Today will be different. Today I pull back the curtain and show you what goes on behind the scenes.
Many years ago I wrote several reports like this because readers didn’t seem to understand how this blog was being run. I see from recent comments it’s time to do it again.
First of all, this blog is hosted by Pyramyd AIR. “Hosted” means paid for. It’s their blog, and I do things the way they have asked that they be done. You readers have no idea what running this blog costs, nor should you. This is a place for you to talk about airguns.
Airguns
Airguns are not politics — be they national or corporate. I keep quiet most of the time when several readers start a political discussion, but I do read what they say. If an airgun is made in China, I review it as honestly as I can, but like everyone, I’m human with flaws. So, yes, my personal feelings do creep in to the things I write — probably even more than I am aware.
Pom-poms
When I see something I like, I tend to wax effusive. One example is the Crosman 3622 I am currently reviewing. Another is the Dragonfly Mark II that I finished reviewing a year ago. I feel strongly that both these airguns are high-water marks in their respective fields and I hope the comments I make and the test results I show support it.
Photos
Every photo that can be linked to a product Pyramyd Air sells IS LINKED. It’s been that way since the beginning and as long as I write the blog it will be that way. I’m sorry if you just noticed that, but the blog has been set up that way since 2005. It helps rank the blog on the internet. It’s called Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and it is a big deal in blogland. That’s why this blog always ends up on the first page of a search for the items in question.
SEO companies
There are companies out there who used to have people and today use artificial intelligence to write reports to rank higher with the search engines. Other companies would pay them to help that company rank higher on searches. This practice has long been against the practices of the search engines and they tell people that, but few listen.
I won’t name any names, but in 2004 my wife, Edith, warned a retailer she worked for not to use such a company and they disregarded her. The result was they were kicked off all internet searches for two years! When the company saw what happened they had to admit she was right and asked her to restore them. It took about six months of hard work for that to happen and after that they hired no more SEO companies!
It has gotten better, but let me show you what part of a blog on the Daisy Red Ryder might look like if one of these companies had their way.
“The Daisy Red Ryder is an important airgun because many people like the Daisy Red Ryder and have purchased the Daisy Red Ryder. Daisy Red Ryders are good airguns that many people like. They like to shoot Daisy Red Ryders and to own Daisy Red Ryders.”
Yes — it was just that simple because these companies “felt” that the software that “reads” every internet page would key in on the search term Daisy Red Ryder and consequently rank them higher. As I mentioned Google warned that doing this would result in being kicked off the internet as far as they were concerned but these companies “knew better.” And when I say kicked off the internet what I mean is they would purposely not be “found” when a search for Daisy Red Ryder was entered in that search engine. The pages with the fluff stuff were still posted, but unless you knew the specific addresses where they were, you would never find them. This is the kiss of death for an online catalog company.
Fortunately, the lead programmer at Pyramyd Air understood this perfectly and welcomed my writing and Edith’s advice on cataloging their items. And Pyramyd AIR is the now largest airgun dealer in the world — a success that took less than fifteen years to achieve.
Organic content
This blog is what is known as an “Organic” resource. Yes, products that Pyramyd AIR sells are reviewed but only in the context of actual reports. Products they don’t sell are also reviewed and links to other sources are found in some of the blogs. And, despite what some people think, BB Pelletier is completely at liberty to say what he feels when he reviews a product. I submit my ongoing review of the Black Bunker BM8 Breakbarrel air rifle as proof.
So the photos are linked to product pages when they can be and it’s going to stay that way. I’m not getting in the way of selling airguns and products. Otherwise I would be like the government inspector who pulls up the rose bushes every five days to see how well the roots are growing!
BB’s experience with software
My qualifications for working with software programs are I once contracted with an unnamed government organization that had to acquire and analyze electronic signals in real time and provide reports that were actionable. There was none of this catalog programming with high-order languages. These were machine-level instructions that caused outcomes in near-real-time. Compared to that, working on this blog is a breeze! Yes, I am at the mercy of WordPress and also sometimes at the mercy of the Pyramyd AIR IT team, but people don’t die when we get it wrong! It’s simply an inconvenience.
Last comment
Some of you say you believe I am treating certain airguns unfairly while giving others a more-than-fair chance. What you fail to realize is I write about 1/10 of my actual experience with most airguns. I don’t mention a lot of things because I have been asked to keep this blog short for those who read it on their smart phones. When something is a dud, I keep that assessment to myself, because it is subjective. I tell you what the gun does in testing and allow you to come to your own conclusions. I leave the emotional stuff to the chat forums. Believe me, there are airguns that wouldn’t get as much exposure in this blog as they do if I was doing this personally!
And when I get out the pom-poms, it’s because I see great potential in a product. I don’t do it that often. And I try to tell you why I am so impressed with the product. If you see that as personal bias, then so be it. I’m not going to change. I think a good idea needs to be mentioned and a stupid idea is a stupid idea, no matter how much tinsel it’s wrapped in.
