Just an update on how things are going with the blog…
They’re kinda slow on the advertising front because I haven’t tried to sell any in the last few weeks. I really pushed on it during the primary, then slacked off. As y’all know, I do have a job, and while the folks at ADCO love the blog (I keep having to tell one of the partners that if she keeps sending me cool blog fodder she finds on the Web, I’ll never get to my ADCO work), I do need to set priorities. And ad sales have been low on the list. Also, I really want to find somebody to help me sell it for commissions — especially to non-political customers, with whom I am less confident. And I haven’t found anybody yet.
But while the revenue side has been slow, the circulation department is booming.
Last month was my best month ever for readership. I had 254,545 page views. (By the way, page views are the measure I use because that’s the only stat I had available to me on my old blog at the paper, so it’s a meaningful number to me. Other stats for June include 92,713 “Visits” and 1,347,519 “Hits” — but those don’t mean as much to me.) That pretty much stomps the record set the previous June — the month that the Mark Sanford scandal broke and people across the country were looking for SC blogs — of 168,995.
On the old blog — the one that I did as editorial page editor of the state’s largest newspaper, which meant I was able to promote it from that large print platform — it took me three years to reach a million page views. At June’s pace, it would take me four months.
The biggest month I ever had on my old blog when I was at the paper was 84,472 in January 2008 — the month that the eyes of the nation were on SC because of the presidential primaries. As you can see, I was blogging like mad that month, but back then I just couldn’t get the traffic I do now.
Of course, I don’t expect to get a quarter of a million every month — so far this month (since we don’t have the primaries — and Alvin Greene and alleged scandals about Nikki Haley — driving interest in political news) I’ve had 101,585 so far. That’s more like May, with 148,391. But the trend is ratcheting upward.
Just in case you wanted to know.
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Sounds like a lot more than 6-8 people to me, unless you’re not using base ten.
That’s really cool; congratulations! I appreciate the detailed rundown on your stats, if only because I run a blog as well, and that kind of transparency is not only enlightening to me but also helps educate late adopters of social media — making it more comfortable for them to regard blogs as legit press outlets!
I am glad to hear things are going well. Please keep us posted. The paperboy, paper man, paper woman (who knows they come before I get up) failed to deliver my paper this morning. I usually rush out and buy one when this happens, but today I just read internet news and this blog. Who cares? I will care if you quit blogging. Wish you could sell more ads. There are plenty of talented, personable college graduates looking for work. Can you hire someone on commission? Glad ADCO supports the blog. Do you have plans for a successor when you retire?
Brad, congrats! I guess that’s more than 6-8 readers and one malcontent.
This is Super, Brad. I’m seeing you quoted in other outlets, too.
You certainly a “go to” when I want a good perspective and thoughtful comments.
Since I really do get only 6 to 8 readers on my own blog, I’m super impressed. Your potential ad buyers should be also.
I appreciate your reasoned analysis and rejection of the partisan multitudes. Keep it up!