General Discussion Discussion Board

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

PattyTherre — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 08:30:48 GMT

JovialCougar said…
PattyTherre said…
Stats are updated continuously. You may want to click on see stats for 12 months because I find that the number of reads goes up by a good amount when I do that even though they only started tracking on April 24. Your new review may not have gotten any outside reads yet.
Thanks for the tip. That review already has 30 reads!

Wow! That's great. I love to check and see what's being read. It usually takes a while to get into the google system so you can plan on doing very well with that review if you got 30 reads already. :)

I always look at my 12 month stats even though we've only been tracking for 5 weeks. I like to see total number of reads (from April 24, 2008 when we started tracking).

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

dovey — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 23:29:10 GMT

I am very new here and I really appreciate this place and the people here. I like the stats. It has been interesting to see what others have read of mine. But, I really like seeing the comments, too.

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

JovialCougar — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 14:25:09 GMT

PattyTherre said…
Stats are updated continuously. You may want to click on see stats for 12 months because I find that the number of reads goes up by a good amount when I do that even though they only started tracking on April 24. Your new review may not have gotten any outside reads yet.

Thanks for the tip. That review already has 30 reads!

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

williampinn — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 07:42:16 GMT

It is nice to know what sells and what doesn't. Stats help a lot. I love my stats!

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

PattyTherre — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 02:58:34 GMT

Stats are updated continuously. You may want to click on see stats for 12 months because I find that the number of reads goes up by a good amount when I do that even though they only started tracking on April 24. Your new review may not have gotten any outside reads yet.

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

JovialCougar — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 00:17:19 GMT

How often do the stats update? A review I posted more than 24 hours ago does not appear on the stats page. The previous review seems to be registering reads each day though.

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

NattScatt — Mon, 19 May 2008 20:47:12 GMT

I just came back to the site after being away since March. I had to read all the discussion about stats. I guess they are ok. At least you know where you stand as far as readers. I think we would all do better if we each read all of our friends new reviews. I still like receiving comments though, because they are more personal.

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

ChrisJarmick — Sat, 17 May 2008 14:45:42 GMT

Of course a lot of the 'reads' are clicks onto your review. We don't know if most of those people read the review or not.. just that they click on it. The helpful votes and those who leave comments probably read the review.

As a gauge however stats are great. Tell you there's exposure for Viewpoints into the internet world and that there are people who 'look' at reviews without getting completely involved....

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

AnnaBanana — Sat, 17 May 2008 06:32:14 GMT

Hi, Patty!

Oh, I see! DUH! Thanks for explaining that. I really love the stats. It's fun to see them change a little as time goes on. I will be going on vacation for a week soon and it will be fun to see what has happened when I get back. The rest of you have probably noticed that -- now that summer is coming on -- the counts on hotels and methods of travel are beginning to go up. It's nice to see that people are really finding our reviews useful.

Well, have a nice evening, everybody!

Anna

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

PattyTherre — Fri, 16 May 2008 03:57:53 GMT

AnnaBanana said…
Hi, Patty! I love the stats too. They were a real revelation to me. I guess until now I thought that if I got three helpful votes, then there were three people who checked out the review! I was amazed at all the hits. Here's one odd thing I've noticed. You know, I was neither surprised nor hurt to see how many people read reviews without posting a helpful vote. What DOES surprise me is where four people will post helpful votes while only ONE person read the review! While I appreciate the generous leap of faith it took for someone to give me a good vote without even looking at the review, I was surprised. Has anyone else had this experience? Well, see ya all tomorrow. I'm off to bed.
Anne

When you look at how many people rated your review, that is over the course of the time the review has been up. When you look at the total reads, they are just counted from April 24, 2008. When you see, say, 4 Helpful Votes and 1 read, that just means that people rated the review before April 24, 2008, not that they didn't read the review.

It seems complicated but isn't really. I think it will be much easier with new reviews that start fresh with Helpful Votes and reads right out of the gate rather than votes from the start but reads from April 24. I don't even look at the number of Helpful Votes I got. I just look at the reads. Now and then I am amazed that my old reviews only got 1 GP/HV all this time. There was a time when no one rated and really no one was around to do so but a tiny contingency of us.

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

MikeMaroon — Thu, 15 May 2008 21:02:27 GMT

I on the fence about the stats. Yeah, its fun to see how many hits you have, but I really have no control of that. All I can do is write what I write and hope people read them. I guess if I see some get very few hits, that just might be a sign not many folks are interested in that. But, there are a lot of intangibles I have no control over. Do I want people to read my reviews? Sure! Can I have much control over how many do? Nah, not really.