Thanks for the insight!
I would like to thank Joshua Ungier for founding Pyramydair and allowing Tom to write and run this blog as he and Edith envisioned it from the beginning. A place where airguns can be discussed enthusiastically and civilly.
Siraniko
Siraniko
I second your thanks to Mr Ungier. Because I am turned off by advertising typically shown on television I welcome PA advertising as a breath of fresh air. Some of the products are not my cup of tea but are for other folks. I have significant inventory on hand that was delivered from PA.
I have been following this blog for 12 years and look forward to it early every morning.
Deck
B.B.
Maybe you should require people to either read this blog before they are enabled to sign up to post comments, or a similar SOP? Make the check an acceptance box!
I love your reviews! I certainly do not agree all the time, but I totally respect the Godfather’s opinion.
Please keep up the good work!
-Yogi
Yogi,
The way things used to work was I had to read and approve every new registered subscriber. And I could block anyone. Without Edith to help me I was overwhelmed and IT took that requirement away. Now if I have a subscriber who needs to be blocked from making comments I turn it over to IT and they handle it. I have had to do that one time in eight years to get rid of a persistent hacker.
I have spammers because of the blogs popularity but you readers seldome see them because WordPress has a good filtering system.
BB
When I thanked Val and his staff for hosting this blog the other day I sincerely meant it.
When I am researching content for a guest blog that I am not 100% sure of my facts, I do a LOT of research to give everyone facts that can be checked from more than one reputable source.
I can say that I have not encountered an airgun blog hosted by ANY OTHER airgun retailer that has the diversity and the daily readership that this one has, and has had since 2005.
Sure readers have come and gone over the years unfortunately.
Many people read the blog daily, but few of them may actually post comments.
But the interaction between readers has stayed pretty constant.
Pyramyd AIR is here to sell airguns and we help them do that.
We cover a lot of vintage airguns here, and Pyramyd AIR lets us.
Do they sell vintage airguns?, No they don’t but they still let the content roll.
Do you think another airgun retailer would let us discuss firearms like the Ounce pistol, 1873 Trapdoor Springfield rifles or muzzleloaders?
Probably not.
I have seen some online places where you are allowed to discuss ONLY brands of airguns that they sell!
But not ones that they do not carry.
I will say it again, Thank you for all that you do for the airgun community!
I am glad to be a small part of it, and contribute my experiences and knowledge so that others may learn from my mistakes..
Ian
Amen!!!!
Ian, once again you state what I am think much more eloquently that I do. Thank you!
Yes, this blog is a treasure.
-Y
We are fortunate to have this blog. It is a very valuable resource for learning about more than just Airguns and related products. The “teach me how to shoot” articles are just one example. Plus the reader’s comments often add more valuable information. So, thanks to all who contribute and to those who make this possible.
Well, pooky. This old curmudgeon gets out of hand every once in a while. I am just thankful that most of you tolerate it when I do and give me a gentle nudge now and then to get me back in line.
I can say that I am not happy with some of the changes that have happened with this site because of PAIR, but they are paying for it so I guess they can do what they want. I am just thankful they give old curmudgeons such as myself a place where I can express my opinions concerning such things as long as I stay somewhat civil.
I am personally enamored with airguns, much to Mrs. RR’s regret. I do enjoy the blogs about the new ones though I am more than likely to acquire one of the “old gals” for myself. Every once in a great while a new one will come to stay at RRHFWA, but most often only for a time. There are a couple here now that are looking for someplace else to live.
Thanks to PAIR for hosting this mess and thanks to BB for sharing his 1/10th of his experiences with airguns.
This blog was instrumental in getting FM to once again stick his toes in airgun waters – Warning: keep water away from your airguns – and then plunge in; and yes he has bought goodies from PA thanks to knowledge and recommendations gleaned from this site; no regrets! Hope and pray PA, Tom, the blog and the rest of us keep on rolling – and shooting – for a loooong time.
RR,
With all due respect, funny but inappropriate here. Have a good day
RR
Thank you!
I needed that this morning.
Well, I left out the fact that this is a family-friendly blog, and I see now that was a mistake. I trash anything a father or mother can’t or shouldn’t read to their kids. If it happens too often I have the person who posted the inappropriate comment blocked from making comments.
BB
Once upon a time, when FM blogged, he did not hesitate to moderate comments strictly and bar trolls from commenting, which is as it should be. Your blog, your rules.
I’ve been a bad boy.
BB,
I very much appreciate your blog and I also visit it every day. I must say too, though, that as much as I learn from you I also learn from those posting comments. You have some savvy and experienced readers. I guess that is a reflection on the quality of your blog.
Keep it up!
And a big thanks.
MiTurn
MiTurn,
I learn from the readers, too!
BB
BB, Val, and Esteemed Readership,
Grumble, Grumble, Grumble!
