Google’s search engine may place your posts and pages higher in returns on your machine than anyone else’s.  If I search for “creative nonfiction,” for example, I find two of my posts listed on their first page of returns. If I search using someone else’s computer, or my tablet, none of my posts shows up after a dozen or more pages.

Google knows me as a user because my blog is linked to my Google+ (internal link) account. (It may also have other ways of detecting my search activity.) Google probably wants me t0 think my posts are popular. In fact, they are arranging their search results to make me look good. Notice, too, how they have my photo? I don’t see that anywhere else except when I search on my machines.

Best advice when assessing your post’s popularity? If you are linked to Google on your desktop or laptop, try a friend’s computer or one at a library.