Tractor Report has seen explosive growth since we launched on July 8th. We recently clocked over 1,900 unique IP addresses accessing our site in a 24-hour span, which is fairly impressive for a site that just recently launched in a niche community. We attribute this success to our commitment to providing constant updates throughout the day, covering a wide variety of topics, and offering a slightly different viewpoint than the old media. We’re the new kids on the block looking to shake up the internet farmscape.
So, are we really a threat to the big boys of ag media? Well, yes and no. Let me explain.
Why we are a threat:
- Instead of writing all of our own content, we link to articles from all sorts of sites around the world, which allows us to be the primary destination for anyone interested in agriculture news.
- Our homepage is updated throughout the day with a smorgasbord of new stories, unlike other sites that remain stale for long periods of time.
- Unlike many big sites, we do not toe any party line, which means we are critical of the various “green” schemes and political power plays.
- We are not sponsored by Bayer, Deere, Syngenta, the USDA, or anyone else, so we can report the news without bias.
- Let’s be honest: some of these “legacy” sites seem stuck in the 1990s. (I know, that’s rich coming from a site based off of a web design from the 90’s, but that’s by choice.)
- We bring just a bit of levity, which is often lacking on other sites.
Why we are not a threat:
- While our success may result in less traffic to the homepages of other sites, we will drive traffic to their good articles.
- We expose our readers to sites they may not have even known existed.
- This is not a zero-sum game; there is enough room for new players. “A rising tide lifts all boats.”
- Writers and editors from other sites can use Tractor Report for inspiration regarding what stories to cover. It appears some already do.
- The introduction of “competition” often forces others to adapt and improve. You’re welcome, guys!
Long story short, we’re not going anywhere (but up), so the legacy media outlets better get used to us. We’re not looking to displace anyone; we actually need them to keep putting out relevant stories.
Finally, we want to thank our dear readers for helping us to get off to a great start. Knowing that you rely on us for your daily ag news inspires us to get up early in the morning and scour the internet for the best headlines. We hope you stay with us as we grow and continue improving.