Time for one of my periodic updates about TBP, and it isn’t great. Below is a chart showing monthly page views and visitors dating back to September 2021. As you can plainly see TBP has been in a downward trend in both page views and visitors since March 2022. The peak for TBP was November 2021 when we achieved 1.4 million page views and 500,000 visitors. That was an average of 46,000 page views per day and 16,700 visitors per day. In recent months the page views have been in the 900,000 range, with visitors of about 180,000.
That is a 35% decline in page views and and a 65% decline in visitors from the peak. So far in April we are pacing at 750,000 page views and 140,000 visitors. Being a numbers guy, I had always striven to continuously grow the site. So these trends have been very disappointing to me. There are a myriad of reasons for this decline, but I am beginning to accept the fact that TBP will be a site that gets 23,000 to 28,000 page views per day, which was where we were in early 2021.
From a long-term standpoint the site grew from 6 million page views in 2015 to a peak of 12.7 million page views in 2021, with a slight dip to 12.1 million page views in 2022. Based on current results we’ll struggle to reach 11 million page views in 2023. So be it. I’ve begun to accept what TBP is and will be.
My goal since starting TBP in 2009 has always been to grow it. I’m a numbers guy, so page view growth was always a sign of success in my mind. Writing good articles was my sole method of growth during the early years. Zero Hedge re-posting my articles helped generate much of my growth. Other like-minded sites have supported TBP for years, including: Lew Rockwell, 321 Gold, Dollar Collapse, Western Rifle Shooters, Feral Irishman, Knuckledraggin My Life Away and quite a few others.
The growth from 9.5 million page views in 2020 to 12.7 million in 2021 was shocking to me. I’m still not sure why it happened. Maybe it had to do with my resistance to the Covid narrative and my numerous articles revealing the falsity of the pandemic. But it did give me hope that I might be able to leave the rat race, retire from my day job, and run the website full-time in my retirement. I’d have time to write/assemble a book. Ad revenue was at an all-time high and donations were strong. But that scenario was not to be. I’ll need to work for several more years. A combination of circumstances have resulted in the shrinkage. It wasn’t due to a cold pool.
The decline began in the middle of March 2022. It is clear that search engines purposefully began suppressing and downgrading TBP in their searches. This suppression knocked daily page views from 41,000 to 32,000 practically overnight. Just as TBP was gaining momentum on Twitter, the old regime permanently banned TBP. That reduced visitors further. My growth plan had been to partner with like minded sites and cross-post or support them through carrying their ads. I have always tried to help other sites and writers by posting their articles.
Whatfinger had approached me and offered to post links if I placed their ads on my site. It was working well. They were delivering a few thousand page views per day and getting clicks to their ads. Then they just pulled their ads and stopped posting my links because I did an ad deal with someone they didn’t like. That was in June. I immediately struck a new partnership with State of the Nation to cross post articles and links. They pretty much replaced the page views lost from Whatfinger, until they also decided to stop posting TBP links because of complaints about some ads and the risque pictures on Friday Fail. I eliminated three ad companies, further reducing revenue.
Steve Quayle has been the largest supplier of page views by linking to one or two articles per day for a couple years. He would supply anywhere from 2,000 to 10,000 page views per day. A couple weeks ago he stopped posting links to TBP articles because he didn’t want to deal with the ads. I told him a simple ad blocker would solve his issue, to no avail. So Quayle will only link to my original articles, which I only have time to write one or two per month.
The only positive developments in the last two months has been Elon Musk reinstating TBP on Twitter and Amazon reinstating TBP as an affiliate. Now that very few sites are linking to TBP posts, Twitter is essentially the only method for growth. TBP Twitter followers has gone from 3,000 to 5,000 since I was reinstated. I thought being reinstated by Amazon would result in a significant bump in affiliate revenue. Boy was I wrong. Since they booted me in 2016, their commission payment percentage was cut in half. Most days we generate less than $5.
I completely understand why people have boycotted Amazon and choose to buy local. I also understand why people were upset when Paypal changed their terms of service and claimed they could take money from your account for offensive posts. When readers began cancelling their monthly subscriptions, I scrambled to add Stripe as an option. At the end of the day, I started with 108 Paypal subscribers – 70 canceled; 19 are paused; and only 19 remain. Most did not switch to Stripe, so donations have declined significantly. With the reduction in ad companies and daily visitors, ad revenue has declined 75%.
I’ve reconciled myself to being a smaller site. We’ve always had a small cadre of regulars, with even fewer commenters. Having read the comment stream at Zero Hedge, TBP has a far superior group of commenters. Many sites get no comments. TBP will continue to be like a local bar, where the regulars tell tall tales, banter, argue, and learn something new every day. We’ll continue to make 20 to 25 posts per day and try to keep it interesting, but I won’t have the pressure of trying to get other sites to pick up our articles. If people want to be entertained, they’ll just need to come here naturally.
Since all regulars are smart and use ad blockers, ad revenue will remain pathetic. If you do buy stuff using Amazon, do TBP a favor and buy the stuff using the Amazon icon on the right side of the site. The site is more than 50% supported by about 20 or so dedicated donors who have been phenomenally generous over the years. If you are inclined and financially able, consider making a donation to keep TBP fighting the good fight.
To donate via Stripe, click here.
Mr Quinn, sorry to hear all that. Have you thought about starting a YouTube channel? Isn’t that easier to monetise? Also, what about Substack. You could have a free and premium paid service, without all the ads. I love your writing and that of Mr Moran, and would pay to subscribe if I could get a weekly article from each of you out of it.
