Full Post
Comments
Damien Riley wrote:
I gave up GA recently in favor of statcounter.com
I like how it gives the city where the ip visits are from. GA is more for big time internet marketers imo.
I like how it gives the city where the ip visits are from. GA is more for big time internet marketers imo.
12/10 17:57:20
caymanhost wrote:
@Damien
Yeah, GA is so in depth and I found myself digging deeper and deeper into details that I don't really need , at least not for this blog. Before you know it, you've wasted an hour thinking, hmmm...that's interesting, when really it's not ;-)
Statcounter is a good choice, and they don't slow page loading noticeably either. I've used them in the past, but thanks for mentioning them. Worth a try if anyone else wants a good alternative service.
Yeah, GA is so in depth and I found myself digging deeper and deeper into details that I don't really need , at least not for this blog. Before you know it, you've wasted an hour thinking, hmmm...that's interesting, when really it's not ;-)
Statcounter is a good choice, and they don't slow page loading noticeably either. I've used them in the past, but thanks for mentioning them. Worth a try if anyone else wants a good alternative service.
12/10 20:31:24
TDavid wrote:
While I generally agree with those who are frustrated with Google at the present time over the issues you linked, some of what you've listed as cons from a technical standpoint to using the products mentioned in your post aren't quite accurate.
For example, slowing pages down isn't a major problem for Google Analytics. Google has a huge datacenters and plenty of resources. We've tested this -- literally -- on many, many page views. Some of the other sidebar garbage and poorly optimized WP plugins are a much bigger slowdown.
You can check your site with a tool like the following and if it's not consistently less than a couple seconds, you have a problem (btw, this blog homepage is loading around ~2 seconds):
http://webwait.com/#www.the...
If you want to cut down page loading speed with Wordpress blogs then cache pages for users (there are some plugins that will help with this like wp-cache), that helps a lot. And be careful about what sidebar gadgets and plugins are used to make sure they aren't resource hogs. And finally, watch the amount of third party JavaScript code you're loading. That stuff can kill.
As for privacy issues, if you didn't have a site privacy policy (I don't see one now) as many other sites who use Google Analytics don't have, you were already going against the TOS, something to keep in mind if you should ever add them back here. Check it out for yourself, it's something you're supposed to have if you use that so you are fully disclosing to site visitors what type of tracking.
Hope this helps :)
For example, slowing pages down isn't a major problem for Google Analytics. Google has a huge datacenters and plenty of resources. We've tested this -- literally -- on many, many page views. Some of the other sidebar garbage and poorly optimized WP plugins are a much bigger slowdown.
You can check your site with a tool like the following and if it's not consistently less than a couple seconds, you have a problem (btw, this blog homepage is loading around ~2 seconds):
http://webwait.com/#www.the...
If you want to cut down page loading speed with Wordpress blogs then cache pages for users (there are some plugins that will help with this like wp-cache), that helps a lot. And be careful about what sidebar gadgets and plugins are used to make sure they aren't resource hogs. And finally, watch the amount of third party JavaScript code you're loading. That stuff can kill.
As for privacy issues, if you didn't have a site privacy policy (I don't see one now) as many other sites who use Google Analytics don't have, you were already going against the TOS, something to keep in mind if you should ever add them back here. Check it out for yourself, it's something you're supposed to have if you use that so you are fully disclosing to site visitors what type of tracking.
Hope this helps :)
13/10 16:14:54
caymanhost wrote:
Hi TD!
Thanks for dropping by and for your excellent in depth comments.
I appreciate that GA was not causing slow page loads which is why I used the word 'slight' but I agree that I was probably a little too vague on my part and your clarification is warranted and appreciated.
Funnily enough I was looking at the availability of a cache plugin for Nucleus and although there is one it seems to be a little "touchy", but I'm hoping to give it a try shortly.
I know that you are anti javascript from reading your blog :-) but I like to have my social blogging widgets, and if anything is likely to hang, it seems that Bumpzee has occasional tantrums. I've just removed BlogRush's widget and that just leaves me with Feedjit and Linkworth's js in the sidebar.
Thanks for the tool tip,that's a useful one, and also for pointing out Google's TOS with regard to a published privacy policy. I hadn't read that (I know, shame on me) but as you say, I'm hardly likely to be alone so hopefully other readers and users will benefit from your comment.
Thanks for dropping by and for your excellent in depth comments.
I appreciate that GA was not causing slow page loads which is why I used the word 'slight' but I agree that I was probably a little too vague on my part and your clarification is warranted and appreciated.
