A couple years ago the Brady Campaign created a website called wearebetterthanthis.org. As you might expect it was anti-gun and very misleading if not outright lying about the issue. I decided I would “compete” with them in that information space and I purchased wearebetterthanthis.info. I never did anything with it beyond linking to that category on this blog.
Today I was looking at the websites I was hosting and wondered if I should do something with that domain. My impression is the Brady Campaign has been neglecting it after that meme failed. But is there analytic data to support that?
Of course there is. Website popularity is an important part of ecommerce and there are many people trying to quantify this sort of information. Hence I used the free data available from pagerankchecker.com and alexa.com to get my answer. But then I wanted to know more. I ended up building tables of various pro and anti gun websites then sorting them by various measures.
Alexa did not have a US traffic ranking for some sites. In those cases I multiplied the global rank by the average ratio from the sites that did have a US rank and used yellow for the field.
And yes, I checked with three different sources on the Page Rank of everytown.org. It is zero.
| Site | Page Rank | Facebook Likes | Facebook Shares | Total Sites Linking In | Alexa Traffic Rank (Global) | Alexa Traffic Rank (US) |
| bradycampaign.org | 6 | 16040 | 8720 | 1107 | 483844 | 142719 |
| csgv.org | 6 | 2212 | 1111 | 453 | 691027 | 119813 |
| nra.org | 6 | 72 | 805 | 4295 | 80103 | 16963 |
| saf.org | 6 | 1974 | 2865 | 1147 | 1251186 | 176318 |
| alphecca.com | 5 | 44 | 15 | 330 | 736033 | 128713 |
| americansforresponsiblesolutions.org | 5 | 66921 | 50271 | 285 | 300440 | 48213 |
| armsandthelaw.com | 5 | 46 | 112 | 449 | 881622 | 214177 |
| blog.robballen.com | 5 | 8 | 19 | 393 | 2480211 | 602530 |
| booksbikesboomsticks.blogspot.com | 5 | 98 | 128 | 629 | 306927 | 64541 |
| ccrkba.org | 5 | 719 | 1376 | 303 | 3465775 | 841958 |
| gunowners.org | 5 | 4348 | 7521 | 1631 | 290851 | 115772 |
| jpfo.org | 5 | 3863 | 7093 | 1077 | 417306 | 83616 |
| keepandbeararms.com | 5 | 287 | 657 | 506 | 680137 | 133561 |
| momsdemandaction.org | 5 | 7341 | 5624 | 570 | 260599 | 119338 |
| nationalgunrights.org | 5 | 2631 | 8120 | 318 | 1086258 | 263890 |
| nraila.org | 5 | 9488 | 8392 | 2713 | 71316 | 14265 |
| pagunblog.com | 5 | 38 | 69 | 410 | 313540 | 123459 |
| saysuncle.com | 5 | 26 | 46 | 756 | 406108 | 65222 |
| smallestminority.blogspot.com | 5 | 31 | 58 | 566 | 900431 | 186124 |
| vpc.org | 5 | 114 | 303 | 814 | 844055 | 205051 |
| wearebetterthanthis.org | 5 | 8607 | 5307 | 37 | 5568102 | 1352688 |
| blog.joehuffman.org | 4 | 9 | 12 | 291 | 1241731 | 221119 |
| calguns.net | 4 | 557 | 637 | 516 | 18105 | 3428 |
| corneredcat.com | 4 | 981 | 1747 | 370 | 981174 | 210375 |
| twowheeledmadwoman.blogspot.com | 4 | 1 | 6 | 242 | 773819 | 137601 |
| wallsofthecity.net | 4 | 24 | 28 | 283 | 411287 | 106908 |
| weerdworld.com | 4 | 0 | 4 | 226 | 8717717 | 2117840 |
| everytown.org | 0 | 9394 | 5782 | 623 | 41424 | 20777 |
Table 1. Sorted by Page Rank then by site name.