From the quote today:
Clichés about supporting the troops are designed to distract from failed policies, policies promoted by powerful special interests that benefit from war, anything to steer the discussion away from the real reasons the war in Iraq will not end anytime soon.
— Ron Paul
Ron Paul may not suit hipsters these days. His observations about government there are not many politicians that “get it” . Not to be negative. Ron is only a man. He did open my eyes in 2007.
Same here Tex, Ron Paul opened my eyes in 07 also. donated to his campaign which eventually helped start the Liberty Report and his other worthy education efforts. He is a smart, reasonable, logical, honest man. If everyone in gov. was a Ron Paul we wouldnt have to worry what gov. was doing. And we would be taking trips to Russia on vacation to love those neighbors.
Carol would have baked chocolate chip cookies in the WH. To even his most ardent supporters including me I’m of opinion “we” knew Ron stood no chance. And now I know so much more as to why. Despite that Ron Paul is the first politician, and the last, I donated a substantial amount of $$$ ( for me) to his 2008 and 2012 campaigns. I had assisted a Texas state rep and some local politicians with campaigns late 80’s through early 90’s yet other than providing snacks and such I never gave them $$$.
RP had every chance to win. All he had to was switch over to the libertarian party, as I, Jones, and others had suggested should be the strategy (Jones even declared it WAS the strategy). Instead he took the money and ran. Just like a politician.
Sorry, RP would have had a snow balls chance in hell winning as a LP candidate. No doubt LP would have selected him at their convention. However no one “wins” shit running as a candidate in the LP. I’ve noted a few LPers gaining office in more local or perhaps state “elections” in other prats of the country. Can’t recall a single one however winning in Texas state government. 3-7% of the “vote” generally straight across the ol USA board. In 2010 some of the LPers garnished as much as 19% in congressional “elections” in Texas.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections_in_Texas
Who knows Ron may have matched Ross Perot’s totals as the LP candidate.
Just like a politician. What’s the point even mentioning RP as an LPer. Didn’t he try that in like ’88?
Side note, I noticed the LP had gone gay in 2010 when Kathie Glass ran as the LP candidate in 2010 Texas gubernatorial fix. Kathie garnished 2.2% of the “vote”. That party is gay now. I noticed this , the “acceptance” idea, attending a meeting of the local LP in my area at the time. In 2010 my eyes were opened to this as there was a gay LPer nominated for my congressional district and how I came to realize this ain’t where I’m hanging around going forward.
It means he took the money and ran. If he was just in it for education as he now insist, then what would’ve it hurt to have switched to the LP (they even said they would have run him regardless)?
In fact, even if he didn’t win (and I actually think he did have a chance, I actually seen more support for RP then I did anybody else), he could have gave the LP more clout, reached more people, leverage and helped other candidates through the door, and gave them a leg up. Regardless what the LP is now (and it changes with the person selected, but the LP has always had some what libertine / NWO values), that has no bearing to then, because there would have been a strong infusion of RP supporters.
Instead he used it to get his son a Senate seat. Yeah, I think politician covers it nicely.
But who knows, maybe that was part of a deal he couldn’t refuse. Maybe it was the smart move instead of ending up destroyed and or dead. shrug
NP, your opinion.
goat, I do recall RP saying he was the only candidate that could defeat Obama and I believe there was some merit to that. I would have cast my worthless “vote” for him had he run as an LPer.
On Rand, hum, certainly Ron donates to Rand’s campaigns. Can you provide info as to what percentage of monies donated to RP’s campaign, the money bombs etc. went to Rand?
On Rand, he is not Ron but if a person agreed with RP’s politics they may have agreed with Rand as well. I started off a Rand supporter although I never contributed to his campaigns. And Rand may be a great guy. However Rand’s endorsements of McCain, Romney and I’m thinking Trump as well as who wants to be on Trump’s shit list ( screw that idea, I hope I’m on it) turned me away from Rand. I “hope” Rand can get ‘er done. I have no “faith” in anything political going forward.
Why do Americans always thank soldiers/veterans for their “service”? Whom, exactly, is being “served” aside from the soldier/veteran (pay+benefits) and the military industrial complex along with large corporations? I’m sure the Taliban is very grateful for Biden’s gift of weapons and machinery.
Sorry, I don’t see how any of what the U.S. military has done in my lifetime has served common people or the greater good. People on this site regularly thank soldiers and vets for their “service”, proving they’re no less brainwashed than the CNN crowd or the Branch Covidians.
1-some have passed on
2-some can no longer afford an internet subscription (and the line to use one at the public library is too long)
3-some have concluded what they need to know and have gone gray man
4-some are too busy working a 3rd or 4th side gig and have no time
Jee Z. real world much?
Sometimes the world’s problems are at least realized at TBP.
I vote for #3 – concluded what they need to know
#1. True
#2. When you live in a southern hillbilly town with only a single Internet fractional T1 for the entire town, that is a problem. You would think the southern hillbillies would pay for their own services, but their history says they won’t. For most of their history they depended on black people to do all their work for them and the Midwest to provide them with the most basic technologies, such as a steel moldboard plow. But then we shouldn’t expect too much from people who believe 2+2=5 when counting crawdads.
#3. Everyone in the Midwest except the few southern hillbilly truck drivers sent up here to fill in the ditches and give the tow truck drivers more income.
