As you can see from the Hit Rate Graphs, the number of people who visit the blog every day has grown hugely, since I restarted in December. More than 114,000 individuals visited the blog during May, with 188,000 multiple visits. This was more than double April's total. This is a phenomenal performance for a blog that is less than 6 months old. Guido outperforms me, with 150,00o unique visitors and 211,000 multiples and I suspect that ConservativeHome does too. I'm sure we all share many visitors.So what of the future? If I was working in a normal full-time job, I doubt whether I could keep the momentum up. It is almost impossible to earn money from a blog - the adverts you see down the sides of the blog generate very little if anything and I will probably do away with them. The only way to generate revenue is to attract sponsorship from those who wish to "get at" the political community. Virtually anyone who's anyone in Conservative politics (and beyond!) reads this blog - I'm told that the Party Leader and Party Chairman have been known to visit, along with many other members of the Shadow Cabinet. Most of the political lobby look at it once a day at least. The same goes for Guido's and Tim Montgomerie's blogs. Guido's post today makes clear that like me, he's feeling the strain and even thinking of taking on a "Mini" Guido to help him. It seems to me that the only way we can survive, improve and expand what we do is to take on some degree of financial sponsorship. So if anyone out there has any ideas on what they'd like to see here in the future or their company might fancy some kind of sponsorship deal, please do get in touch.
In the meantime, thanks to all of you for visiting so regularly and making it so enjoyable.
32 comments:
At this rate of growth, you will have everyone in the UK visiting next January.
So I'm sure you can make some real money then. :)
well Iain, let's be honest, you've been progressing with this Internet thing so well the next logical step is to get a webcam!
More seriously though, I think you should post at your own rate and sod the "why are you not keeping me infomred?" lobby.
Perhaps look at setting a team up as well with you as the overseer rather than permanent poster?
Oh yes, and beg for money.
It's a quality blog, Iain, which I am sure would stand the test of a small weekly or monthly subscription fee. Being new to blogging, this site and ConservativeHome have impressed me most and I would be happy to subscribe to both if the subscription charges were set at a sensible level. But then again, would I pay a subscription fee up-front without knowing anything about the blog? As long as I'd had a month to evaluate the blog free of charge - yes.
Congrats on your success Iain. If you and Guido run out of steam I might actually get some work done....
Charging subscriptions for blogging is self-defeating and contrary to the philosophy of the medium. Ultimately, there can be no 'out-reach'. Mr Dale will end up talking to an old crowd, getting increasingly older, and he will eventually end up with the blogging grannies of the Tory Party. They will flatter him, tell him what he wants to hear, and reminisce about how lovely it would have been if CCHQ had allowed him to be their candidate. If you want to spend the next 20 years of your life doing that, then charge a subscription. At 43, you ought to 'get a life' instead of waiting for 'something political' to come along. Politics is to fickle to place any hope or trust in.
Croydonian, where is Mr Al-Amin?
work is overrated! having said that I work in the Internet industry, so posting comments has been a way of life for too long. I don't like the idea of subscription but that's because I'm an inherently tight git.
Larry - subs won't work. Iain needs a sugar daddy a la Algy Cluff or Henry Keswick both of whom put money into and made The Spectator what it is today. How do Spiked keep going? I know they solicited donations but not subs because they know that would kill it off. Also Open Democracy.
Your Blog is your blog and your voice is distictive so you cannot really enroll mini me's and delegate. No its going to need an Angel or two. Of course if you launch an appeal I will subscribe as will many others but thats a partial solution.
We all owe you a lot or at least I do.
It's a great blog, mate... my friend's 13 year old daughter has it as her homepage!!
You should definately continue it, though maybe do what Mike Smithson on PB.com does and 'contract out' some of the blog stories to other people.
I should make clear that there is absolutely NO QUESTION of me even considering charging a subscription for this blog!
Iain; you can rest during August & September when little goes on in the political world has they are all on holiday. This is an excellent blog and one well worth reading.
I should make clear that there is absolutely NO QUESTION of me even considering PAYING a subscription for this blog!
Having said that, Iain, it is without doubt the best political blog around. Not for the gossip or the exclusives, but for the sheer bloody personality you put into it. We disagree about virtually everything, but through your blog you come across as a really decent bloke, and that oozes out of your blog. Better to blog less if you're finding it too much pressure to do every couple of hours, but try not to give up. I spend ages boring other people about things I've read here.
Also... think of us other poor sods who don't get half of the number of visitors you do. I always know if I get a nod in your blogs of the week, my hits double straight away.
Thanks Iain for all the hard work you put in. It is a really enjoyable blog, I hope that you are able to continue it.
This is a great blog, you must keep it up! Would be a shame to see it go, Iain - why give 'bizi' Prescott the satisfaction (pardon the pun?)?
