We're #2!
by Bud Elliott on Nov 11, 2009 12:08 PM EST
in FSU Football
56 comments
So I have to admit, I was skeptical when I received an e-mail from Ryan Stephens of the Sports Media Challenge. They run an index of the best independent sports sites, they ranked us 2nd amongst a lot of very well known college sports sites/ blogs. I figured it was spam (a site looking for a link from us to boost their traffic), but passed it on to our network manager, who reacted with a lot of excitement. Apparently, this is some sort of big deal and the people who run Sports Media Challenge are very well respected within the sports writing industry. They've been around since 1988 and are the source people go to when they want honest evaluations of various sports media outlets. When our network manager got excited, I did as well. This is the list. Here's what they had to say:
2.) Tomahawk Nation - Potentially the most vibrant and engaged community of any college football blog. With solid use of video and cool features like intense film reviews and breakdowns of games maybe the owners of this blog would have the Seminoles atop the ACC Atlantic.
That recognition is a tribute to you- our readership, and specifically those who sign up and contribute their thoughts. I think that often many readers believe they have nothing to add to the conversation but with almost every new member, they do bring something interesting and unique to the table. So thank you, readers.
So once I realized this was a big deal, I was still pretty shocked because, let's face it, we've only been around since last August. At that time, we had 3,000 visitors in our first month. Now? We'll eclipse that mark in a single day before you take lunch. In fact, sometime last month, we hit our 1,000,000th unique visitor. But it was also a big deal because of who else made the list! (mega sites that have been around for years like #1 MGO Blog, #3 Everyday Should be Saturday, #4 Rocky Top Talk, #5 The Wiz of Odds, #5 Roll Bama Roll, and #7 Burnt Orange Nation, and #8 Black Shoe Diaries. All of those sites have been around for a lot longer than we have. I'm not sure we're on the same level with those guys quite yet, but our readership numbers say we are, and y'all keep coming back, so maybe we are.
If you're interested in the criteria, here it is:
The Sports Blog Index is Sports Media Challenge's ranking of the top sports blogs on the internet. These sites are not necessarily the most visited sites on the internet, though traffic is a factor. Each SBI blog is rated on three main criteria: Influence, Community and Relevance. It is important to note that the Index is not a completely objective or subjective measurement. Each blog is ranked on a variety of quantitative measurements before Sports Media Challenge analysts adjust for qualitative factors.
An overview of the three main criteria:
Content
‘Content is king' goes without saying. All of the other metrics would not matter if a blog did not consistently provide relevant posts that its audience wanted to read. Some blogs have a few long form posts, others have tons of short pithy posts, and there are plenty in between. The form does not matter, but the subject matter does. Posts should leave readers satisfied and inspire thoughtful responses. Aesthetics that enhance or detract from the content are also weighed appropriately.Community
A blog's community is a large part of the SBI measurement. While page views and visits are a good indicator of the size of the community, neither is a good indicator of how active a community is. The community measurement takes into account web traffic as well as comments, quality of comments, unique commentators, and response rates along with several other factors.Influence
The influence is a measure of a blog's overall impact within the sports blogosphere. This is based on a blog's incoming and outgoing links and various other factors including ranks in prominent blog networks. This gives insight into how other bloggers and sports fans view your content and its ability to spread. Weighing these factors of influence provide the sports bloggers themselves with a voice in the ranking of blogs.We do not include sites that are subscription based or backed by traditional media outlets [so no Heather Dinich (ESPN) or Dr. Saturday (Yahoo)]. This is especially true of blogs that do not have full editorial control over their content. We realize this excludes some very good sites. With each list we continue to evaluate and try to improve on our criteria.
So again, a big thanks to our community for giving us the inspiration to write every day. Here's to the #1 slot next year and Go Noles!
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Congrats Bud!
This site is nothing short of amazing. All your effort is appreciated and your writing and analysis is top notch.
by Zach_Nole on Nov 11, 2009 12:18 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Don't be modest....
