RE:Alexa stats

From: Janet Attard <attard_at_businessknowhow.com>
Date: Mon 18 Jun 2001 11:53:07 -0500

PETTERI PYYNY <webmaster_at_afterdawn.com> WROTE:

>with 2 unique users is currently ranked by Alexa to
>be the number 25,000 site in the world in terms of
>traffic... So, sites that have few really active users

LOL, our www.businessknowhow.com usage went up
significantly since last year, and the Alexa rating
went down. We also have our site split between two
different domains on different servers - and because
of that the two have different ratings, even though
it's the same group of visitors. About all I could
find out (from them and/or their site) when I asked why
the rating went down when the numbers shot up, was that
the rating is based on who has Alexa loaded when they
use your site. So if you have a lot of people using a
browser that doesn't have it included (AOL's browser
doesn't for instance - maybe no broswers do? But AOL
is a LOT of users.) So, somehow, I can't imagine
Alexa being terribly accurate for comparing all
internet use - particularly for any sites that might
attract a lot of AOL users.

JUSTIN HITT <Justin.Hitt_at_hittpansophism.com> WROTE:

> It is very difficult to measure changes in audience base
> online.

Actually, it's not if you are talking about just getting
a measure of your own site. A combination of cache
defeating banner management (like you said you use) and
tracking softare along with a good log analyzer can give
you a pretty good idea not only of page views, but visits
and unique visitors. For people who don't have a good
tracking program, or is limited to what the hosting
company provides on shared servers, if you *do* have
a banner management/tracking program this trick works:
create an image (maybe your logo?) or a blank image
and put it on every page on your site once. Assuming
you can set it with cache defeating code, look at the
total number of impressions for that image. That way
you'll have a single stat showing you the number of
users.


Janet Attard, author
- The Home Office and Small Business Answer Book
- Business Know-How: An Operational Guide for Home-Based
  and Micro-Sized Businesses
Start, Grow and Manage Your Business with help from
  Business Know-How(sm)
http://www.businessknowhow.com
email: attard_at_businessknowhow.com



Received on Mon Jun 18 2001 - 11:53:07 CDT