Funnily enough I was looking at the availability of a cache plugin for Nucleus and although there is one it seems to be a little "touchy", but I'm hoping to give it a try shortly.
I know that you are anti javascript from reading your blog :-) but I like to have my social blogging widgets, and if anything is likely to hang, it seems that Bumpzee has occasional tantrums. I've just removed BlogRush's widget and that just leaves me with Feedjit and Linkworth's js in the sidebar.
Thanks for the tool tip,that's a useful one, and also for pointing out Google's TOS with regard to a published privacy policy. I hadn't read that (I know, shame on me) but as you say, I'm hardly likely to be alone so hopefully other readers and users will benefit from your comment.
13/10 22:34:06
robwatts wrote:
Gret post Maurice, I use GA myself, I like what it offers too, and agree too with what you say about spending too much time on the damn thing checking out this and thast and what have you.
Maybe I'm just not serious enough about my tech blog. I know its cool to login to it every once in a while and have a little meander. I did also consider the issue around privacy and giving them access to my data too. I think I sided with the idea that anything they could learn from my traffic could probably be well learned from blogs of similar types too. I like sitemeter.com I use that on a different site out there.
The thing with these counter and analytics things is that ultimately every little widget we put on our blogs or sites gives some 3rd party access to our behind the scenes stuff. MYbloglog, Blogcatalog, Google, Bumpzee....all of them really. I used to use other server side solutions, like webaliser and analog which to be honest were pefectly fine. Hmmn Im thinking Im guilty of an "oooh let's try this out and see what it does" school of thought.
As for the the bigger Google picture and small moves...hmmn from little acorns oak trees grow.
I'd be very surpised if we didn't see a boycott google for a day meme sooner or later.
The only way to hit back at them is to hit them where it hurts and see how they like it.
Maybe I'm just not serious enough about my tech blog. I know its cool to login to it every once in a while and have a little meander. I did also consider the issue around privacy and giving them access to my data too. I think I sided with the idea that anything they could learn from my traffic could probably be well learned from blogs of similar types too. I like sitemeter.com I use that on a different site out there.
The thing with these counter and analytics things is that ultimately every little widget we put on our blogs or sites gives some 3rd party access to our behind the scenes stuff. MYbloglog, Blogcatalog, Google, Bumpzee....all of them really. I used to use other server side solutions, like webaliser and analog which to be honest were pefectly fine. Hmmn Im thinking Im guilty of an "oooh let's try this out and see what it does" school of thought.
As for the the bigger Google picture and small moves...hmmn from little acorns oak trees grow.
I'd be very surpised if we didn't see a boycott google for a day meme sooner or later.
The only way to hit back at them is to hit them where it hurts and see how they like it.
14/10 06:24:29
TDavid wrote:
Good to hear you're looking at caching.
BTW, I'm not "anti-javascript", lol. I am, however, anti poorly written, poorly designed programs that slow down page loading needlessly in whatever language. Not saying that about the specific programs you or anybody else here are using, just a general condemnation.
Since the SE cannot read JS, that's another knock against using it in the sidebar and elsewhere if you want the SE to be able to understand anything put there, which is another reason widgets like BlogRush aren't as useful as they could be.
Imagine for a moment if your headlines with link without rel=nofollow could have appeared on other blogs in relevant places and the search engines could see them? Now <i>that</i> would have been far more useful than some overly large widget in Javascript.
When JS is used purely as a convenience in places where an API where we could hook into it from our servers would be more efficient. I've encouraged several vendors publically and privately to provide webmasters with the option to hook into an API in circumstances like these.
I think Javascript, like Flash, when used in certain circumstances -- and it's the only option in some places, BTW -- is quite useful and am happy to use it :) Long way from being 'anti-javascript' though, just to correct that misperception.
Would be curious to know what post(s) you are referring to that gave you that impression though. I'm simply not that black and white on most scripting languages. They are tools, good for certain cases like a hammer wouldn't be used to screw something in.
Happy blogging to you, and hope your weekend is going well, mon :)
BTW, I'm not "anti-javascript", lol. I am, however, anti poorly written, poorly designed programs that slow down page loading needlessly in whatever language. Not saying that about the specific programs you or anybody else here are using, just a general condemnation.
Since the SE cannot read JS, that's another knock against using it in the sidebar and elsewhere if you want the SE to be able to understand anything put there, which is another reason widgets like BlogRush aren't as useful as they could be.
Imagine for a moment if your headlines with link without rel=nofollow could have appeared on other blogs in relevant places and the search engines could see them? Now <i>that</i> would have been far more useful than some overly large widget in Javascript.