| Site | Page Rank | Facebook Likes | Facebook Shares | Total Sites Linking In | Alexa Traffic Rank (Global) | Alexa Traffic Rank (US) |
| americansforresponsiblesolutions.org | 5 | 66921 | 50271 | 285 | 300440 | 48213 |
| bradycampaign.org | 6 | 16040 | 8720 | 1107 | 483844 | 142719 |
| nraila.org | 5 | 9488 | 8392 | 2713 | 71316 | 14265 |
| everytown.org | 0 | 9394 | 5782 | 623 | 41424 | 20777 |
| wearebetterthanthis.org | 5 | 8607 | 5307 | 37 | 5568102 | 1352688 |
| momsdemandaction.org | 5 | 7341 | 5624 | 570 | 260599 | 119338 |
| gunowners.org | 5 | 4348 | 7521 | 1631 | 290851 | 115772 |
| jpfo.org | 5 | 3863 | 7093 | 1077 | 417306 | 83616 |
| nationalgunrights.org | 5 | 2631 | 8120 | 318 | 1086258 | 263890 |
| csgv.org | 6 | 2212 | 1111 | 453 | 691027 | 119813 |
| saf.org | 6 | 1974 | 2865 | 1147 | 1251186 | 176318 |
| corneredcat.com | 4 | 981 | 1747 | 370 | 981174 | 210375 |
| ccrkba.org | 5 | 719 | 1376 | 303 | 3465775 | 841958 |
| calguns.net | 4 | 557 | 637 | 516 | 18105 | 3428 |
| keepandbeararms.com | 5 | 287 | 657 | 506 | 680137 | 133561 |
| vpc.org | 5 | 114 | 303 | 814 | 844055 | 205051 |
| booksbikesboomsticks.blogspot.com | 5 | 98 | 128 | 629 | 306927 | 64541 |
| nra.org | 6 | 72 | 805 | 4295 | 80103 | 16963 |
| armsandthelaw.com | 5 | 46 | 112 | 449 | 881622 | 214177 |
| alphecca.com | 5 | 44 | 15 | 330 | 736033 | 128713 |
| pagunblog.com | 5 | 38 | 69 | 410 | 313540 | 123459 |
| smallestminority.blogspot.com | 5 | 31 | 58 | 566 | 900431 | 186124 |
| saysuncle.com | 5 | 26 | 46 | 756 | 406108 | 65222 |
| wallsofthecity.net | 4 | 24 | 28 | 283 | 411287 | 106908 |
| blog.joehuffman.org | 4 | 9 | 12 | 291 | 1241731 | 221119 |
| blog.robballen.com | 5 | 8 | 19 | 393 | 2480211 | 602530 |
| twowheeledmadwoman.blogspot.com | 4 | 1 | 6 | 242 | 773819 | 137601 |
| weerdworld.com | 4 | 0 | 4 | 226 | 8717717 | 2117840 |
Table 2. Sorted by Facebook Likes.
| Site | Page Rank | Facebook Likes | Facebook Shares | Total Sites Linking In | Alexa Traffic Rank (Global) | Alexa Traffic Rank (US) |
| americansforresponsiblesolutions.org | 5 | 66921 | 50271 | 285 | 300440 | 48213 |
| bradycampaign.org | 6 | 16040 | 8720 | 1107 | 483844 | 142719 |
| nraila.org | 5 | 9488 | 8392 | 2713 | 71316 | 14265 |
| nationalgunrights.org | 5 | 2631 | 8120 | 318 | 1086258 | 263890 |
| gunowners.org | 5 | 4348 | 7521 | 1631 | 290851 | 115772 |
| jpfo.org | 5 | 3863 | 7093 | 1077 | 417306 | 83616 |
| everytown.org | 0 | 9394 | 5782 | 623 | 41424 | 20777 |
| momsdemandaction.org | 5 | 7341 | 5624 | 570 | 260599 | 119338 |
| wearebetterthanthis.org | 5 | 8607 | 5307 | 37 | 5568102 | 1352688 |
| saf.org | 6 | 1974 | 2865 | 1147 | 1251186 | 176318 |
| corneredcat.com | 4 | 981 | 1747 | 370 | 981174 | 210375 |
| ccrkba.org | 5 | 719 | 1376 | 303 | 3465775 | 841958 |
| csgv.org | 6 | 2212 | 1111 | 453 | 691027 | 119813 |