Nothing is perfect.
I must remember that more often.
I must also confess that shootski is far from perfect.
I want to thank ALL of you for allowing me to be part of this group…this family of airgunners.
shootski
I waited until I had read the rest of the comments before I posted, mostly to keep from being repetitive. Fat chance. Everyone else has said most of what I would have.
I guess it would be simpler for me to just tell you how much this blog means to me. I, too, read it every day, tho not an early bird so my responses are often many hours after a topic has aired.
Like RR, I am old and my “ways” are a bit slow to change. I feel honored to be able to say whatever I like as long as it is airgun related and reasonably civil,,, tho I have been cuffed once or twice by BB for overstepping. That is as it should be.
But the main reason I come here is only partly airgun driven. It is even more because of the way the information is given. BB,, you are a good story teller. I firmly believe that there can be no higher tribute to any author or writer. I would still be reading this blog if it were sponsored by a drain cleaning service if it was BB writing it.
As for the commenters,, they are like no others , in no small part to the proper shepherding received here. They are all like a family to me. I miss all that have left and appreciate those who stay.
Thank you all for being who you are,, and doing it well.
Ed
edlee,
Thank you. Saying I’m a good storyteller means a lot to me because I have just finished my first novel and am now searching for a publisher.
BB
Self-publishing an option, BB? But since FM don’t know nothin’ about that, treat that as a likely very impractical suggestion. In any case, please keep us posted about your latest venture in writing and publishing.
Basil,
Yes, self-publishing (also known as vanity press) is an option. I may have to go that way.
BB
BB,
Stress to any potential publisher that you have 10s of thousands of loyal fans who are obviously literate, since you run a ‘Blog” and not a “Vlog”. I’d buy a copy.
Half
Well said, Ed!
All,
I am in agreement with the previous commenters about this blog being one of my daily requirements. Honest information, presented in a cogent manner, seems to be a rare commodity online. This blog has a consistent presentation of information that does not come from fantasy land.
Sometimes, I wish that some of my preconceived notions were born out by BB’s testing but he calls it as he tests it. I have purchased several items that have had positive reviews (foremost among them, an Avenger) and have forgone buying some items that did not received good reviews.
The depth of knowledge among the readers can also be encyclopedic. My respect goes out to them.
Thank you, Tom!
And thank you to all that contribute to the blog.
Bill
I’m late as usual, but “better late than never”! I have stated my feelings about this Blog, B.B., Edith, and the readership many times before. I join the chorus.
I found this blog while researching my first airgun purchase since childhood, and immediately dove into the deep end. I have read a good portion of the reports and got to feel as though I personally knew B.B. and Edith and the “regulars.” What other blog can make a grown man weep when he finds out a complete stranger passed to the next life, even though it all happened a while back. And what other blog offers to teach so much about airguns, and all the rest. One can never stop learning while reading this blog and what a treasure it is to research the old reports and comments. I hope this blog will be archived forever as a resource.
I never noticed before that most images with a connection to a product sold by P.A.I.R. link to that product. I don’t have a problem with that. I’m sure IT will figure out the recent broken links issue. Having written a couple of guest blogs, I’m in awe and very thankful to B.B. (an Ian) who can really give us the goods on a regular basis, and to P.A.I.R. for letting us lurk here.
In a perfect world BB would be able to review a new airgun every other day. Unfortunately, we do not live in one, but BB does an outstanding job of filling in the blanks and keeping us interested and involved with air gun related topics and history.
I for one find these related topics to be a good opportunity to get involved and submit comments. When not speaking from experience, I would like to believe my comments are not always one sided for good or bad. I try to look into the subject and comment to both where appropriate.
Also, I think it is here where we comment on our personal experience and get to know one another.
A meeting place for Air Gunners to discuss topics we are all interested in, share information and what we have in common. Readers who are here every day probably comment more than they do with distant family.
We are lucky to have Tom Gaylord and all the pros at PyramydAir in the right place at the right time for a great air gun and now outdoor experience. It all works well. Thanks!
BB
I learned a lot from this particular blog entry, as I do from most all that you publish. It’s an invaluable resource for me and, as should be obvious now, many others. Just keep doing what you do and we’ll all just have to adapt to the method, just like grownups used to do without thinking much of it, back in “the old days”.
Is there any chance that you, or maybe one of the guest bloggers, could write an entry on how to write and submit a blog. What software is involved, size limits and other restrictions, the submission process, etc. The more detail the better, for my part. Maybe there isn’t enough interest out here to make it worthwhile, but it is a subject I would like more insight into.
Half.
Half,
Not a bad idea! 45Bravo could write that guest blog because I have shown him things that nobody else knows.
Thanks,
BB
Senor B.B.,
Thank you for all that you do.
I think I wrote that Daisy Red Ryder report back in the third grade.
In the words of a very wise man
May we all “live long and prosper.”
Or
Peace and long life to us all.