Comments on: We’re Number 1 – at least that’s what Technorati says http://bearingdrift.com/2010/02/14/were-number-1-at-least-thats-what-technorati-says/ Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:37:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: ShaunKenney.com » Social Media as Slacktivism http://bearingdrift.com/2010/02/14/were-number-1-at-least-thats-what-technorati-says/#comment-29000 ShaunKenney.com » Social Media as Slacktivism Sun, 21 Feb 2010 17:02:44 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=11467#comment-29000 [...] after the Bearing Drift presented some Technorati numbers, followed by the leftosphere’s howls and Virginia Virtucon’s touche on the matter, I [...] [...] after the Bearing Drift presented some Technorati numbers, followed by the leftosphere’s howls and Virginia Virtucon’s touche on the matter, I [...]

]]> By: J.R. Hoeft http://bearingdrift.com/2010/02/14/were-number-1-at-least-thats-what-technorati-says/#comment-28710 J.R. Hoeft Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:43:04 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=11467#comment-28710 That's only because DJ cross-posts! Go team! That’s only because DJ cross-posts!

Go team!

]]> By: The New Numero Uno… « Virginia Virtucon http://bearingdrift.com/2010/02/14/were-number-1-at-least-thats-what-technorati-says/#comment-28683 The New Numero Uno… « Virginia Virtucon Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:03:54 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=11467#comment-28683 [...] New Numero Uno… Posted on February 18, 2010 by Riley As Bearing Drift pointed out the other day, conservative blogs are ranked by Technorati as the dominant influential blogs in the [...] [...] New Numero Uno… Posted on February 18, 2010 by Riley As Bearing Drift pointed out the other day, conservative blogs are ranked by Technorati as the dominant influential blogs in the [...]

]]> By: Riley http://bearingdrift.com/2010/02/14/were-number-1-at-least-thats-what-technorati-says/#comment-28678 Riley Thu, 18 Feb 2010 14:48:44 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=11467#comment-28678 Looks like Virtucon just overtook you for Numero Uno. We're up to 1515 and you're at 1531 today... ;) Looks like Virtucon just overtook you for Numero Uno. We’re up to 1515 and you’re at 1531 today… ;)

]]> By: TheGreenMiles http://bearingdrift.com/2010/02/14/were-number-1-at-least-thats-what-technorati-says/#comment-28519 TheGreenMiles Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:36:09 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=11467#comment-28519 Take the bait? Are you kidding? I'm changing the banner on TGM as we speak to "THE GREEN MILES: THREE TIMES MORE IMPORTANT THAN BLUE VIRGINIA." Lowell will never hear the end of this. Take the bait? Are you kidding? I’m changing the banner on TGM as we speak to “THE GREEN MILES: THREE TIMES MORE IMPORTANT THAN BLUE VIRGINIA.” Lowell will never hear the end of this.

]]> By: J.R. Hoeft http://bearingdrift.com/2010/02/14/were-number-1-at-least-thats-what-technorati-says/#comment-28501 J.R. Hoeft Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:23:46 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=11467#comment-28501 Waldo - I completely agree with you and I think you captured my thoughts very well. You too Shaun. As I stated in a previous comment, I never have put a lot of stock in these numbers, but as you can see by the way some have immediately begun to jump up and down, some have. I really was just posting this for a reaction...and I was not disappointed. Frankly, and I've said this all along, I could have an audience of five and I'd be happy...but it sure doesn't hurt to be a contributor to National Journal's bloggers poll, with you on WVTF, regularly clipped for the Virginian-Pilot's editorial page, and have Brian Kirwin representing BD on WHRO's "What Matters". The blog is a conduit for political information...and it's fun. Waldo – I completely agree with you and I think you captured my thoughts very well. You too Shaun.

As I stated in a previous comment, I never have put a lot of stock in these numbers, but as you can see by the way some have immediately begun to jump up and down, some have.

I really was just posting this for a reaction…and I was not disappointed.

Frankly, and I’ve said this all along, I could have an audience of five and I’d be happy…but it sure doesn’t hurt to be a contributor to National Journal’s bloggers poll, with you on WVTF, regularly clipped for the Virginian-Pilot’s editorial page, and have Brian Kirwin representing BD on WHRO’s “What Matters”.

The blog is a conduit for political information…and it’s fun.

