In November of 2012 I quietly launched Boston Ska (dot) net with a handful of goals. The problem I wanted to solve in the first place was a Google problem. When searching for “boston ska,” you didn’t really find anything useful. The most useful site out there would have been the Boston Ska Facebook Group, but that doesn’t show in Google results. I thought I could tackle this problem with what little free time I had. Four months later, Google Analytics and (and Jetpack stats for that matter) have told me I’m getting there, and in only 23 posts and a fairly updated show calendar.

Google Analytics, Organic Search Traffic, 11/19/12 – 3/17/13

Let’s get something out of the way: I’m well aware my traffic is nothing special. My site’s gotten less than 1,000 unique visitors and just over 2,000 pageviews. It’s something to talk about when you take a look at how little time I’m able to give to it.

Number 2 on the list is “boston ska.” Not on this list, but further down in the analytics (and in Jetpack results), are “boston ska punk” and “boston ska calendar.” It tells me that I’m not the only one looking for these things and that I didn’t just make this list for my own help. Many of the other search terms include band names, telling me that people are aware when a band is passing through, or that a Boston band exists and people want to know what’s up with them. It’s certainly not my goal to capitalize on a band’s lack of web presence, but it’s helpful to both them and me that I have useful information.

What a radical thought: a useful website.

I’ve got simple goals but I think I can attain them. Next up: find people to help me create content! Want in?

UPDATE 4/10/13: Check out this screenshot. 3rd place in just a few months ain’t bad!

I’m thinking I should have built this site using Google Sites instead of WordPress.