A "strategeric" SquarePantsLanche combined with an unanticipated AnnaLanche makes for higher-than-usual Site Meter stats today. As we mentioned here yesterday, SpongeBob is the gift that keeps on giving. Our post about the relentlessly cheerful sea-dwelling kitchen sponge last New Year's Day* continues to bring in daily site visits via Google, and yesterday's post featuring his image -- deliberately posted to take advantage of the weekend opening of his new blockbuster movie -- comes up as number eight today on the first page of a Google image search for "SpongeBob." THAT'S strategery!
The AnnaLanche came from the Divine Ms. A -- Madison, Wisconsin law professor/blogger Ann Alterhouse -- who added a comment and link to our commentary on her earlier commentary re John Kerry's trying to blame GW's presidential win on the pre-election screening of that Osama tape.
For a blogger, gaming the stats is the great temptation. How far would we go? We thought of adding yet another SpongeBog image to this post. But the angel on our right shoulder beat out the devil on our left. We are better than that.
Update next morning: 586 visits via Ann Althouse plus just under 1,100 overall. 100 give or take from SpongeBob Google image hits. Toss in our typical Saturday traffic of c. 500 or so lately, and it all adds up, more or less: 586 + 100 + 500 = 1,186. And NO. We are NOT obsessed with our stats. We can stop gazing at them anytime we want.
*We notice that SpongeBob is no longer among the top ten "Google Image Search Queries." Can we assume this will change as soon as the box office works its magic over the weekend? Stay tuned.
This phenomenon is absorbing! I've checked my TV guide so I can soak up more squareness. (Like I really need that.)
Posted by: Donna | November 20, 2004 at 05:58 PM
LOL. Enjoy!
Posted by: Sissy Willis | November 20, 2004 at 06:21 PM
Hey, Sissy, it ain't the hits. It's the returning visitors. That's what sets me free.
Too bad I have so few of them...
Posted by: Jack | November 20, 2004 at 10:23 PM
I agree it's the returning visitors that count, Jack, and most of the ones you get in a "lanche" are one-timers, but over time, every "lanche" yields some quality readers who do become regulars.
I do think of it as a game, and who doesn't love to win? Plus, the sight of those InstaLanche spikes in your Site Meter stats is a drug, and I need my fix!
Posted by: Sissy Willis | November 21, 2004 at 05:53 AM