Don't stop.
Please don't stop.
Post a litte less frequently.
Delayed gratification - keep the readers on edge!
John
I'm with Bob.
I look at your readership with more than a little awe - I've been impressed with some of the numbers visiting mine on occasion, but they pale into insignificance with yours.
Keep up the excellent work.
Power to your elbow Iain, but do it or not do it. We don't need to know the process, as Tom Kelly might say. Your choice to run an (excellent) blog, but please don't expect us to a)thank you for it b)pay for it c) stop having a go!
Iain,
I am convinced that you do lots of benefit for both yourself and the Conservative cause through this blog. Please don't stop.
Maybe you and Guido could sell ad space as a package deal?
Footnote for Cranmer - who knows where our habibi Al-Amin has got to? I'd been rather looking forward to his next rant.
Given what Bob says, maybe you should charge the lesser bloggers a small fee to be mentioned on these august pages :-)
A fiver for a decent conservative blogger and a couple of grand for the lefties, perhaps?
Seriously I agree with Dizzy. Maybe cut the number of posts if you find time is short and put up a paypal button.
Whatever you do don't leave us poor saps out in blogistan without our daily doses of political insight and scandal. Pleeeeeease.
RM
I an understand how you feel you have to immediately respond to ground breaking news, as well as your excellent exclusives, and I know how time consuming blogging is, it can take over every spare minute.
The fact is that it is a valued and much appreciated resource of latest news, and one that will continue to grow in the future.
I am writing tomorrow about American political bloggers, we have a long way to go in the UK. I love researching and putting some depth and background in what I write about, you cover all grounds. I like the way you are balanced and fair minded, eg the A list and Adam Ricketts.
I like your football "subplots", my family are great Tottenham supporters.
The sponsorship is there, I shall put my thinking cap on. Congratulations on your great achievement.
Please don't have other contributors. Recess Monkey for example has gone down the tubes since he (it?) did imho. We want the pure Iain! But I'd be happy with a bit less, I rarely read all of your long pieces (and rarely agree with any, but that's another story), attention span of a flea, I'm afraid......
And don't let it become a chore rather than a pleasure.....
Iain,
I am convinced that you do lots of benefit for both yourself and the Conservative cause through this blog. Please stop.
Iain
I took early retirement and then realised I just needed a few weeks off. You're tired, mate. Take a rest. Don't make any decisions.
Good luck
A very generous tribute from your old adversary Bob Piper I thought.
With the exponential growth in hits to your blog in just six months, it's amazing to think that just 5 years ago at the height of the dot com boom "Iain Dale's Diary" would have been worth millions as a flotation prospect.
It would be a monumental shame were you to discontinue or even signicantly curtail your blog.
I have some ideas for you to consider, which I will email to you tomorrow.
Meanwhile along with everyone else, I congratulate you on the astounding success you have achieved over such a short period.
Peter from Putney
Iain; with the majority, including Bob - keep it going, but write less often. Your substantive posts, especially with the personal knowledge you bring to bear, are excellent.
"old style" politicians may dislike blogging, but in 5 - 10 years time, it'll be almost de rigeru to engage in some manner directly via the net. It may not be blogging, the technology will move on, but a real person engaging is always good.
Just don't be afraid to take breaks, not post on a given day, etc. The hits fall off a bit, but most of us have subscribed to the feed. We'd be back.
Disagree with the idea of another writer; this is your diary. I like group blogs, generally, but personal, "my opinion" sites are always good when it's someone directly involved, such as yourself.
Guido's site has a different emphasis. Gossip and rumour can have more than one contributor, although I'm not as keen on Recess Monkey now it's multiple people...
Andrew Sullivan does an annual appeal for funds and seems to make a reasonable amount each time - perhaps you should consider doing the same?
I would check, if you can, how many are taking the RSS feed because if it is high then most people will not be lost to you if you blog less.
Are doing the blog from your phone stuff as well?
keep at it iain. its part of my daily read!!! as for sponsorship well......
Iain, stop the blog. Attach wi-fe camera to head and let us watch everything you do 24 hours a day.
If you want to make a point you can go and stand in front of mirror.
People can see where you are and come along and give you comments.
It's the future...
If the reason you didn't make the 'A' list was because you put more time into your work than other people (ie this blog), then that says a lot about your strength of character if you carry on.
It looks to me - a mere commoner - that your leader lacks integrity, though I would expect nothing less from Blair Mark II. What a control freak he must be!
Four posts up - if that is the real Michael "Deep Pockets" Ashcroft, then your search for a sponsor may be over .... somehow however, I rather doubt it. Will the real Michael Ashcroft please stand up to be counted (upon)?
Yes, it is the real Michael Ashcroft above. He's a regualr reader of the blog.
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