| nra.org | 6 | 72 | 805 | 4295 | 80103 | 16963 |
| keepandbeararms.com | 5 | 287 | 657 | 506 | 680137 | 133561 |
| calguns.net | 4 | 557 | 637 | 516 | 18105 | 3428 |
| vpc.org | 5 | 114 | 303 | 814 | 844055 | 205051 |
| booksbikesboomsticks.blogspot.com | 5 | 98 | 128 | 629 | 306927 | 64541 |
| armsandthelaw.com | 5 | 46 | 112 | 449 | 881622 | 214177 |
| pagunblog.com | 5 | 38 | 69 | 410 | 313540 | 123459 |
| smallestminority.blogspot.com | 5 | 31 | 58 | 566 | 900431 | 186124 |
| saysuncle.com | 5 | 26 | 46 | 756 | 406108 | 65222 |
| wallsofthecity.net | 4 | 24 | 28 | 283 | 411287 | 106908 |
| blog.robballen.com | 5 | 8 | 19 | 393 | 2480211 | 602530 |
| alphecca.com | 5 | 44 | 15 | 330 | 736033 | 128713 |
| blog.joehuffman.org | 4 | 9 | 12 | 291 | 1241731 | 221119 |
| twowheeledmadwoman.blogspot.com | 4 | 1 | 6 | 242 | 773819 | 137601 |
| weerdworld.com | 4 | 0 | 4 | 226 | 8717717 | 2117840 |
Table 3. Sorted by Facebook Shares.
| Site | Page Rank | Facebook Likes | Facebook Shares | Total Sites Linking In | Alexa Traffic Rank (Global) | Alexa Traffic Rank (US) |
| nra.org | 6 | 72 | 805 | 4295 | 80103 | 16963 |
| nraila.org | 5 | 9488 | 8392 | 2713 | 71316 | 14265 |
| gunowners.org | 5 | 4348 | 7521 | 1631 | 290851 | 115772 |
| saf.org | 6 | 1974 | 2865 | 1147 | 1251186 | 176318 |
| bradycampaign.org | 6 | 16040 | 8720 | 1107 | 483844 | 142719 |
| jpfo.org | 5 | 3863 | 7093 | 1077 | 417306 | 83616 |
| vpc.org | 5 | 114 | 303 | 814 | 844055 | 205051 |
| saysuncle.com | 5 | 26 | 46 | 756 | 406108 | 65222 |
| booksbikesboomsticks.blogspot.com | 5 | 98 | 128 | 629 | 306927 | 64541 |
| everytown.org | 0 | 9394 | 5782 | 623 | 41424 | 20777 |
| momsdemandaction.org | 5 | 7341 | 5624 | 570 | 260599 | 119338 |
| smallestminority.blogspot.com | 5 | 31 | 58 | 566 | 900431 | 186124 |
| calguns.net | 4 | 557 | 637 | 516 | 18105 | 3428 |
| keepandbeararms.com | 5 | 287 | 657 | 506 | 680137 | 133561 |
| csgv.org | 6 | 2212 | 1111 | 453 | 691027 | 119813 |
| armsandthelaw.com | 5 | 46 | 112 | 449 | 881622 | 214177 |
| pagunblog.com | 5 | 38 | 69 | 410 | 313540 | 123459 |
| blog.robballen.com | 5 | 8 | 19 | 393 | 2480211 | 602530 |
| corneredcat.com | 4 | 981 | 1747 | 370 | 981174 | 210375 |
| alphecca.com | 5 | 44 | 15 | 330 | 736033 | 128713 |
| nationalgunrights.org | 5 | 2631 | 8120 | 318 | 1086258 | 263890 |
| ccrkba.org | 5 | 719 | 1376 | 303 | 3465775 | 841958 |
| blog.joehuffman.org | 4 | 9 | 12 | 291 | 1241731 | 221119 |
| americansforresponsiblesolutions.org | 5 | 66921 | 50271 | 285 | 300440 | 48213 |
| wallsofthecity.net | 4 | 24 | 28 | 283 | 411287 | 106908 |
| twowheeledmadwoman.blogspot.com | 4 | 1 | 6 | 242 | 773819 | 137601 |
| weerdworld.com | 4 | 0 | 4 | 226 | 8717717 | 2117840 |
| wearebetterthanthis.org | 5 | 8607 | 5307 | 37 | 5568102 | 1352688 |
Table 4. Sorted by Total Sites Linking In.
