Traffic on BC is up. Way up. Like 20% above last week's record traffic. I have to assume this is due to FM being down.
In order to reduce the load on the BC server. I've cut the number of database calls caused by the front page loading. The jewel boxes can now be reached only from the links in the top menu. There will be ten less stories displayed on the front page, down from 60 to 50. This means each story will be on the front page for fewer days. Five for serials, six for short stories, four for poetry and drabbles. I may have to reduce the stories to only 40. Meanwhile, short cuts will be growing to include 7 days instead of only 3. It will grow naturally, one day per day.
In order to make the shortcuts not take up so much room, they will go back to 4 column. It's possible we may need to go to five. I may have to make the sidebars narrower to accommodate a wider shortcuts.
This is good news in a way, and welcome to all our new visitors. We'll probably have some permanent increase in traffic when FM comes back.
Oh, the google ads are back, too, though I seem to have messed up their placement. I'll work on that.,
Hugs to all,
Erin
Comments
Thanks
You do a wonderful job for us all.
I suppose 10 fewer stories displayed on the front page is a price that has to be paid for increased popularity. There was a time when I found BC awkward to use and visited less frequently but either I've learnt or the site layout has improved over the the past few years because this is now my first port of call. Being an impatient type I like being able to post both stories and comments so quickly and easily. That and the IM option are great strengths of the site for me.
I still visit FM though and it slightly surprises me (is it possible to be slightly surprised?) that the majority of readers aren't already visitors to both sites. Perhaps it's just that there are more frequent visits by the same people rather than extra visits from new ones? Is it possible to know?
thanks again
Geoff
Still a bit awkward.
I still find BC a bit awkward to use, though not so much as it used to be. Like Geoff, it is probably because I'm more familiar with BC's peculiarities. I still prefer the simple text based format of Fictionmania.
Mr. Ram
Graphic View
Here's a chart of traffic on BC in the past thirty days as of 730 PST this morning. November 1 broke the old record set October 13.
A visit is defined as an access of a page by someone who has not been counted on the site in the previous 12 hours.
Hugs,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.