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Crivvens. We were rooting around in Google Analytics (the thing that records website traffic) today. It’s a service we only signed up to at the start of March, which among other things means our cumulative lifetime pageviews statistic is probably understated by around 100,000. But the startling thing we discovered was something else.
Since we started tracking “unique visitors” in March (statspeak for the number of different identifiable people who’ve come to the site at least once), Wings Over Scotland has been read by just over 125,000 people. That’s… wow. That’s a lot.
Obviously many just pass through after following a link from somewhere and never come back, and a typical single month will only see about a fifth of that number, but around 80% of our readers each month are return visitors – increasingly, people who come here once come back again. (So once more, we’ll be making no apologies for publishing the occasional story about Rangers when merited…)
That’s not just down to the editorial contributors – we’re proud to have some of the most informed commenters in the blogosphere too, who not only tip us off to stories worth covering but also provide new angles and ways of thinking about stuff that hadn’t occurred to us. So if you’re one of the 99% who read but don’t comment, speak up. We, and an increasingly large number of other people, want to hear from you.
I like a lot of chocolate on my biscuit.
Rev First things first , congratulations on being read by over 125,000 people , that is an awesome amount , lets hope you can more than double that in the next year .
2nd point is that we need the 99% who read but dont comment to get involved , it is only by dialogue with the undecided that we can hope to win the referendum .
My advice to the 99% is dont be scared to comment, nobody will think bad of you for commenting . I used to be a lurker both on here and newsnet and while I often make an arse of myself it is good fun . The information that you find on this site and others means that you can correct people who say Scotland cant do that and also provide them with the facts to back you up . If you dont have the facts , you can point them in the direction of sites like this or look it up ourselves .
Appleby—–Crumbs!!!
If everyone starts doing biscuit puns again, I’M CLOSING THE SITE DOWN.
Please don’t close it down, that’d take the biscuit!
Is it ok to say that Robert Bruce was crowned at Scone?
Rev. Stuart Campbell says:
26 November, 2012 at 8:29 pm
If everyone starts doing biscuit puns again, I’M CLOSING THE SITE DOWN.
– that takes the biscuit.
You will have a higher readership than the Scotsman soon.
MOOT point.
Rev Stu
“If everyone starts doing biscuit puns again, I’M CLOSING THE SITE DOWN.”
I was worried that the No camp would seize that opportunity to inundate the site with puns, and force closure of the site. Then I realised that they would need a sense of humour – so nae chance.
Seriously though, many congratulations on producing such a thought provoking site.
I don’t have access to a TV so rely on the wireless (did I really say RELY?) and this site together with a select number of others to keep informed.
Keep up the good work
As a long time lurker I’d also like to say that those are fantastic numbers.
No biscuit puns from me.. Rev, I’m off for my Taxi, but I leave you with your Happy Face…
125k? That’s like ~3% of the electorate Rev.
Catching up on the 2011 Lib Dem vote…
Great stuff.
@turnbull drier
Join the Club.
I just bought a blu-ray about penguins. Does that count?
You won’t get me Hob Nobbing about this to anyone Stu. 😆
S.S. when Stu’s figures overtake the Lib/Dem figures does than mean that the Good Rec Stu gets to ask question three at FMQ’s? 😀
I love an Orange club. Oops sorry, perhaps the wrong choice of club!
So once the MSM see this, you can CLUB them over the head with higher readership figures?
Yes I know this is OT, but I was wondering (seeing as we are on a bit about the comical interplay of words), Tricia Marwick has made one or two wee slips by getting names mixed up. What are the odds that when she calls Johann Lamont she will say Joanna Lumley instead? I mean, the voice, the poise, the elegance. A very easy mistake to make.
@ Ronald H
That would be an Ab-Fab thing to see 🙂
Congrats Rev. I just donated as well ’cause we might need a bigger boat. Another way to get up the Google chart is for everyone, once in a while, instead of coming directly here go to Google search and type “Wings over Scotland Independence”. The more that do it will eventually result in anyone searching for Scottish Independence will bring up Wings over Scotland on the first page of results.
?