]]> By: Shaun Kenney http://bearingdrift.com/2010/02/14/were-number-1-at-least-thats-what-technorati-says/#comment-28490 Shaun Kenney Tue, 16 Feb 2010 02:28:45 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=11467#comment-28490 Waldo -- I'd entirely agree, and I think it falls into two very neat categories: (1) you care about the stats, or (2) you just don't give a damn, because that's not why you participate. Today folks have jumped into the era of metrics, demographics, average time on site, etc. to get into some statistics that no MSM newspaper would ever dream of having. "Influence" is a very loose term... I doubt there's a firm metrics-based way of determining how person X is seriously influential based on web traffic. After all, this is a fishbowl. Easy to forget, but 75% of Virginia doesn't know our little microclimate of Virginia politics exists -- much less cares. Waldo –

I’d entirely agree, and I think it falls into two very neat categories: (1) you care about the stats, or (2) you just don’t give a damn, because that’s not why you participate.

Today folks have jumped into the era of metrics, demographics, average time on site, etc. to get into some statistics that no MSM newspaper would ever dream of having. “Influence” is a very loose term… I doubt there’s a firm metrics-based way of determining how person X is seriously influential based on web traffic.

After all, this is a fishbowl. Easy to forget, but 75% of Virginia doesn’t know our little microclimate of Virginia politics exists — much less cares.

]]> By: Not Larry Sabato http://bearingdrift.com/2010/02/14/were-number-1-at-least-thats-what-technorati-says/#comment-28485 Not Larry Sabato Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:46:32 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=11467#comment-28485 Lowell took the bait- he just did it on his own blog. :-) Lowell took the bait- he just did it on his own blog. :-)

]]> By: Waldo Jaquith http://bearingdrift.com/2010/02/14/were-number-1-at-least-thats-what-technorati-says/#comment-28482 Waldo Jaquith Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:04:47 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=11467#comment-28482 Shaun, you and I have agreed on this for years: The influence of a blog depends on what your goal is. A blog dedicated to conservative Fifth District politics will inherently have a tiny readership, but if the goal is to influence the outcome of the upcoming primary, such a site could be enormously influential. Having moved much of my time to Richmond Sunlight (especially now, during session) and cvillenews.com, my "influence" (such as it is) is spread out among multiple sources that can't really be tallied, nor—I think—is there any real value to attempting to do so. Jim, you're on WVTF every week, listened to by many tens of thousands of people—how do you measure the impact of that? Isn't that really an extension of your blog, after all? Influence measured on any simple website traffic scale isn't meaningful or useful. While amusing, I think it's ultimately not helpful, and potentially harmful, insofar as it causes people to focus on things like getting the most hits or getting the most links, rather than actually researching, thinking, and communicating information that's of value to their readers. Shaun, you and I have agreed on this for years: The influence of a blog depends on what your goal is. A blog dedicated to conservative Fifth District politics will inherently have a tiny readership, but if the goal is to influence the outcome of the upcoming primary, such a site could be enormously influential. Having moved much of my time to Richmond Sunlight (especially now, during session) and cvillenews.com, my “influence” (such as it is) is spread out among multiple sources that can’t really be tallied, nor—I think—is there any real value to attempting to do so. Jim, you’re on WVTF every week, listened to by many tens of thousands of people—how do you measure the impact of that? Isn’t that really an extension of your blog, after all?

Influence measured on any simple website traffic scale isn’t meaningful or useful. While amusing, I think it’s ultimately not helpful, and potentially harmful, insofar as it causes people to focus on things like getting the most hits or getting the most links, rather than actually researching, thinking, and communicating information that’s of value to their readers.

]]> By: J.R. Hoeft http://bearingdrift.com/2010/02/14/were-number-1-at-least-thats-what-technorati-says/#comment-28481 J.R. Hoeft Mon, 15 Feb 2010 23:59:15 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=11467#comment-28481 Moral of the story - I was curious if I could get Ben to comment. Too easy. Unfortunately Lowell and Vivian didn't take the bait. (But I'll take Miles as a surrogate as a moral victory) I'll do better next time. ;-) Moral of the story – I was curious if I could get Ben to comment.

Too easy.