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

AnnaBanana — Sat, 10 May 2008 07:13:04 GMT

You sure are a nice person, Patty! I'm with you about how we shouldn't be competitive. Nobody should feel bad or anxious, everyone seems to be doing a great, sincere job.

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

AnnaBanana — Sat, 10 May 2008 07:10:56 GMT

Hi, Patty! I love the stats too. They were a real revelation to me. I guess until now I thought that if I got three helpful votes, then there were three people who checked out the review! I was amazed at all the hits. Here's one odd thing I've noticed. You know, I was neither surprised nor hurt to see how many people read reviews without posting a helpful vote. What DOES surprise me is where four people will post helpful votes while only ONE person read the review! While I appreciate the generous leap of faith it took for someone to give me a good vote without even looking at the review, I was surprised. Has anyone else had this experience? Well, see ya all tomorrow. I'm off to bed.

Anne

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

Fardreamer — Sat, 10 May 2008 01:21:43 GMT

As of today, 30 percent of my Top 10 reviews are related to Indiana Jones, and I'm fairly sure that by Sunday or Monday it'll be 40 percent, since I have done four write-ups about the Man in the Hat's feature films.

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

PattyTherre — Sat, 10 May 2008 00:52:09 GMT

I really don't see the stats as competitive. We're not competing because we all write different things and in different areas, etc. I like seeing my numbers rise and I like seeing what is doing well, just for fun. I had no idea so many people were reading certain reviews of mine and it is a great boost to keep writing.

But I don't know anyone else's stats and I am just "competing" against myself for fun. I definitely do NOT want to see people turn nasty over numbers Been there, seen that and do NOT want it repeated here. So far, so great.

I love the stats and they really have given me a shot in the arm to write more and to just continue loving this community. Watching numbers go up means more are finding US not just me and that's a very positive thing to see, IMHO.

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

AWESOMEMOM88 — Fri, 09 May 2008 19:47:35 GMT

Stats let you know when you have hit a chord, but I really like it best when people respond directly either positively or negatively-generates more conversation and research. I guess, I might not be competitive enough to worry too much about how my stats relate to others, but I do admit, when stats are high, I kind of like to browse what other things these folks have had to say, so I guess it influences who I choose to look at further.

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

ChrisJarmick — Fri, 09 May 2008 19:40:49 GMT

I'm very glad the stats are here because quite frankly getting 3 or 8 or even 11 member good points or helpfuls was a bit discouraging. However seeing reviews get over 100 reads since April 24th means people are checking some things I've written out and the site is getting some attention out there in the world wide web of confusion out there.

People are going to find things to be competitive about....it's a matter of not encouraging extremes. The overly curious with too much time on their hands will want to know what is number 1 what is number 2 etc... it's probably a good thing not make that public knowledge, gaming won't be purposefully encouraged in this way. I noticed there is a top 5 button....and sure seeing a couple of those on your list of reviews may give you an ego boost, but perhaps we could keep things to a top 100, top 500 and top 1000 , so that people don't get too wound up about it.

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

Fardreamer — Fri, 09 May 2008 03:14:17 GMT

Meredith said…
Fardreamer - The hits include both outside and member visits.

I thought as much....just wanted to be really sure! :-)

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

Meredith — Tue, 06 May 2008 15:03:12 GMT

Fardreamer - The hits include both outside and member visits.

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

AmyA — Tue, 06 May 2008 10:20:46 GMT

I was pretty amazed by the stats. Mine seem to be jumping around with the reads. It's nice to see the reads. This is kinda like JB, but better. Easier to read. People clicking helpfuls would be nice, but seeing how many people read them is fun. It's nice to see peeps read my stuff too.

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

kevin — Mon, 05 May 2008 20:23:56 GMT

@Fardreamer -- stats are the sum of both member hits and "outside" hits.

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

BayouBengal — Mon, 05 May 2008 20:00:55 GMT

I second this motion for different color icons for the different levels. It just stands out better with different colors :) Just think how pretty our stat pages would be :) --Karen

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

Jo — Mon, 05 May 2008 14:08:03 GMT

I'm not thinking about competitiveness at all I'm worried about the small numbers of readers on any one review - or all of them. I'm not used to seeing 12 people having read a review on a popular item - NOT on a competitive site. Kind of surprised me but then again this is new so maybe the wheel has to roll around a few times until the numbers are totally accurate. Jo

PS I love the spell check feature here.