No be TWIX or between for you antmcg. 😆
Rev
Totally of “Topic” but if you want a new story try Labour (S)Hame where admin is now insulting Labour members.
Seems he thinks the red torys need a new logo just like the blue torys and go upset when someone suggested the logo used by Labour for Independence.
I will give you time to digest this story but it really is a cracker.
Dubbieside: people still post things on LabourHame?
Dubbside don’t tell me the RED Tory faction of the B.T. camp are beginning to encounter some in fighting. Wonder if there will be ANY crumbs left for ED to pick up the next time he gets Scotland.
I wonder if there is a cure for someone who gets Scotland. Oh wait a minute off course there is it’s called INDEPENDENCE! 😀
“If everyone starts doing biscuit puns again, I’M CLOSING THE SITE DOWN.”
Man thats crackers!
Just watching a movie that could possibly become essential viewing for anyone undecided about 2014. I’m not having a go at anyone who is undecided but I think the movie does show how someone CAN be moved from being undecided to a SUPPORTER of Independence. The movie oh it’s called “The Patriot.” I know it’s Mel Gibson blah de blah de blah but just watch it for what it is, a movie, nothing more nothing less. The basics of fighting for Independence are in there you just have to watch and find them.
For me this movie implies that we WILL win in 2014. The arguments made in the movie about the American war of Independence are as relevant today as they were in the REAL battle for American Independence.
Would that be Jacob’s CREAM CRACKERS HB? 😆
This is good for ones Digestive tract.
Arb, would that be with wafer thin butter ?
Congratulations Rev! A heady mix of fact and opinion resulting in readership; who’d have thunk it!
Maybe a concept the the flagging press could get a grip of.
This is the sort of readership and community that the BBC purposefully turned away from when they closed off the comment facilties for Scottish stuff. Very sad.
More power to you, and everyone who reads and comments.
I’d feel guilty not leaving on a biscuit related note, this is after all the Blue Riband site.
@Rev
Am I right in thinking you’re getting fed up with our biscuit puns or a meringue?
It’s a timeshare only there is no one at hame most of the time.
By the way, I was looking at the new Tory logo and to me it looks like a cross between Fu Manchu and Ruth Davidson in a bad mood – either way, with the upslanted eyes and downturned mouth, it looks quite sinister to me.
@ Jeannie, I am with you there, and as i saw somewhere recently if you add a wee stroke at each edge, you really get a sinister result, let alone the ” double cross” that they have used… 🙁
Congratulations on the visitor numbers, Rev Stu. It shows what a wonderful job you’ve been doing. I do like your clear thoughts on the various subjects you write about. You have a very fine brain indeed.
You are the craic-er of choice for me. 😀
You are used to lots of comments but you have to take what you get after all…you can’t have your (Jaffa) cake and eat it.
First time poster, long time lurker: ‘Classic’ article 🙂
I like the double cross comment. Not Tories per se, as I think many are good people, but to change your logo to subliminally suggest we will double cross you has an issue.
The fact Tom Harris also likes it is a concern.
Cannot understand why it is not red with one small line in blue to donate the influence of Scotland and its pro rata population in the Westminster system.
Good news on the figures, Rev. But do bear in mind that one of those unique clicks was done by Jimbo (or his care worker). I hope that you give him credit.
I have refused to do biscuit based puns since year oatcake.
Any cheese with that oatcake Cuphook? 😆
you will be asking for wine with that cheese next Arbroath 😀
@Redcliffe
The fact that Tom Harris (and the Tories) consider a logo change as important right now says a great deal about the future of the union.
Here’s a snazzy one:
link to betternation.org
Really corporate, modern and up-to-date; people will just go for that in such a big way. It just chimes with people, the subtle colour scheme and all. Must have been done by one of the big agencies in London. In the end, when people are in that ballot box it is the logo that counts.
Incredibly, some people actually think like the above. Not only that, they are running the UK. No wonder we’re in shit.
