Technical Note: Spinoff Links Click Counter
Charles Johnson
Wed Jan 16, 2008 at 5:57 pm PST • Views: 188
Several readers suggested that I show how many times the spinoff links are clicked, as another measure of their popularity and/or brilliance and/or enticement factor, so tonight we’re proud to announce that so it is written, so it is done.
In our spinoff links, next to the domain name (on the line right underneath the link) there is now a number in parentheses showing that very statistic: how many lizards, trolls, passersby, and bots have clicked the link with anticipation and/or dread. Thanks to the magic of Ajax, there’s almost no perceptible delay when clicking a link, even though there’s a call to the server and a database update going on. You click, it opens right up in a new window as always. But if you check the number after clicking a link, you’ll see that your click has been counted.
This is a very cool approach to a long-time conundrum: how to count clicked (outgoing) links on a blog. Previous techniques have been kludgy and intrusive. Not to mention annoying, slow, and somewhat alarming. I’m currently plotting how to apply the technique to links within front page posts as well.
Oh. Did somebody say, “Wednesday Night Open Thread?”
Frank says: