Having a go - ? counters, guest books

[ChristineR]

I'm having a go at my own webpages, after reading the other threads. I've had the software in my computer all along to create a 'fast site' so have got one going already, still a steep learning curve but fun.

My question is about counters - is there one that simply just counts visits without collecting data about visitors? I dont feel I need to know how many unique people visit every minute over any given time span. I've been looking at various webpages that have free counters.

Also, any comments about guest books appreciated.

Christine Randall
Vic Australia

[arthurk]

My question is about counters - is there one that simply just counts visits without collecting data about visitors? I dont feel I need to know how many unique people visit every minute over any given time span. I've been looking at various webpages that have free counters.Often this depends on where your site is hosted, and the host may well offer something suitable. Sometimes this will be a chunk of HTML which you paste on to the page where you want it - Rootsweb offer this, for example. I'm no expert, but I believe the counter needs to be compatible with the hosting software, which is why it can be a good idea to use what's provided.

Arthur

[Peter Goodey]

"Often this depends on where your site is hosted, and the host may well offer something suitable"

...and some sites may prohibit anything other than what they provide :(

[ChristineR]

Thanks for that advice - vtown(my host) is now part of iinet (Australia) so I'll check out their website for info about counters, they may have one I can use. I am allowed to have one, I know that.

Christine

[star*65]

Also, any comments about guest books appreciated.

I would be a little wary of having a guest book on your site. I've had one on a site I run for a local charity for several years, but this last few months it has had a lot of postings that are just spam - 'comments' with URLs for porn/viagra/topless women etc.

It is possible to edit them out, but it's a job I can do without. Guestbooks, I've found, are usually just there so people can read nice things about the site - not usually anything constructive. If someone wants to contact you about the site, they can email you instead.

[Rod Neep]

I agree entirely about guestbooks.... plus the fact that they are considered to be a bit "naff". They really are not for the benefit of the users, but for the ego of the web site creator. (Dare I say that? :) )

And the same with counters on the page. Think about it. Is it important? Does it make your site more important? No... just let it stand on its own merits. If you want to know the number of visitors, then use your ISP's statistics tools.

Add a counter or a guestbook.... and visitors don't know if you are collecting information about them. Some counters and guestbooks do, and some don't, but your visitors don't know! Some of them may be wary if you include them.

Regards
Rod

[ChristineR]

I agree, I decided to stay clear of guest books and couldn't see the point at all of a counter anyway. If anyone was moved enough by my site then they could simply email me :) I had my webpages up for awhile, but then lost most of them when I uploaded too much and exceeded my 10MB. Since I'm about to change servers I haven't bothered fixing them - because hardly anyone knows they were there anyway. I had only told a few people and my daughter thought they were a bit daggy. :D

I learnt early on in my internet travels never to leave a message in anyone's guest book. It does attract spam, no doubt about it.

ChristineR
Australia

[Guy Etchells]

I use a guestbook on one of my sites and it has proved to be indispensable.

I agree with Rod guest books are “naff” they are also egotistical but they are also a useful tool.

I have found over the years that some people will email a comment, suggestion or request; others will leave such comments online.

For example my guestbook put me in touch with the son of the medical officer who examined my uncle after he was killed in WWII.
If the guestbook was nmessage=I use a guestbook on one of my sites and it has proved to be indispensable.

I agree with Rod guest books are “naff” they are also egotistical but they are also a useful tool.

I have found over the years that some people will email a comment, suggestion or request; others will leave such comments online.

For example my guestbook put me in touch with the son of the medical officer who examined my uncle after he was killed in WWII.
If the guestbook was not available he might have contacted me by email but the options were there side by side on my site and he chose the guestbook.
Some people are afraid to use email in such instances.

Others have left names that they are researching and I have managed to help them in their research as I try to contact every person who leaves a message.
Experience has shown me that guest books have a place on web sites; they can provide an additional form of feedback helpful to both the site owner and the visitor.
Cheers
Guy

[busyglen]

I have a counter on my site, but this was purely to ascertain whether people were actually finding the info I had collected. To start with, I had forgotten to put a heading on my home page, so it was listed in Freepages directory as Page 1. When I realised, I corrected it and put a simple heading in caps, that I thought people would search under. As soon as I had done this, the numbers shot up, so I knew that it was at least working.

