Comments on: Many surprised to learn global warming basics

By: (not so) Silent

(not so) Silent — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 01:41:06 +0000

No comments up in the NZ Herald for CdF’s article yet… Almost a week now.

By: Richard C (NZ)

Richard C (NZ) — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 19:18:03 +0000

“But as an example of successful whacking I would like to cite the case of the McLean, de Freitas and Carter paper. It was shot down mercilessly”

Not quite the way I would have put it – but close.

By: Andy

Andy — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 09:41:19 +0000

This is the kind of drivel we get from our NZ academics on this topic.

http://hot-topic.co.nz/how-to-believe-in-impossible-things/#comment-22730

Is this for real?

By: Ken

Ken — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 04:01:05 +0000

This is what I get at Technoraiti:

“No results in your search for “http://www.climateconversation.wordshine.co.nz/.” Try refining your search in the form above to get more results”

By: Ken

Ken — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 03:38:22 +0000

Alexa also usually gives a ranking for NZ if there is significant traffic. It gives a very low ranking for Moonshine (nothing at all for conversations). It doesn’t rank Hot-Topic in NZ presumably because most visitors are from outside NZ (it ranks for US).

We could look at other rankings sites – but if Alexa doesn’t list conversations I don’t think they will either.

No Richard – I am not making you sick – I am simply calling you out on your claims. You refuse to support them.

Of course your sickness could be guilt?

By: Andy

Andy — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 02:02:55 +0000

In my view, the absolute number of page views is of little relevance, unless you are trying to drive advertising revenue.

If you get high search rankings for certain phrases For example, if you search Google for “Don Easterbrook”, you will see Hot Topic and Deltoid in the first page. These will undoubtedly drive traffic to these sites.

A good blog is probably measured more by its “stickyness”, to use the vernacular. If you have a regular group of commenters and contributers, then then is a sticky site – i.e it is getting repeat visitors.
Facebook is probably the most sticky site on the net.

Another metric is Google’s “page rank” which gives an indication of relative importance of the site from a citation perspective.

You can use various tools such as Google Analytics to measure some of these metrics.
However, unless you are trying to make money from your blog, they are primarily of academic interest.

By: Richard Treadgold

Richard Treadgold — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 02:00:39 +0000

Thanks, guys. Your support is priceless! But Ken just makes me sick, so I’ve given in and posted the last seven days’ traffic figures. Let’s see whether he continues to malign us or recognises our “achievement”.

By: Andy

Andy — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 01:50:10 +0000

Alexa ranks based on readings taken from those who have got the Alexa toolbar installed. If none of your visitors has the Alexa toolbar installed, then you will rank zero.

By: Richard C (NZ)

Richard C (NZ) — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 01:30:55 +0000

“Best explanation – Treadgold has been telling porkies again.”

Or could it be that Alexa ranks US traffic?

By: Ken

Ken — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 01:20:06 +0000

Richard Treadgold – Alexa actually ranks websites. I don’t think their ranking is as reliable as actual visit numbers. However its worth people going to alexa and having a look – in light of Richard’s claims.

Climate Conversation blog doesn’t even show up there (an indication of minuscule traffic.

Wordshine does but is ranked very low. it has only 3 incoming links from Alexa surveys.

Sciblogs has 183 incoming links and Hot Topic 139.

Both these blogs are ranked very much higher than Wordshine.

I repeat – climate conversation blog doesn’t even rank.

Best explanation – Treadgold has been telling porkies again.