backdraft7 - 3:10 pm on Apr 11, 2012 (gmt 0)

Helpful hint: Don't call her nutmeg.

LOL! I honestly saw it as nutmeg...sorry netmeg! I'll put my glasses on from now on.

Understanding user behavior requires analysis of user behavior.

And here lies the paradox...if it works great for weeks / month on end, then suddenly shuts down, what good is that analysis? Then we're assuming the site changed the user's reaction, when in reality it's more likely a matter of traffic quality (non-targeted or otherwise).

Once you find a design that funnels people in and works, why change the funnel? That's always been my approach - build a site that converts well, then throw traffic at it (might sound unscientific, but it always worked) ....only problem is, if that traffic is non-targeted (or Zombie), then that approach becomes useless...as do most other approaches. Poorly targeted traffic might as well be no traffic at all.

As Larry the Cable Guy would say - "It's like checkin on yer burgers when they're already burnt!"

(or sumpthin like that) ;^)

Ok, so the next challenge is to adapt...but what I've found so far is that adaptation is not necessary, patience is. Trying to adapt to Google's upsets can be foolhardy and throw your conversions when things return to "normal". I've studied my users behavior to the point of nearly attaining the Holy Grail of 2% conversion (when traffic is of normal quality).

Keep in mind, I'm not speaking for everyone out there. Myself and a small group of sites are apparently the only ones to see this phenomenon. I'm not sure why I share so much of this info, because many look down on us like we've seen a UFO, are idiots or are off our rockers....
...or a combination of all three.

The more I look at the Zombie problem, the more I am convinced that it's more related to system loading during major algo updates. Traffic shaping? That's another post MayDay problem to be investigated.