#4. Everyone in the Midwest because southern hillbillies can’t back into a dock unless the Sun is out and there is a 0% chance of snow in the next 12 months.
Solution? Put the southern hillbillies to work performing actual work for a change.
“crawdads”, funny a”business” close to the hills sells commercial boiled crawdads. A man told me he went there to buy crawdads and noticed in the area where the critters are boiled a toothless dude manning the pot was eating a
number of the tails and throwing the heads into the pile to be weighed. I told the man no problem, that’s capitalism among boiled crawfish for sale.
3
While Ja’Thievious and Procreasha are out acquiring their summer wardrobes the rest of us have to work for a living
“Ja’Thievious and Procreasha”
The reduction in views may be due in part to the numerous pop up ads.
Ever heard of a free adblocker? Two minutes to download.
Did that, but they still pop up and make it difficult to read your site
I use brave, there are not any ads.
Brave is the way to go.
yUP
Zero ads when Brave is used..
My ad blocker doesn’t seem to stop them either, but, to me, it’s well worth a little mouse wrestling to peruse TBP, and I’m an impatient old a-hole.
I tried Ad Block on Firefox and still got the pop ups. Long time Firefox user, I decided to give Brave a go. Ads on the side but no pop ups.
Needless to say view all the settings and change them to suit you if needed. I say “no” to as much as I can.
To paraphrase Jack Nicholson- “Some just can’t handle the truth”.
And some of continue to support it.
I love this site. Come here everyday. Will send a check.
I sympathize having suffered the same crap when I had my blog. That said, I visit a particular site every day before coming to TBP. That site has content from big name writers. I rarely find anything I want to click through. At TBP I ALWAYS find several articles to read in depth, every single day. I know the satisfaction you can get from traffic, clicks, comments and ad money. But being popular with dedicated readers is the ultimate joy.
So sorry that the PTB have coalesced to stifle TBP.
Disheartened that the normies abandoned you as well!
I think some have passed on. I’m just a rookie but an asshole about anything status quo. I don’t believe I’m alone and it does not matter other than I refuse to follow sheep off a cliff, rather stand alone.
While I love your site, your ads are keeping everyone away, even with adblocker, they are overwhelming, plus add the bloody pop up web page ad and I, like others don’t like it.
Why don’t you do like American Thinker, charge $69 a year to remove the ads entirely. Otherwise I just hit Show Reader after I go to an article.
It’s the pop up ads. I have no problem with running ads for revenue, but the pop ads make it very difficult to read the stories on your site.
You can’t delete them and they block viewing the posts and the stories
I use Brave Browser plus AdBlock extension. Pretty much zero ads anywhere.
I’m tech illiterate anymore. I’m not into thousands of aps on the cell nor into games and geek stuff on it or the PC. I don’t have AdBlock extension that I can see. Shields and Brave VPN as installed is all. Ads on the side but they don’t interfere with the content.
One thing about Al Gore’s internet I learned a long time ago with computers in general, someone master minded operating systems, software etc. so others can master mind hacks for such. Or is it cracks (code)? Both? lol
Actually I looked closer at that VPN button on Brave and it’s an option one can buy. Therefore my Brave is only the basic install but I don’t see popups anymore and what drove me nuts using Firefox even with AdBlock.
I enjoy reading tbp daily. I share links too. I have to be honest. I decided this year to get myself out of the subscription and tipping economy. I know that’s not doing you any good. But it has for me personally. I agree with one committer that you should move to substack. Forget all the junky ads and such. I hate them and block them as best I can. Go to substack and try and get paid subscribers if thats what you want and need. Can’t blame you.
Best wishes. 👍
btw… Allow subscribers to pay in bitcoin as well or with shit fiat currency.
I didn’t realize this site only started in 2009 – I thought it was much older than that. Had that BBS type community.
A few observations regarding the changes in the site over the years – fwiw.
There’s much less content regarding actual sustainable things – like the food forests – EROI – gardening – and other things of that nature. Frankly that’s one of the things that made this place so interesting. Huge knowledge base with useful information. Yes we have excellent series on ammunition – but most of the other stuff seems to be gone.
Over the past few years – this place turned into some kind of Covid obsession site? Most of the articles posted now are covid related. Perhaps I’m just sick of it – as an unvaxxed new yorker – I may deal with it more often so I don’t need to be reminded – and I’m over it. So my perspective is limited.
Why aren’t I vaxxed? Because fuck you, that’s why.
I respect the quest to bring knowledge forth – but it’s become so one sided here. The faithful already know. Those with questions have been seeking their answers. They found them or are seeking elsewhere. This place was never a one trick pony. There was a variety of information – that variety has largely evaporated.
A few observations on the uncontrollable factors – like advertising and cross linking – I have noticed that ZH and TBP and other old sites – don’t cross post like they used to. ZH doesn’t carry any JHK stuff anymore – and I rarely see TBP articles on ZH unless it’s Jim basically. So something there has also changed. Whether that’s editorial or from the changing nature of news and publishing – I don’t know. But there has been a shift.
Comparing 2020-2021 numbers to other years also isn’t really fair. My business did incredibly well during covid – but I’m fully aware that those numbers were due to circumstances that won’t be replicated again. Rightly or wrongly.
So don’t be a mouth breather and ask why someone’s 22 numbers aren’t like they were in 21 =)
I use Brave and no ads. I’d much rather send a donation now and again than deal with ads.
