Comments on: The Compete.com tracking code is not for traffic http://www.ardamis.com/2010/07/04/compete-is-not-for-traffic/ Ardamis is a blog about web development and technology in general. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:06:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: ardamis http://www.ardamis.com/2010/07/04/compete-is-not-for-traffic/#comment-38853 ardamis Wed, 07 Jul 2010 01:14:30 +0000 http://www.ardamis.com/?p=724#comment-38853 Thanks for contacting me. My original post, "The Compete.com tracking code is lame", was pretty harsh, so I've softened it up and clarified my opinions without changing the main messages: 1. The unique visitors data provided by Compete.com is not well supported by the data drawn from Google Analytics or other systems for traffic measurement. This view is <a href="http://www.intellisites.com/articles/?p=59" rel="nofollow">shared by others</a>. 2. The CompeteXL code doesn't help measure traffic, but does help monetize property of News Corp. Users of Google Analytics ought to know that Google benefits monetarily from providing the service, but the trail of money is less obvious with Compete. I won't be installing the tracking code because I'm not really interested in demographic information about my users. I <em>am</em> interested in how they get to my site, but just who they are is their business. Thanks for contacting me. My original post, “The Compete.com tracking code is lame”, was pretty harsh, so I’ve softened it up and clarified my opinions without changing the main messages:

1. The unique visitors data provided by Compete.com is not well supported by the data drawn from Google Analytics or other systems for traffic measurement. This view is shared by others.

2. The CompeteXL code doesn’t help measure traffic, but does help monetize property of News Corp. Users of Google Analytics ought to know that Google benefits monetarily from providing the service, but the trail of money is less obvious with Compete.

I won’t be installing the tracking code because I’m not really interested in demographic information about my users. I am interested in how they get to my site, but just who they are is their business.

]]> By: Compete Support http://www.ardamis.com/2010/07/04/compete-is-not-for-traffic/#comment-38830 Compete Support Tue, 06 Jul 2010 20:45:08 +0000 http://www.ardamis.com/?p=724#comment-38830 Hi Ardamis, Thanks for the thumbs up:) my boss just sent me a link to your post. I want to elaborate a little about the tag you installed on your site. First, the audience profiles tag is not direct measurement, in that it will not increase your standings on compete. It will however help you answer some questions about what people that visit your site are interested in: http://www.compete.com/m/profiles/site/oprah.com/audience/. This information is collected discretely and privately, oprah.com has elected to share this information publicly. Audience profiles was build to help you better understand the interests of people who visit your site and in your instance build more relevant content around what they're interested in. Compete is a company that works to helps others better understand user behavoir and their competitive landscape. If you have any follow up questions about our products or services please feel free to shoot us and e-mail at support@compete.com. Hi Ardamis,

Thanks for the thumbs up:) my boss just sent me a link to your post. I want to elaborate a little about the tag you installed on your site. First, the audience profiles tag is not direct measurement, in that it will not increase your standings on compete. It will however help you answer some questions about what people that visit your site are interested in: http://www.compete.com/m/profiles/site/oprah.com/audience/. This information is collected discretely and privately, oprah.com has elected to share this information publicly. Audience profiles was build to help you better understand the interests of people who visit your site and in your instance build more relevant content around what they’re interested in.

Compete is a company that works to helps others better understand user behavoir and their competitive landscape. If you have any follow up questions about our products or services please feel free to shoot us and e-mail at support@compete.com.

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