When JS is used purely as a convenience in places where an API where we could hook into it from our servers would be more efficient. I've encouraged several vendors publically and privately to provide webmasters with the option to hook into an API in circumstances like these.
I think Javascript, like Flash, when used in certain circumstances -- and it's the only option in some places, BTW -- is quite useful and am happy to use it :) Long way from being 'anti-javascript' though, just to correct that misperception.
Would be curious to know what post(s) you are referring to that gave you that impression though. I'm simply not that black and white on most scripting languages. They are tools, good for certain cases like a hammer wouldn't be used to screw something in.
Happy blogging to you, and hope your weekend is going well, mon :)
14/10 07:52:53
caymanhost wrote:
@Rob
Thanks Rob, I think the privacy issues are something that folks do get a little too paranoid about myself, but I suppose if they are valid in some people's eyes, then they cannot be considered invalid either. As I say, that's not a major concern for me.
Like you, I'm often guilty of the "let's try it and see what it does" school of thought as my oft changing sidebar goes to prove.
I'm actually finding it interesting to cruise around trying alternative searches and for some strange reason, over the past few days, I've been picking up a much higher number of visitors from Live search than I've ever had before. An interesting coincidence but nothing more, just thought I'd mention it. Not using GA has lifted something off of my shoulders, as I don't feel obligated to log in and check their (admittedly excellent) facts a few times each day :-)
Ultimately, I don't think there could ever be enough organization to make any protests about Google particularly effective, and, as I've tried to emphasize, I think the web would be a poorer place without them for sure. Having said that, it feels kinda good to be trying some alternatives.
Thanks Rob, I think the privacy issues are something that folks do get a little too paranoid about myself, but I suppose if they are valid in some people's eyes, then they cannot be considered invalid either. As I say, that's not a major concern for me.
Like you, I'm often guilty of the "let's try it and see what it does" school of thought as my oft changing sidebar goes to prove.
I'm actually finding it interesting to cruise around trying alternative searches and for some strange reason, over the past few days, I've been picking up a much higher number of visitors from Live search than I've ever had before. An interesting coincidence but nothing more, just thought I'd mention it. Not using GA has lifted something off of my shoulders, as I don't feel obligated to log in and check their (admittedly excellent) facts a few times each day :-)
Ultimately, I don't think there could ever be enough organization to make any protests about Google particularly effective, and, as I've tried to emphasize, I think the web would be a poorer place without them for sure. Having said that, it feels kinda good to be trying some alternatives.
14/10 12:58:13
caymanhost wrote:
@TDavid
As someone who is poorly equipped technically, I always enjoy reading your insights and for calling me on some of my more glib comments. It was your goodself who first got me thinking about the perhaps overly common reliance on Javascript by many third party tools and addons. There was no particular post that led me to say what I did, but several comments (educational I should add) where you had made the point about third party JS often not being the most, shall we say, elegant or beneficial solution for users.
Funnily enough, as we discuss the point, Bumpzee seems to be acting up once again and causing long hang times, so I think it supports your views in a timely manner. I couldn't replicate sub 2 second load times since trying WebTest, but that could be my laid back Caribbean connection more than anything else, mon :-)
I must add that your input is always well thought out, intelligent and appreciated for adding much to the conversation. Bloggers like myself do have much to learn from your experience and knowledge.
As someone who is poorly equipped technically, I always enjoy reading your insights and for calling me on some of my more glib comments. It was your goodself who first got me thinking about the perhaps overly common reliance on Javascript by many third party tools and addons. There was no particular post that led me to say what I did, but several comments (educational I should add) where you had made the point about third party JS often not being the most, shall we say, elegant or beneficial solution for users.
Funnily enough, as we discuss the point, Bumpzee seems to be acting up once again and causing long hang times, so I think it supports your views in a timely manner. I couldn't replicate sub 2 second load times since trying WebTest, but that could be my laid back Caribbean connection more than anything else, mon :-)
I must add that your input is always well thought out, intelligent and appreciated for adding much to the conversation. Bloggers like myself do have much to learn from your experience and knowledge.
14/10 13:12:21
Your comment
Please Use A Real Name. No Keyword Phrases & No Affiliate Links or Your Comment &/or Link Will Be Deleted. This Is Due To Heavy Abuse Of This DoFollow Blog So Please Play Nice. We Are Not A Link Farm. All comments are moderated so spamming is pointless. Thanks For Understanding.
12/10: Google Analytics Removed (Small Moves)
Big Bad Google?