Forbes, Barrons even Market Watch can kiss my hind end I must subscribe in order to view all their content. I really try not to hate yet I hate those snobs.
One time I tried to post on Market Watch and I mentioned “tRump”. DENIED or otherwise REJECTED for “content”. I’m gaining age too much to Jack around with “tip toe” comments. Unfortunately I do look at the daily DOW, oil, good etc. crap on MW. It’s a convenience.
I’d like to see TBP continue but I do without if I must subscribe to anything on Al Gore’s Internet. I’ll just subscribe to the local newspaper , all four pages of it where I can at least learn about a local RepublicOn appointed county office type stealing others $$$. Always cracks me up like probably twenty years ago a Sheriffs Deputy in a RepublicOn county was charged at least with growing several acres of marijuana. Don’t know the guy went to prison. It’s the good ol boy system. 😊
You do a great job, thanks. No ads here – I use Brave + other settings to stop ads also. I think the ‘immediate’ crisis of covid tyranny drove many people to your site and others like it. It is hard to maintain the rage, absorbing so much bad news without light at the end of the tunnel, and no tunnel either, wears us all down. But we are amongst friends here and know we are not alone when the stormtroopers come.
Well I can’t speak for everybody but being probably the most average of average at everything maybe my preferences will give you an idea of what may steer people in a particular direction or interest. I’m still here after discovering this site some years back. How many I don’t remember but probably prior to 2015. There’s like minded people here, both readers in the comments section and contributing writes as well as this site’s owner. This is why I keep coming back. But. There have been times that after coming on the site I ended up almost immediately closing it. Why? I absolutely HATE, DESPISE, when you go on a site you’re immediately bombarded with a plethora of ads one after another, taking over your whole screen, ads covering over other ads. Ads that just keep popping up so fast and continuously you can’t close them fast enough, and they just keep coming to the point that you spend more time closing ads than you do reading articles. Obnoxious ads that I have absolutely zero interest in and will NEVER spend my money on whatever it is they’re trying to sell. Ads that take over your device after you’ve read halfway through a long article and then steer you away to another site! Ads that purposely hide the close button but disguise a link to a website as a close button. Oh and then there’s all the cookies and shady trackers I kept picking up here. For a long time I didn’t come here, and only returned when I started using a browser that blocked ALL that garbage so I can actually read articles rather than get a finger exercise closing all the pop up ads and garbage taking over my phone. Look I know it takes money to keep a website up and running. And that this stuff isn’t free. I get that. But at some point the ads and all the other crap got excessive and obnoxious. Maybe that has something to do with declining readers.
Free adblockers are your friend.
IDK, I think maybe folk are on to something here. If ads are scaring people off before they ever get to the meat then what good are the ads? I feel kind of guilty now passing on links, as I have been, if the normies / tech challenged have to contend with such just to get to the good bits (or is everywhere like that? IDK, I’ve been fighting ads from almost the start).
I almost wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemies, let alone potential allies and friends..
Brave browser. I see no ads.
Brave lets you select any item you don’t want to see and block it.
It doesn’t matter how many times you post to people to use an ad blocker you’ll get the very next post of some person complaining theres to many ads.
You could make an entire article about blocking the ads/popups and you’d still get people complaining there are to many ads and they are dissuaded from the site.
Maybe the popups and ads are also preventing a lot of spammers and trolls too, that’s a good thing imo. If you are just plain to stupid to figure out how to download and install an ad blocker, then this site probably isn’t for you. Its like a built in IQ test.
Yeah, I was wondering to if it was some sort of an IQ test, but that doesn’t help admin’s problem he related. You can’t have it both ways. You can’t be concerned about shrinking views / use and then try to limit use by creating an IQ test.
I do not have an ad blocker and I have no problem reading articles and comments. Maybe it depends on the browser used I have no idea. IMO there are plenty of non-covid articles on this site. Admin does a fantastic job. This site has a steady stream of new articles even on the weekend. Articles and information I do not see on any other sites. Plus, this site has a community of regulars who provide articles, information, and vigorous debates that can be thought provoking. Anyone can jump into these debates and get responses. You get that on very few sites these days.
I wonder if hits/viewership is down because when your site 1st loads I see a pinned article for several days. If I just happened onto your site I’d think you’d have no new NEWS so I’d go elsewhere to read. Maybe a change in format is due, may something like Bongeno or Rantingly ?
That’s one thing that does bother me. I have to keep remembering that the first (or several?) articles may be pinned, and that I have to look below. I am sure I missed a fair number of articles in the past that way. It should say “pinned” prominently, so we’d not have to guess.
I have brave, so no ad issues.
I like the comment section on this site. Substack is awkward for comments.
Years ago I found this site from a freedom-loving website link. The Brave browser is the ticket to reducing ads on this site. Donation complete.
For those complaining about the ads and pop-ups. Switch to the Brave browser. The only ads I see are in the sidebar. No ad-blocker extensions required.
And the sidebar ads can be eliminated too.
Right click on them, Brave > Block element. Works on any bit of any website you never want to see again. Headers, side bars, ads, whatever.
I see this site ENTIRELY ad free. Anyone who is bitching about ads, it is only because you are too fucking lazy to figure out how to block them.
To the whiners, take five minutes to learn how to block ads, or continue to bitch, exposing that you are technically incompetent fucking whiners.
“Someone move me, the fire is too hot and I can’t be bothered to move myself! Whaaaa!”