I didn't want a guest book, but had my email address for queries, so that I could help further if requested. This has worked for me and I actually had a `thank you' from someone this morning who found a rellie amongst the data. That is all I need....not an ego trip, but just to know that my efforts were worthwhile and that another brick wall has been broken down. I've been given a lot of help in the past from researchers, and this is my way of repaying that help.

Glenys

[Rove]

I totally disagree with anyone who is against having a Guestbook in his/her Site.

To start of with, do wake up that this Site and others like Rootschat, Genes Re-united and many others are just one giant Guestbook. You are invited to take part. You can post anything. And they collect all your data.

I have over 15 Sites and some over four years old. All have GBs. Only one was messed up recently. Just one. I have had some wonderful and most helpfull information in my Guestbooks.

In my opinion its not "You win some and you lose some" but "You win a lot and you lose a little". A site without a Guestbook is half dead.

[Patrisia]

I don't have a guest book on my site, as I reckon that people who are interested will email me. Many have done this, with just nice comments sometimes.

As to a counter, I included this just to check if it is being viewed. Whether it is being visited because of the postings I put on the relevant lists etc, or whether it is being found by search engines, I can't say but it is nice to know that there is an interest.

[busyglen]

I don't have a guest book on my site, as I reckon that people who are interested will email me. Many have done this, with just nice comments sometimes.

As to a counter, I included this just to check if it is being viewed. Whether it is being visited because of the postings I put on the relevant lists etc, or whether it is being found by search engines, I can't say but it is nice to know that there is an interest.

I totally agree Patrisia. As I have mentioned before, I too have a counter, but simply to check that the information I want people to find, is actually being found and that all my efforts aren't being wasted. It's definately not an ego trip, and if the numbers dropped (as they did a short while ago) I look for the reason. This was down to my changing the front-page and Google didn't like it, so wasn't picking my site up.

As to a guest book....like you, I rely on emails, of which I have had quite a few, for contact or just to say thank you. There are `for' and `against' for everything, and I think it is up to each person to select whatever suits them.
:)

Glenys

[Mary Young]

Re counters.
(1) You can have invisible counters, if you feel your visitors may not like them.
(2) I use counters from an external company - just as well, as I've changed ISP four times in six years. The external counters are free, and I get super statistics. It's useful to know your visitors' browsers, screen resolution, etc.

[arthurk]

I posted near the beginning of this thread saying that you might need to use the counter provided by your ISP, but I'm interested in these external counters, Mary. However, how do you choose? Google lists dozens of them, but how would I know that they're reputable and aren't going to unleash nasties on site visitors (or me when I go to set it up)?

Arthur

[Mary Young]

... external counters .... how do you choose? ... how would I know that they're reputable? Well maybe I just got lucky. I looked at a few, picked www.statcounter.com (http://www.statcounter.com), never had the least bother with it - nor have my visitors, as far as I know. :)
I used to have one visible counter on my home page, it had a direct link to my stats. But my son told me it was "naff". so now they are all invisible.
I can log on anytime for my stats., or wait for the weekly email.

[arthurk]

Well maybe I just got lucky. I looked at a few, picked www.statcounter.com (http://www.statcounter.com), never had the least bother with it - nor have my visitors, as far as I know. :)
That looks pretty impressive! I have a site at Rootsweb which uses their own counter, but it only counts and doesn't do any of the fancy stuff that Statcounter does - do you by any chance know if Rootsweb are happy for it to appear on sites that they host? One of the issues raised here before was that hosts might not let you use third party counters.

Arthur

[Mary Young]

... Statcounter - do you by any chance know if Rootsweb are happy for it to appear on sites that they host? Sorry, no idea about rootsweb - hmm ... why do people use rootsweb to host their websites?

[busyglen]

Sorry, no idea about rootsweb - hmm ... why do people use rootsweb to host their websites?

Mary, I use Rootsweb to host my web site. AOL could not give me enough space and a friend pointed me in the direction of Rootsweb as it is free, and space is unlimited. They also have a good help list.

At the time I started my web site last year, I was completely green (still am) and hadn't any idea how to go about getting the information `out there'. For me, Rootsweb has worked, but if this forum had been around earlier, I may have tried something different based on members' experiences. :)

Glenys

[Mary Young]

Rootsweb is free, and space is unlimited. They also have a good help list.
Glenys Way to go! Three excellent reasons for sticking with them. :)

[arthurk]

why do people use rootsweb to host their websites?
Glenys beat me to it, but it struck me as an interesting question, so I've started a new thread on hosting FH websites - here (http://www.british-genealogy.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8443).

Arthur