Damn I knew I forgot something antmcg. 😆
It was my wife who told me about your site.Which I greatly enjoy, I detest football and all sport, So when you go into wan o yer heid the ba’ things, I move elsewhere till ye get it out yer system. or as one of your bloggers suggested I should stay in the kitchen and talk about kitchen things. I must assume that Iain Davidson is a member to talk to me like that.Doesnae matter I have a sense of humour and I am used to being bullied by the sporting fraternity.
Good luck with your site, a lot I have learned here
Well deserved congratulations. WOS is my first port of call for news almost on a daily basis. Insightful, intelligent, and witty reporting, with brilliant contributions and links from other posters, for which I’m always very grateful.
The Hootsman isn’t worth even a cursory visit these days. About as much use as a chocolate chip wrapper. Gardham at the Herald should be starved of the online oxygen he needs to keep his rag afloat. Newsnet unfortunately has become like a private club. (excessive censorship).
More flap to your wings Rev. I wish you every success. BTW my real name’s Gary. I shave my head. So don’t talk to me about biscuit puns.
Scottish Skier, for one horrible moment I thought you were going to link to Cyclops Bunny of not-so-blessed memory!
Congratulation Rev Stu.
This is really important. I don’t think we have anything else that is read by as many people putting our side of the argument.
Of course congratulations are also due to the many pother people who write great stuff for the independence movement, but your professional approach has certainly paid off readership wise.
This is the kind of writing that convinces people.
But I also agree that it’s not just your professional reporting that makes this blog such a success. The intelligent and good humoured discussion and banter adds to the enjoyment of my visits here.
I know I’m likely to learn and be amused by the article and the comments.
So thanks to you, rev Stu, and thanks to all the contributors too.
@Arbroath1320
I tend to have my oatcakes with pasta. They go really well together; but then, I do make a mean pasta sauce. A Valpolicella Ripasso is also welcome.
Wow never thought about that I usually have them with cheese, a good Scottish cheddar. Does this mean wine is off the menu then? 😆
Amazing. It is almost impossible to find an image of Cyclops Bunny on the net. Well done someone.
Oops, I only said “almost”.
link to flickr.com
Blessedly monochrome.
link to andrewcusack.com (third from the left if there was any doubt about it!)
In full, horrible colour.
Arbroath, you cannot be turning down my offering of wine surely? It’s not often I am benevolent enough to actually share it 🙂 (However, Coffee never gets shared 😛 )
WHIT me turn down the chance o a wee slurp of something , NEVER! 😀
Don’t worry I’ll being the coffee, who’s got the after eights? 😀
@Arbroath1320
Try it; Oatcakes and pasta works. It’s a dry versus wet thing. Make your own sauce; it’s easy to do and cheap. A Valpolicella Ripasso is my recommended wine.
Arb, i posted you a link to a picture of Valpolicella Ripasso, but it was marked as spam, guess you are not to have that bottle after all. I sorry 🙂
Damn. Guess I’ll have to dream about it tonight when I go to bed. No biscuits though, hate crumbs in my bed. 😆
How are you serving these oatcakes with the pasta dish and what kind of pasta and sauce?
Fantastic! Congratulations Rev Stu.
Sorry for being a bit late at the party but there’s a whole load of new films been dumped on YouTube, just watched ‘End of Watch’ (Jake Gyllenhaal), great movie.
I’m not spam by the way, just a biscuit 🙂
@Appleby
Just a couple of oatcakes on the side of the plate when serving pasta. If you want really good spaghetti buy Garofalo as it’s got a rougher texture which holds more sauce. You can get a kilo of the long stuff in Sainbury for just over £3, usually in their speciality section, though it’s the same price as the usual stuff they sell. Any sauce, but something rich like a Walnut and Mushroom is good.
Rev. Can I be your cookery correspondent? There are exciting things happening in both Autumnal and Winter soups at the moment.
I was not aware of Cyclops Bunny before today. Goodness me that’s horrendous.
“Wings Over Scotland has been read by just over 125,000 people”, –
And I believe that number will only increase.
You cannot hide quality.
I wish that I never checked the Cyclops Bunny link. I will be having nightmares tonight.
It just occurred to me that we were perhaps in no position to be making too many jokes at the expense of political parties’ unwise logo choices.
