The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

FOUR MILLION VISITORS!

Posted on | June 6, 2010 | 47 Comments

Yes, it’s true, The Other McCain just passed the 4-million mark in total visits since the beginning of full-time blogging in March 2008.

The first million was, of course, celebrated in February 2009 with the publication of “How to Get a Million Hits on Your Blog in Less Than a Year.” Smitty joined as co-blogger shortly thereafter and we passed the 2-million mark in July 2009, then hit 3 million in November and then . . .

Slumpsville. When monthly traffic decreased from 263,000 hits in November to 190,000 in December, I figured, “Well, it’s the holidays. People just aren’t reading a lot of blogs this time of year.” And yet the traffic slump seemed to persist past the holidays so that, while it took less than four months to go from 2 million to 3 million, it has taken seven months to notch the 4 millionth hit. A most troubling development, but more discussion of that later.

At any rate, Smitty had been bugging me to switch the site from Blogspot to WordPress format, a project we undertook the week after Christmas and accomplished in time for the rollout on New Year’s Eve. (Oh, the exciting life of bloggers!) Crossing the threshold into WordPressville was an occasion commemorated in this video:

And thus we slogged onward. January, the first full month at the new WordPress digs, produced a respectable 146,000 hits — boosted by coverage of the Scott Brown election in Massachusetts –  but the slump eventually returned, with a discouraging 105,000 hits in April. Last month, we bounced back up to 133,000, yet I’m still perplexed that we haven’t recaptured the kind of 300K mojo we had last September.

Various explanations for the missing mojo suggest themselves. Blogspot is owned by Google, and it may be that departure from the Google dominion deprived us of a certain edge in terms of search-engine results. It may also be that some readers who had set the old Blogspot address in their RSS feeds never updated to the new URL. And the craptastic debacle that is the “new, improved” Technorati deprived us of a very effective tool for Rule 2 implementation.

Whatever. That’s just a short and extremely partial list of theories, among which is the fact that our sidebars need some re-working — a tiresome task I’ve often contemplated only to conclude, “Nah. It can wait.”

Don’t worry. I’ll stop procrastinating. Soon. I promise.

Meanwhile, having transcended the 4-million threshold and begun to recapture the upwardly-mobile mojo in May, we thank our readers and all the bloggers who’ve linked us in the long winter of our SiteMeter discontent. The first dozen or so Certified Tip-Jar Hitter coffee mugs — Coolest Swag Evah! —  have already been shipped, and more will be shipped soon. Congratulatory contributions to the tip jar are certainly most welcome.

UPDATE: Here is the screen-cap of the SiteMeter log for the 4 millionth visitor:

So if you are the reader in Davis, Calif., who arrived on the site at 4:51 p.m. ET (1:51 Pacific), please holler out. I’m not sure that we’ve promised any particular reward to the 4 millionth visitor, but it would be nice to know who did it.

Bookmark and Share
Category: Blogging

Comments

  • http://www.reddogreport.com Brian O’Connor

    Congratz! You guys do an awesome job. Here’s hoping you hit 5 Million by the end of the month.

  • http://www.reddogreport.com Brian O’Connor

    Congratz! You guys do an awesome job. Here’s hoping you hit 5 Million by the end of the month.

  • http://thecampofthesaints.wordpress.com Bob Belvedere

    Felicitations, well done, good show!

    Brian is quite right: you two do an extraordinary job. TOM is my first stop in the morning and my last before bedtime.

    WOLVERINES!

  • http://thecampofthesaints.wordpress.com Bob Belvedere

    Felicitations, well done, good show!

    Brian is quite right: you two do an extraordinary job. TOM is my first stop in the morning and my last before bedtime.

    WOLVERINES!

  • http://datechguy.wordpress.com datechguy

    More interesting that the 4 millionth hit is the fact that the person responsible for it was running Windows NT.

    NT? Not even 2000? That’s OLD school.

  • http://datechguy.wordpress.com datechguy

    More interesting that the 4 millionth hit is the fact that the person responsible for it was running Windows NT.

    NT? Not even 2000? That’s OLD school.

  • Miss Sharon

    Fun News! Congratulations :)

  • Miss Sharon

    Fun News! Congratulations :)

  • http://carolyntackettscloset.blogspot.com Carol

    Congrats and thank you to both of you! Keep ‘em coming, guys.

  • http://carolyntackettscloset.blogspot.com Carol

    Congrats and thank you to both of you! Keep ‘em coming, guys.

  • http://effingconservatives.blogspot.com Jeff Weimer

    Nah, they’re running Windows 7 – all versions since NT show as that in the OS line – but the browser line gave it away: 6.1 is Win7 or Server 2008. Since they are (probably) running a laptop (1680×1050 resolution is de-rigueur), my money’s on Win7.

