October 13, 2007

SportsFilter Has 2.37 Million RSS Subscribers: That's not a typo. For several years, this site has been the most-added weblog on Yahoo and one of the 10 most-added sports sites. This audience sees the site differently than web visitors, as you can see by visiting My Yahoo's Add SportsFilter page. We've tweaked the posting guidelines a little to account for them.

posted by rcade to editorial policy at 09:02 AM - 44 comments

The guidelines now recommend that a title describe a link even without the description. This is a departure from the style that has developed over time here, where a lot of people get creative and use the description to be more explanatory. Members can continue to do that, but I think the readership stats show that the more a title tells the story, the more people read it.

posted by rcade at 09:07 AM on October 13, 2007

Over the last week, here are the most-read stories from SportsFilter's RSS feed, according to FeedBurner. 1. Yankees Broadcaster Suzyn Waldman Cries on the Air, 12,343 clicks 2. George Gipp Exhumed from Michigan Cemetery, 4,037 clicks 3. The Hoser's NFL Picks, Week Five, 3,606 clicks 4. Globetrotters end 20 year road trip with game in Harlem, 2,873 clicks 5. Nick of Time: Folk's 53-Yard Field Goal Caps Dramatic Comeback, 2,654 clicks

posted by rcade at 09:15 AM on October 13, 2007

Kudos, rcade and Pantheon. And, of course, all of us fine SpoFites, present and past. SpoFI FTW!

posted by worldcup2002 at 12:40 PM on October 13, 2007

Fuck the world?

posted by NoMich at 01:35 PM on October 13, 2007

For The Win

posted by grum@work at 01:59 PM on October 13, 2007

So with that kind of readership, why are there not more posts and comments? Seems like mostly the same small set of people...

posted by hincandenza at 03:32 PM on October 13, 2007

It is interesting that we have 2.37 million RSS subscribers but only around 16k members.

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 03:59 PM on October 13, 2007

I think the membership test we instituted scares 'em off. We need some better user-management tools so we can drop that. Hal: Are you the guy who wants his lost low user number back?

posted by rcade at 04:03 PM on October 13, 2007

I think the membership test we instituted scares 'em off. We need some better user-management tools so we can drop that. Seems like it is working perfectly.

posted by geekyguy at 04:31 PM on October 13, 2007

I think the other 2 million or so, are sobered up Yankees fans.

posted by tselson at 04:49 PM on October 13, 2007

Are we that lacking in membership? I think we're growing just fine as is.

posted by jerseygirl at 04:55 PM on October 13, 2007

I'm with geeky: The membership test is working perfectly. Readership (or authorship) quantity does not equal authorial quality.

posted by worldcup2002 at 05:30 PM on October 13, 2007

I agree. Memories of the 2006 Super Bowl season still haunt me.

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 07:44 PM on October 13, 2007

Time to start monetizing! Users under 50 each get 2%, correct?

posted by mick at 08:07 PM on October 13, 2007

It is interesting that we have 2.37 million RSS subscribers but only around 16k members. Maybe we just all have a whole bunch of computers. Like 148 each.

posted by SummersEve at 02:00 AM on October 14, 2007

I only have 105, so somebody out there is pushing 200.

posted by DrJohnEvans at 09:22 AM on October 14, 2007

I added the subscription to the Storm bot so the number should multiply soon.

posted by billsaysthis at 03:10 PM on October 14, 2007

rcade: Hal: Are you the guy who wants his lost low user number back?
Um, yeah, but what does one have to do with the other?

posted by hincandenza at 10:19 PM on October 14, 2007

I wanted to take a look at the database and figure out how to merge low-Hal with high-Hal.

posted by rcade at 07:30 AM on October 15, 2007

Will he start singing "Daisy, Daisy?"

posted by Mr Bismarck at 09:06 AM on October 15, 2007

Will he start singing "Daisy, Daisy?" No, but he won't be grumpy and he will be able to remember where he put the remote.

