
Thanks to a website called bizinfo.com (click here), we now have an answer to all of your questions about those big blog bucks. And if you are a Tattler reader, the news is sweet indeed.
Now this is not to say any of the sites listed below are currently on the market and for sale. Though I suspect that for a couple of them at least you could probably assume ownership for a couple bottles of fairly decent wine and the hour of your time that it would take to listen to the owners' life stories.
On the other hand, perhaps Arianna Huffington style riches await those at the top of the Sierra Madre blog food chain? You know, when AOL finally wakes up to the fact that schmaltz journalism gives most people a headache, and they decide to go with a politically edgier fare, maybe they'll make a big play for The Tattler. But I can promise you this, unlike the doyenne of the Huffington Post, we will not sell out.
Enough of that. Here is how bizinfo.com ranks Sierra Madre's 6 most notable news sites. They are ranked by their market value, with the biggest numbers at the top.
#1) Sierra Madre Tattler: Website value $23,401.76 ---- United States rank 196,992
#2) City of Sierra Madre.com: Website value $17,765.58 ---- United States rank 224,163
#3) Sierra Madre News.net: Website value $10,490.29 ---- United States rank 339,713
#4) Sierra Madre Weekly.com: Website value $6,883.94 ---- No rank.
#5) Mountain Views News.com: Website value $1,181.88 ---- No rank.
#6) Sierra Madre Patch: Website value $1,155.70 ---- No rank.
Interesting how this has all broken down. And there is nothing like dollar figures to put things into a perspective that everyone can understand. Of course, and just to let you know how the competition shapes up at the top of the line, Google comes in at $9.48 billion website value, Facebook at $7.19 billion, and little old Yahoo straggles in at a mere $6.14 billion. So we do have a ways to go.
"AOL's future really does depend on Patch"
Despite the shocking news from bizinfo.com about the exceedingly low market valuation of its Sierra Madre property, according to the latest from a report on SFGATE.com ("AOL BOMBSHELL: Here's All The Juicy Stuff"), the future of AOL apparently does hinge upon the success of Patch.
Which is pretty mind boggling when you think about it. As we have reported previously, AOL lost $40 million on Patch in the first quarter of this year (click here), with similar losses projected for the next 3 quarters as well. With means it takes an average of $50,000 a quarter to keep each of the 800 Patches afloat, or $16,667 a month per site.
That seems like a lot of money to spend on sites that feature articles about Gymboree and where to get special deals on home care and beauty products.
So anyway, here is the latest AOL/Patch gossip according to SFGate.com:
Arianna is in it for herself. Bercovici (Forbes) says she is "somebody who has demonstrated that she puts her own interest ahead of those of her partners."
Ex-Huffpo ad boss Greg Coleman says Arianna can't be managed. He tells Bertovici "I know Arianna very well. She wanted three things: a big bag of gold, a big fat contract, and unilateral decision making over her world. And that is where you're going to have some problems. Arianna hates to be managed."
Parts of the HuffPo board didn't want to sell, but Arianna forced it through. "Our goal was an IPO rather than building up the company to be acquired by another media company," HuffPo investor, board member, and VC Fred Harman told Bertovici. "Even when Tim (Armstrong) put a preemptive offer on the table, (Huffington Post CEO) Eric (Hippeau) and I were still inclined to roll forward as an independent company out of the belief that The Huffington Post could continue to rapidly scale and be the dominant social news company on the Web," Harman says.
Armstrong tried to poach Arianna before buying HuffPo.
AOL's future really does depend on Patch. "(Tim Armstrong) has plenty of time, from an investor standpoint, to turn this thing around," Clayton Moran of the Benchmark Group told Forbes. "It'll really depend on the success or failure of Patch."
Tim is a flip-flopper, says an insider. "You make a case and he listens to the facts to make a determination. Then somebody else speaks and 20 minutes later he changes his mind," an insider told Forbes. "So you'd better be the person who goes down the elevator with him at the end of the day."
AOL's sales org is still a mess, and it's Jeff Levick's fault. "(Last quarter's) 4% ad revenue growth is a start," an exec who just quit AOL told Bercovici. "The question is, can you drive that thing much higher? I don't think they can with the advertising team they have now."
We here at The Tattler will continue to bring you all the latest news on the delightfully dysfunctional goings-on at AOL/Patch. As a reality show it's kind of like the Kardashians, but without all the pool parties.
http://sierramadretattler.blogspot.com
Time for a Tattler IPO.
ReplyDeleteYou fail to note that besides reprinting city press releases the Patch also advises Sierra Madre residents on how to euthanize their lawns to save water. Global warming - excuse me, climate change - be damned. Next up, an article on how to kill Fido to combat world hunger.
Moderator- I think you need to start merchandizing. T-shirts, coffee mugs, tote bags, bumper stickers, refrigerator magnets, a whole array of fine Tattler products awaits you. And a second website called The Tattler Store. Complete with an 800 number so that customers can order the products they need from friendly people who "are standing by to assist you."
ReplyDeleteI guess that is why the City of Sierra Madre is designing a new website. They have fallen behind and they know it will take a new look to make up that lost ground.
