The Taft Independent Newspaper Website - www.Taftindependent.com - has grown to a record 18,259 visitors in the last 30 day period, December 31 to Jan. 31 according to Google Analytics, an internet service that measures website visits.

Taft Independent publisher Michael Long attributed recent website improvements as the reason for the increase.

"We are pleased by the results we are receiving on our small town newspaper website," said Long. "Recent improvements on our website like improved user friendly interface, simplicity, and new video segments that accompany our news stories have enhanced the viewers website experience."

The report shows that average website viewership ranged from 255 visits on Sunday, January 2, 2010 to a high of 1,224 visits on Friday, January 22, 2010. The average is 588 viewers a day.

The Independent publishes and distributes 3,500 printed editions of the paper each week on Fridays. The paper began publishing in July 2006.


"Taft does not have a television or radio station news source of its own, so video has added a whole new dimension to news and feature stories that were unavailable to Taft and West Kern County residents before," Long said.