So, Ben and I were discussing yesterday the depressing reality of our readership numbers, in that we think our unpaid interns are clearly not performing up to par with this blogging thing. In truth, we are so very very close to firing them all. And perhaps we would, if only we had gotten more than just one applicant from our previous advertisement (a slightly over keen individual named Paul Myers who keeps writing, like, 7, 8 or more times a day).
Anyway, whilst our interns are clearly lacking in compensation, they are nevertheless keen to learn from their mistakes, and so they ask you, dear readers (or maybe single-reader-person checking in several times a day) for guidance.
Please advise:
What exactly are we doing wrong? What are we doing right? What would it take to compell you to leave comments so that we feel wanted? Why is the self-esteem section in Wikipedia so short? Are there any things in particular you would like us to write about? More stuff about Batman? Any things we should avoid? And finally, of course, should we give this Paul fellow a chance?
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I'll bite first. Keep on the same. I think it's just because you're newbies. Besides last week was one of those long weekend extravaganzas. Hire Paul - he sounds good for traffic. And where's Benjamin by the way?
Ben is working on our special, ever so top secret, sure to be wondrous puzzle thingamajig (see sidebar).
More creative science like the Batman thing. Prizes also help. Free snacks?
Maybe if you cancel all national holidays, your stats will go up. I liked the banter between the two of you when the site first went up.
Blog on topics you want to blog about. Don't bother about readership. I firmly believe that in order for a blog to succeed, you have to write about the things you enjoy.
For my part, I really like Ng's posts on being a writer. I always liked an insider's point of view of things anyway.
I agree with the above. The Stephen Lewis talk, BTW, is amazing. Makes me want to do my part to save the world. It's too bad it wasn't clear that that sort of goody was in the post (judging by the title anyway). I bet folks would of missed it entirely, which is a real shame.
Oh yeah, and hire PZ.
So does any of the above mean you guys will be applying? For our internships -- which, we've been told, are something of a "plum" position out there -- we usually look for a full application dossier via snail mail, but if you guys wanna do a sort of hiring roundtable on this post, feel free to post your credentials and mission statements. Could help your chances, and give you the opportunity for feedback. Our inbox is filling up with the apps, to be sure, but a lot of those folks appear to be disgruntled ex-Wal-Mart greeters.
Yes, definitely hire Paul.
I agree with the blog what you want to blog about comment. Write about what excites you about science. People will come.
I like your blog, especially the zany, snarky stuff like the Batman roundup.
Please persevere. I "concur" with the above who encourage you to keep writing about what interests you: from your rejection letters to investigating the biological classification of Grimace, to deconstructing laugh reactions to the Simpsons, to tying in the World Cup with the heroic efforts of Stephen Lewis, et.al..
I really have been reading. Just not commenting.
There is nothing else like you on the web! (um, not that I have really researched it...but, uh, i know this in my heart to be true).
Further, I was so delighted by this site that I started another "secret" blog in which I'm experimenting with poetry and prose under the scientific influence (and I know you found me on technorati because you will probably be my only link on the site--no promises though--but you were my first link). And that really came from reading this blog. Yeah, you guys kinda rekindled that latent interest. Latent because I'm not a scientist though my peeps are: a biochemist, a mathematician, medical and computer scientists in the immediate family).
Last to lastly, is this about economics or ego? If the former, then you gotta do what you gotta do. If the latter, then there is only so much stroking I can do before my hand starts to cramp and you trigger my metacarpal syndrome.
Lastly, please don't fold before I see my Haiku published on your phylogeny tree.
Thanks you guys,
Scheherazade
Thanks for the nice comments. The consensus seems to be a simple "carry on" as well as "hire Paul." Also, Scheherazade, no worries on the Haiku Phylogeny project. The SCQ gets a healthy amount of traffic, and plans to continue on strong. Science poetry? You should send send some their way...