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About 6 years ago, nearly 40% of the U.S. population’s internet users were actively using the Alexa toolbar.
Why is this significant?
The more users actively downloading the Alexa toolbar, the more data that is exported to Alexa.com in order to rank sites based on traffic volume.
So, what would happen if domestic (North American) Alexa toolbar usage was reduced from 40% to about 12%? That would mean that only roughly 1 in 8 internet users were reporting traffic date to Alexa.
Well, that is exactly what has happened!
The impact of less Alexa toolbar users
Normally when an application is reduced in capacity, another takes its place. This has not been the case.
Advertising companies, your peers, and even your readers still evaluate your blog based on this ranking.
The typical Alexa toolbar user is connected in some webmaster / technology capacity. While this is great for blogs on blogging, making money online, SEO, internet marketing, and tech/gadgets, other categories / niches of blogs that do not typically attract this crowd will maintain a lower Alexa Rank – despite maybe seeing 50% -75% more traffic than a site with a better Alexa Rank!
There is no shortage of complaints over Alexa’s inaccuracies in reporting their site’s web traffic.
Since most advertising networks use Alexa as a barometer to evaluate your site’s traffic, it’s imperative that you draw in as many Alexa toolbar users as possible.
Who is not using the Alexa toolbar?
1) Non-English Speaking Countries
You say that you have only English language-based content on your site, so you appear to have an advantage, right?
Yet, your site appears in some of the search engines of these countries?
And also appears in many of the higher Alexa use areas of the globe like China, Brazil, Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.
Internet traffic from these countries uses a transliteration feature to read your site in their native language anyway.
In order for your site to achieve its most optimum rank, you will not get by on simply dominating the U.S. alone. You must have a strategy to attract international traffic. It is very possible to be the 100,000th. site listed by Alexa Rank in the U.S. but still have a low Alexa Rank overall.
Unfortunately, the fact still remains that most/all non-English speaking countries do not use the Alexa Toolbar.
2) The Corporate Web Surfer
I do not wish to throw any CEOs or Office Managers into a panic, but the volume of hours a week by their staff online conducting non-work related activity is alarming!
With more and more employees having internet access, the tolerance to allow them to spend a small percentage of the day online is becoming more common.
Like with any privilege, there is abuse.
As a blogger/webmaster, this could work to your advantage!!
Ah…but there is a catch. Your typical 9-5 employee and/or laptop exec does not have access to download and install the Alexa toolbar!!
Why? The Alexa toolbar is regarded by some vendors as spyware:
McAfee classifies it as Adware, a “Potentially Unwanted Program.” McAfee SiteAdvisor rates Alexa.com as yellow, with the warning, “In our tests, we found downloads on this site that some people consider adware, spyware or other potentially unwanted programs”. Symantec classifies the toolbar as Trackware and Microsoft considers the Alexa Toolbar (for Internet Explorer 7) as malware and as such cannot be installed on Windows Vista.
Unfortunately, the Alexa toolbar requires downloading. And, as many of you know with access to a work computer, you are restricted from downloading anything – based on corporate IT policy.
3) The Average, Everyday Internet User
Now that’s an enormous demographic! Unfortunately, most of the general population is either not aware of Alexa or has little need to utilize the toolbar for their own use.
Alexa will have to bear the burden of marketing the benefits of their proprietary toolbar to this segment. If you want proof, ask your teenager or a coworker to explain to you who is Alexa and the function of the toolbar.
4) Smart Phone Users
This category is also very unlikely to use the Alexa toolbar as they appear to be the same generation contributing to less Alexa toolbar downloads to begin with!
In 2008, users reported dramatic shifts in their Alexa rankings. Alexa confirmed this with an announcement that they had released the “New Alexa Ranking System” claiming that they now take into account data sources “beyond Alexa Toolbar users”.
Take that for what it’s worth.
Alexa Wrap-Up
Alexa is owned and operated by Amazon. Their traffic reporting “system” is not perfect, but don’t expect Alexa to change its business model anytime soon. Otherwise, that would make the Alexa toolbar obsolete.
If you are a toolbar user and want to upgrade, or if you are interested in checking it out, all you need to do is visit the Alexa toolbar download page and follow the instructions there. Sorry, the toolbar is only available for Internet Explorer at the moment. If you are a Firefox user then you should check out Sparky, the Alexa Firefox addon.
Also, if you want your input to be part of the next toolbar release, then visit the Alexa toolbar help forums and let Alexa know what you think.
6 Comments
Jeffrey, congratulations on your re-launch. As I was browsing your home page, this Alexa article caught my eye.
I was one of those people who, for a long time, didn’t bother with the Alexa toolbar. Since I wasn’t chasing the numbers, so to speak, I hardly cared about things like PR rank, Alexa traffic or number of backlinks. (I still don’t – I prefer social networking).
The fatal flaw of Alexa, in my opinion, is right up there with the Literary Digest election prediction fiasco of 1936
– that is, the Alexa users’ demographic may not be representative of the true web surfing population. As you said, non-English speaking countries are not well represented.
My understanding is that only your own server logs are a true predictor of traffic trends.
These “popularity” contests distract website and blog owners from the real task of providing meaningful content for their visitors.
Cheers,
Mitch
Mitchell Allen recently posted..Could Not Find CAPTCHA Token
Mitch,
Thank you for visiting Source Blogger on its relaunch and sharing with the community here your thoughts and experience with Alexa Rank.
Since Alexa is what it is… or has become… that current Alexa toolbar-using community is a good barometer for the type of reader that visits and enjoys Source Blogger… but for many other blogs, this is of little importance to them.
You had mentioned “…popularity” contests distract website and blog owners from the real task of providing meaningful content for their visitors…”
That is so true whether being Alexa Rank, Page Rank, Technorati Rank, subscribers, etc… and with the same effect as how you mentioned.
Thanks again, Mitch.
And cheers to you. (Holds up glass)
Jeffrey Baril – Source Blogger
Very interesting. I had no idea that that’s how Alexa Ranking worked. I already have the toolbar downloaded, but that just goes to show that you’re right, because I use it at work, not for my normal browsing habits
Laura recently posted..How the Unemployment Extension Affects Health Insurance
Alexa toolbar is not user friendly so i prefer seo quake than Alexa toolbar. But some information’s can be find only with the help of alexa toolbar.
I was using alexa toolbar and now, totally not. I am sure alexa rank is important for many advertisers who simply check for alexa rank before jumping in to advertise.
The way technorati works with sponsor writings for many tech blogs.
Nice points you shared. Thanks.
- Robin
Robin recently posted..Joomlashack Coupon Code- Get 25 Discount on Any Product
I’ve learned something new reading your post. My blog’s Alexa ranking has been steadily climbing the past few months, but it hasn’t reached the top 100,000 yet. I found it interesting to see that only 55% of my visitors are from the U.S.A. with the rest coming from the the U.K. and the Philippines. But as you point out, only Alexa toolbar users are counted.
One reason that the Alexa toolbar hasn’t gained wider acceptance is that there are so many other competing toolbars available, like Yahoo’s toolbar. Also, I think that many users are wary of installing any toolbar due to fear of spyware or malware. Also, in most corporate settings I’ve visited, users are prohibited from installing their own software on company computers. These visitors are uncounted by Alexa, but Google Analytics provides some good data too.
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Do You Know Who Is Not Using the Alexa Toolbar? | Source Blogger…
With Alexa toolbar use on a steep decline, do you know who is not using the Alexa toolbar? What does this mean to you?…