‘Your new OJ site is optimized for the search engines, so now you’re getting a big jump in Google referrals. Good for you. I’m sure a lot of folks Google “orange juice” and find your site that way, only to discover it has nothing to do with the drink.‘

Even though it’s true that we can found by searching on ‘orange juice,’ and that for that search term we’re actually ranked higher than both Tropicana and Minute Maid, the large majority of our traffic comes either directly or through the search term ‘orange juice blog.’ I say if people are asking for us by name, we must be doing something right.

SMS

Yes you did. But that aside it is laughable that YOU are challenging me to post my Google Analytics info when you steadfastly refuse to post ANYTHING about your blog’s alleged readership. You won’t even post Sitemeter even though most blogs do.

Tell you what – add Sitemeter to your blog and I will post my Analytics numbers.

By the way, we beat you again in the latest figures from Alexa. Sucks to be number 2 doesn’t it?

I didn’t recommend Alexa to you. Why would I recommend a questionable web traffic site that I never utilize?

I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that Red County is miles ahead of OJ in terms of traffic and influence, no matter how often you want to rant about “reliable” Alexa.

What I referred you to was Google Analytics, and I find it curious that you never — despite a promise to do so — make those numbers public, especially the Absolute Unique Visitors metric.

Your new OJ site is optimized for the search engines, so now you’re getting a big jump in Google referrals. Good for you. I’m sure a lot of folks Google “orange juice” and find your site that way, only to discover it has nothing to do with the drink.

Keep beating your chest, Art. If it keeps you convinced of your own importance and relevance, I wouldn’t want to take that away from you.

I don’t know about Compete.com but Alexa does NOT require the use of a toolbar as far as I know. I could be wrong, but if I’m mistaken, please show me how so.

SMS

It speaks to credibility . Our detractors used to say that no one read our blog. Today we know that is untrue.

I also make our Sitemeter data available to the public. That data is very trustworthy. I pay several hundred dollars a year to make the expanded data available to our readers.

Your blog is quickly moving up on Alexa and BNN. I commend you for your efforts. That your blog has almost caught up with the Flash Report speaks for itself.

Nobody can measure how many web surfers (A) get on your web site (B) unless they get permission from either A or B.

Web counters get permission from the B’s by having their little boxes on your sites.

Alexa and Compete look at the numbers from the A’s, and can only do so if the users install their toolbars.

Seriously, now, how many smart, computer-savvy people do you know who install toolbars willy-nilly?

All sites like Alexa and Compete suffer from the same problem: Only people who don’t know any better install their toolbars, and so they only get those numbers.

If anything, though, the better known the service, the more quote-unquote reliable the numbers become, as it seems more likely to have their toolbars installed on more computers and across a more reflective population. So if there’s a gun to my head that forces me to choose one or the other, I’d take Alexa.

But both are pointless.

If rankings were money, that’d be something else. But it ain’t, so what’s the point?

To be honest I don’t read Red County very often. I look at their posts on BNN. If I see one that is of interest I read it and then move on. I haven’t the time to blow hours on other blogs.

That’s a crude way to put it. The fact is our detractors often USED to say that no one read our blog. Now that we have been the top OC Blog for several weeks, that argument simply doesn’t sell.

IMHO our blog offers the most interesting stories in the OC blogosphere. The red and blue blogs offer sanitized partisan spin. Where’s the fun in that?

Jubal = #1. Art Pedroza’s ranking will continue to decline due to his blog policy. All day he is lucky to have his OWN 3 people to post writings!