Comments on: Alexa: Amazon’s Most Flawed Idea http://www.cyber-knowledge.net/blog/2006/10/19/alexa-amazons-most-flawed-idea/ Computer related blog Wed, 19 Nov 2008 04:14:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Takali Omega http://www.cyber-knowledge.net/blog/2006/10/19/alexa-amazons-most-flawed-idea/#comment-32053 Takali Omega Tue, 21 Aug 2007 12:17:09 +0000 http://cyber-knowledge.net/blog/2006/10/19/alexa-amazons-most-flawed-idea/#comment-32053 [quote comment="11090"][...] While I don't necessarily like Alexa, I like what they are trying to do. Their results aren't fully accurate, but it's really one of the best resources we have. [...][/quote] Recources for WHAT? Why do we need a resource for spyware? People need to wake up and stop being so sheep-like. Geez. "Let's all let some company put spyware on our computers because it's the only resource we have to make sure that those websites have visits by people foolish enough to install a spyware toolbar on their computers..." [quote comment="11090"][...] While I don’t necessarily like Alexa, I like what they are trying to do. Their results aren’t fully accurate, but it’s really one of the best resources we have. [...][/quote]

Recources for WHAT? Why do we need a resource for spyware? People need to wake up and stop being so sheep-like. Geez. “Let’s all let some company put spyware on our computers because it’s the only resource we have to make sure that those websites have visits by people foolish enough to install a spyware toolbar on their computers…”

]]> By: Alexa Gets New Changes; Adds Geotargeting - CyberKnowledge Blog http://www.cyber-knowledge.net/blog/2006/10/19/alexa-amazons-most-flawed-idea/#comment-11090 Alexa Gets New Changes; Adds Geotargeting - CyberKnowledge Blog Tue, 20 Feb 2007 07:57:27 +0000 http://cyber-knowledge.net/blog/2006/10/19/alexa-amazons-most-flawed-idea/#comment-11090 [...] While I don't necessarily like Alexa, I like what they are trying to do. Their results aren't fully accurate, but it's really one of the best resources we have. [...] [...] While I don’t necessarily like Alexa, I like what they are trying to do. Their results aren’t fully accurate, but it’s really one of the best resources we have. [...]

]]> By: Louis http://www.cyber-knowledge.net/blog/2006/10/19/alexa-amazons-most-flawed-idea/#comment-3008 Louis Fri, 01 Dec 2006 16:05:46 +0000 http://cyber-knowledge.net/blog/2006/10/19/alexa-amazons-most-flawed-idea/#comment-3008 Anyone else having trouble with Amazon deliveries? I am real late on a delivery of a book from the USPS, sent a good full week ago...was "estimated delivery" to be here last Thursday. I'm worried they may have lost it. Amazon did their job and had it out the morning after my order, but the clueless USPS...? Anyone one else have trouble? Thanks for the feedback.. Anyone else having trouble with Amazon deliveries?
I am real late on a delivery of a book from the USPS, sent a good full week ago…was “estimated delivery” to be here last Thursday.
I'm worried they may have lost it.
Amazon did their job and had it out the morning after my order, but the clueless USPS…?
Anyone one else have trouble?
Thanks for the feedback..

]]> By: AlexaSucks http://www.cyber-knowledge.net/blog/2006/10/19/alexa-amazons-most-flawed-idea/#comment-1363 AlexaSucks Mon, 30 Oct 2006 08:39:24 +0000 http://cyber-knowledge.net/blog/2006/10/19/alexa-amazons-most-flawed-idea/#comment-1363 Alexa rankings are very flawed and we have just launched a website to prove it: http://www.alexasucks.com Check it out and lend a hand! Alexa rankings are very flawed and we have just launched a website to prove it:

alexasucks.com

Check it out and lend a hand!

]]> By: Jim Gottlieb` http://www.cyber-knowledge.net/blog/2006/10/19/alexa-amazons-most-flawed-idea/#comment-1054 Jim Gottlieb` Sun, 22 Oct 2006 02:31:37 +0000 http://cyber-knowledge.net/blog/2006/10/19/alexa-amazons-most-flawed-idea/#comment-1054 Any survey whose users are self-selected is inherently flawed. This includes the surveys on most web sites (which are really just a scam to drive page views), as well as schemes like Alexa. Any survey whose users are self-selected is inherently flawed. This includes the surveys on most web sites (which are really just a scam to drive page views), as well as schemes like Alexa.

