Web Counters Analysis

compiled by Linda Marcusky

One of the most daunting tasks facing a Star Trek website is tracking the number of visitors and their preferences. When the Orion Press website first made its debut, Randy Landers made the decision not to include number counters. As time passed, he began using data from his website host, and would post the most read stories and authors every month. That task soon became too gargantuan of a task, and following the finale of Star Trek: Voyager, Randy made the decision to discontinue the practice of tracking the numbers. Six months after the removal of all Modern Trek material from the Orion Press website, and after moving the service to its current webhost, he began re-installing counters on the general pages. In 2004, he began creating web counters for every story. This project took two years to complete, and in 2006, all counters were operational.

One can look at the data from 2006 and earlier, and it is basically meaningless. Had all the counters gone on-line at the same time, one could draw some conclusions about reader preferences from that time. However, such was not the case. Stories were given counters as time permitted. Some received counters as they were uploaded. Others were far later in receiving counters. However, one can look at those numbers and have a good idea of how many people have visited that webpage since 2004. Other than that, there's not much use for that data except as a baseline. We chose to draw from the 2007 and 2008 figures to make observations.

A few cautionary notes:

1) "Most Read Stories" is not necessarily an indication of quality. It's simply what it says. More people read these stories than others available. That could be a result of the popularity of the author(s), promotion of the story by the author or their fans, or even a well-written description that convinces the visitors to our website to read that story. It can also be that the title comes up in a search of the web, e.g. Linda McInnis' "Escort Service" is often hit upon by folks looking for escorts. :)

2) "Most Read Authors" is also not necessarily an indication of quality. The more stories an author has available on a web page, the more readers they will have. This can result in a prolific writer being more read than a quality writer who contributes a story every year or so.  This number is also an indication of the popularity of the author(s) or even how well promoted their stories have been. 

3) Some sections like HYPERION and U.S.S. CHOSIN don't have a "most read" authors section because in all practicality there's only one author for each of those series. Some sections have far fewer available authors/writers and stories/articles. As a result, we generally list the top five authors/writers and stories/articles, but in some cases, list fewer.

4) Adult stories often have more readers than non-adult stories. Long-time contributor Nomad probably benefits the most from this particular facet of fandom as one-third of the stories he writes are adult in theme. However, Rick's other works are equally well-read.

Also, bear in mind that all our sites had far more visitors in 2008 than in 2007. This is simply a result of increased use of the Internet, as well as web surfers becoming more aware of our website. So most of the statistics in 2008 are higher in number than those of 2007.

One last thing: please don't let these numbers elevate or deflate your opinion about the authors/writers and stories/articles. They're just numbers, so chill out.

Linda Marcusky

The Beginnings

Total Visitors in 2007: 1754
Total Visitors in 2008: 2564
Most Read Stories of 2007
First Contact 101	Littleford	198
Drink Deeply		Nomad		196
Helmsman		Nomad		193
Adventures in Iowa	Littleford	166
Popcorn			Dickenson	135
Most Read Authors of 2007
D.G. Littleford		672
Nomad			605
elise			260
Selek			244
Jim Ausfahl		232
Most Read Stories of 2008
First Contact 101	Littleford	273
Studying the Field	Ausfahl		243
Adventures in Iowa	Littleford	232
Leaving Vulcan		Littleford	195
Popcorn			Dickenson	190
Helmsman		Nomad		190
Most Read Authors of 2008
D.G. Littleford		1115
Nomad			676
Jim Ausfahl		475
elise			344
Selek			328

 

The First Mission

Total Visitors in 2007: 2316
Total Visitors in 2008: 4166
Most Read Stories of 2007
The Beginning		Rottler/Syck	412
Field of Illusion	Pillsbury	263
There Would Be Others	German		209
Only So Much		German		201
One of Those Things	Solomon		200
Most Read Authors of 2007
Cathy German		1183
Ann Zewen		984
Chris Dickenson		690
Rob Morris		647
Randall Landers		552
Most Read Stories of 2008
The Beginning		Rottler/Syck	660
Field of Illusion	Pillsbury	421
There Would Be Others	German		399
Complications		Thomasson	396
Only So Much		German		352
Most Read Authors of 2008
Cathy German		2123
Rob Morris		1382
Ann Zewen		1346
Chris Dickenson		928
Jill Thomasson		800

