The Numbers: A Moment to Reflect
Yesterday was a combined travel/class day, so if you stopped by and were disappointed or surprised at the lack of updates, I just wasn’t around. There’s a whole world out there, sometimes even pajama-clad stoner rock bloggers have to go be in it. The real bummer was that I was so excited to share the numbers from October and didn’t get the chance to until now:
10,032
Much of that is owed to the fact that Blabbermouth picked up the Katatonia interview, and I thank Borivoj Krgin for the support. Every time I checked the number of hits, I was amazed that many people were looking at the site, and though we just made it over, the 10,000 mark is a huge milestone for a single month of hits.
It’s been nine months now I’ve been running this site, and, admittedly, it’s taken up a lot of my time. It’s getting to the point now where I talk about it to The Patient Mrs. and she just rolls her eyes because, by her view, what I’m putting in is much less than what I’m getting out. Maybe she’s right, I don’t know. The solution to that, I think, is advertising, which I loathe the thought of having on The Obelisk. I kiss enough label ass as it is, and working with smaller imprints, I’d almost feel bad asking them for money, especially if they’re already donating free product to the cause. On the other hand, a site like MetalSucks — who I admire and are a great source of inspiration for what I do here — have benefited greatly from the legitimacy and place in the industry that advertising brings. But man, I fucking hate the thought of selling ads.
When and if it’s going to happen, you’ll be sufficiently warned first. I know dick all about coding and the reorganization that putting ads on this site would take, so if I decide to go that route, it probably wouldn’t be until winter break, when most of the industry is shut down anyway. We’ll see. Until then, The Patient Mrs. will continue to roll her eyes. Thank you, as ever, for reading. Your continued support is astounding. Really. Here’s to the next 10,000.
Tags: self-aggrandizing, The Numbers
I know all too well how much time what you do takes. I have made the effort twice now and always have had to scale back or drop out. I could never do what you do, especially as well as you do it. I just don?t have time.
If you can legitimize what you do by selling ad space, Brother, rock on. You deserve it. It would just be important that have the right advertisers. Keep ?em related to the heavy underground scene you write about. Now, that in itself could pose a problem as the scene is so small and underground, how much money is out there for various labels to use towards advertising?
You are in a tricky place and I don?t envy you having to make this decision, but I think you should go for it. You never know, it could be a huge success. And if not, what the Hell, right? The Obelisk is one of the very best places to go for things related to the heavy underground scene.
Oh yeah, my opinion on Facebook has changed too?you should have a presence there, if nothing else it could lead to more readers.
God luck and good speed.
I’ve been reading your site for short while now after having caught an article/interview you wrote on Black Pyramid. I’m not even sure how I found that or when it was but I’ve been coming here daily ever since. I’ve been turned on to quite a few bands just going through your Buried Treasure articles. For what it’s worth, I owe you a giant Thank You just for that alone. While you might not get what you give in some eyes, in others you’re doing an awesome fucking job. If you need ads to help support it, go for it. I’d still frequent your site, regardless.