]]> By: Takali Omega http://www.cyber-knowledge.net/blog/2006/10/19/alexa-amazons-most-flawed-idea/#comment-1048 Takali Omega Sat, 21 Oct 2006 23:21:03 +0000 http://cyber-knowledge.net/blog/2006/10/19/alexa-amazons-most-flawed-idea/#comment-1048 I host a weekly (actually aired, not simply a podcast) radio program called TechTAK. We've been going for 2 years now and just recently began doing product reviews. When corresponding with one of the vendors, they wanted (required, it seems) our Alexa rating. This is a nice little article with some decent info that I'll be passing along to vendors who seem to think that what most of us consider spyware is something we should dtrive to be placed in a good rating with... I host a weekly (actually aired, not simply a podcast) radio program called TechTAK. We’ve been going for 2 years now and just recently began doing product reviews. When corresponding with one of the vendors, they wanted (required, it seems) our Alexa rating. This is a nice little article with some decent info that I’ll be passing along to vendors who seem to think that what most of us consider spyware is something we should dtrive to be placed in a good rating with…

]]> By: Rub3X http://www.cyber-knowledge.net/blog/2006/10/19/alexa-amazons-most-flawed-idea/#comment-1029 Rub3X Sat, 21 Oct 2006 06:11:41 +0000 http://cyber-knowledge.net/blog/2006/10/19/alexa-amazons-most-flawed-idea/#comment-1029 It's quite ironic that this post boosted my Alexa rating over 35 thousand to 4.7 thousand for the day. It’s quite ironic that this post boosted my Alexa rating over 35 thousand to 4.7 thousand for the day.

]]> By: Mark Brooks http://www.cyber-knowledge.net/blog/2006/10/19/alexa-amazons-most-flawed-idea/#comment-1019 Mark Brooks Fri, 20 Oct 2006 20:02:25 +0000 http://cyber-knowledge.net/blog/2006/10/19/alexa-amazons-most-flawed-idea/#comment-1019 Nielsen..Netratings, Comscore Mediametrix, Hitwise all offer far more data than available through Alexa. They charge tens of thousands of dollars for it...and still have less than perfect data. Alexa is great for a rough and ready ballpark. It's just a litle scary if Alexa gets quoted as the high standard, ahead of the likes of the higher integrity paid services. I list rankings of Online Personals sites on OnlinePersonalsWatch.com courtesy of the paid sites, and also include some rankings from Alexa. Mark Brooks editor http://www.onlinepersonalswatch.com Nielsen..Netratings, Comscore Mediametrix, Hitwise all offer far more data than available through Alexa. They charge tens of thousands of dollars for it…and still have less than perfect data.

Alexa is great for a rough and ready ballpark. It’s just a litle scary if Alexa gets quoted as the high standard, ahead of the likes of the higher integrity paid services.

I list rankings of Online Personals sites on OnlinePersonalsWatch.com courtesy of the paid sites, and also include some rankings from Alexa.

Mark Brooks
editor
onlinepers...swatch.com

]]> By: John http://www.cyber-knowledge.net/blog/2006/10/19/alexa-amazons-most-flawed-idea/#comment-1011 John Fri, 20 Oct 2006 14:56:16 +0000 http://cyber-knowledge.net/blog/2006/10/19/alexa-amazons-most-flawed-idea/#comment-1011 Also, Alexa doesn't count HTTPS pages. http://www.alexa.com/site/help/traffic_learn_more For a long time, LinkedIn's Alexa numbers were essentially 0, because the whole product ran through HTTPS. Also, Alexa doesn’t count HTTPS pages.

alexa.com/...learn_more

For a long time, LinkedIn’s Alexa numbers were essentially 0, because the whole product ran through HTTPS.

]]> By: Tim http://www.cyber-knowledge.net/blog/2006/10/19/alexa-amazons-most-flawed-idea/#comment-1005 Tim Fri, 20 Oct 2006 12:24:55 +0000 http://cyber-knowledge.net/blog/2006/10/19/alexa-amazons-most-flawed-idea/#comment-1005 "So, Alexa is deeply flawed because it only samples from 91% of browsers? Other statistical systems should be so lucky. That’s quite a broad and even sampling of web users." No Alexa is not sampling 91% of users! Read the article and the other comments. Its sampling from the unknown, and probably not large, percentage of IE users who've bothered to install it. Add to that that its not exactly a random sample - its heavily skewed to the more technically proficient. “So, Alexa is deeply flawed because it only samples from 91% of browsers? Other statistical systems should be so lucky. That’s quite a broad and even sampling of web users.”

