No, that ginormous number isn’t my bottom blood pressure number, it’s the current (as of March 10, 2010) Alexa rating for Search Engine Viking. While any score of nearly 3.6 million might sound impressive, it really isn’t. Alexa isn’t a “the most points wins” kind of game, instead it’s more like golf or an IRS audit: the lower the score, the better.
The "Look Ma, No Friends" Graph
What this means is that my site is the 3,598,486th most popular site on the Internet, so 3,598,485 other websites are more popular than mine.
Hopefully that will change. Because this site is brand new I’m certainly not going to take a bath with a toaster as a result of such low numbers, since any rational human being can’t expect a loyal readership and thousands of page views this early.
But I can expect improvement. Maybe not a whole bunch at first, or maybe none at all for the next few months, but I would like to crack the top 3,598,485 sometime before summer (I think summer officially starts on June 20, but I’ll have to check – either way, a day or two either direction probably won’t make that big of a difference). So:
Alexa Goal: A better score than 3,598,486 by June 20, 2010.
There are a few ways to go about making this happen, and they are scattered all over this website. Alexa is, after all, a popularity contest, so all the little tips and tricks I’m using to dominate the Internet should pay off here, too. “Should” is the key word though, because…
What Is Alexa?
Good question. Wish I had a good answer. All I know is that it’s a measurement of site popularity. How and why it gathers the information it uses, and how it calculates it, is beyond me. And judging by several “I don’t Get It” posts and articles by some of the world’s best computer minds, I’m not the only one. Some even go so far as to call Alexa “controversial,” “misleading” and “sexy” – no wait, one of those is a misprint…
But controversial or not, I would like to think that SearchEngineViking.com is worthy of a better score than 3,598,486.
How You Can Help
You’re so sweet, out of nearly 3.6 million other websites you’re willing to help me – thanks! All you’ll need is a master’s degree in computer coding, a 14-inch pipe wrench and a Bunsen burner.
Just kidding.
All you really need to do is visit this site. Really! Most experts agree that page views play a big role in Alexa’s rating system. And since you love this site anyway and come here at least 30 times per day in anticipation of new content (I wish!), you don’t even have to change your normal surfing habits!
How cool is that?
But if you REALLY want to help out, tell your friends, blogging buddies, family, coworkers, dentists, real estate appraisers and local biker gang to visit the site too. With all the cool content and How-To stuff I include on this blog on a somewhat regular basis, they might actually like it. And they might like you. Which would make you popular. Which means I’m not lying when I say “All the cool kids are doing it.”
I am loving the humour in this post Lee! It is something that should show it’s head regularly here
It is really easy to put your way up to the top 1,000,000 so I think you will have that by the end of the month!
.-= Tom | Build That List´s last blog ..The 4 Reasons People Unsubscribe Mailing Lists =-.
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Lee Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 4:38 am
Thanks Tom, glad to hear you enjoy my writing style
I’m not so sure I’ll pass the 1,000,000 mark by the end of the month – mostly because I understand less about Alexa than I do Quantum Mechanics – but if you say it’s possible, then I believe you
I’ll try to remember to post an Alexa Update around that time, this might turn into a fun little game, “Guess the Search Engine Viking Alexa rating!”
.-= Lee´s last blog ..Alexa 3,598,486 And Counting =-.
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From experience with Alexa it’s fairly easy to get it to around 100-200k (in this niche) but rising can be harder depending on whether or not Alexa like your website.
I say you’ll be around 120k by June, so that’s my guess for the game.
.-= Jason @ Make Money At Home´s last blog ..A Preview Of The New Design And Site Updates =-.
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Lee Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 5:38 am
Cool Jason, I’ve got you down for 120k on the Search Engine Viking bookie sheet
.-= Lee´s last blog ..Alexa 3,598,486 And Counting =-.
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Look at that, your already almost at your goal, and it’s been what, 1 day since you posted this! I’m seeing 3,601,863 right now! You are more popular than you think!