posted by tselson at 12:22 PM on October 15, 2007

heh. Okay, now that's funny.

posted by hincandenza at 12:52 PM on October 15, 2007

Jesus, that's a lot of people. If the test is turning that many away, then good. There's an upside to snobbery, you know. Unless mick's financial proposal is picked up, in which case throw them doors wide open, homey.

posted by chicobangs at 05:02 AM on October 16, 2007

More than 3,500 people clicked on my picks? Rcade, do The Hoser's picks rank that highly during most weeks? If so, maybe I should put more into them. Like ... thought and time.

posted by wfrazerjr at 09:16 AM on October 16, 2007

Pshaw...why ruin a good thing now?

posted by The_Black_Hand at 10:43 AM on October 16, 2007

High-Hal is enjoying his mellow, dude, don't be rocking his chair!

posted by billsaysthis at 04:52 PM on October 16, 2007

Seems like mostly the same small set of people... Even with sites much bigger than sportsfilter there's normally a small set of member that do most of the posting. Same with commenting. Plus, we 'try' to have some standards. Add to that the screening process and a lot of potential members (not necessarily good ones) are scared off.

posted by justgary at 12:23 AM on October 17, 2007

While we're screening, I've got this rash I need looked at. I think it's jock itch but it's on my back.

posted by tahoemoj at 03:37 AM on October 17, 2007

It's probably just razor burn........

posted by skydivedad at 05:54 AM on October 17, 2007

No, I wear a gold chain so I know where to stop shaving.

posted by tahoemoj at 12:31 PM on October 17, 2007

It's hard-hitting dialogue like this that keeps the seats filled, I'm sure. LOL.

posted by worldcup2002 at 01:12 AM on October 18, 2007

User registration with a valid email address can be a pretty high barrier to entry. I like Joel Sposky's take on the whole thing, but I think the barrier to entry is good. However, perhaps a script should be used where new users who post in ALLCAPS are IP-banned automatically, or given an intelligence test that requires knowledge of the shift key.

posted by insomnyuk at 03:44 AM on October 20, 2007

But.. but.. the All Caps is great for when I'm really angry and yelling at the computer and don't want to seem reasonable, readable, or sane! More seriously, I disagree with his position on the preview option. He says it makes people more cautious if they don't have the option to reread what they wrote. This board would be filled with a lot more of my stupid crap (And really, who wants that?) if I didn't preview and then decide against posting as often as I do. I also like to use the preview as an opportunity to restate myself in a more reasonable and calm fashion. If it is used properly, it is a good thing.

posted by apoch at 05:16 AM on October 20, 2007

YOU'RE DAMN RIGHT!!!

posted by tahoemoj at 04:20 AM on October 21, 2007

DAMN STRAIGHT! OMG!11111111!

posted by worldcup2002 at 12:07 PM on October 21, 2007

You both forgot to say "nuff said!" In caps, obviously.

posted by Mr Bismarck at 03:14 PM on October 21, 2007

SO SORRY@! NUFF SAID!

posted by worldcup2002 at 06:13 PM on October 21, 2007

What the fuck is the deal with this "nuff said" nonsense? Who are we dealing with hear Stan Lee?

posted by HATER 187 at 10:39 PM on October 21, 2007

A No Prize winner is you.

posted by yerfatma at 08:37 AM on October 22, 2007

NUFF SAID

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 06:14 PM on October 22, 2007

Nuff Said on Sportsfilter.

posted by Mr Bismarck at 06:29 PM on October 22, 2007

Sheesh, Enuff 'Z Nuff already.

posted by MrFrisby at 11:12 PM on October 22, 2007

If you put your ear to a cartoon conch shell, you can hear Stan Lee.

posted by tahoemoj at 03:16 AM on October 23, 2007

Sho nuff.

posted by rcade at 07:20 PM on October 24, 2007

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