SWLing Post, Number 2,000

This morning, I noticed that we've crossed a small milestone here at the SWLing Post: as of this post, there are now 2,000 published posts in our archives.

It's a bit incredible that it's already been almost seven years since I started this blog. In the beginning, I had no aspirations for the SWLing Post to become a popular destination for shortwave and amateur radio enthusiasts; it was mainly a site where I could jot down things I found of interest to me and keep tabs on the radio and international broadcasting industry. I was simply making my bookmarks and thoughts public, perhaps a little in advance of the social media outlets that now exist for shortwave radio and related topics.

A couple of months after starting the SWLing Post, I began using Google Analytics to track readership. I was absolutely floored to discover that, after a year or two online, I had about 200 pageviews per day-meaning, our website guests were reading about 200 pages/posts of information per day! It seemed surreal.

Each year-indeed, each month-that number grew. Now, it's hard for me to believe the site has about 5,500 daily pageviews. Per month? We're up to 167,000. As of today, here's what Google Analytics gives for our monthly figures:

The thing is, these numbers continue to grow.

Best of all, what does this say-loud and clear!-about these "dying" radio shortwaves, about this old and washed-up medium of communication-? It says to us: interest in this hobby is far from dead, but rather, is still alive and well"and perhaps even growing.

And the very best part about hosting the SWLing Post? The community it's created. So:

Thanks to everyone who makes this possible-to all of those who create guest posts, to those who comment, and to those who help other readers; thanks to those who participate in and moderate the chat room. Thanks to the readers who follow, to the SWLers who listen, to all those who care about radio. Thanks to you all"for the camaraderie, the coffee, the chance to enjoy the growing company of so many readers and fellow-listeners from all around the globe"I am now, and will remain, most humbly grateful.

And to extend my thanks, I'm looking into hosting a forum here on the SWLing Post which should allow for even more interaction within the community. So, yet again, allow me to say: Stay tuned!

There's even more to come.