Tuesday, June 22, 2010

What's Going On? Pageview Inflation?

At the bottom of this article in today's Washington Post:


This is NOT a very long article (< 1,400 words) so WHY do they stretch it out over FOUR separate web pages?  Is this "pageview inflation," or for advertising reasons, or what explains this?  

10 Comments:

At 6/22/2010 8:36 AM, Blogger juandos said...

Well the WaPo has been losing readers for quite some time now and to make up for that lack of print advertising it wouldn't suprise me that a short article would take up four pages (replete with ads on each page) so as to keep the potential readers on site...

 
At 6/22/2010 8:50 AM, Blogger Doug said...

It's all about page views, and not just at WaPo.

It could be explained as a way to not present too much info at once, common enough in web design. But once you notice how many publications put out articles like "The 10 Smartest Fifth Graders in Bithlo", with one or two grafs about each kid on its own page, the real reason is obvious.

 
At 6/22/2010 8:55 AM, Anonymous dan said...

You got it right both times. increase page views and ad views...

Well, that's how they make a living...

At the right things are going in the online world, something revolutionary is bound to happen that would replace the prevailing order of Google Pleasing and manipulation.

 
At 6/22/2010 9:27 AM, Blogger Matt said...

Or, is this a type of "intelligent design" publishing? Is the piece intentionally targeted for the more serious reader, not the faint-hearted?...

Sometimes when I'm lazy-reading I'll not bother with the 5 page pieces. Hmmm.

Good stuff, Doc Perry.

 
At 6/22/2010 10:32 AM, Anonymous gettingrational said...

Pageview inflation example: CNBC.com Slideshow. They not only have picture pages but another page with a paragraph or two of explanation/narative linking to the picture.

 
At 6/22/2010 8:11 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mobile versions, which don't have advertising, have been like this for a while. My guess is that someone crafting these for the newer phones or the ipad with more capable browsers then had a revelation and figured they could get a lot more ad revenue by cutting them up the same way.

 
At 6/22/2010 10:03 PM, Blogger Jack Croww said...

Ad view inflation, pure and simple.

 
At 6/22/2010 11:33 PM, Blogger LP said...

I just always click 'Print' to get the print preview on one page, the whole article, pictures included.

It's pageview inflation in a very obvious way, and not just the lib Post is doing it. Townhall.com does it and it drives me nuts.

 
At 6/24/2010 4:18 PM, Anonymous Jenny Craig said...

If you can fit an article onto one page, then do so please. :)
Rotate banner images to get all the ads in.

 
At 6/27/2010 4:44 PM, Anonymous doubleBubble tripleDip said...

"
stretch it out over FOUR separate web pages? Is this "pageview inflation," or for advertising
"

Have you noticed that when you search a page for your favorite word or phrase, the search stops at the bottom but does not extend to the tandem display. You got to "ask every time". Before you ask yet again you got to wait for page to download. All that download waiting, double clicking, and button punching is a vicious plan from the enemies of HSF, Homeland Security Forces. Those enemies feel certain that giving enough time such tactics will drive HSF loony to the point of selling off all NEI, New England Islands to enemy operatives who will then use NEI to launch Castro Missiles at the moment of Fidel's Fatality, missiles chock full confetti that will simulate ticker-tape parade on Wall Street.

An Evil Plan
!

 

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