  • http://effingconservatives.blogspot.com Jeff Weimer

    Nah, they’re running Windows 7 – all versions since NT show as that in the OS line – but the browser line gave it away: 6.1 is Win7 or Server 2008. Since they are (probably) running a laptop (1680×1050 resolution is de-rigueur), my money’s on Win7.

  • http://proof-proofpositive.blogspot.com/ proof

    Congratulations! Awesome accomplishment.
    Now get back to work!
    (I’m channeling my boss there!)

  • http://proof-proofpositive.blogspot.com/ proof

    Congratulations! Awesome accomplishment.
    Now get back to work!
    (I’m channeling my boss there!)

  • http://norunnyeggs.com steveegg

    Congrats.

  • http://norunnyeggs.com steveegg

    Congrats.

  • http://effingconservatives.blogspot.com Jeff Weimer

    Oh yeah, and congrats Stacy. A million hits in a year and 3 more in a year and three months. Not too shabby.

    Now if we can get Allahpundit to start linking you, we’ll get that slump licked. You may be getting close – he actually mentioned you by name a couple days ago in a comment.

  • http://effingconservatives.blogspot.com Jeff Weimer

    Oh yeah, and congrats Stacy. A million hits in a year and 3 more in a year and three months. Not too shabby.

    Now if we can get Allahpundit to start linking you, we’ll get that slump licked. You may be getting close – he actually mentioned you by name a couple days ago in a comment.

  • http://javelineer.com The Javelineer

    Yeah!!!! ‘gratz!

  • http://javelineer.com The Javelineer

    Yeah!!!! ‘gratz!

  • http://nicholas-whatthe.blogspot.com nicholas

    Jealousy runs rampant across the blogosphere – but how can mere mortals keep up with Stace running off killer posts multiple times a day, and Smitty batting clean-up on weekends and whenever Stace will give it a rest for a second, not to mention Smitty’s ever vigilant Rule 5 patrol work. It’s a tough combo to compete with.

    Congratulations, you blog hogs. A very well deserved achievement.

    And hey, Mr. Four Millionth hit, next time stick around a little longer than 0 seconds – it’s hard to take it all in, but that’s no reason to back away. You found the mother load! : )

  • http://nicholas-whatthe.blogspot.com nicholas

    Jealousy runs rampant across the blogosphere – but how can mere mortals keep up with Stace running off killer posts multiple times a day, and Smitty batting clean-up on weekends and whenever Stace will give it a rest for a second, not to mention Smitty’s ever vigilant Rule 5 patrol work. It’s a tough combo to compete with.

    Congratulations, you blog hogs. A very well deserved achievement.

    And hey, Mr. Four Millionth hit, next time stick around a little longer than 0 seconds – it’s hard to take it all in, but that’s no reason to back away. You found the mother load! : )

  • Dell

    Gratz, RSM & Smitty. You’re an official “Blog Hog”!! :)

  • Dell

    Gratz, RSM & Smitty. You’re an official “Blog Hog”!! :)

  • http://theothermccain.com Robert Stacy McCain

    Jeff Weimer
    June 6th, 2010 @ 7:13 pm
    . . . he actually mentioned you by name a couple days ago in a comment.

    What? When? Where?

    Please send me the link, that is, if you can get your team of legal experts to authenticate it Will Folks-style.

  • http://theothermccain.com Robert Stacy McCain

    Jeff Weimer
    June 6th, 2010 @ 7:13 pm
    . . . he actually mentioned you by name a couple days ago in a comment.

    What? When? Where?

    Please send me the link, that is, if you can get your team of legal experts to authenticate it Will Folks-style.

  • http://lonelyconservative.com Lonely Conservative

    Congrats! I’m pea green with envy!

  • http://lonelyconservative.com Lonely Conservative

    Congrats! I’m pea green with envy!

  • http://www.linkedin.com/in/bdpaasch Brian Paasch

    Go Aggies!!!

    (Yeah, I’m a UCD alumnus, but I survived the brainwashing efforts of a CA university and I’m still a far right wingnut.)

  • http://www.linkedin.com/in/bdpaasch Brian Paasch

    Go Aggies!!!

    (Yeah, I’m a UCD alumnus, but I survived the brainwashing efforts of a CA university and I’m still a far right wingnut.)

  • http://effingconservatives.blogspot.com Jeff Weimer

    Here ya go Stacy, read it and exult:

    http://hotair.com/archives/2010/06/02/hit-men-another-sc-pol-claims-affair-with-nikki-haley/comment-page-1/#comments

    Scroll to the following timestamp to find the relevant passage:

    Allahpundit on June 2, 2010 at 8:52 PM

    Your trusty Blog Associate awaits further orders….