| Site | Page Rank | Facebook Likes | Facebook Shares | Total Sites Linking In | Alexa Traffic Rank (Global) | Alexa Traffic Rank (US) |
| calguns.net | 4 | 557 | 637 | 516 | 18105 | 3428 |
| everytown.org | 0 | 9394 | 5782 | 623 | 41424 | 20777 |
| nraila.org | 5 | 9488 | 8392 | 2713 | 71316 | 14265 |
| nra.org | 6 | 72 | 805 | 4295 | 80103 | 16963 |
| momsdemandaction.org | 5 | 7341 | 5624 | 570 | 260599 | 119338 |
| gunowners.org | 5 | 4348 | 7521 | 1631 | 290851 | 115772 |
| americansforresponsiblesolutions.org | 5 | 66921 | 50271 | 285 | 300440 | 48213 |
| booksbikesboomsticks.blogspot.com | 5 | 98 | 128 | 629 | 306927 | 64541 |
| pagunblog.com | 5 | 38 | 69 | 410 | 313540 | 123459 |
| saysuncle.com | 5 | 26 | 46 | 756 | 406108 | 65222 |
| wallsofthecity.net | 4 | 24 | 28 | 283 | 411287 | 106908 |
| jpfo.org | 5 | 3863 | 7093 | 1077 | 417306 | 83616 |
| bradycampaign.org | 6 | 16040 | 8720 | 1107 | 483844 | 142719 |
| keepandbeararms.com | 5 | 287 | 657 | 506 | 680137 | 133561 |
| csgv.org | 6 | 2212 | 1111 | 453 | 691027 | 119813 |
| alphecca.com | 5 | 44 | 15 | 330 | 736033 | 128713 |
| twowheeledmadwoman.blogspot.com | 4 | 1 | 6 | 242 | 773819 | 137601 |
| vpc.org | 5 | 114 | 303 | 814 | 844055 | 205051 |
| armsandthelaw.com | 5 | 46 | 112 | 449 | 881622 | 214177 |
| smallestminority.blogspot.com | 5 | 31 | 58 | 566 | 900431 | 186124 |
| corneredcat.com | 4 | 981 | 1747 | 370 | 981174 | 210375 |
| nationalgunrights.org | 5 | 2631 | 8120 | 318 | 1086258 | 263890 |
| blog.joehuffman.org | 4 | 9 | 12 | 291 | 1241731 | 221119 |
| saf.org | 6 | 1974 | 2865 | 1147 | 1251186 | 176318 |
| blog.robballen.com | 5 | 8 | 19 | 393 | 2480211 | 602530 |
| ccrkba.org | 5 | 719 | 1376 | 303 | 3465775 | 841958 |
| wearebetterthanthis.org | 5 | 8607 | 5307 | 37 | 5568102 | 1352688 |
| weerdworld.com | 4 | 0 | 4 | 226 | 8717717 | 2117840 |
Table 5. Sorted by Alexa Traffic Rank (Global).
