking part in the Monday Mischief blog hop. Stop by and visit some of the great blogs below.
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Now that is odd. Our curiosity is up to see if we are covered by all 50 states or not. We will have to look into how to find that out. We like this post but no clue why no one from Wyoming reads the blog.
It is a bit odd, right? It looked so funny, so blank on my map, that I had to write a post about it. 😉
You got us curious, so we went into analytics and checked just for 2014, and thankfully, we have visitors from every state. That is real odd with Wyoming and you guys!
Hmmm…of course I had to go check our stats on Wyoming and while it’s not zero, it’s our lowest state too – along with North & South Dakota…I don’t know, maybe they are too busy on the ranch or something?
That sounds like a good theory. Instead of hanging out online, they’re hanging out outside.
Well, we spend lots of time in Wyoming and I visit when we are there. Does that help? LOL
Well, that would certainly fill in that sad blank spot on my map! Thank you!
Don’t be too hurt 😉 We’re currently living in Montana and life is much different over in these western states! I’ll have to look at my stats, but I’m sure Wyoming, Montana, and the Dakotas are really low. While dogs are owned just as much, they’re not treated the same out here. I’ve noticed it’s harder for me to find like-minded people out here (I grew up in PA). The internet is crazy spotty out here, depending on how close to a city you are. Most people out here are camping, hiking, or fishing; not worrying about the happenings online.
Aha! An answer. That makes a lot of sense. I–and the rest of the gang here at Life with Dogs and Cats–won’t take it personally, then.
Still would love to see a map in all shades of blue though…
Next time we travel down to Wyoming, I’ll make sure I visit your site 🙂
Well that’s bizarre. You know we’ll all be checking stats now. Huh.
I can’t believe how many people were inspired by this post to go check their stats. I’m mostly amused–and curious.
I laughed while reading, you wrote it in a wonderful and super funny way. And I pondered the whole time if I know a blogger from Wyoming, but I think there is no one I know.
Thanks. That seems to be the general consensus here. I know people live in Wyoming. I just don’t know anyone who knows anyone who lives in Wyoming.
Dang, now we will have to go look too. Maybe you need to go over to Twitter and Facebook and say “Hey Wyoming, visit my Blog!”.
I did a few posts on Twitter and Facebook, and haven’t had any response yet. Feel free to post as well!
I don’t think I know anyone from Wyoming period!
I’d love to meet someone though. Maybe they’ll see this blog and introduce themselves.
Huh – I admit I rarely look at my GA info, but now you’ve got me curious. I didn’t realize you could get info by state like that. Must investigate at some point…
I would think the cowboy hats might attract Wyomingans (Wyomingites?) But… once they find out you are harboring a horse eater, they may not come back. Horse thieving (and by extension horse eating/de-stuffing) is mighty frowned upon in them parts! (We have a horse eater in our midst too, so I bet we have the same problem w/ Wyomingians.)
Well, now you got me all curious. I had to look up what you call people from Wyoming. Apparently there’s even a word that describes the words that designate people of a specific location. It’s called a demonym. And the demonym for people from Wyoming is “Wyomingite.” I learned several somethings today.
And you may be right about the horse thievery. Though I might guess that every one of my dogs has stolen that horse from one of the others at one point. So they’re all crooked horse stuffie rustlers if you look at it that way. 😉
I have friends, blogging buddies, and family across the country but I can’t think of one who lives in Wyoming. That seems strange.
There have to be bloggers in Wyoming. Maybe they have better topics to blog about? Maybe they’re blogging about horses and cowboys and camping and fishing and stuff.
Thanks so much for coming by our blog. Guess there just aren’t many bloggers in Wyoming. I am just really glad to have comments on my blog and try not to worry where they come from. My main interest is that I can make some people smile for a minute. Have a great day.
What a great attitude! I’m not really worried, just curious as a cat on the other side of a door. 😉
Such an intriguing blog post today, I’m sure I’m not the only one to stop and go check out what was happening in Wyoming and other states for their sites. According to Google Analytics – Harley has readers (thank the doodle) but not a bunch BOL. We will have to start looking at things of interest in the dog world out in that region also. Thanks for a nice read today.
Glad to hear you folks have readers. I’m amazed at how many people were inspired by this post to go look at their data. 😀
That really is the strangest thing. Maybe that person from last October moved to another state and follows you every single day. The dogs wear those hats quite well. Our house is “Wild Kingdom.” XO, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo
Wild Kingdom. Oh I love it. I feel another blog post coming on…
How odd! We can’t think of any bloggers in Wyoming, either. Next year at Blogpaws, someone is going to have to interrupt one of the lunches to ask if anyone in the room is from Wyoming!
What a great idea. If you go, please remind me. I’ll definitely be there. And we can find a way to make the announcement!
I don’t know a single dog from Wyoming and my person says she doesn’t know anyone from there either – even though she’s been there. Maybe it’s a wide open space that only pretends to have people and dogs – and cats.
Well, at least you’ve been there. I can’t even say that. Maybe their dogs and cats are working animals and don’t have time for such silliness as blogging. 😉
Never been but seems like a great place!
I’d love to go sometime. It’s beautiful, full of wide-open spaces.
Huh. That is so strange. Sorry, don’t know a soul in WY. Makes me wonder if there are pet bloggers there?
That’s a good question. I’m not even sure I’d know how to find out.
It’s so weird that no one from Wyoming is looking at your blog! I think your blog is awesome! 😀
Aw, thanks! We’re glad you like it. Know anyone in Wyoming? 😉
Well, that’s pretty interesting! We wonder if anyone from Wyoming has visited us?
Check it out and let me know!
What a strange fact. Hopefully you can find some Wyoming readers soon!
I know. It’s kind of weird, isn’t it?
We’re going to have to check our analytics! Now we’re curious!
Would love to know what you found!
What a fun post!! As far as we are concerned, it is Wyoming’s loss!
Smileys!
Dory, Jakey, Arty & Bilbo
Aw thanks. Maybe the one person who came will come back with friends…and perhaps it’s taking so long because they stopped to get some snacks along the way. Yeah, that’s it. 😉
How strange!! Never been out west, so I don’t know anything about Wyoming, but I do know they are missing out!
I am curious now as to what my map looks like. How did you find that?
Very interesting. At first I was going to dismiss it as a glitch. But as I got to thinking about my sales of pet travel products. I’ve had only 12 sales to the state of Wyoming in the entire 8 years I’ve been in business, the last one being in July 2012. Most of my sales are on the east or west coast.
I guess the folks in Wyoming don’t know what they’re missing? 🙂
Us Californians sure like you guys and keep coming back! 🙂
I hope you’re having a fun day,
Your pal Snoopy 🙂
The cowboy hats should definitely help. Love this post. Count us among those who do not see a lot of traffic from Wyoming or the Dakotas. It is very interesting to ponder why.
Interesting post Susan. Your Cowboy dogs looks adorable too. The bad boys from the West!
I am years late to this thread–but hello. I am from Wyoming! There are people who live here, but we have the lowest population of any state so there just aren’t enough of us to visit all of the websites and blogs, I suppose. I am the only student from Wyoming in the 20,000+ student body of my university. I can assure you, we are not all out “working on the ranch” ahahaha