Echo Kicks Off Year With Record Traffic

Online football coverage has helped the Sunderland Echo to record its highest ever Web traffic figures.

This January the Echo’s website was viewed by some 216,000 users, that's more than double the visitor count from the same period in 2007.

Holdthefrontpage.co.uk reports that sport is proving to be the site’s most successful area.

Digital Editor Lee Hall attributed this to a combination of video highlights from the Premiership, “big transfer scoops” and “exclusive player interviews”.

Hall also revealed that it’s onwards and upwards for the Echo as it seeks to enhance the website’s interactive features in 2008.

He said: “We’re looking to introduce more ways to get involved with the website by giving users the chance to submit their own content.

“Expect to see more forums for debate and more community sections as we look to bring the people of Sunderland together online.”