There's lots to like at Upworthy, but not much to read

The fast-growing news-feature website leads the league in approvals. Is that because it publishes less rather than more?The driving belief for news websites is that more (that's more stories, features, videos, blogs) equals more hits and thus more money. But what if less can also equal more (positive responses from readers, that is)? Ezra Klein, blogging for the Washington Post, examines the startling success (from zero to over 80 million visitors in a month) of Upworthy.com, its rise underpinned by the average 43,446 readers who record how they "like" each post. That positivity of engagement and approval leaves other news sites trailing. The next in the "like" league manages only 5,854 a time.Yet Upworthy, which does no original stuff and merely trawls the internet for material, posts a mere 250 pieces a month. Its secret is painstaking curation, aimed at the Facebook crowd. Less, in terms of speed, staffing and sweat, does seem to add up to something quite unexpected – and a bit of jolt for news sites (from HuffPost on down) who've put ubiquity first.In conventional terms, the established paths still wind onwards and upwards. Mail Online was busy last week rejoicing over a great November: 168 million unique browsers worldwide, 54 million in Britain alone, annualised spurts of 50% and 32% alone. The CEO at the Sun, touting his 117,000 digital subscribers, may sniff over the Mail's no-paywall figures. The Mail may not find the Bun's claims too compelling. Proper newspaper... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2013-12-15 00:00:00 UTC ]

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Trinity Mirror CRO James Wildman on Ad Blocking: 'The Sky Hasn't Fallen'

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[ Editor & Publisher | 2015-12-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Trinity Mirror chief says it is fit and proper for Local World takeover

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[ The Guardian | 2015-11-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Why Trinity Mirror's acquisition of Local World makes sense

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[ The Guardian | 2015-10-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Editor & Publisher | 2015-09-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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There's lots to like at Upworthy, but not much to read

The fast-growing news-feature website leads the league in approvals. Is that because it publishes less rather than more?The driving belief for news websites is that more (that's more stories, features, videos, blogs) equals more hits and thus more money. But what if less can also equal more... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2013-12-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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