How Important Is Alexa Ranking?
All businesses that have taken up online marketing, aim at improving their conversion rate. Now, there are different ways of attracting targeted traffic. Some go for a good place in the SERPS, others like to know that their site receives heavy traffic.
While scoring high with Google may seem to be the only way to make themselves known, there are others that think a good place in the Alexa ranking system might benefit them just as well.
What is Alexa Ranking? This is a ranking system set by alexa.com (a subsidiary of amazon.com) that basically audits and makes public the frequency of visits on various Websites. The algorithm according to which Alexa traffic rankings is calculated, is simple. It is based on the amount of traffic recorded from users that have the Alexa toolbar installed over a period of three months.
This traffic is based on such parameters as reach and page views. Reach refers to the number of Alexa users who visit a particular site on one day. Page view is the number of times a particular page (URL) is viewed by Alexa users. alexa.com makes it clear though that, if a particular user visits the same URL multiple times on the same day, all those visits will be counted as one.
The Alexa toolbar not only displays information, but it also sends data to the central server. Thus, each time you visit a Web page via a Web browser that has the toolbar installed, information is sent to the server indicating your IP and the page you are visiting. Such data is gathered from all the Web users who have the Alexa toolbar.
With Alexa, the smaller the numberical ranking, the better. Most people agree that if you manage to make it in the top 100,000, it is a sign that your site enjoys quite heavy traffic.
Alexa Ranking helps webmasters and advertisers to see thetrue marketing potential of your website. The better your Alexa rank, the higher they will be willing to bid to buy advertising space on your website. Personal pages and blogs are taken into consideration and ranked in the same manner as regular websites.
Disadvantages? Not everybody has the Alexa toolbar installed.
What are your thoughts about Alexa Ranking?
Do you have an Alexa toolbar?
Regards,
Edward Mijarez
Recent Comments
36
There are ways to game Alexa ratings. People purchase junk products on eBay, Fiverr, etc. to lower their Alexa rank. I wouldn't put to much thought into the Alexa number though :)
Ok sounds good. I do believe Kyle said it wasn't all that important. I believe mine for my hosting review site is 308K or something, but haven't checked it in nearly 8 months :)
For what it's worth might get spammed more once it gets lower. Just my 2 cents.
I think people try to game Google, Yahoo and Bing too..! The Alexa Rank may not hold the prominent position that Google enjoys but there are some people who still think that their Alexa Rank means something. One of my top competitors has an Alexa Rank on their site. We have a highly respected ambassador on this thread that has an Alexa toolbar and he thinks the Alexa Rank is important.
Ed
Thanks for sharing. I think someone on this thread also included added that link. I read what Kyle had to say and I respect him. But, Kyle and others say Backlinks are a thing of the past and yet there are people here that still believe they help your rank. As a matter of fact I was just reading about SEO and it had something in there about backlinks. My intent is to get people to dialogue...
Ed
Don't think you'll find anyone with an SEO business saying backlinks are a thing of the past. That's the main way they rank sites.
Yeah, I have run a SEO company for 7+ years. A couple authority backlinks can really make a huge impact :)
Awesome Post & Share Edward,
I do use the Alexa toolbar and love it. I do believe that Alexa ranking is very important.
Thank You Edward for sharing with all of us here at the WA Community,
Tony
You are very welcome Tony! Glad to hear from someone who uses the Alexa tool bar and subscribes to its merit.
Ed
Do you have an Alexa toolbar? How do you get this toolbar does it cost any money? Also is it a toolbar on your browser once it is installed?
It sounds interesting thanks,
Barbara
It's pretty meaningless unless you're trying to sell your site - as gullible Flippa buyers can be impressed by a decent ranking in Alexa
Do you know anyone who has the Alexa toolbar installed?
I was going to say the same thing. I don't use nor do I ever plan to use an Alexa toolbar and I don't know anyone who does. It's a useless stat.
I just wanted to get people thinking and hear their responses. I'm not sure, but I would think within a community this large I would think there might be some who have the toolbar in their browser. I know one of my top competitors has an Alexa Rank on their site.
Ed
One thing the rank is supposed to tell you, which you should already know is how you rank traffic wise. Alexa is supposed to weed out crawlerers and count only real human visits.
You could always read the blog on Kyle's website about it. http://waystoavoidscamsonline.com/how-does-alexa-track-traffic-do-they-really-have-a-grasp-of-your-traffic
I agree, garbage in garbage out...Since it does not capture all data that is available, it is pretty meaningless...
Not only that, you can pay them if you want more complete data, but again that data is not complete...
My question would be why pay when you get more accurate data free using Google Analytics?
This is some hype thing from the dark ages that still lingers it appears to me...
I don't have this toolbar installed, I already have too much other important (?) junk on my browser!
You are free to hold whatever opinion you want. All that I am trying to do here is to get people to think and to dialogue. Thank you for sharing!
Ed
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I do not get too hung up about Alexa rank just focus on making sure I can get search in google
That's all you need Katie! I know I picked a controversial topic to get people thinking and responding.
I have looked into it though since they contacted me. I had heard about it and I wanted to know what it was about. I know Kyle doesn't put much stock into it but there are still some people that do. I'm sure the way you are doing it is fine. Take care.
Ed
That's for sure. It can be overwhelming at times.
Ed
Who knows Ed being new to this world of online business I stick to the training closely as there is so much information your can get confused, overwhelmed and get so caught up in it you never surface to get any work done lol