I was Branch Secretary at the time the “Cyclops Bunny” logo was introduced (rumoured to be at vast expense). I was sent an introductory pack of material – stickers, letterheads, posters and so on – which was truly frightful to behold. (I probably chucked the lot in the bin later, which may be a pity from a historical perspective.) Someone drew a cartoon for the branch newsletter with the Bunny skipping into a meeting with little puffs of smoke coming out of its “ears” and the caption, “Hi, I’m your new convener!”
The reaction was so appalled and appalling that it was pulled pretty quickly. They can’t have done any market research before going public with it. After that there was a membership vote on what the new logo should be (the previous angular version having garnered far too many accusations of “Nazi symbol”), and although I recall there were one or two quite decent new options in there, the membership was pretty overwhelmingly in favour of going back to the clootie dumpling.
And thus it was, and is, and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.
Morag,
I’m not a member of the SNP, but if I may suggest, just stick with your current logo – the clootie dumpling is fine and everyone is familiar with it. Only political parties in trouble spend lots of time and money on changing their logo.
My second thought when looking at the ‘cyclops bunny’ logo was “surely that’s a jaundiced rabbit running away?”
“we’re proud to have some of the most informed commenters in the blogosphere too”
as Hitler said to Satan standing poised with oversized pineapple in hand(little Nicky) “you’re shnerious?”
after all,a nice little article on the growing readership of the blog results in biscuit puns/wine and crackers and,of course(sadly) the Satan/Pineapple angle.It wont do!This flatly contradicts the most fundamental(or just mental) tenets of bloggoship which are……….written down somewhere or at least deposited on a hard drive in deepest Fife.Well, that guy at the conference said so as he muttered into his cornflakes.Or was it,strokes chin sagely,Cheerios?Hmm,thoughtful now,it may have been rice crispies.I did hear a great deal of snap,crackle and pop although,yes its likely,that may have been earwax.Really,few people take anything seriously nowadays
Luigi said:
I’m not a member of the SNP, but if I may suggest, just stick with your current logo – the clootie dumpling is fine and everyone is familiar with it. Only political parties in trouble spend lots of time and money on changing their logo.
Yes, that’s what was decided by ballot of the members in 1997 (I think) after the Cyclops Bunny fiasco. We went back to the original, and there it stays.
I’d never seen the Cyclops Bunny before, I remember the Orwellian re-do of the thistle thinking that was bad, but the bunny is horrendous haha! Glad Elmer Fudd hunted that one down pretty quickly!
The cyclops bunny’s demise was a good example of the power of the membership in the SNP. It was universally derided so it was put to a vote and the members decided.
Rev St
I was as surprised as you that Labour shame were allowing comments, I was also surprised that they had a new thread, it looked like they had given up for a while. Nothing worth saying I suppose.
I thought that the comments were interesting and that you would be interested for two reasons, first that they were actually allowed, so they must be from Labour party members, and showed that there are possibly more Labour party members who support Labour for Independence.
Still Labour hame being out of touch with Scotland comes as no great surprise.
Keep up the good work Rev, great site.
Just to let you know that I am one of the ‘newbies’ that read this stuff every day. yes I was first made aware of the site by a link following thedemise of a Glasgow Football Club, but since then can’t keep away.
Please keep up the good work!
Two Jimbos… confusing.
I have to say I was initially surprised by the “Jimbo” who occasionally rants on here because there is another, pro-independence, Jimbo who posts on other websites.
As an ‘informed commenter’, it’s time like these that I always remember Karl Marx’s wise words “I would never want to join a club that would have me for a member.” That was in his early days though, you know, when he was just sitting in the British Library writing gags for his more famous brothers and before he went on to found a successful chain of department stores with his business partner, and erstwhile Elizabethan poet, Edmund “Faerie Queene” Spenser. You heard it here first.
OK I own up – I do lurk, read, then either hoot or gnash at the articles (and the same with the responses).
The Cyclops Bunny is just awful. Thank goodness that one didn’t last long. Like something out of an old 2000AD comic setting.