Counters - Why are they Unprofessional?

[Beth]

Hi Davi

I saw your thread from earlier this week. Why do you consider counters to be unprofessional? On a budget, how would you try to monitor web traffic to your site

Just wondering what your thoughts were

Thank
Bet

 

[waynesworld]

Not Dave, but here's my 2-cents: You can use "invisible counters". They log
stuff without it showing on your page. If you have a good site and your
counter is really high it won't look too cheesy. It's when you have a junky
site and the counter says 103 visitors that it looks less than top shelf.
Counters are really unprofessional if they are free ad-supported counters
that promote the counter itself. Your mileage may vary. That's my story and
I'm sticking to it
Wayne

Hi David

I saw your thread from earlier this week. Why do you consider counters to

be unprofessional? On a budget, how would you try to monitor web traffic to
your site?

 

[Beth]

Thanks Wayne

Can you recommend one in particular?

 

[David Bartosik - MS MVP]

Have you ever seen one on a site you would deem professional?
You'll most likely see one on Bubba Bob's home page.
Things to keep in mind -
nobody cares how many hits you get, if you have something that interests
them they'll visit, whether you have 2 or 2000 other people that share that
interest in your page is of no concern to them in their busy life.
BUT, sometimes pointing out to the visitor how much traffic you get might
hurt. It's information they don't want and don't need so why give it to
them.
Counters are wholly inaccurate because they can be started at any value, AND
at a minimum 80% of the hits shown on the counter are coming from the site
owner.
Web servers write a log file recording detailed info on every hit, any
decent host provider gives you access to these log files. The log files
provide an accurate traffic picture (after you cross off all the entries
with your IP number).
Most hosts provide a tool to view the log files in an easy to understand
format.
Most likely after a couple of weeks, maybe 4, you'll find yourself spending
to much time looking at your traffic information and realize you have more
important things to work on.

--
David Bartosik - MS MVP
for Publisher help:
www.davidbartosik.com
enter to win Pub 2003:
www.davidbartosik.com/giveaway.aspx

Hi David

I saw your thread from earlier this week. Why do you consider counters to

be unprofessional? On a budget, how would you try to monitor web traffic to
your site?