New members

I used to feel sorry for gransnet.
But they are ok I suspect.

Blimey! - what a terrible waste of precious time! Might come in useful in a pub quiz though!

There are ways and ways of paying for ads. If they take out a straight ad and pay a flat rate, they will judge the site by average numbers shown to visit, which appears in site statistics. If they do it by paying "per click" it is by how many people click the ad to go to their site and visit (and it is only a fraction of a penny per click) It isn't by how many see the ad on here, if they don't click on it.

The competitions will be mentioned on the websites where competition junkies go for their fix, so will attract people to come here and join so as to enter.

I spent some time looking at the names on the two topics.
There didnt seem to be repeats.
I did a general amount of new names per page and topic, and multiplied according to the amount of pages. Then I cross checked.
I also noticed the frequence of competitions and factored that in.
As I say, it is a very rough figure.

or something like that

Yes soon. How did you work that info out? [confuded]

Start a thread in Site Stuff and ask GNHQ. Just use the title, 'Dear GNHQ'.

Advertisers pay for activity - they surely wouldn't pay good money for inactive members who rarely visit the site.

I think it's numbers that attract advertisers. I think that's what the competitions are all about.

According to this in Wiki 'click-bait is a bit different.

They are useful inasmuch as can claim that they they have XXXX members.

How did you find that info, STB? Did you count each one individually? and how did you make sure that each one was really new, not someone who had posted on a previous Competition or Book-club page? That would be impressive research!

Thanks kitty

kitty I don't think the 'compers' do much to swell advertising - they make one appearance and go (with their prizes underarm).

Advertisers pay for clicks - hence the term 'click bait'.

And, what 'use' are they if they are only here for the goodies, apart from swelling numbers for advertising?

I agree with Anya.

150 new members a month? How on earth does anyone apart from GNHQ get this information? And more to the point, why would anyone apart from GNHQ think of looking for it?

I'm concerned that several 'old' and valued posters haven't been heard from recently.

It has taken me 6 months to realise.
I never try a competition, or join in Bookclub, so they have sort of passed me by.

I used to think that the site wasnt growing, but from Gransnet's point of view, it very much is.

soon I am in awe of your vast knowledge about such a range of subjects!