 

The First Hiatus

Total Visitors in 2007: 1040
Total Visitors in 2008: 1499
Most Read Stories of 2007
Prisoners		Frelick		131
No Place Like Home	Nomad		100
That's What Friends Are Zewen		87
Most Read Authors of 2007
Donna Frelick		131
Nomad			100
Ann Zewen		87
Most Read Stories of 2008
Prisoners		Frelick		205
No Place Like Home	Nomad		139
Federation Day Dreams	Baudoin		98
Most Read Authors of 2008
Donna Frelick		205
Nomad			139
Deborah Baudoin		98

 

The Second Mission

Total Visitors in 2007: 1444
Total Visitors in 2008: 2464
Most Read Stories of 2007
Stitch in Time		Cress/Hamann	182
Dignity			Dickenson	174
The Daystrom Project	Nomad		174
Homecoming		Nomad		171
The Tale the Cap Told	German		154
Most Read Authors of 2007
Nomad			1639
Ann Zewen		1586
Cathy German		470
Linda McInnis		421
D. William Roberts	365
Most Read Stories of 2008
Shattered Fortress	Curtis		476
Dignity			Dickenson	323
Trapped			German		317
The Daystrom Project	Nomad		303
Homecoming		Cress/Hamann	266
Most Read Authors of 2008
Nomad			1493
Cathy German		647
Linda McInnis		596
Holly S. Trueblood	492
Eileen Curtis		476

 

The Second Hiatus

Total Visitors in 2007: 900
Total Visitors in 2008: 1377
Most Read Stories of 2007
A Hole in My Cover	Ausfahl		153
Bloodlines		Nomad		132
Encounters&Countermoves	Comtet		118
Aftermath		Nomad		106
Interlude		Warner		105
Most Read Authors of 2007
Nomad			375
Randall Landers		273
Linda McInnis		258
Jim Ausfahl		228
Nicole Comtet		118
Most Read Stories of 2008
Bloodlines		Nomad		300
Encounters&Countermoves	Comtet		256
Aftermath		Nomad		167
To the Last Extremity	Dickenson	158
Southern Comfort	McInnis		157
Most Read Authors of 2008
Nomad			688
Linda McInnis		503
Randall Landers		460
Jim Ausfahl		257
Nicole Comtet		256

 

Interludes

Total Visitors in 2007: 942
Total Visitors in 2008: 1507
Most Read Stories of 2007
Keeper of the Katra	Dickenson	265
Day They All Came Home	McInnis		191
His Was the Most Human	Nomad		186
Rapids			Ambassador	168
Where or When		Arvizu		145
Most Read Authors of 2007
Linda McInnis		383
Chris Dickenson		381
Nomad			351
Ann Zewen		221
Steven K. Dixon		204
Most Read Stories of 2008
Keeper of the Katra	Dickenson	638
His Was the Most Human	Nomad		409
Day They All Came Home	McInnis		326
Captain’s Bars		Nomad		262
Blindside		Kummer		232
Most Read Authors of 2008
Nomad			858
Chris Dickenson		817
Linda McInnis		678
Steven K. Dixon		299
Cathy German		293

 

The Third Mission

Total Visitors in 2007: 895
Total Visitors in 2008: 1507
Most Read Stories of 2007
Contact			Ausfahl		192
In Harm's Way		Roberts		164
The Dianasian Gift	Davis		125
Let Them Die		Corbett		95
The Plumber's Helper	Ausfahl		95
Most Read Authors of 2007
Jim Ausfahl		683
D. William Roberts	229
Joanne K. Seward	148
Carol K. Davis		125
Sean Corbett		95
Most Read Stories of 2008
Contact			Ausfahl		320
In Harm's Way		Roberts		299
The Dianasian Gift	Davis		196
The Plumbers Helper	Ausfahl		181
Let Them Die		Corbett		149
Revenge			Ausfahl		149
Most Read Authors of 2008
Jim Ausfahl		1180
D. William Roberts	373
Joanne K. Seward	199
Carol Davis		196
Sean Corbett		149

