Alexa Toolbar for Firefox

**Brandon Sheley** · 07-19-2007, 01:16 PM

So, for a long time now, there has been no official Alexa toolbar for Firefox, but Alexa has now released one. You can get it here:

Alexa - Alexa Toolbar

I've always used SearchStatus but may check this out as well...afterall, it should help my own Alexa ranking ...I never really knew whether or not SearchStatus did this since it was unofficial.

I seen Ryan at AF post this and wanted to repost it. I also uses another alexa plugin, I think it's the same one he is talking about.

**James** · 07-20-2007, 09:56 AM

Like I have said before, I never have, nor do I pay attention to Alexa, but i installed it for fun.

**Brandon Sheley** · 07-20-2007, 10:24 AM

If you can get your members to use it, it'll help out your alexa rank.

I don't hold much value with alexa, but it can't hurt.

**joshbond** · 07-25-2007, 07:42 PM

I've been looking everywhere for this! Thanks.

I'm going to have all my members install it right away!

**Brandon Sheley** · 07-25-2007, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joshbond

I've been looking everywhere for this! Thanks.

I'm going to have all my members install it right away!

cool

Then have them all check out my site for a sec

I added the alexa badge on the side column, I heard that if a user visits a sites badge, it's the same as if they had the toolbar. ?
Worth a shot.

here is an alexa mod
Alexa Toolbar Users Rewarding System - Boost your Alexa rank - vBulletin.org Forum

I'm thinking about using it

**joshbond** · 07-25-2007, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brandon

cool

Then have them all check out my site for a sec

Will do!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brandon

here is an alexa mod
Alexa Toolbar Users Rewarding System - Boost your Alexa rank - vBulletin.org Forum

I'm thinking about using it

Hahahahha That is awesome! I will definitely be installing that one! Great find!

**Brandon Sheley** · 07-25-2007, 10:50 PM

You'll have to let us know how it goes

**joshbond** · 07-26-2007, 07:46 AM

I'm just trying to think of some good "extra" privileges to give toolbar users.....

I should make it so they have to have it to be able to vote on contests. LOL that would force them all to get it. :owned:

**eric** · 07-26-2007, 10:50 AM

I don' install any toolbar, they follow your steps and report home (how they can present you relevant content)
I don't like spies in my house reporting what I do

**ARealRedneck** · 07-29-2007, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brandon

cool

Then have them all check out my site for a sec

I added the alexa badge on the side column, I heard that if a user visits a sites badge, it's the same as if they had the toolbar. ?
Worth a shot.

here is an alexa mod
Alexa Toolbar Users Rewarding System - Boost your Alexa rank - vBulletin.org Forum

I'm thinking about using it

I am pretty sure I don't want anything to do with this either...

F-Secure Spyware Information Pages: Alexa

Quote:

Originally Posted by eric

I don' install any toolbar, they follow your steps and report home (how they can present you relevant content)
I don't like spies in my house reporting what I do

I don't either......I hate spies also

That's why I love spybot SD

**OS Master** · 08-02-2007, 04:25 AM

Yeah, there are some people who like and and those that don't. If you really think installing the Alexa Toolbar will help the site, you should tell your members. They'll install it because they want to support the site.

And you run into a conflict because installing a mod that rewards users if they use the Alexa Toolbar is good, but members who don't install it because they want more privacy and don't want it phoning home won't think that's fair. Why are you rewarding users who use a tool that invades their privacy?

**joshbond** · 08-02-2007, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OS Master

Yeah, there are some people who like and and those that don't. If you really think installing the Alexa Toolbar will help the site, you should tell your members. They'll install it because they want to support the site.

And you run into a conflict because installing a mod that rewards users if they use the Alexa Toolbar is good, but members who don't install it because they want more privacy and don't want it phoning home won't think that's fair.

You make some good points.

Quote:

Originally Posted by OS Master

Why are you rewarding users who use a tool that invades their privacy?

I guess it must be because I'm a big jerk that only cares about myself and is keen on taking advantage of the ignorance of others while exploiting their willingness to help.
Is that what you want me to say?

**OS Master** · 08-02-2007, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joshbond

I guess it must be because I'm a big jerk that only cares about myself and is keen on taking advantage of the ignorance of others while exploiting their willingness to help.
Is that what you want me to say?

I didn't direct that at you. I was presenting both sides of situation. On the one hand, it does help as it increases your Alexa rank. However, some consider it an invasion of privacy (not me). So what I was saying is that side (invasion of privacy) would not like the administrator of a site rewarding users for using a tool that invades their privacy. I'm not on that side, but I was bringing both sides up for discussion.

My opinion is that everything these days keep track of what you do. Google keeps track of your searches, Vista keeps track of what you do on your PC, and so I don't really think this is a big issue (of privacy concerns).

So I would definitely want my users to install the Alexa toolbar, but not putting them in a separate usergroup and giving them more PM space, attachment size, etc.

So I'm sorry if it seemed like that was directed at anyone here, which it wasn't. It was just a general statement that I threw out. So, we're all good.

**joshbond** · 08-02-2007, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OS Master

So I'm sorry if it seemed like that was directed at anyone here, which it wasn't. It was just a general statement that I threw out. So, we're all good.

LOL
I was just kidding.
You definitley bring up some good points and its something worth thinking through carefully before setting up.

**OS Master** · 08-02-2007, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joshbond

LOL
I was just kidding.
You definitley bring up some good points and its something worth thinking through carefully before setting up.

You sounded serious, so I wanted to make things clear. Yeah, so every administrator needs to look at those points before installing. Maybe make a poll about it, and see what people say.

08-02-2007, 10:32 AM

Just installed it and gonna see if I like it or not.

I do like that it is at the bottom of the broswer, as I don't want to add another row on the top of my firefox.

**Brandon Sheley** · 08-02-2007, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocket 442

Just installed it and gonna see if I like it or not.

Right on

08-19-2007, 02:44 AM

I agree with the concerns about the "spying" comments. I also fail to see how the toolbar and it's use can improve your Alexa ranking.

An alternative for IE7. It has the option, via the config, to add the site Alexa and Google page rank to the status bar.
Once added you can right click and go direct to the Alexa traffic rankings or go direct to the Google results from this site.

IE7Pro - The Ultimate Add-On for Internet Explorer

From the home page here at VBulletinSetup, with right click options displayed

statusbar.gif

**acers** · 08-22-2007, 07:43 PM

I asked my forum members to install this only to find that it causes page hangups.
Basically if you have number of tabs open, the page will hang when switching between them. I have been no fan of alexa(first the ranking algo sucks big time anyway) and their toolbar is usually flagged off as spyware.

Much better alternative is this. No hangups and it gives me all the info i need.
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/321

**OS Master** · 08-23-2007, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acers

Much better alternative is this. No hangups and it gives me all the info i need.
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/321

Thanks for the link. I'm going to try it now.

I don't think I would encourage people to install what some would consider spyware just to boost my Alexa rank. What do you care more about: your members' satisfaction and well-being or how well your forum ranks against everybody else's?

That's a general question by the way.