Posted on 03 March 2009
Better Ways To Rank Nigerian Websites
We are currently working on algorithm to use in ranking Nigerian websites so that we can effectively provide our readers with dependable information.
In our recently ranking reports, we have relied on Alexa for our results, but comments have been coming in from other experts in the industry as to the authenticity and dependability of Alexa ranking. Though Alexa ranks base on its toolbars installed worldwide, and widely respected. In Nigeria setting, we thought having something for better measurement is very important.
We therefore have decided to open to the public ideas on better ways to rank websites. Kindly drop your comment and idea as to how better this can be achieved in Nigerian setting.
Thank you.
Collect statistics from the major ISPs and VSAT vendors in Nigeria.
@Seun
While collecting statistics from the major ISPs and VSAT vendors in Nigeria is a good solution, there are some limitations.
1. First, how do we account for user privacy? Should we allow our ISPs and VSAT vendors share information on our individual (IP) surfing habits? One way to reduce privacy issues will be to generate “statistics on anonymous statistics” on web usage per ISP. That is, assuming they all use the same method for generating these statistics, which is very unlikely.
2. The ISP and VSAT vendors’ in Nigeria method does not take into consideration the Diaspora, which constitutes a non-negligible audience.
3. It does not accurately take into account web surfers who use corporate proxies.
4. There is a risk that ISPs and VSAT vendors may double or even triple their figures to give the impression they are the most used.
@webtrendsng
There is another way.
Various Google Analytics stats could be sent to an independent body that will publish ONLY the relevant site metrics: visits, bounce rate, visitor locations, and to a certain degree page views.
Setting up GA is relatively easy for webmasters, for those that have not yet done so.
Also:
1. User privacy won’t be much of as issue as in the above method.
2. The Diaspora would be considered.
3. Web proxies are taken into account.
4. Disputes on GA stats may be resolved via temporary read only access to GA stats.
The problem with the GA method is giving webmasters an incentive to forward their GA stats, to an unrecognised organisation whose reputation has not been confirmed.
We also have non-javascript settings, users surfing from mobile phones, and slow sites where GA might not load adequately.
Though GA has its issues, I believe it is a cheaper and safer alternative to making sense of raw ISP data.
@Seun
Quite interesting! I will make the move and see how it works out.
@kerewa
It will be most appropriate if ONLY one can gain access to GA of selected site outside ones control
I’m thinking of a model that we can attached JS to selected sites and do a page rank kind of things for the site that wont accept our JS, couple with polls and popular opinion to generate site ranking for Nigerian sites.
What do you think?
I do agree with @kerawa that getting access logs from ISPs would not be easy. Alexa doesn’t give an accurate picture of the true statistics. I am yet to see an Internet user in Nigeria who has the toolbar installed. Do you?
Your best bet is probably to get website owners to share their GA profiles with an independent party. Alternatively, like @Possicon has suggested, if you have an independent analytics company set up that provides additional value to what you have with GA, then you can convince web site owners to install the service on their sites. This way, you can collect all the necessary stats required to generate such reports.
@webtrendsNG
An “invisible” image might be a better option than javascript if you want to use the “code it all” approach.
still on the selected site right?
Suggestion, approach…
I wish I could make a suggestion but I’m not techie enough to help. I use Alexa’s toolbar to track my rankings and also pay attention to my Technorati rank.
Nevertheless, this is a wonderful initiative. It gets my support.
NIGERIAN CURIOSITY
IT WAS SO MUCH EASIER WHEN I ONLY HAD ONE…
Alexa rankings can’t be the sole determinants of measuring a sites importance and popularity as the http://www.alexa.com/data/details/main/fortunehotels.in rankings do not take into account all the browser types like Windows Vista etc.
I find kerawa’s suggestions very insightful and informed. I have a website too that seeks to help advertisers get valued information about the effectiveness of their paid adverts (http://www.adzoner.com). However, because the tool currently only computes information on “click” of the advert, it is not able to fairly represent the full impact of an advert due to the fact that it ignores “exposure”, and only considers clicks as a valid computation of an advert’s effectiveness.
This next level for the tool, being able to compute exposure, will require javascript, or image integration on target websites as Kerawa rightly said, however, the constraints are being able to convince webmasters that 1. your script or link is safe, and 2. being able to convince users that collected data is unbiased and accurate.
Maybe we could do something together, though the road traffic report website: http://www.xtraffix.com is currently taking most of my time.
@all
Your inputs are very insightful. I will incorporate your suggestion to find better way.
Meanwhile, more suggestion are still needed to get best information we can run with.
Thank you.