 

The Final Hiatus

Total Visitors in 2007: 738
Total Visitors in 2008: 1069
Most Read Stories of 2007
Children of Haole	Frelick		87
The Unforgiving Moment	Morris		71
Waiting on Serenidad	Morris		69
Incident		Morris		66
A Change of Heart	Ausfahl		45
Most Read Authors of 2007
Rob Morris		242
Donna S. Frelick	87
Jim Ausfahl		45
Most Read Stories of 2008
Children of Haole	Frelick		144
The Unforgiving Moment	Morris		97
Waiting on Serenidad	Morris		95
Incident		Morris		65
A Change of Heart	Ausfahl		61
Most Read Authors of 2008
Rob Morris		358
Donna S. Frelick	144
Jim Ausfahl		61

 

And the Adventures Continue

Total Visitors in 2007: 786
Total Visitors in 2008: 1189
Most Read Stories of 2007
Until the End of Time	Comtet		249
I Never Said Goodbye	Nomad		117
The Viewing		Morris		108
The Way Back		Morris		106
Family Comes First	Nomad		106
Most Read Authors of 2007
Rob Morris		359
Nomad			368
Nicole Comtet		249
Ann Zewen		69
Donna Frelick		30
Most Read Stories of 2008
Until the End of Time	Comtet		428
Difference Which Makes	Nomad		182
Settlers		Eversole	161
Family Comes First	Nomad		138
The Viewing		Morris		123
Most Read Authors of 2008
Nomad			487
Nicole Comtet		428
Rob Morris		299
David Eversole		161
Ann Zewen		107

 

Captain Sulu

Total Visitors in 2007: 519
Total Visitors in 2008: 886
Most Read Stories of 2007
Until We Meet Again	Seward		94
A Little Family Secret	Landers		73
Ashes			Landers		63
Return to Xantharus	Landers		49
Most Read Authors of 2007
Randall Landers		232
Joanne K. Seward	94
Nomad			47
Elizabeth Knauel	44
Most Read Stories of 2008
Until We Meet Again	Seward		100
Never Forget		Nomad		95
Return to Xantharus	Landers		79
A Little Family Secret	Landers		79
Most Read Authors of 2008
Randall Landers		286
Joanne K. Seward	100
Nomad			95
Elizabeth Knauel	74

 

Hyperion

Total Visitors in 2007: 459
Total Visitors in 2008: 819
Most Read Stories of 2007
A Motley Crew		Ausfahl		104
An Issue of Identity	Ausfahl		76
AWOL			Ausfahl		69
Duck Blind		Ausfahl		63
The Weed		Ausfahl		61
Most Read Stories of 2008
A Motley Crew		Ausfahl		130
The Weed		Ausfahl		128
To Leap Tall Buildings	Ausfahl		89
Like Fish in a Barrel	Ausfahl		88
AWOL			Ausfahl		81

 

Chekov's Enterprise

Total Visitors in 2007: 829
Total Visitors in 2008: 1445
Most Read Stories of 2007
Sometimes a Cigar	Morris		163
Planet of the Killer Chickens	Ausfahl		126
Bubcus			Morris		122
Insanity's Child	Landers		111
Chekov Enterprise	Landers		110
Most Read Authors of 2007
Rob Morris		645
Randall Landers		543
Jim Ausfahl		126
Most Read Stories of 2008
Sometimes a Cigar	Morris		282
Planet of the Killer Chickens	Ausfahl		170
Bubcus			Morris		166
Chekov Enterprise	Landers		149
Duties & Responsibilities	Landers		131
Most Read Authors of 2008
Rob Morris		1595
Randall Landers		473
Jim Ausfahl		170

 

U.S.S. Chosin

Total Visitors in 2007: 384
Total Visitors in 2008: 636
Most Read Stories of 2007
Suffer the Young	Roberts		56
Old Feuds		Roberts		51
Most Read Stories of 2008
Old Feuds		Roberts		82
Suffer the Young	Roberts		77