ReplyDeleteI did a city by city website serach for a Sierra Club project for my assigned area of half of San Bernadino County. Sierra Madre's website was sadly poorly designed compared to many I saw. Barstow's was easier to navigate.
ReplyDeleteThe new one the City of SM is working on is much more showy and personality driven. Designed to attract traffic is my guess. But it will also allow you to pay your utility bills on line. Which is a feature the other sites in Sierra Madre won't have.
ReplyDeleteThe staff can't even find their own stuff. When you call the City for help finding a document, they can't find it either. They have to call you back. LOL
ReplyDeleteCongrats Sir Eric,
ReplyDeleteWe always knew you were the most read news source in the City.
According to bizinfo.com Susan's site is getting fewer than 10 hits a day. Also Mr. Moderator you missed a site. JoeMosca.com is valued at $1,300, which puts it at #5.
ReplyDeleteI will not go to Mr. Mosca's website - if ever there were a site that wanted to keep tabs on who checks it out, that would be it - so can somebody tell me, what on Earth could possible be on that site? A smilin' Joe? Pictures from a parade? Lots of balloons?
ReplyDeleteBut Tattler, unlike Patch, the Kardashians make money.
ReplyDeleteGood point, 9:12. Plus a lot of people find them interesting.
ReplyDeleteAre you sure 9:14 that 'interesting' is the word you want to us to describe the Kardashians?
ReplyDeleteHow about infantile?
How about Anna Nicole Smith without the zombie inducing drugs?
How about mindless life forms that are the human equivalent of puppies?
By the year 2015, the population could increase to a theoretical capacity of 23,212.
ReplyDeleteSierra Madre Tattler: Website value $23,401.
2+3=5
2+1+2=5
4+0+1=5
Prediction: Mosca's lies will be featured by Patch.
Yeah, but 9:17! I said "a lot of people find them interesting." To me that stuff is like watching paint dry, or the Gang of 4 talking about what they did for the last 2 weeks of their lives.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteDon't think we need to go there.
ReplyDeleteNeuroblast Films
ReplyDeleteTotal Upload Views:12,790
Thanks to all Tattlers!
Here is another one you missed. sierramadrechamber.com -- value is $7,449.69. Put it one notch ahead of the Sierra Madre Weakling.
ReplyDeleteSierra Madre Woman's Club www.smwc.info - $1,010.72
ReplyDeleteSierra Madre Playhouse www.sierramadreplayhouse.org - $4,320.83
Twitter your privates...sell "ED" drugs in the rainforest a la 2 bathtubs...secure a lower voice for "ram trucks"...Hickabee encouraging to vote twice...the 00portunities are endless. Start "dumbing down" the Tattler...make money! Who Cares? We Do! The Tattler Readers. :)
ReplyDeleteDumbing down hasn't worked for the Patch.
ReplyDeleteThe Tattler is the biggest blog in this little town because whether you agree with what is written or not, there can be no doubts about the intentions and integrity of the man who writes it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being a trustworthy and honorable source of information and opinions about our community.
The Tattler is an oasis of truth surrounded by a desert of dishonesty.
ReplyDeleteExpecting AOL to succeed on the strength of Patch is like expecting a teacup poodle to do well at the dog park....
ReplyDeletePatch is utterly mindless. If that is what AOL's research has told them the American people want from a website, then God help the United States.
ReplyDeleteYou got fail!
ReplyDeleteJust drove by the old SNF site. Looks like things may be starting to happen. Must be at least 15 contractor's trucks in front. They are taking up all the street parking on both sides of the street. Just a preview of what is to come. Better be careful of what you wish for.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting news, but not a surprise. Maybe in actual dollar figures, but relatively speaking, we all knew that half of those sites were pretty close to worthless.
ReplyDeleteWonder if they'll put the guys on the bus bench looking for a job to work?
ReplyDeleteSeeing how the parties developing the site are private businesses and not the city, they will hire for cost and not who they are connected with.
ReplyDelete'Splain something to me john, are you the only admin on this blog who can post comments?, if so, why is it that you retract postings that you allow to be posted? Or is it that you allow someone else to act as admin and they have different sensibilities than you and you have to edit the editor, a bit scitso don't.you think? Worth is totally subjective...true worth of anything comes down took what a willing buyer is willing to spend and a willing seller is willing to accept...period, everything else is pure speculation..nice try though!
ReplyDeleteThe Poway developer of the SNF said he wants to work with the community, so speak up, anyone. Hold him to his word. We have rights, and we have the law of Measure V to dictate what happens there. The days of an uninformed and unprotected citizenry are over. At least in some parts of town.
ReplyDelete4:21 - just my way of reminding people that the idiots are still out there. That's all.
ReplyDeleteIt is always odd to see the posts that focus on a pseudo analysis of the Tattler's errors in administration. The "Nah nah nah nah nah" flavor of them kind of overwhelms any rational point they might be waddling towards....though there seems to be a real effort, they don't really bring anything of substance to the discussion.
ReplyDeleteI know that sometimes I have contacted the Tattler to request that a post be removed.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for listening to those complaints when I make them!
I try not to be provoked by the idiots. Moderation is an art and highly subjective at that. Thanks Tattlers for making my job fun! I love you all.
ReplyDeleteRight back at you Modette.
ReplyDelete