Alexa - Accurate Representation? - GoFuckYourself.com

MarkTiarra · 12-28-2003, 10:30 PM

Was here with my buds today and we were talking about site popularity which led one of the guys to suggest checking it on Alexa. NOw as I understand it, Alexa just keeps track of site visits for people using the Alexa toolbar right? So all it can do is extrapolate from sampling of people using said toolbar which is in the vast minority.

Am I correct or is there more to it?

Brad Xtremepay · 12-28-2003, 10:31 PM

From what I understand that is a correct assumption.
I don't think alexa is accurate enough.

cluck · 12-28-2003, 10:41 PM

That's pretty much it. I use alexa sometimes to evaluate what sites to give high priority trades and things like that, but for anything more involved I wouldn't trust it.

Suckitbitch · 12-28-2003, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MarkTiarra
Was here with my buds today and we were talking about site popularity which led one of the guys to suggest checking it on Alexa. NOw as I understand it, Alexa just keeps track of site visits for people using the Alexa toolbar right? So all it can do is extrapolate from sampling of people using said toolbar which is in the vast minority.

Am I correct or is there more to it?

Alexa doesn't become accurate until you are comparing sites in the under 10,000 range.

anything above that is usually highly questionable.

inthestars · 12-28-2003, 11:19 PM

It's not that accurate. I was on another forum and a guy was talking about how you can game the Alexa toolbar to get a higher ranking for your site.

Arty · 12-28-2003, 11:25 PM

Correct, don't trust that info..

pradaboy · 12-28-2003, 11:27 PM

there aren't a lot of ppl that value Alexa's ratings... it is mostly used in the "money-making opps" biz.

Rorschach · 12-29-2003, 01:53 AM

Vast numbers of Asian surfers have the alexa toolbar installed for some reason, which skews the results and is why you see some wacko Asian sites in disproportionately high positions.

Rictor · 12-29-2003, 01:56 AM

I don't even waste my time checking my rankings there. Not even close to accurate.

TheJimmy · 12-29-2003, 01:59 AM

as with a battery of psychological testing, one can not or should not rely solely on one test or measurement, but rather consider it to be part of a group of tests/measurements...

it can be manipulated as many other tests can be if you know a thing or two about them...ie; alexabooster.com

The Other Steve · 12-29-2003, 02:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by cluck
That's pretty much it. I use alexa sometimes to evaluate what sites to give high priority trades and things like that, but for anything more involved I wouldn't trust it.

I'm not sure that it is even reliable for that.

One of my domains has an Alexa rating around 130k and if you go to that domain you will find a TGP but it's not that TGP that gives the domain such a good listing.

Inside that domain I have a number of sub-directories for free sites and TGP galleries and that's what gives the domain such a good rating - not the TGP at the front of the domain.

funkmaster · 12-29-2003, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MarkTiarra
Was here with my buds today and we were talking about site popularity which led one of the guys to suggest checking it on Alexa. NOw as I understand it, Alexa just keeps track of site visits for people using the Alexa toolbar right? So all it can do is extrapolate from sampling of people using said toolbar which is in the vast minority.

Am I correct or is there more to it?

... it only takes 2000 probants to get some good stats out of it. so it does not matter if the one thing they have in common is the alexa toolbar, or a red pinto in their garage ... it's the number that matters ...

AdultNex · 12-29-2003, 06:35 AM

Alexa is definitely not accurate.

It's proven that if you install Alexa on your machine, and go to your website each day, your Alexa rating will rise incredibly.

Also, there are such programs as www.alexabooster.com

12-29-2003, 06:37 AM

I definitly would not value Alex's ratings as high as some people do. It's a neat little tool, but like you've stated, it doesn't keep track of surfers who are not using the toolbar. I personally don't think I've talked to anybody with this toolbar installed, so if that speaks for the general population, It's highly doubtful that too many surfers are using this.

Pornwolf · 12-29-2003, 06:38 AM

Alexa is trash. It rates sites the same way Neilson rates TV and Arbitron rates Radio by using sampling. For average mainstream websites that don't have the luxury of Sextracker or Porngraph it's really the only way they can set prices for advertising.

smproduction · 12-29-2003, 07:41 AM

I agree Alexa is not accurate.

I'm trying this one
http://tools.marketleap.com/publinkpop/
but I think the concept is the same

NinjaSteve · 12-29-2003, 12:33 PM

I wonder if Alexa uses stats from people with the google bar installed as well. Anybody know?

Mike-BP · 12-29-2003, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Other Steve

I'm not sure that it is even reliable for that.

One of my domains has an Alexa rating around 130k and if you go to that domain you will find a TGP but it's not that TGP that gives the domain such a good listing.

Inside that domain I have a number of sub-directories for free sites and TGP galleries and that's what gives the domain such a good rating - not the TGP at the front of the domain.

130k is NOT good at all - that's actually very bad. The lower your rank, the more visitors (with alexa toolbar) you have on your site.
Check yahoo, it's #1 at Alexa for years now.

The Other Steve · 12-29-2003, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mike-BP

130k is NOT good at all - that's actually very bad. The lower your rank, the more visitors (with alexa toolbar) you have on your site.
Check yahoo, it's #1 at Alexa for years now.