 

The Sixth Fleet

Total Visitors in 2007: 701
Total Visitors in 2008: 1528
Most Read Stories of 2007
Walking on Broken Glass	Morris		203
New Orders		Landers		157
Warp Speed		Landers		132
Departures		Nomad		130
Pythia			Landers		128
Most Read Authors of 2007
Randall Landers		624
Rob Morris		423
Nomad			130
Jim Ausfahl		98
Most Read Stories of 2008
The Kids Are All Right	Morris		192
Walking on Broken Glass	Morris		176
Wind and the Sun	Morris		165
Warp Speed		Landers		157
Whatever Became of Me?	Morris		152
Most Read Authors of 2008
Rob Morris		2128
Randall Landers		1079
Nomad			91
Jim Ausfahl		65

 

General & "Treknology" Articles

Total Visitors in 2007: 886
Total Visitors in 2008: 1375
Most Read General Articles of 2007
Playing Star Trek		Wright		319
Star Trek Myths 6		Harden		262
Star Trek Myths 1		Harden		202
Star Trek Myths 2 		Harden		153
Original Titles			Landers		151
Most Read "Treknology" Articles of 2007
Changes in Technology		Farley		206
Tech Errors in Wrath		Farley		163
Angle of Attack for Shuttlecrafts	Dixon		132
Nav Coordinates			Farley		122
WFC Refuted			Farley		122
Most Read Writers of 2007
Tim Farley		1144
Don Harden		960
Randall Landers		578
Patty Wright		319
Ricky Thompson		103
Jim Ausfahl		99
Most Read General Articles of 2008
Star Trek Myths 1		Harden		690
Star Trek Myths 2 		Harden		512
Star Trek Myths 6		Harden		357
Playing Star Trek		Wright		198
Original Titles			Landers		183
Most Read "Treknology" Articles of 2008
Nav Coordinates			Farley		562
Changes in Tech 		Farley		247
Tech Errors in Wrath		Farley		200
Angle of Attack for Shuttlecrafts	Dixon		161
Power for Warp			Farley		141
Most Read Writers of 2008
Don Harden		2044
Tim Farley		1704
Randall Landers		1322
Patty Wright		198
Dave Eversole		115

 

"Unseen" and "Origins" Articles

Total Visitors in 2007: 2796 & 491
Total Visitors in 2008: 4816 & 618
Most Read "Unseen" Articles of 2007
City on the Edge of Forever	Eversole	1592
Assignment Earth Series Pilot	Eversole	817
Rock a Bye Baby or Die!		Eversole	787
Balance of Terror		Eversole	774
Bandi				Eversole	737
Most Read "Unseen" Articles of 2008
The City on the Edge of Forever	Eversole	1448
Assignment Earth Series Pilot	Eversole	1423
Balance of Terror		Eversole	1040
Rock a Bye Baby or Die!		Eversole	990
Bandi				Eversole	984
Most Read "Origins" Articles of 2007
Sketches of the Mind		Eversole	398
Shadows of Space		Eversole	367
Broomstick Ride			Eversole	109
Most Read "Origins" Articles of 2008
Shadows of Space		Eversole	516
Sketches of the Mind		Eversole	428
Broomstick Ride			Eversole	183
Adolf Kodos Is Alive		Eversole	166
One Way Street			Eversole	157

 

Parodies

Total Visitors in 2007: 307
Total Visitors in 2008: 250
Most Read Parodies of 2007
Brain Brain Who’s Got Spock’s Brain?	Landers et al	107
The Tribbles with Troubles	Landers		101
A Time to Cry			T. Harden	66
Close Encounters of the Worst Kind	Landers et al	65
Star Trip			Landers et al	57
Most Read Parodies of 2008
The Tribbles with Troubles	Landers		74
Brain Brain Who’s Got Spock’s Brain?	Landers et al	72
PR Tonight			D. Harden	56
A Time to Cry			T. Harden	49
Close Encounters of the Worst Kind	Landers et al	48

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