Comments on: A word about metrics, part I http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/a-word-about-metrics-part-i/ neat fun stuff Thu, 18 Mar 2010 06:22:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Mark http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/a-word-about-metrics-part-i/#comment-438040 Mark Mon, 14 Dec 2009 01:50:06 +0000 http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/?p=327#comment-438040 Great article, people get way too focused on the numbers sometimes and don't always understand what exactly constitutes them...this can lead to bad decisions if that's all you're basing them off. <a href="http://www.cuyx.com" rel="nofollow">Mark</a> Great article, people get way too focused on the numbers sometimes and don’t always understand what exactly constitutes them…this can lead to bad decisions if that’s all you’re basing them off.

Mark

]]> By: David http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/a-word-about-metrics-part-i/#comment-53862 David Sat, 22 Jul 2006 21:55:57 +0000 http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/?p=327#comment-53862 Most people don't question the metrics they read, many people don't think fully about the metrics they post (or have a slanted agenda). I don't know how to solve the first problem. The second problem gets policed (all too infrequntly) by people like you. Most people don’t question the metrics they read, many people don’t think fully about the metrics they post (or have a slanted agenda).

I don’t know how to solve the first problem. The second problem gets policed (all too infrequntly) by people like you.

]]> By: Dave (Original) http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/a-word-about-metrics-part-i/#comment-51939 Dave (Original) Thu, 20 Jul 2006 06:35:54 +0000 http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/?p=327#comment-51939 RE: "And I still don’t know why “hits” are measured at all" Probably because ignorance is bliss :) Some probably refresh all day long to keep their hits up. RE: “And I still don’t know why “hits” are measured at all”

Probably because ignorance is bliss :) Some probably refresh all day long to keep their hits up.

]]> By: The Adam That Doesn't Belong To Matt http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/a-word-about-metrics-part-i/#comment-51888 The Adam That Doesn't Belong To Matt Thu, 20 Jul 2006 04:40:37 +0000 http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/?p=327#comment-51888 <blockquote> I remember the days when google was small, and Altavista owned the world. And I still don’t know why “hits” are measured at all. Add some extra images to your site, and instantly your hits increase - lol. </blockquote> spacer.gif, spacer2.gif, spacer3.gif, spacer4.gif...;)

I remember the days when google was small, and Altavista owned the world.

And I still don’t know why “hits” are measured at all. Add some extra images to your site, and instantly your hits increase – lol.

spacer.gif, spacer2.gif, spacer3.gif, spacer4.gif…;)

]]> By: I'm_Ralph http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/a-word-about-metrics-part-i/#comment-51649 I'm_Ralph Wed, 19 Jul 2006 21:24:40 +0000 http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/?p=327#comment-51649 Here's a question, and I really don't mean to be smug or stomp my foot. I think it's a legitimate one. All this talk of skewed data and incomplete samples and accurate metrics make me think of only one thing: the sandbox, or whatever you want to call it. It seems to me we could easily substitute the sandbox for any of the skewed sample examples above. It seems that actually was less a question than a comment - sorry. Here’s a question, and I really don’t mean to be smug or stomp my foot. I think it’s a legitimate one.

All this talk of skewed data and incomplete samples and accurate metrics make me think of only one thing: the sandbox, or whatever you want to call it. It seems to me we could easily substitute the sandbox for any of the skewed sample examples above.

It seems that actually was less a question than a comment – sorry.

]]> By: Mack http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/a-word-about-metrics-part-i/#comment-51504 Mack Wed, 19 Jul 2006 16:30:51 +0000 http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/?p=327#comment-51504 Despite their OTT comparisons, Hitwise are a pretty decent setup. They (apparently) take anonymous logs from UK ISPs in order to determine who is visiting what (and when, and for how long for etc). It's a very expensive service, but it allowed us to improve our CPO on google adwords and get an insight into what online marketing our competitors were doing. Despite their OTT comparisons, Hitwise are a pretty decent setup. They (apparently) take anonymous logs from UK ISPs in order to determine who is visiting what (and when, and for how long for etc).