In a cleaning up excercise I've decided to discontinue the use of Google Analytics. Why? Well, partly because it's too much of a timewaster at the same time as being something I don't make full use of. Getting hung up on statistics is too easy a trap to fall into and I've decided to reduce my dependency if you like. I'm also trying to do my very small bit in reducing Google's influence on the blogging world. Pathetic? Maybe, but lately I'm disillusioned with their stance on several things, and have decided to use alternatives where possible.
I'm also conscious that some people don't like being tracked everywhere they visit, and that loading analytics every time my pages load is just another slight speed penalty for no worthwhile gain. Read on for more about re-examining my reliance on Google.........
In the same clean up I've also installed the Customize Google extension for Firefox and am now preventing my browser from sending cookies to Google Analytics in future. Why? Again because I'm looking at reducing reliance on Google and providing them with a little less information. It's so easy to become just a little too reliant on the big G ;-)
I'm still using Feedburner, which is of course Google owned, and their statistical information is enough for me. I have to admit that it's one Google service I'd hate to be without.
I'm giving a click tracking plugin a try too and if you're interested it's called, funnily enough, the Wordpress Click Tracking Plugin
I'm not going to stop using their search engine, but I'm not going to use it all the time either. Sure lots of alternatives piggyback on Google's results, I realize that. If you can't see yourself unable to search without Google, why not start denying them some data by using a service like Scroogle? All the results without providing feedback on your search habits. Google may now be crunching its cookies faster, but they still last an incredibly long two years. I'm not moaning about privacy issues here, because cookies are a useful part of the web, and personally I don't care what a search engine tracks. I'm not a paranoid privacy issues campaigner, I'm simply making a very small personal noise, and taking away a few sources of information.
If I'm sounding like a Google hater, I'm really not, and I'm grateful for all the traffic that the engine sends my way, but Google have insinuated themselves into so much of our online experience, that for me it's time to take stock and change a few of my habits. Let's call it an experimental phase.
I don't use GMail, I don't use the G Toolbar, I don't use Google's RSS reader and I don't feel that I'm missing out. Google alerts? Very useful but not essential so I'm discontinuing its use as well.
So, what has prompted this taking stock? There has been a renewed frenzy of discussions surrounding Google and its apparent heavy handedness recently and some particular posts of note are Is Google Evil Now? over at Untwisted Vortex and the interesting guest post by Hari at the same blog entitled Why Do You Let Google Ruin Your Sleep?
Hari's point is that things like Page Rank are not worth obsessing about, unless maybe you are in the top 2%, it really doesn't count for as much as people think. I will run my blog as I see fit, and that doesn't mean going out of my way to upset Google or anyone else, just the freedom to enjoy and develop my blog in my own way. If you are getting reasonable SERPs and traffic from Google, why worry about PR?
There has also been a few heated replies over at Bryan's One Man's Goal blog, where he has talked about the latest page rank issues in Google's Warning - Don't Sell Text Links and for a very resonable discussion about all the latest penalty and slap issues, visit Rob Watts over at YackYack and his post Google Penalizes for Paid Links and Promoting Yourself Remember to vote in Rob's poll asking if you think Google should be regulated too.
It would seem that some bloggers are becoming increasingly disillusioned with what is perceived to be more heavy handed autocratic rulings by Google, but, it's their business after all, and I doubt all the complaining will have much of an effect. I personally think the whole recent PR hullaballoo is confusing the issues, because what really seems to annoy people the most is the attitudes of a company who now wield so much power across cyberspace.
Having said that, remember the movie Contact, where Jodie Foster's father tells her "Small Moves". Perhaps if you are one of those who feel you would like to send a message to the giant of the internet your small moves may just help. Maybe you couldn't care less about Google's policies and actions, after all, they're just a search engine right?
All I'm pontificating about here is the possibility that maybe it's not good for one company to own so much of the internet. If you feel similarly, why not make those small moves. Blogging on Blogger? Why not switch to Wordpress which is a great platform? Whether you go free at Wordpress.com or take ownership of your own domain and your own data. Adsense publishers, why not explore alternatives? YouTube video users, are there other ways to post and share your videos? Is Gmail the only realistic option for you? Do you really need that toolbar? The point is, that eventually there may not be alternatives to many of these Google owned programs and services, so why not go and seek out some different programs and try them on for size? Eliminating the competition is great for business and at $600 a share, no-one can argue that Google doesn't know it's stuff, but is it good for end users? How about one world bank? One insurance company? One manufacturer of vehicles? Food for thought yes?
TCH Web Hosting Services
tags: Google, Google Analytics, Google Mail, Google Alerts, Google Search, Google Services, Google Evil
Related Posts