It seems you managed to miss the point of what I was saying.

sexysphere · 12-29-2003, 03:08 PM

alexa is total bullshit

i prefer ranking.com ...

Vitasoy · 12-29-2003, 04:55 PM

I use it just for reference

AdultNex · 12-29-2003, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sexysphere
alexa is total bullshit

i prefer ranking.com ...

Ranking.com? Please.

triumph · 12-29-2003, 06:08 PM

Alexa is getting whack, it is very outdated in my opinion, they need to do something to enhance their system.

12-28-2003, 10:41 PM	#3
cluck Confirmed User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,248	That's pretty much it. I use alexa sometimes to evaluate what sites to give high priority trades and things like that, but for anything more involved I wouldn't trust it. __________________ icq 279990726 www.mcdonalds.com <- great money making opportunity

12-28-2003, 11:27 PM	#7
pradaboy sell me your banners Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: on the tubes Posts: 12,931	there aren't a lot of ppl that value Alexa's ratings... it is mostly used in the "money-making opps" biz. __________________ Media Buyer - Sell me your traffic! FREE to register domains... Better than 99% of the crap sold here!

12-29-2003, 01:59 AM	#10
TheJimmy ICQ- five seven 0 2 5 5 0 Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 10,747	as with a battery of psychological testing, one can not or should not rely solely on one test or measurement, but rather consider it to be part of a group of tests/measurements... it can be manipulated as many other tests can be if you know a thing or two about them...ie; alexabooster.com __________________ Investor with 5m - 15m USD to invest. Do you have a site or network of sites earning 50k - 200k a month income? Email your contact and preliminary data to: domain.cashventures (at) gmail.com....Please...no tire kickers...serious offers and inquiries only.

12-29-2003, 06:38 AM	#15
Pornwolf Drunk and Unruly Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Hollywood Posts: 22,712	Alexa is trash. It rates sites the same way Neilson rates TV and Arbitron rates Radio by using sampling. For average mainstream websites that don't have the luxury of Sextracker or Porngraph it's really the only way they can set prices for advertising. __________________ I've trusted my sites to them for over a decade... Webair, bitches.

12-29-2003, 07:41 AM	#16
smproduction Confirmed User Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 508	I agree Alexa is not accurate. I'm trying this one http://tools.marketleap.com/publinkpop/ but I think the concept is the same __________________ <a href="http://www.wishing.com/money/"><img src="http://www.wishing.com/money/promotools/referrals/bannerset2/wishing_affiliate_120x60_06.gif" border="0"><br><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2"><b>Wishing.com</b>- Make over <b>$100.00</b> per sale with pills and patches</font></a>

12-28-2003, 10:30 PM	#1
MarkTiarra Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 3,833	Alexa - Accurate Representation? Was here with my buds today and we were talking about site popularity which led one of the guys to suggest checking it on Alexa. NOw as I understand it, Alexa just keeps track of site visits for people using the Alexa toolbar right? So all it can do is extrapolate from sampling of people using said toolbar which is in the vast minority. Am I correct or is there more to it? __________________ Retired Pornosticator

12-28-2003, 10:31 PM	#2
Brad Xtremepay So Fucking Banned Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 2,000	From what I understand that is a correct assumption. I don't think alexa is accurate enough.

12-28-2003, 11:19 PM	#5
inthestars Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: California Posts: 2,021	It's not that accurate. I was on another forum and a guy was talking about how you can game the Alexa toolbar to get a higher ranking for your site.

12-28-2003, 11:25 PM	#6
Arty Confirmed User Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 880	Correct, don't trust that info..

12-29-2003, 01:53 AM	#8
Rorschach So Fucking Banned Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 5,579	Vast numbers of Asian surfers have the alexa toolbar installed for some reason, which skews the results and is why you see some wacko Asian sites in disproportionately high positions.

12-29-2003, 01:56 AM	#9
Rictor Old Timer Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 12,208	I don't even waste my time checking my rankings there. Not even close to accurate.

12-29-2003, 06:35 AM	#13
AdultNex Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Bostonnnn Posts: 8,985	Alexa is definitely not accurate. It's proven that if you install Alexa on your machine, and go to your website each day, your Alexa rating will rise incredibly. Also, there are such programs as www.alexabooster.com

12-29-2003, 06:37 AM	#14
shermo Guest Posts: n/a	I definitly would not value Alex's ratings as high as some people do. It's a neat little tool, but like you've stated, it doesn't keep track of surfers who are not using the toolbar. I personally don't think I've talked to anybody with this toolbar installed, so if that speaks for the general population, It's highly doubtful that too many surfers are using this.

12-29-2003, 12:33 PM	#17
NinjaSteve Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 11,089	I wonder if Alexa uses stats from people with the google bar installed as well. Anybody know? __________________ ...

12-29-2003, 03:08 PM	#20
sexysphere Confirmed User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Everywhere behind you Posts: 769	alexa is total bullshit i prefer ranking.com ... __________________ PaRaDiGm

12-29-2003, 04:55 PM	#21
Vitasoy GFY HALL OF FAME DAMMIT!!! Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 58,202	I use it just for reference __________________ [email protected]

12-29-2003, 06:08 PM	#23
triumph Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 3,433	Alexa is getting whack, it is very outdated in my opinion, they need to do something to enhance their system.