| Site | Page Rank | Facebook Likes | Facebook Shares | Total Sites Linking In | Alexa Traffic Rank (Global) | Alexa Traffic Rank (US) |
| calguns.net | 4 | 557 | 637 | 516 | 18105 | 3428 |
| nraila.org | 5 | 9488 | 8392 | 2713 | 71316 | 14265 |
| nra.org | 6 | 72 | 805 | 4295 | 80103 | 16963 |
| everytown.org | 0 | 9394 | 5782 | 623 | 41424 | 20777 |
| americansforresponsiblesolutions.org | 5 | 66921 | 50271 | 285 | 300440 | 48213 |
| booksbikesboomsticks.blogspot.com | 5 | 98 | 128 | 629 | 306927 | 64541 |
| saysuncle.com | 5 | 26 | 46 | 756 | 406108 | 65222 |
| jpfo.org | 5 | 3863 | 7093 | 1077 | 417306 | 83616 |
| wallsofthecity.net | 4 | 24 | 28 | 283 | 411287 | 106908 |
| gunowners.org | 5 | 4348 | 7521 | 1631 | 290851 | 115772 |
| momsdemandaction.org | 5 | 7341 | 5624 | 570 | 260599 | 119338 |
| csgv.org | 6 | 2212 | 1111 | 453 | 691027 | 119813 |
| pagunblog.com | 5 | 38 | 69 | 410 | 313540 | 123459 |
| alphecca.com | 5 | 44 | 15 | 330 | 736033 | 128713 |
| keepandbeararms.com | 5 | 287 | 657 | 506 | 680137 | 133561 |
| twowheeledmadwoman.blogspot.com | 4 | 1 | 6 | 242 | 773819 | 137601 |
| bradycampaign.org | 6 | 16040 | 8720 | 1107 | 483844 | 142719 |
| saf.org | 6 | 1974 | 2865 | 1147 | 1251186 | 176318 |
| smallestminority.blogspot.com | 5 | 31 | 58 | 566 | 900431 | 186124 |
| vpc.org | 5 | 114 | 303 | 814 | 844055 | 205051 |
| corneredcat.com | 4 | 981 | 1747 | 370 | 981174 | 210375 |
| armsandthelaw.com | 5 | 46 | 112 | 449 | 881622 | 214177 |
| blog.joehuffman.org | 4 | 9 | 12 | 291 | 1241731 | 221119 |
| nationalgunrights.org | 5 | 2631 | 8120 | 318 | 1086258 | 263890 |
| blog.robballen.com | 5 | 8 | 19 | 393 | 2480211 | 602530 |
| ccrkba.org | 5 | 719 | 1376 | 303 | 3465775 | 841958 |
| wearebetterthanthis.org | 5 | 8607 | 5307 | 37 | 5568102 | 1352688 |
| weerdworld.com | 4 | 0 | 4 | 226 | 8717717 | 2117840 |
Table 6. Sorted by Alexa Traffic Rank (US).
As you can see there is no point in me doing anything with wearebetterthanthis.info. The areas where I might have hope of success similar to this blog are in traffic and sites linking to it. But they are already pathetic in that regard. So what would be the point? They do have a lot of success with Facebook and Page Rank. But my domain is extremely unlikely to get that much attention from Facebook users and unless they are getting traffic based on it Page Rank does nothing for them.
What I find most interesting is Table 6. This is the Traffic Rank in the US. The pro-gun sites, calguns.net, nra.org and nraila.org dominate. And most of the anti-gun sites are dominated by a few hobbyist bloggers.
Another thing of great interest is how the anti-gun people dominate Facebook. Is this because of the shallow nature (at least I think it is shallow, am I wrong?) of Facebook?
I find SAF’s results a bit of a surprise. They have a lot of incoming links but not all that much traffic. I suspect their link campaign from nearly four years ago was successful but resulting in some distortion of the numbers compared to other organizations.
Any other interesting observations you would like to share about the data?
Are there other websites that I should include?
Update:
Ry suggested ar15.com and Chris from AK suggested appleseedinfo.org. I intended to stay more toward the political side but here they are:
| Site | Page Rank | Facebook Likes | Facebook Shares | Total Sites Linking In | Alexa Traffic Rank (Global) | Alexa Traffic Rank (US) |
| ar15.com | 5 | 589 | 1273 | 1693 | 7254 | 1511 |
| appleseedinfo.org | 4 | 4104 | 5499 | 453 | 1218729 | 296072 |
What about appleseedinfo.org?
My intent was to stick with mostly the political side of the issue. But I’ll do an update with data for appleseedinfo.org and others that have been requested.
Huh. My little site did far better than I would have thought. Beating out MDA, VPC, CSGV, and Brady Campaign on traffic made my day :).
I was surprised too. I wonder how they estimate the traffic…