I’m no geek genius and never was. My forte was brass tacks admin for a network at the time consisting of 35,00o employee users. And I was not on the desk that “reset passwords”. I was responsible for eliminating “big dick” , or maybe “big pussy” VIP calls and complaints they had to wait ten seconds for their stats to load. Very Important People.
As a many years’ occasional lurker and Bigfoot-spotting rare commenter, I can tell that my involvement in ALL news sites (such as ZeroHedge, Lew Rockwell, etc.) has significantly waned.
Despite their best efforts, what has seriously changed? What will change? I live one foot in this world, one foot in the grave.
I don’t plan for bugging out or homesteading. I’m living my life day by day as best I can, taking care of those I know and love as best I can. Something wicked this way comes. But what and when, I don’t know. So focusing on the inevitable is just gonna cause anxiety and steal the joy and happiness from what life I have left.
I’m blessed to be loved like I could never imagined possible by my wife. And we’re blessed together to have found Christian Orthodoxy. The 30 minutes to an hour I used to waste every morning before work on doom porn news is now spent in prayer.
It dawned on me the other day I’m preparing for the end of my life, at only 30 years old. But then another day or so later, I realized further that I’m preparing for eternal life with Christ. And rather than fretting away my life in this world over events and circumstances far beyond my control, I’m trying my best -pitiful that it is- to be a light to Christ in every interaction of every day.
Different subject. When Bush 41 mentioned “New World Order” he was talking also about being friends with Russia but you know, still spreading the democracy thing around the world. I’m curious how many that voted Republican back then gave one thought to this “New World Order”. I know I did not. Perhaps others thought, ok, now we will kick the dog out of those third world countries and take their resources while rearranging their governments in order to preserve our country , the “greatest” mankind has ever known.
A different twist on Bush 41’s “New World Order”, NAFTA was all but signed before Clinton took office. Who knows Clinton gave a rats about NAFTA but signed the thing although it was a Bush 41 presidency that brought the idea to the table initially and obviously something Republicans and Democrat both agreed. Clinton followed the sheep. I began thinking about this NAFTA thing afterwards and no cigar for The Don as in more recent times Trump did not terminate NAFTA, only helped with another agreement that does the same.
I think back in the day I might of been the first one to call him out on it. I was a bit more of a current events / political junky back then and even watched the speech live.
I use to watch GOP so called debates anyway not realizing they were the same old bag of nothing as today. After RP, nope. I just catch a few playback “highlight” responses in a so called GOP debate anymore and a few playback nonsense responses in any general election so called debate that may be available. And I supported the idea and efforts of LPers , independents and other 3rd parties trying to get a gig on the general election debates to no avail. How does it go, it’s a big club and you ain’t part of it. By design those I speak just ain’t “allowed”.
Maybe some of us can spread the word around the interwebs. I never really gave it thought before, but I went back to using Gab.
Sometimes I wonder how focusing on quality over quantity might help this site.
Thank you Jim, for what you do. I’ll send my yearly support sometime this year.
Never been to Gab. Is it for sophisticated commenters only?
Woulda never heard of it back then, if not for the shooting in Pittsburgh.
Felt compelled to check it out. Been a minute, but the various ‘specialized’ groups were/are still? VERY educational/entertaining/Etc.
Speaking of which, 1st ‘intro’ to Bob P. as seen ‘here’? possibly. ‘Different’ sense of humor, absolutely no ‘Sacred Cows’ from memory, VERY funny ta boot.
If Him? Other than his ‘specialty’ group?
Perhaps same ‘experience’ as me. Little Fish in a Big bowl, the stuff broached ‘here’, imho. Like i said, been a minute, may have been ‘improvements’. Based on my limited ‘experiences’. ANYBODY who posts here would get tons of 👍, if that’s Your thing. Mostly.
Worth a look. Again, imho.
Especially topics like foraging & Preserving by various methods, for instance. Serious Knowledge base. ‘Limited appeal’, @ least back then, very readable, group specific ‘Search’ was good too.
TONS of ‘Suspect’ Posts. imho, just like ‘here’, Best ta ‘counter’, as opposed to an anonymous 👎
@ least there is, or was, some decent ‘tutorials’. MANY. MANY, selfless individuals across the spectrum.
This Site? not quite .28¢/day, my modest annual donation. Thought of upping it, but some of my posts ‘show’, and then Poof!, disappear. Or alternatively, i ‘confirm’, it says “Yes” but NOT there.
Not sure if the video/pic link is ‘Suspect’ or what. my musings have been comparatively ‘tame’ in the majority of the cases, hence the possibility of ‘malware’ detected, Admin. end, contained in Vids/Pics.
Not a ‘puter person. Bought Adguard©. Worth every ¢, across the web. Been my experience, FREE! is worth what You PAY for it.
Outta time, OALA
I have gobs not Gabs of links to “foraging & Preserving” websites plus gardening , prepping, DIY and SHTF sites that have comment sections I read a few but don’t comment. To each his own , I don’t “need” Gab.
Can relate.
Like my POORLY worded posts when in a hurry.
GAB©?
See things in a strange light, mostly, for some time. Prolly much improved, (GAB) maybe not.
Then again, may be Part-n-Parcel of a ‘national data-base registry’ for various ‘specialties’.
Similar to the NRA™ for instance.
