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Jason Calacanis Punches Comscore In The Face. Comscore Punches Back.

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Re: Jason Calacanis Punches Comscore In The Face. Comscore Punches Back.

#21

Post by jasonlbaptiste »

is there something im missing in regards to this whole public analytics game? Most of us use google analytics. Those are the most accurate stats. If we're interested in making stats public (or a certain subset) like we do with comscore/being quantified, why don't we just make google analytics stats public?

1) Take API for google analytics 2) Make app with api 3) Let site owners choose which stats to make public 4) Stats are public, problem solved.

This is a weekend project that requires funding in the amount of red bull.

*Please please correct me if I'm wrong. This isn't my area of expertise and I may be overlooking some very important things.

Re: Jason Calacanis Punches Comscore In The Face. Comscore Punches Back.

#22

Post by ekiru »

ecaron wrote: post #12

Who is going to take the lead in setting up an independent analysis for Compete.com vs Quantcast vs Comscore and see who has the most accurate data when compared to the raw web server data? I think the test should compare 20 1k, 20 10k, and 20 100k sites. If anyone decides to take bets on it, I'd guess Compete has the best data and Comscore has the worst. Let's see the services have a throw down!

Given that Comscore argues that the raw web server data is flawed because of the same person using multiple machines, different browsers, deleting cookies, etc., that would be a pointless comparison. It isn't an independent analysis to take two different approaches to information-gathering and see who has the most accurate data when compared to the data gathered by one of the approaches.

The question isn't whether Compete or Quantcast or Comscore is closest to the raw server data. The question is whether the raw server data can be used to accurately judge the number of people who visit a website. If so, Comscore's data are most likely irrelevant because they are approaching the problem in a completely different way.

Re: Jason Calacanis Punches Comscore In The Face. Comscore Punches Back.

#23

Post by jonknee »

jasonlbaptiste wrote: post #21

is there something im missing in regards to this whole public analytics game? Most of us use google analytics. Those are the most accurate stats. If we're interested in making stats public (or a certain subset) like we do with comscore/being quantified, why don't we just make google analytics stats public? 1) Take API for google analytics 2) Make app with api 3) Let site owners choose which stats to make public 4) St…

> Those are the most accurate stats

comScore would disagree--GA counts cookies not people. When I visit your site at home, on my phone and then at work I look like three people. Add in the fact that I use Chrome, Safari and FireFox regularly and I can look like 7 people. I dump cookies quite frequently too.

Not that comScore is perfect at what they do, but GA being a gold standard for accuracy is false.

Re: Jason Calacanis Punches Comscore In The Face. Comscore Punches Back.

#24

Post by sachinag »

jasonmcalacanis wrote: post #13
sachinag wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn't that the whole point of social media? Be authentic and don't sound like a PR? I, for one, give them a hell of a lot of credit for pushing back at Jason in this way. He's the one who brought up the subject, and it's fun to see people stand up for themselves. It's part of why Jason is such an entertaining writer himself. He's a big boy; he can take it.

Correct, I'm a big boy and I can handle it. :-) No one should ever feel bad for me... I got a free roll on life . I'm playing with the houses money and my life is 1,000x better than I ever thought it would be. Seriously, I've been fighting with these guys for a decade trying to get them to address the fact that their data is wrong and HIGHLY DAMAGING for startups looking to get ad revenue. They ignored me for a decad…

The problem with your freemium model is that there's no real incentive to jump up once you're over 50MM impressions. At over 50MM impressions, you have your own in-house ad sales force (or you should) and they can open the kimono to media buyers. I think they're kind of screwed in that they have to charge everyone and I can see the logic that a min/max model would spit out $5,000 as the magic number. Plus, the only people who care about impressions are people selling on a CPM (or similar) basis. Someone like, say, Dropbox or 37signals or even Consumer Reports doesn't care.

(Lastly, you've been around here long enough to know not to sign your comments/posts. If you're going to add extra stuff to the bottom, add some of that sweet, sweet LA sunshine.)

