The first 100 posts: A blog retrospective

Like any mediocre sitcom, I'm making the 100th episode a clip show. With some data on what you, dear reader, seem to enjoy (or at least look at) the most.                                                                                                                                                                     

When I started writing this blog in 2008, I had no idea what it would become. Looking back, I see some good ideas that stuck (talking about MFT education, California's new LPCC license, and how weird California licensing laws are seem to reliably generate traffic), some bad ideas that faded away ("Friday fun" lasted all of two weeks, and really did not live up to the title), and some could-be-pretty-good ideas that I really should return to at some point (a series of posts on fringe practices).

Today, the blog gets more than 100 pageviews a day (can I get my TV deal yet?), and more than 10,000 per quarter. Even accounting for webcrawlers and spambots, that's some serious traffic considering the fairly specific nature of the blog. It is a source of mildly-confused pride that should you Google "LPCC California," one of the first results you are likely to see is my post on whether California MFTs should dually license as LPCCs. I've been linked to by the AAMFT Facebook page and by the North Carolina licensing board, among many others.

The blog is fun to write, and hopefully worthwhile to read. I've certainly learned some things along the way about what people actually do read:

Most-viewed pages
Since July 1, 2010
1. The best MFT graduate schools
2. CAMFT sues California licensing board
3. California LPCC law passes; should MFTs dually license?
4. Finding MFT jobs
5. MFT licensure: California

And how do people get here in the first place? Why, through Google, of course:

Most common search terms leading to MFTProgress.com
Since July 1, 2010
1. MFT jobs
2. LPCC California
3. Best MFT programs
4. Top MFT programs
5. MFT program rankings
6. LPCC licensure California
7. COAMFTE

In the 99 (okay, actually 103 -- I'm a little late getting this one done) previous posts to this blog, I'm most proud of those that fill an informational need, offering students, interns, and licensees guidance in the profession that was not available (or at least not conveniently available) before. Some examples:

* AAMFT, AFTA, CAMFT, IFTA, and more: A primer on MFT associations
* Should you pursue a doctorate in MFT?
* The benefits of COAMFTE accreditation for MFT students
* Are MFT licensing exam prep classes a good value?
* Money for MFTs

I'm also particularly happy with the conversation many posts inspire. Out of the last 22 posts here, 17 have at least one comment, and some have many. The comments are fun to read, often educational for me, and one of the best parts of doing this blog.

So, with a hearty tip of the hat, I thank you, readers, for all your visits and comments, and look forward to the next 100 posts. Hopefully they'll include headlines like "MFTs to become eligible for Medicare reimbursement," "California to adopt National MFT Exam," "License portability to improve across US,"

...and of course...

"Caldwell study to receive cash award."

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Speaking of those next 100 posts, your topic ideas are always welcome. Most of the topics covered here grew from informal conversations with students or colleagues. Email me at ben[at]bencaldwell.com, post a comment, or be really succinct and send something to my Twitter feed.