One Million Strong

by Dave Clark on Jan 30, 2011 9:22 AM PST in Life in the Sound

I'm not into benchmark posts. This may be because as I'm looking at game tape, browsing for stories or crafting a post the benchmark just passes by. This week a fairly major benchmark passed, and I noticed, but I didn't make a deal out of it. It would seem I should have, you see at some point on January 26th Sounder at Heart had its One Millionth Page View on www.SBNation.com .

It is fairly stunning that so many have come here over the last year and few months. A lot of it is because of the writers that have been added, and the community of which you have built.

Hopefully over the next year you'll see even more that draws you, and your friends in soccer, here.

We'll continue to give you interviews like we did this week with Brad Evans, Jeff Parke, Juan Cruz, and Josh Ford. We'll grant a tiny bit of insight into the current depth charts that now look to be 3 11s deep. Statistics that are relevant for soccer will continue to be a goal. Tactical analysis of matches will be featured. Other soccer in the Sound will get some coverage, but we will especially focus on the Reserves and Academy. There will be more gatherings, more t-shirts, more ways to interact over facebook or twitter.

While we may not be the first to the news the intention is that we provide context and relevance to all things related to Soccer in the Sound.

Thanks for being part of the first million views. We're the first soccer site to hit that mark on the network, and it is because of you.

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Comments

Glad I could be a part of it.

Although, I don’t comment very often, I visit this site everyday, usually multiple times a day to be a part of the community. Thanks to Dave, Jeremiah, sidereal, malcontentjake, and everyone whose hard work has made this the absolute best Sounders (soccer?) site on the interwebs.

Seriously, the content and thoughtful analysis here is unlike any other soccer site I’ve seen.

Thanks everyone.

by jacobcda on Jan 30, 2011 9:40 AM PST reply actions 4 recs

+1

SAH is unique in the community it has here. I come back to stories many times to keep up with the discussions going on in the comments sections. It’s rare to have a blog with such good commentary that it keeps you coming back days after it’s first posted.

by Dizzo on Jan 30, 2011 10:01 AM PST up reply actions 2 recs

+1

While I don’t have the insight to post my own thoughts, I also read this blog daily. Fantastic analysis, and the gamethreads make it so much easier for those of us who can make it to Brougham only a few times a year.

Keep up with this date Dave for when you hit 2 million!

by magistermilitum on Jan 30, 2011 11:16 AM PST up reply actions

Context and relevance

I think you nailed it and that’s the heart of it – S@H does context and relevance better than just about any other site out there. The analysis here is first rate. It’s nuts how much I find myself here, even in the off-season. It’s the first non-work related site I visit just about every day. Great job to all who work on the site.

by Nevtelen on Jan 30, 2011 9:53 AM PST reply actions

Congrats guys

You’ve worked plenty hard enough to earn it. Visiting is always worth it too.

by agtk on Jan 30, 2011 9:57 AM PST reply actions

Congrats.

All of your hard work is evident. The next million will be even faster

by killacamkilla2 on Jan 30, 2011 10:54 AM PST reply actions

Speaking of Content...

Any more news on the rumor that the Guardian’s Chalkboard-style graphs are coming to MLS this year?

by brokejumper on Jan 30, 2011 10:56 AM PST reply actions

Still nothing official from Opta or other providers

But all of the necessary data was gathered in 2010 but kept to the teams only.

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Jan 30, 2011 11:09 AM PST up reply actions

Hopeful

That sounds exciting… hopefully someone will pay them, which I assume is the sticking point.

by brokejumper on Jan 30, 2011 1:10 PM PST up reply actions

Congrats!

I’m mostly a lurker/reader, and not very talkative, but I do think S@H has the most in-depth and thoughful Sounder/MLS commentary out there.

by Postureduck on Jan 30, 2011 11:59 AM PST reply actions

I think I was the millionth hit...

I win season tickets, right?

by central_scrutinizer on Jan 30, 2011 12:56 PM PST reply actions

Congrats, really.

I only started following pro soccer when the Sounders started. I don’t say much either, but this sight is helping immensely with my understanding of the game. My only critique is that many times the discussion is over my head. But I’m working on it with your help. Thanks.

by central_scrutinizer on Jan 30, 2011 12:59 PM PST up reply actions

Drop into comments and ask questions

We’ll answer them. I’m decent with using other sport metaphors.

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Jan 30, 2011 1:08 PM PST up reply actions

++

Writer participating in the comments section is one of my favorite parts of the site. Congratulations on the milestone. You all are really doing an outstanding job.

by snu on Jan 30, 2011 4:27 PM PST up reply actions

Thanks guys!!

will any of you be traveling down to arizona for part of the sounders trip?

by Sandra_R on Jan 30, 2011 1:00 PM PST reply actions

I don't think so

Would definitely love to go down there, but could no way justify the expense.

Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, North American soccer editor SB Nation and of course follow me on Twitter

by Jeremiah Oshan on Jan 30, 2011 1:15 PM PST up reply actions

haha ok!

any idea yet on who was cut?

i know they landed in arizona already

by Sandra_R on Jan 30, 2011 1:26 PM PST up reply actions

We'll get a report tomorrow

Or so we’ve been promised.

Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, North American soccer editor SB Nation and of course follow me on Twitter

by Jeremiah Oshan on Jan 30, 2011 2:17 PM PST up reply actions

Congratulations!

