Alexa is an "other search engine" so i hope this category works... i had no idea where else this may go. I just was checking my site (the directory in my sig) for some bad links, and i noted that some of my alexa thumbnails have been lost (all showing that default coming soon icon). So i was like.. huh, well, i'll just update them with my trusty "update thumbnail" icon beside each link. But wait then i get this error: I hope this is a temporary problem with Alexa. Its been going on for about 5 hours as far as i can tell... Are any other Alexa thumbnail users seeing the same thing?
Don't they pull the thumbshots from Thumbshots.org? http://www.thumbshots.org/updatethumbshot.pxf But you can only update if you are in DMOZ. I think the only way that you get one in Alexa is if you are in the DMOZ. Is your link there?
Nope, the two are completely independant of each other: http://pages.alexa.com/exec/faqsidos/help/index.html?index=126
Icon? Which icon? I've never noticed it, when I have problems with the thumbnail I click on Correct errors and omissions in this listing. and then on Update Thumbnail Image of Have you tried that?
Example Page: http://pghsource.cagintranet.com/directory/9.php Fryman: Alexa used to allow you a way of updating the images via just a direct link. If you look beside each thumbnail, you will see my small icon with a green arrow that always used to allow me to just update the image directly instead of going to their pages to do this. Also, yes i did try going to Alexa, and the update_image page allows me to update it fine there. Therefore it seems that they just disabled the direct link to the page from outside domains. On the alexa link i posted above, I believe they say that "we reserve the right to change the terms at any time" --- maybe they just did?
I see an image here: http://www.alexa.com/data/details/?url=www.cagintranet.com/ if that is the main tld url you are trying to get updates for. But not here: http://www.alexa.com/data/details/?url=pghsource.cagintranet.com/directory/ I don't know about subdomains in the directory, but it is the same description. At any rate, you can refresh your thumbnails here: http //thumbnails.alexa.com/update_thumbnail But you must click through from here: http://pages.alexa.com/exec/faqsidos/help/index.html?index=24 Edit: I was double-checking this while you posted... now I understand. BTW, why are you not using the pittsburghsource-dot-net domain?
NetMidWest, I cant use the Pittsburghsource domain because when i originally created the site, i didnt want to pay for two hosting plans (go daddy doesnt allow you to have multiple domains on one hosting plan) So i set up a sub-domain as you can see. The project grew quite fast - and now i have great ranking in the SEs with the pghsource.cagintranet domain, so i cant change it now. I wish i would have just spent the damn $40 on hosting back in July... stupid move.
Ive noticed the same issue. Alexa thumbnails not working since about the same time as the original poster, I have been trying to wait it out but no dice
I emailed Alexa, and here was their response (received yesterday): I replied back asking if they had any intention of fixing it... waiting for their response
I think patience for this issue has expired. It is approching 30 days down. I cant see any big player on the web being broke for a month IMO
I found out how to get the alexa thumbnails work. I'm just gonna share a 1 mil USD tip to you guys Use this URL (It's supposed to by for Alexa partners only, but as you will see, it works for any URL): http :// pthumbnails.alexa.com/image_server.cgi?id=your-website-address&size=large&url=url-of-the-address-to-be-checked I used the two spaces there, so that the url won't be shortened. I'm expecting lots of beers.
Cool! - Thanks... i'll give it a shot later on. Question though, the "your-website-address" - does it have to the be URL registered with AWS to work correctly, or does it not matter which address we use in there?
I just tried it - but it doesnt "Update" the thumnail it just "Shows" you the thumbnail After seeing this, i checked my website and this is the exact code i use to show the thumbnails on all my pages.