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

Fardreamer — Sun, 04 May 2008 02:53:13 GMT

I love goals! Especially when it comes to writing, and super-especially (I made that one up) when it comes to online writing. When I wrote for Miami-Dade Community College, South Campus' student paper, it sometimes was pretty hard to gauge whether or not my articles were making a ripple in readers' consciousness unless I got some feedback. I did, a few times, get some of that, more notably when the College President wrote me a letter about a column I wrote about intolerance on campus, but most of the time....

I suppose if the rankings were private, it would eliminate the possibility of the nastier side of competitiveness....

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

Fardreamer — Sun, 04 May 2008 02:43:33 GMT

My stats echo the pattern from another review site where I write. My most-read review is a list of movies, and my second most-read Viewpoint is a book review. Movies and Books are a constant in my universe, I suppose.

I suppose that if I were to tailor my reviewing output to match the stats, I'd be writing more lists.

I do find the stats rather interesting, but I have one question... are they outside hits only, or are they a combination of member visits and outside hits?

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

PattyTherre — Sun, 04 May 2008 02:41:57 GMT

The overall rankings could be just for our own benefit (private). I worry about competitiveness and such as well but people do like goals. I know I do. I work really hard to reach certain milestones and goals and I think others also like to see themselves move up in the ranks.

I do know what you mean though about pettiness and such. I have experienced some of the same elsewhere. It's a tough call for sure.

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

Fardreamer — Sun, 04 May 2008 02:32:52 GMT

i have mixed feelings about overall rankings. I like the idea in principle, but I worry about the "dark side" of the competitiveness it might bring out in some people. I still have some not-so-happy memories of my early reviewing career at Amazon, where the only incentive was, and still is, ranking. It often got pretty nasty, particularly in the Amazon Discussion Boards, with reviewers feuding among themselves and all sorts of nonsense.

I'm not saying I'm dead set against the overall ranking notion. I just want to make sure Viewpoints' happy community remains happy.

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

LaurieM — Sat, 03 May 2008 23:31:05 GMT

I noticed that I have written more reviews than are listed on the stats. Why would that be? Does it mean that some of my reviews have zero reads?

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

StarSoldier1 — Sat, 03 May 2008 23:07:06 GMT

Yeah, there's cool.

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

PattyTherre — Sat, 03 May 2008 20:10:09 GMT

I do wish the "coins" were different colors though. Everything is orange but one grouping. It's kind of hard to read the numbers. But I'm being REALLY nit picky. I enjoy seeing the numbers of page views rise and seeing that my profile page is picking up hits as well.

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

lilsquibb — Sat, 03 May 2008 04:02:49 GMT

Definitely love the stats... I like how the layout is crisp and easy to read. Everything is laid out right there for you.

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

kid-kansas — Fri, 02 May 2008 23:26:24 GMT

I hear ya...;)

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

CyndiA — Fri, 02 May 2008 22:10:18 GMT

If they'd just let me click it more than once, I'd make your day (-:

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

kid-kansas — Fri, 02 May 2008 19:34:50 GMT

Hopefully it goes up but I am not holding my breath on it. ;)

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

Jolie — Fri, 02 May 2008 16:05:59 GMT

Dont be bummed... Some people just never click even when it is really helpful. :) But, the good news is that since we changed from good point, more and more people are clicking.....

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

CyndiA — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:59:24 GMT

Oh yes! I got that (-: I actually do appreciate the one or two on some. Much better than none - for sure.

I'll look forward to watching them go up, up, up.

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

Matt — Fri, 02 May 2008 11:39:44 GMT

Cyndi, glad you like them. Remember that the stats are only since April 24th, so some of those reviews with low numbers will surely go up as time passes. That is the fun of it!

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

RachaelsView — Fri, 02 May 2008 04:12:41 GMT

Woo! Thank you! I was trying to figure out how that worked :)

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

CyndiA — Fri, 02 May 2008 04:02:16 GMT

There's a list for the site overall on one side and then a list in the category. So you might have a top 100 for a review on something in books under books. And, it might be in the top 500 for the whole site with all categories and reviews combined (though it's rare for a book to get so many visits).

Those buttons can vary in terms of total visits. You might get 100 visits to a movie review but not have a rank - due to a lot of people writing movie reviews. Then you get something in health and wellness and only have 15 visitors but it's a top one for that less visited category.

Hope that makes sense.

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

RachaelsView — Fri, 02 May 2008 03:56:06 GMT

Ok, I get the stats, but what are the "top 50" "top 100" tags for? Sorry a little slow.... I just recently figured out we have stats now! lol! AND message boards! I guess I need to check in more often!

