Ed Niedermeyer is probably too humble to say it, so it’s left for me to say: TTAC has been doing exceptionally well over the last few months. Thank you.
Yesterday was another record day: 122,000 views. Thank you, Jack Baruth for having written the 2011 Mustang review. It pulled in readers in droves. (Today’s Mustang GT review is developing into another scorcher. And thank you, Ford, for making the cars available.) Thank you, Paul, for writing another classic curbside classic about the Honda Prelude, and about the illicit substances you had sworn to keep away from your son. Thank you, Paul, for writing the runner-up traffic generator, about Honda’s high-revving, mid-engined whacky pick-up.
As you see, the most read topics on Thetruthaboutcars.com are as eclectic as our readers. Which brings me to the secret of TTAC’s success:
You.
You, the Best & Brightest come back, again, and again, and again. It’s not Google that brings us the most traffic, not the many links in other blogs that, well, get inspired by our stories. Most of our readers check in every day, sometimes several times a day to see what’s going on, and to keep the lively – and sometimes controversial – discussions going. Thank you.
Last November, we had 1.5m views a month. This March, we had a million more with 2.5m views (and March has still a few hours to go.)
Thank you. You make us strong. And you make us proud.
You may also have noticed that advertising is back in a big way. Be proud of it. The way the Internet works, a lot of advertising on a site is a sign of a lot of success. Nobody makes a lot of money with TTAC, but the advertising money generated helps us create even better content for even more visits by even more of our Best & Brightest.
Thank you, dankeschön, merci beaucoup,xie xie,domo arigatou, kiitos, momapsumnida, molto grazie, etc. Thank you for being where you are: Here, at Thetruthaboutcars,com
That’s good to hear, but I’ll carry on reading Autoblog.
Many thanks! :O)
… she was such a charming lady while she was here
I think that Autoblog, Jalopnik and TTAC have pretty much replaced Road & Track, Car & Driver, Motor Trend and Autoweek as sources of info for car enthusiasts, while also edging into Ward’s, Edmund’s and Automotive News’ territory in terms of covering the industry/business.
I still read AB, Jalop and TTAC every day. AB for straight news, Jalop for the deep car guy stuff with an attitude and TTAC for the straight dope. I started reading Left Lane News because of Baruth, but though they’re probably more complete than AB, there’s something about their format that puts me off.
I will say, though, that one area where the online car sites don’t really hold a candle to the buff books is photography. Most of the popular car sites seem to be text centric. Yeah there are galleries, but it’s not the same as a two page spread.
Reading Autoblog is OK, but reading their comments causes loss of IQ points.
Keep up the great work!
CONGRATS! Now where’s that new logo?
Hear! Hear!
No, thank you.
Thanks for the past 3 years of reading…only wish I would have found the site sooner. Still miss RF, and his wit!
+1. Thank you, Robert, for giving birth to this site. You’ve provided a great source of enjoyment to many.
Yee Haw Drinks for everyone!!
This post is just one (significant) reason why I continue to love this site. Thank you.
I’m glad TTAC is healthy. Although I miss RF.
Any chance TTAC could bring back other ex-TTAC writers for a piece or 2 for a change of pace? Frank Williams & Johnny Leiberman come to mind…
I agree. I read all three major car blogs, TTAC, Autoblog, and Jalopnik, and the diaspora of former TTAC writers to those blogs improved their quality noticeably.
For those who miss RF, he started a new blog, The Truth About Guns for those so inclined. It is a shame he is (hopefully just) taking a break from writing about cars, his review of the B9 Tribeca and its flying vagina nose brought me to this site.
Mike, thanks for the tip about RF’s new site.
RF has a few other sites out there too. Leiberman and Berkowitz have moved on to other sites now.
Job well done! A huge improvement since the management change in November; still hip and current without being so caustic.
Keep up the good work!
I agree. RF was certainly an intelligent and top notch writer, but a little too cynical and sarcastic for me – just my opinion. The Neidemeyers are more civil, seem more fun loving, and certainly love cars. Their passion for cars show in their posts. I truly enjoy reading TTAC during breaks, etc.
I concur. While I always liked TTAC before, anytime I suggested it to fellow car buffs I always had to throw in a bit of a warning about the tone in regard to certain issues. I must give RF credit though, for keeping the commenting free from the useless crap that makes Youtube comments worthless. The “new” TTAC has all that was great about the original, but with much less of the bad. Just my opinion. Now, I could convince the staff to dedicate less space to product reviews (which languish for months) and to keep the open topics on the right side banner for another day (or two) that would be great. Keep up the good work!!
I checked RF new site The Truth About Guns…saw some banned TTAC posters over there!! Not really my cup of tea, but my hardcore Libertarian friend loved the tip. Good luck RF!
I
I always check, everyday. Many times during the day since about 4 years ago.
What a nice thing to say.
Just for that, I click on you F%*&-ing ads!
It probably won’t generate much, but since I’ve been adding my 2 cents to this site in writing, …
Though TTAC’s dynamic shifted with the change in management, I still enjoy the site daily and commend the Niedermeyers and their team for the success and energy TTAC maintains. There were a lot of people saying the Farago’s departure should have signaled the first TTAC Death Watch. I didn’t know what to think, but I’m glad you’ve proved the naysayers wrong.
TTAC combines factual information with op-ed commentary in a very refreshing and upstanding manner. There is never any question which is which.
IMHO, no other automotive site has this level of balance. Well done.
I miss Robert Farago’s writing. And the new logo and website design put me off for a while.
But I am a fan. Great job, everyone.
My only concern is that the redesign lost a few regular B&B posters and contributors (Wilkinson, Pch), which was always a draw for me, personally.
And yes, the new logo’s kind of inelegant. Actually, no, it’s really inelegant and bordering on cheesy, but hey, if that’s all I can drum up, it’s not too bad.
Glad we did not lose you, psahjinian. Always enjoy your posts.
“And thank you, Ford, for making the cars available”
Ford has apparently rediscovered that ‘Fortune favors the brave’.
This site is the place to be for cutting edge automobile discussion. Thanks for all of your hard work!
Bertel, I think you nailed it. It’s the eclectic mix that has me checking in a few times a day. It’s the no-holds-barred reviews, writing, and the posted replies. Keep doing what you’re doing. Thank you for TTAC, guys!
Congrats. FWIW, I check the site several times a day and have recommended it to many people. I love the wit and humour. Keep it up.
Congratulations on a job well done.
I’m very glad this site has grown in popularity as I am one who makes sure I visit regularly. I enjoy the Curbside Classics and many of the other reports. Its very informative and enjoyable to read.
Keep up the good work.
Thank you
I started back around GM Death watch #8. It has been fun. Good work, Ed, and Paul, and Bertel. RF — I still love you.
Folks — click on RFs Icon above and visit his new site.
You may also have noticed that advertising is back in a big way. Be proud of it. The way the Internet works, a lot of advertising on a site is a sign of a lot of success. Nobody makes a lot of money with TTAC, but the advertising money generated helps us create even better content for even more visits by even more of our Best & Brightest.
Yes, the ad revenue is much appreciated by the contributors. That period when the corporate overlords cut the editorial budget kinda sucked. Now if we can only get the overlords to speed up their checkwriting, things would be copacetic.
BTW, it’d probably be a nice token of gratitude if the Best & Brightest threw some clicks at Farago’s new site, The Truth About Guns. Disclaimer: Robert ran a story I wrote about an orthodox Jewish gun dealer in Nashville.
De nada, de nada. Obrigado a vocês!