I’ve been on the east coast for awhile now and don’t get back to Seattle but maybe once or twice a year. I wasn’t really up on what the Sounders were doing until I came across this site.

This site has helped me to follow the Sounders like a real (expatriate) fan, keeping up with the players, finding feeds to watch the matches, putting together the pieces of what makes football strategy.

My ability to be a Sounder was and is facilitated by this awesome site.

Thank you.

by BrooklynPreacher on Jan 30, 2011 4:12 PM PST reply actions

Where in Brooklyn are you?

I used to work at 62nd and new utrecht.

by lysander on Jan 30, 2011 7:54 PM PST up reply actions

This is the best place to discuss Sounders

No where else even comes close. I used to frequent many Sounders sites, but as S@H grew, I found less and less need for the others. I still read them, but this is the only one where I contribute.

I’ve appreciated the addition of other great writers. The staggering quantity of content is matched by its quality, and Dave can’t do it all on his own (like those pre-SBN days; it was great then, too, but a little lonely…). So Jeremiah, Jake, Dizzo, sidereal, thanks for stepping up and continuing to grow S@H.

You’ve built quite a thing here, Dave. And that doesn’t even include the work you’ve done to expand soccer and MLS on SBN. Great work.

How long until you can quit your day job and start talking coffee on OFF?

by Cornchops on Jan 30, 2011 4:36 PM PST reply actions

I think that is a long time away

But if readership explodes, who knows.

Thanks for being one of the first, and sticking with it so long.

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Jan 30, 2011 5:33 PM PST up reply actions

Well done!

by lemonverbena on Jan 30, 2011 6:32 PM PST reply actions

seriously though

I love participating in the matchthreads. My favs for sure!

A sky of blue, a sea of green...(or claret)

by kelliott1527 on Jan 30, 2011 6:38 PM PST reply actions

I'm no help

I’ve become such a fan that I actually haven’t navigated away from the sight in well over 2 months. Not sure how the sight counts views, but I can only imagine I haven’t contributed anywhere near the number of views I would have otherwise. Like everyone else has already stated- well done, here, and in springing up other MLS blogs on SBN.

Also, whats up with Kristen? Gone for good to focus on 7500?

by Little old me on Jan 30, 2011 7:14 PM PST reply actions

*Kirsten

I know better than to mess that particular name up. I’m going to hide now.

by Little old me on Jan 30, 2011 7:15 PM PST up reply actions

7500 to Holte, Seattle.SBN, Sbnation.com/Soccer

Not to mention her real life.

But she still may pop up here on occaission. She, Graham and Aaron are all free to post here whenever they want.

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Jan 30, 2011 7:33 PM PST up reply actions

I love that

there is a villa following in seattle. Makes me feel at home

A sky of blue, a sea of green...(or claret)

by kelliott1527 on Jan 31, 2011 6:46 AM PST up reply actions

curious

How does this rate with other MLS SB nation sites?

by lysander on Jan 30, 2011 7:55 PM PST reply actions

Without revealing too much

We are far and away the heaviest trafficked soccer site on SBN. We’re really hoping to have some people challenging us, though.

Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, North American soccer editor SB Nation and of course follow me on Twitter

by Jeremiah Oshan on Jan 30, 2011 8:06 PM PST up reply actions

And I was first team soccer blog to join SBN

Most have only joined in the last several months

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Jan 30, 2011 8:22 PM PST up reply actions

Dare I ask

Who our closest competitor is for the time being?

by Little old me on Jan 30, 2011 9:06 PM PST up reply actions

you can ask

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Jan 30, 2011 9:17 PM PST up reply actions

Some sites, including S@H, have a SiteMeter at the bottom of the page.

You can find some info there.

I’m not that interested, so I’m not going to look through all of them. However, I couldn’t find a SiteMeter on 86 Forever, and it looks like Black and Red United just passed 154,000 page views. If you want to know more you’ll have to look for yourself.

by Cornchops on Jan 30, 2011 9:52 PM PST up reply actions

Not competitors but collaborators

Sure, are teams are competitive not the field, but one thing I like about SBN is all the soccer bloggers work together on things like the mock draft. I see other authors like denz, Benjamin Massey and Scott Kessler commenting here
regularly.

Likewise, I comment in their blogs along with Dave, Jeremiah and others from SAH. So, if you get a chance, check what the other sites have to offer. :)

by Dizzo on Jan 31, 2011 8:56 AM PST via mobile up reply actions 1 recs

I think it was Ginge

who mentioned once that we get more comments in our matchthreads before the game even starts than Dynamo Theory gets during an entire game.

It’s too bad, because a lot of great writers are devoting a lot of time to these sites. There is much of value there.

How does one go about building traffic, though? I’ve never really thought about it. Beyond word-of-mouth, I mean.

by Cornchops on Jan 30, 2011 9:56 PM PST up reply actions

Content gets noticed.

After a couple years of churning out quality content, word gets around. Other bloggers/writers hear about a site, maybe link an article. People randomly internet search for “Sounders” and this pops up. Lots of ways to build traffic, but the only way to keep traffic is quality content

by jacobcda on Jan 30, 2011 10:53 PM PST up reply actions

We work together sharing best practices

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Dave Clark on Jan 31, 2011 9:27 AM PST up reply actions

One million now

Three million before the end of the season, I’d say, given the growth in the off season. You folks are establishing yourselves pretty solidly in these parts. Good for you!

by PeterJH on Jan 30, 2011 11:16 PM PST via mobile reply actions