Thanks to everyone for participating in the readership survey. I received 493 responses in 12 hours, which I would estimate means that about half or slightly more than half of the readers who visited during that time window responded.
By way of background, I plunked down $19.95 for the survey because I have mixed views about whether it makes sense to keep up this blog. I enjoy it, but it often takes up several hours a day; I wonder if I should be blogging less and doing other things more. I figure that I can’t answer that unless I know who is reading.
In any event, enough navel gazing. Here are the results of the survey:
1. Who are you?
24.5% Law Student
7.1% Law Professor
21.3% Private Firm Lawyer
18.1% Goverment Lawyer
7.9% Some Other Kind of Lawyer
0.2% Judge
24.1% Non-Lawyer
2. How Often Do You Read OrinKerr.com?
20.1% I visit more than once a day.
35.5% I visit about once a day.
23.1% I visit less than once a day, but more than once a week.
5.1% I visit once a week, or less often than that.
15.6% I read the site through an RSS feed.
0.6% Other (please specify)
3. Do you read the Volokh Conspiracy (aka the VC)?
30.5% I visit the VC more than once a day.
27.4% I visit the VC about once a day.
23.8% I visit the VC once in a while.
12.4% I receive an RSS feed of the VC.
6.9% I never or rarely read the VC.
4. If I stopped blogging at OrinKerr.com, and returned to blogging at the Volokh Conspiracy, what would your reaction be?
4.1% I would be very happy.
5.9% I would be a little bit happy.
26.8% I really wouldn’t care.
44.3% I would be a little unhappy.
14.4% I would be very unhappy.
8.3% Other (please specify)
5. Have you ever left a comment at OrinKerr.com?
29.1% Yes
70.9% No
6. Do you prefer this blog’s moderated comment section, or would an open comment section be preferable?
74.3% Keep it moderated
17.6% Open it up
10% Other (please specify)
I also received 142 written comments, which were quite helpful. Oh, and I’ll keep the survey open for a few days if anyone who hasn’t filled it out yet would like to do so.
I too have often wondered whether I should be blogging less and doing other things more. However, I’ve come to the conclusion that blogging helps me stay informed about current events and when it comes to the law, it helps me learn and analyze more so than I would if I just simply read a court case. Readers often turn to law professors’ blogs like yours for clarification and insight on legal events, so you’re performing a great service by providing e-office hours. Imagine is Albert Einstein had a blog! I hope you keep the blog.
Analysis of the Kerr poll:
Question 1: Who are you?
Translation: How important is it to reach the people reading this blog?
Answer: 75% lawyers, law students, and one judge; good audience.
Question 2: How often do you read?
Translation: How much pressure is there to update this daily?
Answer: 70% read daily or more often. Should probably post daily; something substantive at least every other day; moderate pressure.
Question 3: Do you read VC?
Translation: Will I lose audience if I go back there?
Answer: 90%+ read VC at least occasionally, but only 20% are >daily visitors (who aren’t likely to miss Kerr posts among the rest)
Question 4: How would you react if I went back to VC?
Translation: none needed.
Answer: Almost 60% wouldn’t like it (wow!)
Conclusion: Stay the course, and keep moderating the comments (which just happens to coincide with my own personal preferences)
Pingback: OrinKerr.com » August Solo Blog Hiatus
Pingback: The Volokh Conspiracy