Reliability of Alexa comparisons

I don't even know if Alexa would be considered a directory, so I'm not sure if I'm even in the right place here. But it seems like the place to try.

Do you feel that Alexa is fairly reliable in terms of comparing the popularity of sites? I realize its pure numbers aren't reliable and on a short term basis, it never seems to yield reliable numbers. But in terms of long term analysis comparing the popularity of websites, is it a decent tool? I just wonder because I see things on there that surprise me. Some sites seem vastly undercounted in terms of what I'd expect and others seem vastly overcounted. What do you think? I'd like to think it is at least somewhat reliable in comparing websites.

Jeff Edelman
The Student Center Network
http://www.student.com
http://www.campushook.com

 

If not Alexa, what else can you use? I trust it more than checking people's counters - which mean literally nothing. Is there anything else out there to determine relative importance/visitorship of sites you don't own?

 

I use it for checking traffic to sites. Like ^ said you have to use something.

 

I've noticed that depending on my activities some viewers are more likely to have the toolbar installed than others which creates sharp spikes of traffic that should be rather fluid. But I do use Alexa for overall trands.

And yes, the numbers are way off.

 

don't trust the data from alexa, but no other choices

 

I don't even take Alexa seriously. I can't see how their data can effect my sites... it's almost cosmetic!

 

Anyone of you tried Ranking.com ?

 

my alexa rank broke into 22k but i have little traffic

 

I don't have Alexa BloatBar installed, and I never will. I think the sites that are sub 10K are more accurate in terms of traffic. Everything else is meh w/e

Rob