Re: Jason Calacanis Punches Comscore In The Face. Comscore Punches Back.

#25

Post by jasonlbaptiste »

jonknee wrote: post #23
jasonlbaptiste wrote: post #21

is there something im missing in regards to this whole public analytics game? Most of us use google analytics. Those are the most accurate stats. If we're interested in making stats public (or a certain subset) like we do with comscore/being quantified, why don't we just make google analytics stats public? 1) Take API for google analytics 2) Make app with api 3) Let site owners choose which stats to make public 4) St…

> Those are the most accurate stats comScore would disagree--GA counts cookies not people. When I visit your site at home, on my phone and then at work I look like three people. Add in the fact that I use Chrome, Safari and FireFox regularly and I can look like 7 people. I dump cookies quite frequently too. Not that comScore is perfect at what they do, but GA being a gold standard for accuracy is false.

okay cool, thanks for clearing that up.

Re: Jason Calacanis Punches Comscore In The Face. Comscore Punches Back.

#26

Post by Volscio »

jasonmcalacanis wrote: post #13
sachinag wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn't that the whole point of social media? Be authentic and don't sound like a PR? I, for one, give them a hell of a lot of credit for pushing back at Jason in this way. He's the one who brought up the subject, and it's fun to see people stand up for themselves. It's part of why Jason is such an entertaining writer himself. He's a big boy; he can take it.

Correct, I'm a big boy and I can handle it. :-) No one should ever feel bad for me... I got a free roll on life . I'm playing with the houses money and my life is 1,000x better than I ever thought it would be. Seriously, I've been fighting with these guys for a decade trying to get them to address the fact that their data is wrong and HIGHLY DAMAGING for startups looking to get ad revenue. They ignored me for a decad…

Everyone had some valid points and we're all a lot better for the discussion. But don't become another Mark Cuban. :)

Re: Jason Calacanis Punches Comscore In The Face. Comscore Punches Back.

#27

Post by sgk284 »

jonknee wrote: post #23
jasonlbaptiste wrote: post #21

is there something im missing in regards to this whole public analytics game? Most of us use google analytics. Those are the most accurate stats. If we're interested in making stats public (or a certain subset) like we do with comscore/being quantified, why don't we just make google analytics stats public? 1) Take API for google analytics 2) Make app with api 3) Let site owners choose which stats to make public 4) St…

> Those are the most accurate stats comScore would disagree--GA counts cookies not people. When I visit your site at home, on my phone and then at work I look like three people. Add in the fact that I use Chrome, Safari and FireFox regularly and I can look like 7 people. I dump cookies quite frequently too. Not that comScore is perfect at what they do, but GA being a gold standard for accuracy is false.

Do you know how comscore does this? Just using statistics?

Re: Jason Calacanis Punches Comscore In The Face. Comscore Punches Back.

#28

Post by ecaron »

ekiru wrote: post #22
ecaron wrote: post #12

Who is going to take the lead in setting up an independent analysis for Compete.com vs Quantcast vs Comscore and see who has the most accurate data when compared to the raw web server data? I think the test should compare 20 1k, 20 10k, and 20 100k sites. If anyone decides to take bets on it, I'd guess Compete has the best data and Comscore has the worst. Let's see the services have a throw down!

Given that Comscore argues that the raw web server data is flawed because of the same person using multiple machines, different browsers, deleting cookies, etc., that would be a pointless comparison. It isn't an independent analysis to take two different approaches to information-gathering and see who has the most accurate data when compared to the data gathered by one of the approaches. The question isn't whether Co…

I couldn't agree more. The point of the contest wouldn't be to see who guessed right, but to see if any of the parties are so far off with their estimates that they should be embarrassed.

Re: Jason Calacanis Punches Comscore In The Face. Comscore Punches Back.

#29

Post by jrockway »

You know the voice that the adults talk in on Charlie Brown? Anything written by Calacanis (and to a lesser extent, Arrington) makes a lot more sense if you read it in this voice. I used it for the entire article, and I feel like I have a much deeper understanding of what's going on.
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