General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Why is DU's popularity waning? (Title edited, explanation within.) [View all]NanceGreggs
(27,815 posts)I looked at a few ...
The numbers fluctuate, but the PATTERNS have remained the same. Some sites are busiest in the summer, some are busiest in the winter, etc.
Salon has fluctuated between 1000 and 1400, and is currently at about the same number it was last year at this time.
Politico ranged between 1600 and 2500 over the past year, and is now at the same number it was last year at this time.
DailyKos fluctuated between 1500 and 2500 over the past year, with a dip to 3000 over Christmas holidays. The site was at 2300 at this time last year - it is now at 2500.
DU has always had its own pattern - busier in winter, less busy in the summer. Numbers have declined slowly over the past four years, but HIGHs and LOWs have stayed within the 2000 points range. DU's pattern was consistent up until September of this year - HIGHs of around 8000, LOWs at around 10,000.
However, at the end of August/beginning of September, DU started dropping rapidly, and there has been no upturn at all. It went from a HIGH of just above 8000 to today's LOW of 14,500. That's a drop of almost 7000 points in twelve weeks. THAT large a drop is unprecedented in DU's history, and if it were the result of a sudden change in Alexa's methodology, other sites would be displaying the same huge drop, along with a noticeable change in their patterns.