It’s been a source of frustration to me that Mises.org can’t seem to stay above 10,000 on alexa’s public data for websites. True, this is an amazing number but it doesn’t seem to rise with our real traffic. One of the reasons has to do with the limits of alexa’s data: doesn’t include media and feed, the main sources of traffic growth.
I’ve thought about making a broad appeal for people to install the toolbar but I’m squeamish about that. What do you think?
Written Contract between Andrew Cain and The Ludwig von Mises Institute ( Mises.org, LvMI, Mises Institute)
Agreement: If the Ludwig von Mises Institute agrees to continue its intellectual revolution against forces that are opposed to liberty, liberty being defined the state of existence in absence of coercion, coercion being defined as the threat of violence or action of violence, then the undersigned Andrew Cain agrees to install the Alexa tool bar to increase the popularity and internet traffic of the Ludwig von Mises Institute until such a time that is no longer required or either party discontinues said written contract
-Andrew Cain
What do you get out of being ranked high on Alexa?
It seems to me that if their ranking is inaccurate, it’s their problem, not yours.
True enough but people really pay attention to this stuff. It is sort of silly but it is the main way people compare. In other words, it is PR mainly.
offer alexa a bribe? [:P]
I was looking at our page on Alexa and its pretty interesting. This site has been seeing some major increases in views and reach.
ok, i’ve decided to graph you into positivity.
customer satisfaction? intellectual hunger?
so you see why this data is (are) important
I remember the lecture which he talked about that.
Dissident Publishing: Then and Now
what about a project to reach out to ‘top flight’ mainstream journalism schools ?
Like mainstream newspapers?
no. institutes of education which attract academically minded students of journalism. people that one day may end up editing mainstream newspapers, webzines, and tv networks.
Ah I see what you mean.
So the question remains. Should I blog an appeal to download the plugin or toolbar?
I say yes. I think it would be received well as an appeal for a small, but effective action in support of LvMI, Misesian scholarship, and liberty.
Won’t Alexa see this as an attempt to “game” their system?
I’m squeemish about it myself. perhaps if Jeffrey can elaborate why he is squeemish, he mightshed some light on this odd quirk.
Well, alexa is another web addon that many people resent. also, it does seem like gaming the system at some level. It’s like we are trying to skew results or something, and I don’t want Mises.org to stoop to that level.
I agree with this sentiment.
