Stats, ads, and photos

Since March 22, 2005, we've had 83,395 page loads and 15,995 unique visitors. Of course, in the first year we weren't advertising anywhere, so most of the traffic stumbled in via some of the most bizarre Google searches imaginable (here, here, here, and here.) In fact, we averaged an anemic 11 new visitors per day. Fully 40% of our traffic came in just two months, right before we opened until the end of summer, with an average body count of 93 new visitors per day. Since then, we've averaged 44 new visitors per day.

We certainly aren't averaging 44 reservations per day, though, so I don't know what these people are doing. I mean, seriously, once you see the photographs and read about the history, how could you stay anywhere else? (Seriously, let me know.)

The most gratifying statistics, though, are the number of repeat visitors and the average page views per visit. I assume that means people are coming back and reading this blog. Thanks! But really, you need to book a reservation. Otherwise you're just loitering.

In other news...

• Cyndi Close, a professional photographer, posted a very nice review with some beautiful photos on her blog.
• Ericka Gray, another professional photographer, also posted some photos of the wolf sanctuary.
• We submitted our new ads for the Lititz directory. (Last year, they reformatted our ad and screwed up the phone number, so we didn't get many calls for that ad.) Take a look and let us know what you think.

Inside back cover


Half page ad
• And finally, yesterday the Pennsylvania Dutch Convention and Visitor's Bureau (padutchcountry.com) announced their 2007 campaign -- "Wake up in Lancaster County." You'd think I'd be thrilled since this directly benefits me, but just to look a gift horse in the mouth, I think it's a little lame because Philadelphia has been running virtually the same campaign--"Philly's more fun when you stay over"--for two years. (That, and their controversial gay-friendly campaign--"Get your history straight and your nightlife gay.") Anyway, they talked about offering 5% discounts on morning coffee and an "I woke up" sticker so that merchants could be extra-nice to people who stayed over (and, by extension, less nice to day trippers). I told them to give away free coffee mugs and coupon booklets to people who stay over instead, but nobody ever listens to me.

P.S. Don't forget about our Cabin Fever promotion--buy one night, get one night free in January. (Friday/Saturday nights are excluded, but Thursday/Friday and Saturday/Sunday are okay.) This is a great deal, not to be repeated for at least a year, so all of you locals who are stuck in the cold and snow anyway, find a babysitter and make your reservations, even if you have to go to work while you're on vacation. Think of it as a "power vacation."