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

CyndiA — Fri, 02 May 2008 03:42:54 GMT

Oh that was orange for higher hits - and green for the 100, 500 etc. It's still kind of grouped under the colors though.

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

CyndiA — Fri, 02 May 2008 03:40:16 GMT

I need different colors for different levels. I think the 100 and 500 are both orange. See if Kyle has some more crayons OK? I've a visual learner/thinker.

But yeah, stats are kinda cool. I'm not a big numbers person. Nice to see people are reading (love all 1 and 2 of them on some) and happy bubbles or orange and some other color I forgot. I get the idea with the bubbles beside (-:

So, yay stats. I'll never be spreadsheeting them, but I may see areas where folks are needing/wanting info.

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

kid-kansas — Fri, 02 May 2008 03:01:32 GMT

I like the ability to see the # of times something was read but it is also a let down seeing a high number of reads and no helpful votes. I guess that's how it goes though, tells me my best category is not my best. I get the reads but not many helpful votes. Overall it is a good thing to at least see what's going on.

Ron

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

LaurieM — Thu, 01 May 2008 22:51:28 GMT

I absolutely love the ability to see my stats! It is so much fun to actually see that people are really reading. The tags for the top 5, 10, 50, 100 etc. are a nice bonus! Not only do they benefit us but we now also know better what our readers are looking for.

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

Matt — Thu, 01 May 2008 21:13:43 GMT

Glad to see the reaction is positive. My suggestion to you is allow the stats to inform what your write about but not dictate what you write about. Sometimes you just never know what will resonate or when it will become popular. It helps to have a wide variety of reviews that change in popularity with the seasons and changing consumer needs. Keep the feedback coming! We love it.

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

LisaCarey — Thu, 01 May 2008 20:57:06 GMT

I like the stats very much! It was sort of strange and interesting to see that the two highest ones for me were panda software and temple univeristy .... go figure. I also like being able to see how I measure up in the rankings. I for one am glad that the information is for me alone. I would hate for good reviews to go unnoticed because people thought that someone with "low stats" was not a good reviewer.

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

PattyTherre — Thu, 01 May 2008 20:36:16 GMT

I would like to see my overall ranking though. I think it is a good thing for people to work toward moving up in the ranks and seeing their number change monthly or whatever is a great motivator to keep writing. But maybe that's just me...

Edited to say: Maybe the top 1000 could be broken into small chunks so they can see themselves jump to the next level. I know from elsewhere that I really love working toward a goal. I think goals of any kind keep people writing. I'm just thinking aloud...er atype.

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

BayouBengal — Thu, 01 May 2008 20:30:23 GMT

LOL, yeah the more reviews, the more stats!

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

BayouBengal — Thu, 01 May 2008 20:29:55 GMT

They are looking good! I think this is a great feature for us, especially for those of us who dig stats!!

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

SpokaneMan — Thu, 01 May 2008 20:26:07 GMT

These are some interesting stat pages. It's a really cool feature already, and I am looking forward to putting up more reviews to see more stats...lol :)

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

Jolie — Thu, 01 May 2008 19:55:39 GMT

One other thing to note: I think some of the data from this week may be heavily skewed toward "movies" since we had an email go out on Monday telling people to review movies... so more may have been reading the movie reviews! And, Bob-- you got it. The good points are for the lifetime. (or should I say, helpful votes!)

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

bkovacs — Thu, 01 May 2008 19:09:28 GMT

Yes, it is great to see what people are reading. I wondered why a couple of my most recent reviews have such high numbers, then saw that the stats are effective only from April 24, 2008. There's no data prior to then. That accounts for the fact that some reviews have more "Yes" votes (formerly "Good points") than they have reads. A truck tire review of mine from a few months ago has 102 reads in a week... that's a lot of activity!

--Bob

Stats! Are you lovin' em?

PattyTherre — Thu, 01 May 2008 18:20:10 GMT

I love the new stats! I enjoy seeing what people are reading of mine (My top nine reviews are NOT in beauty. Go figure!) and I like the ranking system. I would love to know what my overall ranking on the site is but I think that the current stats are just fine.

What do you think? Do the stats inspire you to write more? Do they tell you what you should write more about? I am really surprised at the top reviews I have. I am taking them into consideration and reviewing similar things if I have them.

Anyway, I was wondering what you all thought of the new stats feature and what you discovered about your reviews when you looked at the stats. I discovered that people read some mighty odd things. Like #3 on my list is a review of AwfulPlasticSurgery.com. LOL.

Patty