It’s a very expensive service, but it allowed us to improve our CPO on google adwords and get an insight into what online marketing our competitors were doing.

]]> By: Harvey http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/a-word-about-metrics-part-i/#comment-51383 Harvey Wed, 19 Jul 2006 11:41:07 +0000 http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/?p=327#comment-51383 I remember the days when google was small, and Altavista owned the world. And I still don't know why "hits" are measured at all. Add some extra images to your site, and instantly your hits increase - lol. I remember the days when google was small, and Altavista owned the world.

And I still don’t know why “hits” are measured at all. Add some extra images to your site, and instantly your hits increase – lol.

]]> By: Gridlock http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/a-word-about-metrics-part-i/#comment-50782 Gridlock Tue, 18 Jul 2006 11:14:20 +0000 http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/?p=327#comment-50782 I too will be interested in your Hitwise analysis - we just spent a nice chunk of money on a couple of seats for their package, and the number one question that was never satisfactorily answered was "what sort of skew can we expect in your data?". For those who don't know, Hitwise sample ISP logs (in the UK, they represent one third of all internet users) and build their reports on these. Reports available include which keywords drive traffic to your competitors but not you, the top 20/100 upstream and downstream sites from any page, etc etc. Interestingly they are currently unable to distinguish between PPC and organic traffic from Google etc, however I understand this functionality is imminent. Hitwise assured me that they use a wide range of ISPs, from your Tesco to your Demon - but it's still slightly troubling to be basing major strategic and tactical decisions on data which is, in the end, unverifiable. By the way, Google is still skewed towards a certain demographic of tech-savvy users. Because it isn't the default search engine on most new PCs, and obviouly because of the built-in search functionality of IE, and because Yahoo attracts more 'casual' browsers to their webmail, horoscopes, searches etc - Google can be a hard place to get ROI for certain markets, as opposed to Overture. PS; nice captcha. I too will be interested in your Hitwise analysis – we just spent a nice chunk of money on a couple of seats for their package, and the number one question that was never satisfactorily answered was “what sort of skew can we expect in your data?”.

For those who don’t know, Hitwise sample ISP logs (in the UK, they represent one third of all internet users) and build their reports on these. Reports available include which keywords drive traffic to your competitors but not you, the top 20/100 upstream and downstream sites from any page, etc etc. Interestingly they are currently unable to distinguish between PPC and organic traffic from Google etc, however I understand this functionality is imminent.

Hitwise assured me that they use a wide range of ISPs, from your Tesco to your Demon – but it’s still slightly troubling to be basing major strategic and tactical decisions on data which is, in the end, unverifiable.

By the way, Google is still skewed towards a certain demographic of tech-savvy users. Because it isn’t the default search engine on most new PCs, and obviouly because of the built-in search functionality of IE, and because Yahoo attracts more ‘casual’ browsers to their webmail, horoscopes, searches etc – Google can be a hard place to get ROI for certain markets, as opposed to Overture.

PS; nice captcha.

]]> By: shahbaz http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/a-word-about-metrics-part-i/#comment-50768 shahbaz Tue, 18 Jul 2006 10:45:16 +0000 http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/?p=327#comment-50768 i dont think so that by putting tollbar we have an increase in pr! i dont think so that by putting tollbar we have an increase in pr!

]]> By: Ignatius http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/a-word-about-metrics-part-i/#comment-50474 Ignatius Tue, 18 Jul 2006 00:01:38 +0000 http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/?p=327#comment-50474 You also have to understand that some Media Releases as the one above about Podcasting are now written in such a way as that it invites comments on blogs. It's done traffic generation technique and back linking technique. You also have to understand that some Media Releases as the one above about Podcasting are now written in such a way as that it invites comments on blogs. It’s done traffic generation technique and back linking technique.

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