We add opinions and some content from time to rime, but you and Cubbie and the rest of the staff contributors do a fanstic job covering the school we all love, thank you very much…
"If lessons were learned in defeat, our team is getting a great education." -Murray Warmath
Community is one of the major parts of it too. Nobody has a better readership than we do.
365 days, until I change my ways.
Excellent. Congrats.
And I think TN’s rating in that “influence” criteria is going to go up with the scoop on the Ponder injury and now the (hopeful) cause of a suspension for a dirty play. Go TN :)
>>---l>
Congratulations!
This is incredible. Bud, you and your staff deserve this recognition. You guys do amazing things here, and your readers appreciate it very much!
GO ’NOLES!
nice job fellas
i visit here everyday since i’m addicted
congrats!
yall do work like I’ve never seen anywhere else, it is much appreciated and you deserve all the recognition… and we beat the gates (edsbs) in something, outstanding!
"Some nasty players that come from those seeds down at FSU in Tallahassee, we hold ourselves to a higher standard... we'll keep grinding it out. When you step on the field you have to represent not just yourself, but for everybody." (DD #45)
I've been a believer since the day I stumbled on this site!!
Thanks and congrats!!!
by noles 4 life u dig? on Nov 11, 2009 12:44 PM EST reply actions
Fantastic job guys, you deserve every bit of recognition
Confession: I sometimes check TN before I check my own email.
^ ditto
"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable."
"But How will I know limits from lies, if I never try."
by geoffissiffoeg on Nov 11, 2009 1:43 PM EST up reply actions
I can't remember the last time...
…I checked my email before this site. It’s my homepage.
This site is the best, period. I would put it up against any site.
"I'm falling apart, I'm barely breathing, With a broken heart thats still beating, In the pain is the healing, in Your Name I find meaning, So I'm holdin' on.. holdin' on to you."
This is ridiculous! TN should be #1!!!
:) Just thought I would add a complaint. Seriously though, Bud, TC and the rest of the crew do a great job.
I’m amazed with the content of this site, despite not being a pay site. Are you guys even getting paid for this? If not, it’s a travesty… if so, you deserve every penny and probably a raise.
A well deserved congratulations...
I’m still upset that I didn’t find you guys until I bailed on a certain pay site. Would have done that a lot sooner if I had known you guys were around. Great job, and keep on keepin’ on!
A well deserved congratulations..
I’m still upset that I didn’t find you guys until I bailed on a certain pay site. Would have done that a lot sooner if I had known you guys were around. Great job, and keep on keepin’ on!
This is why I don’t post that much!!
Congrats!
I have to say out of all the other FSU related sites, this one has been the most informative.
Totally deserved
This is an amazing site and worth every bit of that ranking (and more). Thanks for all that you guys do to make this site such a great place for all Nole fans. And as always… Go Noles!
I don't need someone else to tell me this is the best sports webpage out there
I already knew that. Congrats anyway though. You guys def deserve the credit.
A little funny that the top two blogs are reporting on teams that are nowhere near where their readerships expect them to be.
Way to go TN!
You guys do an amazing job. We can only hope that the new DC makes as big of an impact quickly on the field as you have done off the field. Go ’Noles!!!
Just think....
… how much traffic we’ll generate with the team no long sucks!
by Fsued on Nov 11, 2009 1:51 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
The internet is your world
I’m just glad we are allowed to visit it. It’s also good to see something related to FSU football that is ranked in the top 10.
Thanks to everyone for putting their time and effort into a great site.
Thanks to any veterans reading today too.
Foosball is the devil
Way to go girls
If BB had hired me to be on the defensive coaching staff instead of Jody Allen (I’m as qualified as JA is), most of our current defensive players would be on the cross country team too ;) Then they would have a ranking as well.
Foosball is the devil
Awesome...
Thats another thing I have always loved about FSU. I truly enjoyed going to watch our softball, soccer and basketball teams. Soccer was my favorite, but FSU has always been well represented in all female sports.
Bud, Congrats. There is no doubt we will overtake those four A's and be #1 next year.
(Exactly like our hatred of the Gators, Michigan State calls Michigan the four A’s, which stand for Arrogant A$$holes from Ann Arbor, per my MSU buddies).