Unfortunately Lowell and Vivian didn’t take the bait. (But I’ll take Miles as a surrogate as a moral victory)

I’ll do better next time. ;-)

]]> By: Shaun Kenney http://bearingdrift.com/2010/02/14/were-number-1-at-least-thats-what-technorati-says/#comment-28477 Shaun Kenney Mon, 15 Feb 2010 22:45:20 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=11467#comment-28477 All this depends on by which standard you judge being "influential": Technorati: Who links to you? Who talks about your information? Sitemeter: Pure traffic -- visits, hits, unique visitors. Google Analytics: Attempts to bridge the two by providing better data. Of course, arguments abound as to which is better. For instance, if you are CNN and everyone is linking to your article, that's great... if you are looking for that sort of thing. Technorati in this instance is for you. If you are Instapundit or DrudgeReport, then who cares who links to you -- you're a web portal. Or if you're Perez Hilton, then traffic (you want to see whether a tabloid is talking about you, etc). In this instance, Sitemeter does what you need it to do. Google Analytics is the best resource, and of course they don't rank. They provide 80 proof straight-up-the-gut information. If you're looking for conversion rates, how long people read an article, unique IPs, returning visitors, and what drives what. If you're looking for a weapon of choice, this is mine. Then there's Alexa: Bearing Drift (ranked 241,579, 53,965 in US, 189 sites linking in) http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/bearingdrift.com Not Larry Sabato (ranked 609,471, 240,699 in US, 252 sites linking in) http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/notlarrysabato.typepad.com Blue Virginia (ranked 730,095, 255,425 in US, 129 sites linking in) http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/bluevirginia.us Virginia Virtucon (ranked 1,673,327, 377,616 in US, 154 sites linking in) http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/virginiavirtucon.wordpress.com Moral of the story: Depending on what you're looking for, you'll find a statistic to back up your claims. All this depends on by which standard you judge being “influential”:

Technorati: Who links to you? Who talks about your information?
Sitemeter: Pure traffic — visits, hits, unique visitors.
Google Analytics: Attempts to bridge the two by providing better data.

Of course, arguments abound as to which is better. For instance, if you are CNN and everyone is linking to your article, that’s great… if you are looking for that sort of thing. Technorati in this instance is for you.

If you are Instapundit or DrudgeReport, then who cares who links to you — you’re a web portal. Or if you’re Perez Hilton, then traffic (you want to see whether a tabloid is talking about you, etc). In this instance, Sitemeter does what you need it to do.

Google Analytics is the best resource, and of course they don’t rank. They provide 80 proof straight-up-the-gut information. If you’re looking for conversion rates, how long people read an article, unique IPs, returning visitors, and what drives what. If you’re looking for a weapon of choice, this is mine.

Then there’s Alexa:

Bearing Drift (ranked 241,579, 53,965 in US, 189 sites linking in)
http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/bearingdrift.com

Not Larry Sabato (ranked 609,471, 240,699 in US, 252 sites linking in)
http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/notlarrysabato.typepad.com

Blue Virginia (ranked 730,095, 255,425 in US, 129 sites linking in)
http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/bluevirginia.us

Virginia Virtucon (ranked 1,673,327, 377,616 in US, 154 sites linking in)
http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/virginiavirtucon.wordpress.com

Moral of the story: Depending on what you’re looking for, you’ll find a statistic to back up your claims.

]]> By: TheGreenMiles http://bearingdrift.com/2010/02/14/were-number-1-at-least-thats-what-technorati-says/#comment-28475 TheGreenMiles Mon, 15 Feb 2010 21:44:34 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=11467#comment-28475 Ha, any ranking that has The Green Miles three times higher than Blue Virginia is seriously flawed! Maybe I should have Lowell guest post at TGM instead of the other way around? :) Ha, any ranking that has The Green Miles three times higher than Blue Virginia is seriously flawed! Maybe I should have Lowell guest post at TGM instead of the other way around? :)

]]> By: Steve Vaughan http://bearingdrift.com/2010/02/14/were-number-1-at-least-thats-what-technorati-says/#comment-28466 Steve Vaughan Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:23:25 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=11467#comment-28466 Ward: That analogy is too kind on both ends. More like "Biggest Loser" v. "Hannity & Colmes" Ward: That analogy is too kind on both ends.
More like “Biggest Loser” v. “Hannity & Colmes”

]]> By: Not Larry Sabato http://bearingdrift.com/2010/02/14/were-number-1-at-least-thats-what-technorati-says/#comment-28457 Not Larry Sabato Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:27:31 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=11467#comment-28457 American Idol? You can be more insulting than that, c'mon. American Idol? You can be more insulting than that, c’mon.

]]> By: Ward Smythe http://bearingdrift.com/2010/02/14/were-number-1-at-least-thats-what-technorati-says/#comment-28456 Ward Smythe Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:19:59 +0000 http://bearingdrift.com/?p=11467#comment-28456 Sure Ben, everybody loves a circus. Your comparison is kinda like "American Idol" vs. "Meet the Press." Sure Ben, everybody loves a circus.

Your comparison is kinda like “American Idol” vs. “Meet the Press.”

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