Comments on: The Problem with Alexa http://molecularvoices.molecular.com/2007/the-problem-with-alexa/ where conversation and digital minds meet Tue, 24 Aug 2010 05:05:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: Mark Regan http://molecularvoices.molecular.com/2007/the-problem-with-alexa/comment-page-1/#comment-3483 Mark Regan Sun, 17 Aug 2008 15:36:33 +0000 http://blog.molecular.com/2007/the-problem-with-alexa/#comment-3483 The fact that Microsoft includes it in Internet Explorer and refuses to allow an opt out or removal or uninstall function is enough for me to declare it persona non grata on my computer. I will get all Microsoft products OFF my computer if this is the way they treat their customers. If Microsoft and Alexa have a product that will benefit their users, they should fully disclose their products and allow their customers to choose which products they desire to install on the personal computers THEY, THE CUSTOMER, own. For some reason, Microsoft believes that if you use SOME of their software, that you are obligated for the rest of your life to cede to them all further control over your computer software. WRONG! Ditch Microsoft and their nefarious, unethical, illegal business practices and load Linux instead, and be truly free of imperialistic and monopolistic business practices and subversive technologies. The fact that Microsoft includes it in Internet Explorer and refuses to allow an opt out or removal or uninstall function is enough for me to declare it persona non grata on my computer. I will get all Microsoft products OFF my computer if this is the way they treat their customers. If Microsoft and Alexa have a product that will benefit their users, they should fully disclose their products and allow their customers to choose which products they desire to install on the personal computers THEY, THE CUSTOMER, own. For some reason, Microsoft believes that if you use SOME of their software, that you are obligated for the rest of your life to cede to them all further control over your computer software. WRONG! Ditch Microsoft and their nefarious, unethical, illegal business practices and load Linux instead, and be truly free of imperialistic and monopolistic business practices and subversive technologies. ]]> By: Paul Irish http://molecularvoices.molecular.com/2007/the-problem-with-alexa/comment-page-1/#comment-84 Paul Irish Mon, 23 Jul 2007 18:03:54 +0000 http://blog.molecular.com/2007/the-problem-with-alexa/#comment-84 I think most people who care about website stats recognize the horrible statistical inaccuracies of Alexa's data. ComScore and Neilsen NetRatings seem to be the only leaders, however they're not free, so their data isn't as widely referenced. As <a href="http://machinist.salon.com/blog/2007/07/11/nielsen_ratings/" rel="nofollow">Neilsen just announced their dropping page views for time spent</a>, ComScore is now standing looking very dated. This is the right direction, but these measurement companies still can't account for the fact that information isn't consumed on the website that created it. RSS feeds throw a huge wrench in the machine. Don't expect to have credible or accurate numbers anytime soon. I think most people who care about website stats recognize the horrible statistical inaccuracies of Alexa’s data.
ComScore and Neilsen NetRatings seem to be the only leaders, however they’re not free, so their data isn’t as widely referenced.

As Neilsen just announced their dropping page views for time spent, ComScore is now standing looking very dated. This is the right direction, but these measurement companies still can’t account for the fact that information isn’t consumed on the website that created it. RSS feeds throw a huge wrench in the machine.

Don’t expect to have credible or accurate numbers anytime soon.

]]> By: Yuval Zukerman http://molecularvoices.molecular.com/2007/the-problem-with-alexa/comment-page-1/#comment-83 Yuval Zukerman Mon, 23 Jul 2007 17:56:46 +0000 http://blog.molecular.com/2007/the-problem-with-alexa/#comment-83 Alexa is free hence people care about what Alexa has to say. That is about all of the positives I can say about Alexa. It is not that difficult to have a bank of computers, all installed with Alexa's fabulous toolbar in some third-world country, all clicking along boosting the site of your choice. Masking the location of the users too, is not that big of a problem. Furthermore, Alexa claims to know what people in every country sorta do online. I am sure lots of people in China or Malaysia, for that matter, just rush to install the Alexa toolbar for all of its enormous benefits. What is a bigger issue is the fact that other ranking and traffic services, like Cambridge's own Compete (which pays users for spying on them) to market leader comScore NetMetrix - all do the same thing using toolbars and other similar tools. Furthermore, these being American firms with relatively light global presence, they care more about US-based sites as well as English speaking populations. For real information, feet on the ground must be present, in at this point on Nielsen has those to provide credible information regarding sites on a national level. In short, Alexa is awful; Compete is almost as awful. Nielsen at least knows what's happening. Alexa is free hence people care about what Alexa has to say. That is about all of the positives I can say about Alexa. It is not that difficult to have a bank of computers, all installed with Alexa’s fabulous toolbar in some third-world country, all clicking along boosting the site of your choice. Masking the location of the users too, is not that big of a problem. Furthermore, Alexa claims to know what people in every country sorta do online. I am sure lots of people in China or Malaysia, for that matter, just rush to install the Alexa toolbar for all of its enormous benefits.

What is a bigger issue is the fact that other ranking and traffic services, like Cambridge’s own Compete (which pays users for spying on them) to market leader comScore NetMetrix – all do the same thing using toolbars and other similar tools.

Furthermore, these being American firms with relatively light global presence, they care more about US-based sites as well as English speaking populations. For real information, feet on the ground must be present, in at this point on Nielsen has those to provide credible information regarding sites on a national level.

In short, Alexa is awful; Compete is almost as awful. Nielsen at least knows what’s happening.

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