Anyway also congrats on almost hitting another milestone. We are presently at 99,498 unique comments. We will break 100,000 in the next few days and by the Wake game threads we will have surpassed it for sure and be well on our way to 200,000.
Also, we will be welcoming our 1,700 member in the next few days. Your knowledge and hard work is what attracts the smartest FSU fans anywhere on the blog-sphere to this site, and keeps us coming back for more.
YOU DA MAN!
>-----:----:------>Spear 'em then Scalp 'em
Those are some might impressive numbers for a site that's only ~ 16 months old
"The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary." Vince Lombardi
Huge Props!
I only discuss FSU Sports in detail with TN readers. If someone wants to debate me on football/basketball, I first direct them here. It’s not even worth it otherwise.
When I open my browser, the first 3 websites I always go to are Facebook, Twitter, and TN. That should say enough.
Congratulations on your well-deserved accomplishment
It is always great to see hard work and and due dilligence properly rewarded…
All the best!!
Just adding my CGs as well
love that now that you’ve become a popular site among Noles (and visitors), that you haven’t changed your standards for the blog.
"The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary." Vince Lombardi
Great Job!
Between the recruiting, preview and recap articles, I do not have look anywhere else for Seminole news. Great job Bud, TN is just the best, plain and simple.
Congrats, guys!
This site is awesome. I found it when I signed up for Google Reader. The community and the content are wonderful. It’s not easy being a Seminole fan (yeah, I didn’t actually go to FSU) in Pennsylvania, but now I always have people to watch the game with! So thanks for making my weekend, even when the team doesn’t.
Well done sirs!!!
Good to see your hard work is recognized by your peers. I will assume a bright shiny trophy and monetary award is en route to you now.
Congrats to everyone involved
In making Tomahawk Nation the site it is today. Keep up the great work!
by CSI Nole on Nov 11, 2009 10:34 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Congrats!
I frequent this site and Roll Bama Roll, so it’s nice to know that they give Tomahawk Nation such a ranking.
Best part is this:
With solid use of video and cool features like intense film reviews and breakdowns of games maybe the owners of this blog would have the Seminoles atop the ACC Atlantic.
He bleeds Garnet and Gold, She bleeds Crimson and White. AND THEY BOTH HATE ORANGE! GO NOLES!! ROLL TIDE!!
by gonolesrolltide on Nov 12, 2009 7:10 AM EST reply actions
FSUn
I think i speak for everyone here when I say….You’re Welcome!
j/k
ITs the great work that you, TC and many others do that keeps us coming back, hungry to read, learn, and share our opinions.
I had to skim through the comments (my free time is slight lately)...
…but in case no one has said this: I know Uncensored holds a lot of the sites on that list highly – I know he’s mentioned Matt Hinton as someone he holds in very high regard – but dude, seriously Bud, TN is so much better than all of them. Now maybe it’s obvious that we all think this way, but each of us was just another objective dummy when we stumbled across here (me = November 14, 2008, apparently, had to have been a reader before then though) and decided there was nothing on the net quite like Tomahawk Nation.
I wish I had time to write a nice little novel about why the place is so great, but I think we all know why, even if it would take us hours to type out. I’ll say quickly that the freedom to say what we want is awesome. I’ll wager that a huge percentage of us, including myself, signed up here to talk about FSU sports on the internet for the first time, and this freedom of expression was why. And the editors share the limelight. If anyone wants to contribute, just type up a piece and it’s published. You might say, hey, that’s what a blog is. Well, at TN, it’s welcomed and encouraged. Bud, TC, et al, could run the content of this site by themselves in their sleep (and honestly, they must, if you were to calculate the time it must take them), but they want you to contribute. Okay, I’m working on that novel, and I have to run. Here’s to many, many years of TN.
this is not surprising
With the ability to mobile comment, and fresh content to read every day, this is a no-brainer. You guys deserve the recognition.
Keep it up. We don’t want to hear you say “Well, we’ll evaluate ourselves at the end of the season to see if we want to come back.”
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