Apr 17 2008
Alexa Ranking Revamp Wreaks Havoc To Millions Of Websites
Alexa, a web information company, startled many website owners with its new and “improved” ranking system on April 16. The new algorithm, which Alexa claimed to have worked hard for several months, wreaked havoc to millions of websites upon implementation and caused catastrophic changes to traffic rankings. Although some websites improved their rankings, they did not outnumber the losers.
The company’s traffic ranking system has been widely trusted as a reliable indicator of website popularity and appraisal value. It was widely criticized as well by web professionals and bloggers saying that by installing Alexa toolbar, any webmaster can have good rankings quickly. This assumption tends to be true with my experience as Alexa rankings contradicts the site statistics I get from Google Analytics and StatCounter.
With the new algorithm and upcoming new features to be released soon, Alexa hopes that their detractors will shut their mouths off as their improved services now offer more accurate traffic rankings. However, they might as well get overwhelmed with negative feedbacks from millions of site owners who had their traffic ranks dropped down.
Let us say for instance, this blog dropped from 380,000 to 586,000. Now for a popular blog, JohnCow.com, had his rank down from 25,000 to 104,000 – fair enough to cause a heart attack.
If your sites dropped as well their ranks, send your feedback here and you’ll not be alone.
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April 17th, 2008 at 9:23 am
I never trusted their ranking from the first day I was introduced to them a few years back. A ranking system that is mainly based on traffic from users that have the tool bar isn’t a real ranking system IMO.
I also feel the same for Google too. If they have the ability to just change your PR at a whim, then IMO their ranking system is flawed too. You get what they want you to get, and it’s not based on your real traffic.
You might want to check out SocialSpark.com I got mine running there now.
April 17th, 2008 at 10:27 am
Yeah that’s exactly what I’ve heard from web development forums. They don’t trust Alexa much yet they are using it as a yardstick when they sell their sites. I just hope their new traffic ranking algorithm is more accurate and realistic.
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:19 pm
I hate alexa…..i dunno why it’s so famous that it has become a important factor during selling of sites…
i prefer Google’s PR when compared to Alexa…
Alexa must not only rely upon just the data collected from the Alexa toolbar but others like backlinks etc,
@John:Don’t get bothered about your alexa ranking..,your blog is very nice …:)
May 8th, 2008 at 11:48 am
I heared the announcement that alexa has changed its ranking algorithm. I am little happy with this change because my website got little improvment. see new alexa ranking for http://www.alexa.com/data/details/main?url=www.fortunehotels.in Fortune Park Hotels Ltd.