[skizm]

As a total aside, how do sites like Quantcast and Alexa get traffic information from other websites that they don't have code on? (or do they?) I feel like getting accurate traffic statistics on one's own website is tough enough.

[jhonovich]

This is 'directedly measured data' from RapGenius (notice the icon / message in the upper right hand corner). RapGenius voluntarily added tracking code to their website to enable Quantcast to do this.

In this case, then, the numbers are likely to be quite accurate.

[skizm]

Ah, cool. I did not see that. That makes much more sense.

[raldi]

Many of them just make it up:

http://blog.reddit.com/2010/07/experts-misunderestimate-our-...

[jonknee]

Actually no, in this case it's directly measured. Quantcast only shows exact stats for sites that include their JS tracker. Sites normally do this for advertising purposes (advertisers don't have to wonder about your traffic).

[raldi]

When I worked at reddit, the shakedown worked something like this:

1. ComScore (or one of their competitors) makes up a small number and tells advertisers that's your traffic

2. Advertisers believe them

3. You call up ComScore and say, "WTF?"

4. ComScore says, "Well, if you don't like the numbers we're reporting, you can just add our tracking bug to your site"

And then you're in a position where you either have to betray your users' privacy by putting a third-party tracker on every page you serve, or have your traffic stats dramatically underrepresented to the advertisers you rely on.

[skizm]

That sounds scummy as hell. It also sounds like a problem that needs fixing!

[temuze]

Depends on the measurement company, but it's normally a mix between ISPs, browser toolbars and panels.