No Alexa is not sampling 91% of users! Read the article and the other comments. Its sampling from the unknown, and probably not large, percentage of IE users who’ve bothered to install it. Add to that that its not exactly a random sample - its heavily skewed to the more technically proficient.

]]> By: Quintesse http://www.cyber-knowledge.net/blog/2006/10/19/alexa-amazons-most-flawed-idea/#comment-1003 Quintesse Fri, 20 Oct 2006 09:29:57 +0000 http://cyber-knowledge.net/blog/2006/10/19/alexa-amazons-most-flawed-idea/#comment-1003 "It is as accurate as it’s sample space is random." Ehm sorry, but that's just not true, the users that have installed this toolbar are a very specific subset of all Internet users. The very fact that they even know about it and have installed it make them different than the other 90% of IE users (the 1 in 10 figure they named) and it makes them very different from the people that use non-IE browsers. You just can't say with any measure of confidence that what holds true for Alexa-users holds true for others. The people analysing opinion polls for example know that as well. If you go ask people in the street about a certain subject it all depends on where you ask, many polls are only held in big cities because it gives you easy access to a lot of people but city people or different from villagers. Even if you call a random selection of people from across the country the results can be skewed because of the fact that not everybody will be willing to answer your questions. For every person that tells you to bugger off and leave them alone your results become less usefull. “It is as accurate as it’s sample space is random.”

Ehm sorry, but that’s just not true, the users that have installed this toolbar are a very specific subset of all Internet users. The very fact that they even know about it and have installed it make them different than the other 90% of IE users (the 1 in 10 figure they named) and it makes them very different from the people that use non-IE browsers. You just can’t say with any measure of confidence that what holds true for Alexa-users holds true for others.

The people analysing opinion polls for example know that as well. If you go ask people in the street about a certain subject it all depends on where you ask, many polls are only held in big cities because it gives you easy access to a lot of people but city people or different from villagers. Even if you call a random selection of people from across the country the results can be skewed because of the fact that not everybody will be willing to answer your questions. For every person that tells you to bugger off and leave them alone your results become less usefull.

]]> By: Jordan http://www.cyber-knowledge.net/blog/2006/10/19/alexa-amazons-most-flawed-idea/#comment-1000 Jordan Fri, 20 Oct 2006 05:37:02 +0000 http://cyber-knowledge.net/blog/2006/10/19/alexa-amazons-most-flawed-idea/#comment-1000 The reason so many people believe that the Alexa data is useless is because of the different types of users that tend to choose a browser. Ine general IE is used by the lowest common denominator, novices and people who don't know any better. These people are also the least likely to actually purchase anything online. No matter what the market share of "alternative" browsers currently is, THESE users are what make up most Internet usage. It would be as if you took a survey regarding what kinda of cars everyone likes, but you only did this at a dealer, deciding to leave out anybody who works on their own car at home. Maaybe only 10% of the country changes their own oil, but that 10% is also the core of the automotive market. These are the people that influence their family and friends opinions. You would be committing corporate suicide by not including them in your survey. Basically, that's what Alexa is doing. You could use their data if you want to, but you're basically ignoring your core market. As a business man it doesn't make much sense to me... The reason so many people believe that the Alexa data is useless is because of the different types of users that tend to choose a browser. Ine general IE is used by the lowest common denominator, novices and people who don’t know any better. These people are also the least likely to actually purchase anything online.

No matter what the market share of “alternative” browsers currently is, THESE users are what make up most Internet usage. It would be as if you took a survey regarding what kinda of cars everyone likes, but you only did this at a dealer, deciding to leave out anybody who works on their own car at home. Maaybe only 10% of the country changes their own oil, but that 10% is also the core of the automotive market. These are the people that influence their family and friends opinions. You would be committing corporate suicide by not including them in your survey.