Like ‘Here’, exposed/learned much, various Fields. Pun intended. Not gonna wander off into the weeds about the All American Pressure Canner from (Memory issues) Wisconsin Foundry™? OTHER than say…SHOULD be part of the various ‘Prize’ levels awarded to some Marathon contestants, somewhere. BEST there is, that brand of canner, mechanical seal, NO gasket involved. Reasonably priced 😆. Think it was the #930? @ least 2X production, ‘Standard’ offering.
Agreed, All hail algore. a few links/reference material acquired myself. Too many boxes of books, which along w/Bic® lighters, might be worth MORE than the equivalent weight in GOLD! 🤣 Sooner or Later.
‘Worts’ & ‘Smell’?
Lifelong VICTIM! of FREE! Association.
Good Lord! 35+ years ago. Started making Home-brew beer, a few Fall/Winter’s worth. Don’t know about now, but Definitely NOT from a ‘Save $’ perspective/Venture.
Again, memory issues, but i believe ‘Pitching the Wort’ was/is still a valid step in the process. ‘Smells’ involved. Something about when the ‘break’ occurred, Time/temp critical, yada, yada.
i Forgot to bring the new pack of cheesecloth. Buddy’s house, big ‘root Cellar’, believe ‘Bottom Fermenting’ (the type of Yeast maybe) style of product(s), made a few styles/types/whateva.
‘Get a pair of Your Wife’s Pantyhose, quick!’
Problem solved.
A particularly tasty batch, none were ‘bad’, too much $ invested in BOOKS when $ was tight, never mind ‘Food Grade’, & other essential equipment.
Why? Why can i NOT/Never get to the point of the yarn? Especially given time constraints?
About the ONLY beer we never drank to the point of ‘Sloppy Drunk’ level, TRULY was about tase/body/etc.
In the ensuing discussion, quaffing a few that batch, i discovered (maybe uncovered would be more apt) that my buddy had grabbed a pair of ‘dirty’ pantyhose!
Not sure, but we were NEVER able to replicate that particular taste/aroma profile exactly again.
Take Care, willy
Yeah- your ads are horrible and so inconsistent with the quality of your editorial
I’ll say worts are not enjoyable to look at. When I was a kid before modern medicine those with worts permeated a wort smell. My first impression of worts.
If you removed the ads from the main page and just have them in the linked page, I think your count would go up. Otherwise people don’t have time for whack-a-mole or its spam site vibe. Get them hooked, lots of good stuff here at TBP.
Ramblings and observations:
I’ve enjoyed TBP for several years. Usually a lurker, maybe a comment once in a blue moon. I can’t speak to ad revenue, viewer counts. That’s the “machine” at work and many sites, like this one, are having the same issues. Maybe next year it’ll change, for better or worse, with a “new” glorious leader in charge… a definite maybe …
I run uBlock, Opera (I know its owned by the ChiComs) and FF. Brave no longer runs on my machine; gotta upgrade but I’ve decided to go Linux when this one dies… so ads are far and few between. If, as described by others, ads and popups are destroying your viewership, maybe an updated layout could help. Maybe going subscription based fully. Maybe, some readers need to learn how to use their software and machines… just saying.
I respect the freedom to keep comments viewable, which, at times, are some of the vilest things on websites. Maybe keeping those behind a login wall would help revenue. I enjoy the walmart freaks and friday fail most of all. Sometimes the scantily clad ladies (with the occasional dude); tagged in software, kicks your articles out since the AI that reviews sees the tags… maybe, again, its the commentators that are defining what kind of ad revenue you are getting.
The occasional sewer dive into politics, as long as they’re not a 20min read, is enjoyable. But most articles, are not relevant to me or, imo. are so incoherent that I lose interest a sentence in. Some are so far out field that I just don’t get it. But that’s me, and they might appeal to someone else.
Here’s my other 2 bits – I’m making a slow but intentional move toward unplugging with the world at large. I’m tired of the hatred and negativity. I see comments and articles, on here and other sites, that just confirm that this is the right move. This world is going to do what it will do, no matter what any group or individual does, subscribes to, votes for etc etc. At some point, I’ll drop off here, there and so forth. Going gray figuratively and literally …
If given the choice to read an article(s) or spend time with the grandbabies, fishing, spending time with loved ones and friends, guess who losses out?
There. I’ve spent my 6 bits. Hope that whatever you decide to do with TBP works out for the best interest in you and yours.
In God I trust, all others can go pound sand…
Have you tried Gab? Kidding yet although I’ve no interest going there I’m certain there is no hate and negativity there. /s
On Linux, I supported Unix based OSs including Linux in my previous life of everyday working for a living in the corporate world. Only 20 years of it, thankfully , to be honest. I use to build PCs for home use and install Red Hat or some other flavor of Linux on them for home use but never really made them my primary OS for home use. Stuck on Microsoft and there lies much of the “problems” of the bits and bytes world IMO.
I relate what you say “unplugging with the world” yet until I’m deceased I’m part of it but yes, other than throwing opinion around here I’m not so much involved and it’s nothing to do with not caring.
I did well removing myself from political forums just after the TrumpTard worship started in his 2016 so called campaign. Why am I to believe that “election” was not rigged? Oh, I know, Republicans never cheat. /s . I debated extensively with a group of inbred status quo Republican voting folks primarily located in Texas. So much wasted time. I was banned for posting a meme of Donald Trump and Putin shooting the middle finger where the middle fingers were tiny penis and balls. Wish I could find that meme again but better I don’t. It was funny though. Anyway, I did not dabble again in political anything beginning sometime in 2016 until I found an old link to this site that I believe I had actually come across from the site I was banned possibly. There were a few on that old site that were not completely dumbed down by Trump. Oh well, “Anybody but Hillary”.