.-= myfinancialobjectives´s last blog ..The Ultimate Motivator: Compounding Interest =-.
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Lee Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 6:05 pm
Yeah, I’m seeing the same number today, too bad it’s actually a bad change – since lower numbers are better, I’ve actually dropped about a half million places since I wrote this yesterday.
Talk about a downhill slide… Yikes!
.-= Lee´s last blog ..Alexa 3,598,486 And Counting =-.
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I just got done telling the local biker gang… But because I live in Uruguay they all ride mopeds and 125s, I hope that counts…
You’ll get into the top of Alexa in no time… It took me less than 2 months to go from 8M to 700K with my last blog…
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Mopeds rock! I’ve always wanted to join a moped biker gang, so thanks for spreading the word
Thanks for the words of encouragement. We’ll see how this Alexa thing works out over time…
.-= Lee´s last blog ..Alexa 3,598,486 And Counting =-.
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Ranking in Alexa is the new hot thing, hm? I’m trying to do it too and am in the ‘Look Ma, No Friends’ category as well
Do a couple of guest sposts… your articles are entertaining.
.-= Moon Hussain´s last blog ..My Three Pronged Approach To Creating My First Niche Website =-.
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Lee Reply:
March 12th, 2010 at 6:07 pm
“Look Ma, No Friends” – That cracked me up! Thanks for the good laugh on a Friday
And thanks for the props about my posts! I’m glad you’re entertained!
I’ve been to your blog a couple of times recently, love what you’re doing over there – if we both keep at it, we’ll snag the coveted Alexa #1 & #2…
.-= Lee´s last blog ..Alexa 3,598,486 And Counting =-.
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Good stuff you got here! I’m sure you’ll climb the Alexa mountain quickly (now where did I put that helicopter?)…
Good luck to you, I’ll be stopping back every now and then…
As you probably already know I came over here via a link from http://www.plantingdollars.com
.-= Money Reasons´s last blog ..What I Have Learned To Date From Blogging! =-.
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A helicopter – why didn’t I think of that???
Thanks for swinging by, I LOVE PlantingDollars and read it everyday.
.-= Lee´s last blog ..Alexa 3,598,486 And Counting =-.
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Lee, I also arrived here from Planting Dollars. And I found his website from Lisa at 2createawebsite.
I enjoyed your humor regarding Alexa! My website is 10 days old and Queen Alexa won’t come for a visit. I’ve offered coffee & cigarettes. Nothing. What’s your trick?
I will visit your website again! I’m not planning on visiting Boise, but you’ve already picked a Niche!!! (I don’t have that either!) I have SO much to learn. That’s why I’m here.
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Lee Reply:
March 19th, 2010 at 5:43 pm
I found Ryan’s site through Lisa, too. I’m glad I did, I love PlantingDollars.
Thanks for swinging by, and I’m glad you like my writing – even if it is heavy-handed on making fun of myself
I’d be honored if you learned a few SEO tricks here, that’s why I’ve put this whole thing together. As for “Queen Alexa” you and I will be learning together, since I don’t know jack squat about that (as you can probably tell)!
.-= Lee´s last blog ..Boise Website Part 1: Conceptualization =-.
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On the right you have listed search engines. Which is your favorite? I’m a google boy for searching but I like yahoo for email.
.-= Scott Barron´s last blog ..ONE campaign =-.
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Lee Reply:
March 23rd, 2010 at 2:33 am
I was a die hard Yahoo user until about a year ago, now I almost always use Google. Don’t know why or when I switched exactly.
It’s interesting that you point out the search engines I’ve got linked – it’s part of an SEO trick I’ve been experimenting with for a few months on other sites. I’ll dedicate a post to it soon
.-= Lee´s last blog ..Anchors Away: What Is Anchor Text? =-.
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Good job. I am in the top 800k, probably 700k tomorrow. And in the top 100k for the U.S. I am jumping pretty big in Technorati authority too.
.-= Brandon Connell´s last blog ..How Ritalin made me a better blogger =-.
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