Aug 12
5
August 5 marks the 2nd anniversary of The Vegas Solo, the blog. (The website itself was created in the spring of 2010, but I didn’t get the blog up and running until August.) While there are weeks when I wonder what the hell I was thinking to create a second blog when my day job and my first blog kept me plenty busy enough, I have to admit, connecting with other people who love Las Vegas as much as I do has been well worth it.
This past week, for instance, I was able to meet up with my two favorite Vegas podcasters, Tim and Michele Dressen of Five Hundy by Midnight. They are just as smart, funny and incredibly nice in person as you would expect them to be. Thanks again for a great evening, Michele and Tim!
I love connecting with people who love Vegas's over-the-top excess as much as I do.
And thank you all for being interested enough in what I have to say that you read regularly, comment, hang out over on my Facebook page, and follow me on Twitter. The emails I’ve received over the past two years from some of you are much appreciated. I’d like to give a huge shout-out to my guest bloggers over the past two years:
- Tim Dressen (The Cocktail Bars of Fremont East)
- JoAnna Haugen (Solo Hiking Near Las Vegas)
- Jason Hussong (Feeling Social? Try Table Games)
- Janice Miller (A Solo Traveler Tours Las Vegas)
- Emily Brown (Emily’s Solo Vegas Adventure)
- Brian Tucker (Hotel Review: The Plaza)
And more thanks to some folks who have contributed Vegas hotel reviews to my site: Brian Tucker, Edward Terry, and Megan Riley.
I thought you might find the following stats interesting:
- Approximately 7,500 of you visit monthly.
- You look at about 2.66 pages per visit.
- The top four regions of the world that you come from are (in order): The U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Australia.
- This is purely anecdotal on my part, but based solely on comments, it seems I have a much larger male readership on this blog than I do on SoloFriendly. Interesting.
What are some of the posts that stand out the most over the past two years?
Most Controversial Post
A Rant About Vegas’s Costumed Panhandlers
I sort of expected that this topic would have strong opinions for and against, and boy was I right. It obviously touched a raw nerve with some people.
Biggest Flop
Based on low traffic numbers and comments/feedback, I’d have to say my biggest flop was the time I was live-blogging during my Christmas trip in 2010. Aside from the fact that it sucked up huge amounts of my vacation time, those blog posts don’t really stand the test of time very well. It was an experiment on my part, and I got my answer. I don’t think I’ll ever do that again.
And finally:
The Top 5 Posts of All Time
1. 10 Places to Get Prime Rib in Las Vegas
2. 10 Vegas Breakfasts Under $10
3. Cosmopolitan Las Vegas: The New Kid on the Block
4. 10 Money-Saving Meal Strategies for Vegas
5. 7 Non-Smoking Hotels in Las Vegas
Apparently, a lot of you are cheap, non-smoking carnivores. What a coincidence–so am I!
Would you agree with those? Or did you have another favorite? Any surprises there? I have to admit, I was really surprised that the prime rib post beat out the other two food posts. Who knew so many people were looking for advice about where to eat prime rib in Las Vegas? That’s one of the coolest things about blogging–sometimes, it’s very unpredictable.
One last reminder: Don’t forget, we’ve got the second annual Vegas Solo Meetup coming up on Wednesday, September 5, 2012. If you’re going to be in Las Vegas, I’d love to see you there! In the meantime, I hope I keep seeing you here. Thanks for making the last two years so much fun they’ve flown by!
Congrats on turning two!
I agree, that pair of jokers at Five Hundy are da bomb.
That they are, Hetz! And thanks for your regular contributions here. They’re much appreciated!
Congratulations on two years of The Vegas Solo! It was great to hang out with you on Friday, and I could have talked to you for hours. Hope to meet again soon!
Right back at you, Michele! Thanks again for meeting up with me, it was a blast.
Kudos on the second anniversary (I’m pretty sure 2 is ancient in blog years), and kudos again for creating such an informative, insightful, and thoroughly entertaining blog in the first place! I thought I knew Vegas pretty well, but this site has shown me plenty of stuff I would never have found out about otherwise. Here’s looking forward to more years of great advice!
Aww, thank you, Nate! I’m so glad it’s been helpful to you. It’s all you regulars who make this a vibrant blog. I couldn’t do it alone.
Congrats Gray and well done a brilliant site , I soo use the breakfast/money saving stratergies , I even print out before I go to remind me !!!
Keep it up and I hope to see you next month.
Only 4 weeks to go until I fly out
Thank you, Sharon! I look forward to meeting you!
Congratulations on turning two! I look forward to your weekly posts. I take about 2-3 solo trips per year (usually combined with work) and your advice has been very helpful.
Here’s to the next two years, Vegas Solo!
Steven
Thank you, Steven! I’m glad you’ve found it useful. I’m not sure how I’d feel about having to go to Vegas for work. Vegas is my escape from work. But then, I guess if it allows you to go more often, what the heck!
Congrats on two years! I am so thankful I found this blog last summer while I was planning out my first big solo trip (and first trip to Vegas!) Thanks for the shout out as well. Looking forward to meeting up with you again next month!
Thank you, Janice. I’m looking forward to it too!
Congrats Gray – found your blog many months ago via Five Hundy. You do a fine job and it gives me inspiration/encouragement for my Vegas Internet endeavor. Keep up the great work and continued success.
T
Hi, Tom – Thanks very much for the kind words! Good luck with your own project!
Congrats! You know we love your love of Vegas.
Yes I do, Kent.
Now we just need to coordinate a trip sometime!