Lots of readers and an HIStalk recap

The growth in HIStalk readers is amazing. Why such a rapid rise in page views? New users are finding the site and digging back into earlier material. There's eight months' worth of it now, so they often run long sessions "catching up" on what they missed. Over 250 pages are being read each day, which is quite a lot considering the main page already holds the five most recent articles.

The only question: why the heck did I keep writing back in June and July when it was pretty much me alone reading? Since then, however, I've seen as many as 15 users on the site at once. I can watch access display light up when the "new article" e-mail goes out, sometimes amazing even me when several users pile on at 10 at night Eastern time.

Just to recap how to use the site (yes, I know you old-timers already know this, but I'm noob-helping today) here are some tips:

• Use the Search box to find previous articles. Everything I've written is still available here, so think of it as an easily accessible news and opinion archive.
• Enter your e-mail address in "Mailing List" to receive notifications when I update something, along with a direct link to the new material. I can't see who has signed up, so your info is private (but I can see that 56 of you have chosen this option, and thanks for doing so.)
• Other than Searching for articles, you can click on an "Articles by Category" option (three of 'em) and get a list. Or, you can click a month listed under Archives to see what was published that month. The most recent material is listed under Recent Entries at the top left of the page. 
• I've found a small problem with the "Visitor Poll" problem, but don't let it stop you from voting. Sometimes your vote isn't tabulated immediately, but it will show up shortly after. This is a known software problem being addressed by the hosting company.
• Want to talk back? (apparently not, judging from the response, but here goes anyway.) You can Comment on any article by clicking the View/Add Comments link just below it. Or, use the Discussion Board (the link's on the left side of the page) to post quickly, easily, and anonymously if you choose.

What you can do for HIStalk:

• Get a company to sponsor. Note that lonely-looking "Click Here to Sponsor" link to your left.
• Contribute something - just send me an e-mail with whatever rumors, gripes, or kudos you have that relate to the HIS industry. I'm more than happy to keep pontificating endlessly, but other input helps me.
• Spread the word if you're so inclined. See all those readers in the graph above? It was all word-of-mouth. Only a couple of low-traffic sites link to this one. HIStalk's never been mentioned in print. If it weren't for Google and some colleague-to-colleague banter, it would be mightly lonely here.

What the goals are:

• Keep you informed about the stuff that's important.
• Don't waste your time. I keep it short and (usually) to the point.
• Inject opinion, skepticism, and humor, just like you and I were talking face to face.
• Give you new perspectives. I bet you learned more about the NHS bidding here than anywhere else. Ditto my CPOE diatribes or the Anna Gitlin team coverage.
• Keep myself informed by spending all these hours writing for everyone else.

Thanks for reading, everyone.