I’m making a purchase on the dreaded Amazon probably tonight so glad to throw a bone in the direction of this site. I’ve had two credit cards hacked, cracked whatever about five years ago so yes, I’m wary of some things. Won’t go into the details and the incidents did not “cost” me precious fiat but really opened my eyes how that sort of thing can happen. I have suspicions but only as to how one theft took place. Good day.
Here’s a single datapoint not to put too much weight onto but FWIW. My viewing and reading of TBP has ebbed over the past few years. Part of that is the reduced time I’ve put into reading online stuff to help reduce my blood pressure. Another is prioritizing my time into creating my own content. Over the years, I mainly read TBP for original content and the comment section. As I tend to see articles I’ve already read elsewhere, I tend to skim and or not check in as much. Outside of skimming for original comment on occasion, the main time I check in now is when some story is hot, I can’t find much info or I think I’m I’m hearing is a single perspective and went to catch another side of things. At times, I also tend to think, “hey, what are the TBP commenters saying?” That’s a combination of entertainment and picking up new insights.
For reference, I’ve been following alt sources from back when a place like ZH was mostly good financial/economic topics with much higher signal to noise ratio in the comments than now. For a time, I was a regular TBP reader and occasional anonymous poster, but I doubt I’m part of what would be considered a core/target audience for the site now, and probably won’t be. This is more a matter of personal priorities than the site itself.
I asked myself, what changes to TBP might cause me to read daily or actively contribute? The honest answer is probably nothing. This is purely a reflection of my current priorities and has little to do with the site itself, the owner, the contributors, or the commenters.
I certainly wish you all the best for future decision making and plans. I thought I’d toss this out there since I’m probably somewhat representative of a subset of the fringe audience. Over time, I’ll be continuing to stop in at times for the original content and the comment section.
Drop by anytime subset.
All the racist BS in the comments section doesn’t help get and keep readers. our society has many snowflakes that can’t skip past the racist crap, apparently. It is very funny seeing this and the religious quotes almost together in the comments section. The articles at TBP are really good though. I like how some people who visit this site still went and got the jab and then admit to it in the comments section. I guess they didn’t read the numerous articles here, or use common sense and a bit of skepticism.
Not that it matters, my wife has long read about all sorts of jabs , what they may be doing to children and adults. We needed no internet connectivity to figure out we ain’t taking that covid whatever jab. I visit a doctor about every 4 months and he offers it and others. “Would you like a flu shot today?”, etc. “No thank you.” I’ve often wanted to explain to him the barrage of opinion about the pitfalls of the jab but what’s the use? I’d bet he is aware. I’ll stick with opinion and stats the dang thing is a killer.
An old acquaintance , until I said Donald Trump would not make a pimple on Ron Paul’s ass, was a big RP supporter too. The old acquaintance had mentioned Trump as a “continuation” of Ron Paul. That’s where we fell off and I asked him if he planned to get the jab? He said “if it works I’ll take it”. Good grief! The man is wheelchair bound now with all kinds of older age syndromes. He was having issues going back a ways and told me he thought they were due to having worked around metals, something about his blood. Then not too long ago the VA did a spinal surgery on him and wa-la, wheelchair bound. It’s unfortunate people part ways over some stupid asshole like Donald Trump. I’m not certain the old acquaintance took the jab at Don’s recommendation and while the VA probably was the culprit landing him in a wheelchair I would not rule out the jab being part of his unfortunate “lifestyle” now if he did indeed take the jab. Donald Trump is a “continuation” of Ron Paul. SMH…sad anyone thought that. I do pray the man goes out easily.
BTW, the “racist crap”. I’m wondering if “racist crap” is a prerequisite for posting on Gab. How about Trump worship as well. That is what I only “heard”.
Trump’s one of them. he was a Democrat calling for gun control in the past. now he just says what he thinks many want to hear.
In light of Tucker Carlson getting let go, maybe it is a good thing that this is more of a boutique website. A niche audience that isn’t too big and influential may stand a better chance in the days ahead.
On the other hand, if you want your visits and pageviews to look like a VAERS graph, reach out to Tucker and ask him to write a few exclusive articles for you. Or at least how his exit from Fox went down. I would wager a large sum of money that he has been to this site before, likely from a zero hedge link. I don’t watch his show or any of the MSM news channels but he is too simpatico with 99% of the views expressed here to not know of this site.
Consider PPV Royal rumble type Fundraising? New folks like “TCS” vs some old timer like “Winnie”? Spitballing here but worth considering? Trying to help.
Sorry to hear all that, but I have to think it relates to the general decay of broader US society. All the points you raise are good detail points, tactically valid, but I think there is a bigger picture to consider:
-generational dynamics – TBP speaks heavily to Gen X and to a relatively small number of independent minded people from older generations (Stucky, for example). Gen X and older generations are shrinking, a combination of their ages and normal mortality, along with increased mortality from the vax, and some random “pandemic” that predated it. My experience with the generations younger than X is that they view and approach the world differently, and the TBP approach likely just won’t appeal to many of them. I’m curious, do have an age survey for your viewership?