Basically, that’s what Alexa is doing. You could use their data if you want to, but you’re basically ignoring your core market. As a business man it doesn’t make much sense to me…

]]> By: Time Eclipse http://www.cyber-knowledge.net/blog/2006/10/19/alexa-amazons-most-flawed-idea/#comment-998 Time Eclipse Fri, 20 Oct 2006 03:18:53 +0000 http://cyber-knowledge.net/blog/2006/10/19/alexa-amazons-most-flawed-idea/#comment-998 Alexa is a voluntary survey. It is as accurate as it's sample space is random. If a web site that has a modest viewership were to successfully promote Alexa, their ranking would go up. It is interesting to see for any site that does not promote Alexa. It is otherwise no more accurate than those voluntary on-line polls. Firefox does have several extensions already that implement the Alexa stuff - just do a web search for "firefox extension alexa". Alexa is a voluntary survey. It is as accurate as it’s sample space is random. If a web site that has a modest viewership were to successfully promote Alexa, their ranking would go up. It is interesting to see for any site that does not promote Alexa. It is otherwise no more accurate than those voluntary on-line polls. Firefox does have several extensions already that implement the Alexa stuff - just do a web search for “firefox extension alexa”.

]]> By: mooiness http://www.cyber-knowledge.net/blog/2006/10/19/alexa-amazons-most-flawed-idea/#comment-996 mooiness Fri, 20 Oct 2006 03:03:01 +0000 http://cyber-knowledge.net/blog/2006/10/19/alexa-amazons-most-flawed-idea/#comment-996 Actually there is an alternative for FF users via an extension called SearchStatus (and the link is provided off Alexa's toolbar page): http://www.quirk.biz/searchstatus/ But I do agree with you that it can be gamed. However what other *free* alternatives are there? Someone at Slashdot said that Google could do something similar, and seeing as how their toolbars are almost ubiquitous across browsers and platforms, the data would be more accurate. But they're not. ;) Actually there is an alternative for FF users via an extension called SearchStatus (and the link is provided off Alexa’s toolbar page):
quirk.biz/...rchstatus/

But I do agree with you that it can be gamed. However what other *free* alternatives are there?

Someone at Slashdot said that Google could do something similar, and seeing as how their toolbars are almost ubiquitous across browsers and platforms, the data would be more accurate. But they’re not. ;)

]]> By: Nate P http://www.cyber-knowledge.net/blog/2006/10/19/alexa-amazons-most-flawed-idea/#comment-995 Nate P Fri, 20 Oct 2006 02:05:28 +0000 http://cyber-knowledge.net/blog/2006/10/19/alexa-amazons-most-flawed-idea/#comment-995 For Alexa to be halfway accurate...it would have to take into account the types of browsers visiting a given site. Their attempt to make the results real is a joke (guessing--wildly--that 1 in 10 users have Alexa). It may make results a little closer to what it really is, but it will also depend highly on the site they're visiting. A good example given by the blogger is Mac Rumors...13% of it's visitors are using IE. So 87% of people visiting the site have no chance of being counted...does this mean they should multiply Mac Rumor's score an _additional_ factor of 7.5 (roughly 100/13)? Though this accounts to some people probably getting counted twice because we've already taken into account that 9 out of 10 people don't have it. Though, you can swing it the other way and say that Mac Rumor's IE browsers being counted by Alexa are worth even *more*, because maybe, one could say, they're being visited by less than the 1:10 ratio of AlexaIE:nonAlexaIE, because obviously, a Mac Rumor's visitor is too smart to install such nefarious software, making the Alexa browser far far less common on that site. *chuckle* ...my little rant...sorry :) For Alexa to be halfway accurate…it would have to take into account the types of browsers visiting a given site.

Their attempt to make the results real is a joke (guessing–wildly–that 1 in 10 users have Alexa). It may make results a little closer to what it really is, but it will also depend highly on the site they’re visiting. A good example given by the blogger is Mac Rumors…13% of it’s visitors are using IE. So 87% of people visiting the site have no chance of being counted…does this mean they should multiply Mac Rumor’s score an _additional_ factor of 7.5 (roughly 100/13)? Though this accounts to some people probably getting counted twice because we’ve already taken into account that 9 out of 10 people don’t have it. Though, you can swing it the other way and say that Mac Rumor’s IE browsers being counted by Alexa are worth even *more*, because maybe, one could say, they’re being visited by less than the 1:10 ratio of AlexaIE:nonAlexaIE, because obviously, a Mac Rumor’s visitor is too smart to install such nefarious software, making the Alexa browser far far less common on that site. *chuckle*

…my little rant…sorry :)

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