  • http://effingconservatives.blogspot.com Jeff Weimer

    Here ya go Stacy, read it and exult:

    http://hotair.com/archives/2010/06/02/hit-men-another-sc-pol-claims-affair-with-nikki-haley/comment-page-1/#comments

    Scroll to the following timestamp to find the relevant passage:

    Allahpundit on June 2, 2010 at 8:52 PM

    Your trusty Blog Associate awaits further orders….

  • http://www.politicalbyline.com Patrick

    Lucky Bastards. ;)

  • http://www.politicalbyline.com Patrick

    Lucky Bastards. ;)

  • TR Sterling

    The Roger Maris edition of RSM *blog excellence.
    (whinner).
    -TR

  • TR Sterling

    The Roger Maris edition of RSM *blog excellence.
    (whinner).
    -TR

  • http://qwertyaltofuori.blogspot.com Red

    In the words of the fabulous Bob Belvedere, “WOOT!”

  • http://qwertyaltofuori.blogspot.com Red

    In the words of the fabulous Bob Belvedere, “WOOT!”

  • Pingback: Allahpundit Mentions Me By Name : The Other McCain

  • Estragon

    Congratulations, and best wishes for continued and growing success!

    I’m pretty sure I also saw the Ace mention of you – it wouldn’t have been AP, since I only go over there to check out Ed’s posts and whatever from the Green Room, AP’s a bit too vicariously bicurious for my preferences IYKWIMAITTYD (and frankly I wonder about Ace, what with all their sleepovers and all).

    The only possible explanation I can think of for any slowing of traffic is, well, a personal hygiene issue. When was the last time you had that Fedora cleaned? I mean, professionally, like with dry-cleaning and fumigation and all that stuff? Fabrics need cleaning, lest they develop the scent of an old dog left out in the rain – for a week after he died in August.

    Family and close associates quickly acquire an immunity to the stench, although this usually involves a near-total loss of scent, and in extreme cases hearing, touch, and the ability to gag.

    One tip-off your Fedora is due for cleaning is if visitors frequently ask, “Did something die in here?”

    Clean it or give it a decent burial, dude!

  • Estragon

    Congratulations, and best wishes for continued and growing success!

    I’m pretty sure I also saw the Ace mention of you – it wouldn’t have been AP, since I only go over there to check out Ed’s posts and whatever from the Green Room, AP’s a bit too vicariously bicurious for my preferences IYKWIMAITTYD (and frankly I wonder about Ace, what with all their sleepovers and all).

    The only possible explanation I can think of for any slowing of traffic is, well, a personal hygiene issue. When was the last time you had that Fedora cleaned? I mean, professionally, like with dry-cleaning and fumigation and all that stuff? Fabrics need cleaning, lest they develop the scent of an old dog left out in the rain – for a week after he died in August.

    Family and close associates quickly acquire an immunity to the stench, although this usually involves a near-total loss of scent, and in extreme cases hearing, touch, and the ability to gag.

    One tip-off your Fedora is due for cleaning is if visitors frequently ask, “Did something die in here?”

    Clean it or give it a decent burial, dude!

  • Pingback: We’re All Inside Roy Edroso’s Head : The Other McCain

  • http://kingshamus.wordpress.com/ KingShamus

    Bigs ups to The Other McCain.

    Congratulations and many wishes for future success, dude.

  • http://kingshamus.wordpress.com/ KingShamus

    Bigs ups to The Other McCain.

    Congratulations and many wishes for future success, dude.

  • http://www.singleissuezealot.com Loren Ibsen

    Congratulations!

    And a confession: It’s my fault the pace has slowed. I surf on my phone and hit the old blogspot site regularly.A few rough edges, but overall an easy viewing experience.

    Something about WordPress requires the entire site to reload when I hit the “back” button from a link or comment page. Too much work on this poor old BlackBerry. So now I might come by once during the workday and save the serious viewage until I get to my desktop at home.

    Slow loading=fewer page hits?

  • http://www.singleissuezealot.com Loren Ibsen

    Congratulations!

    And a confession: It’s my fault the pace has slowed. I surf on my phone and hit the old blogspot site regularly.A few rough edges, but overall an easy viewing experience.

    Something about WordPress requires the entire site to reload when I hit the “back” button from a link or comment page. Too much work on this poor old BlackBerry. So now I might come by once during the workday and save the serious viewage until I get to my desktop at home.

    Slow loading=fewer page hits?

  • Pingback: Monday Sarcasm and Smorgasbord at Haemet

Performance Optimization WordPress Plugins by W3 EDGE