-more dissenting voices that one can read elsewhere, partly because of Substack
-a major change from a future-looking “this is coming” mindset to a very serious “SHTF is here” mindset in 2023. The plandemic and clotshot combo is pretty real, as is the Neocons’ attempt to get WW3 going full hot. The US empire is rapidly dying for anyone not averting their eyes. TBP accurately warned about the latter two many years ago, but once the problems are present, front and center, peoples’ focus changes. My focus today is dodging incoming fire while living the happiest life I can in the midst of national decay.
-website lifecycle. Not everything lives forever – in fact little does.
-Commenter chaos. A benefit of small size (TBP c. 2009) is the potential for above-average commenters. A downside of mass appeal (TBP c. 2021) is that the comments will reflect averages, or worse. I still read TBP regularly, though not daily, but comment far less because there are fewer people who seem likely to engage intelligently.
You’ve done a great job with TBP, Jim. I’ve been reading since 2009, just as I was reading Zerohedge since its beginning. TBP remains much closer to its original purposes, in a good way. ZH, which started as a rebellious Wall Street insider blog, has become like the Newsmax of financial/counter-Neocon thought, serving a purpose but a broad and shallow one.
According to Google Analytics our readers are 72% male and 66% over 45 years old. Essentially, crotchety old codgers.
Guilty as charged, your Honor.
As mentioned if anything political is going to “change” it’s probably going to have to be the baby boomers pulling up the bootstraps. Most boomers have lived most of what they are going to so what have “we” to lose?
Much as Boomers don’t want to hear or believe this, they are becoming increasingly irrelevant to the social and political future of the US. Oh, sure they will keep “voting” for a decade or two yet. “They.” Who do you think collects their absentee ballots, marks them, counts them, or even maintains the rolls? Not Boomers so much.
🙂
I’m not thinking the boomer “vote” which has been extremely marginal for me anyway after the 2008 and 2012 dupes will make any difference.
During American revolutionary times the average age of participants was 35 years per link below. 35 then is likely comparable to 55 now as far as “life expectancy” and stamina. Just my two cents as “they” say and no stats but probably could find them. But then I suppose 55 is not a baby boomer qualifying age anyway so get after it!
The “vote” will do nothing although people still programmed to think otherwise. A 40ish year old neighbor man mentioned the “vote” doing no good and he supported Trump both times although did not ride through the country with Trump banners waving in glory attached to pickup trucks. The pickup was popular for the 2020. And I don’t know those supporters even acknowledge their guy’s contribution to the jab. Perhaps, still who cares? SMH
While I show at the polls in person and not disguised as a dead person, as far as absentee ballots etc. , probably has a lot to do with demographics but are likely right across the good ol USA board. Around here basically those manning the polling places and putting out yard signs ( now that is really an “effort”) and setting up tables encouraging voters to register with the 2020 election selling Trump 2020 hats at the same time are boomers. Funny, the hats for sale while encouraging people to register! I’m sure the smaller numbers of Democrats or the miniscule numbers of third partiers went to those tables. Cheers.
Did the thang on the Amazon button. I’m not ashamed using Amazon. Going forward will do each and every time.
Off topic of course, sometimes crotchety folk view things different as in what I just viewed on the background for Brave that appears at least on my mochine. Looks like a room full of monitors with younger peeps manning the controls for something called 3XP Web Gamer , WEB3 Gaming’s Premium Destination. Could be a “control” center but probably not in Mark Levin’s command center. No clue. Just a mention since some folks opine why “things” seem to be messed up.
I run a number of websites worldwide. Some are free media sites. We have also observed that our traffic is way down. Part of the reason is that “search engines” no longer search but instead direct attempts at searching to their paid advertisers or sponsors. Syndicated ads don’t work anymore for income since, as you stated, ad blockers, but also the ad agencies don’t pay anywhere near what they used to, plus they really slow sites down.
You might just try having a link to a “ad rate card” for static long term ads on the sidebar. Of course, link exchanges with other appropriate sites is another option for increasing traffic.
Wonder why readership is down? Just one current example.
Tucker Tucker Tucker. Tucker said this. Tucker said that. (Will he run for President and be our new savior?)
Hasn’t anyone figured yet out that Tucker is the shiny bauble to distract from what they do not want you to focus on?
Becoming too much of a reflection of msm and their ad nauseam news.
What about ongoing corruption of the children?
“WHO Recommends “Children between 9 and 12 yrs should have their first sexual experience and learn to use online pornography”
-Biden signed an ‘order’ for ‘social credit score’ system to be implemented. (How much one agrees or opposes gov agenda’s and how green you are and have accepted the climate religion.)
-All coal plants /mines are to implement useless and costly new tech or shut down.
-“There’s no such thing as someone else’s child. Our nation’s children are all our children.” The state owns your kids and supersedes your rights.
and this? Not newsworthy?
RFK Jr Calls Climate Change Deniers ‘War Criminals’ Who Should Be Jailed ‘I Wish There Was A Law To Punish Them Under’
https://rense.com/general97/rfk2.php
Jim. I appreciate you and TBP. Yes, Amazon is like poison to many, and I like many have switched to Ebay. Ultimately we have to stay fosussed not so much on daily hits as just educating people to the World of Hell that is waiting just around the corner. I assume a smart guy like you doesnt depend on TBP for an income stream so no need to be discouraged. Anything can turn on a dime, like page views, and you should be proud of TBP education factor for Sleepyhead Americans, which has no price.
I do not understand the social media game of numbers and don’t want to know. I appreciate the work you do but knowing how much time I put into various things for no pay (with little income), I have a hard time relating.
I like the site and hope it continues. I find very few websites I can say that about any more.