Leosghost - 4:59 pm on Jun 28, 2012 (gmt 0)

I remember eastenders, the crap for the masses was running even back in the eighties when I left the UK, with grange hill for the under 15s, brookside and the rest..part of the reason I left, was that if that was becoming popular, and what the majority wanted ..I didn't want too live where that majority did..

I agree with the broad view of what you see ( re quality and interest,"engagement" etc, and do visitors "like" pages )..always did think that way, and built accordingly..but as diberry says exit data isn't all the story..each site is different ..and different exit metrics may have the same result , and vice versa..

From me personally they get no info via Ganalytics because I never used it, and never would , especially on an ecommerce site..I would strongly advise against using Ganalytics , it gives them all the data they need to take over any vertical with their own products..ask the people in travel etc whether they think giving G all their data was a good idea ;-))

I also don't use WMT and never will ( some here say it doesn't harm and that "it lets you know what G knows/ thinks about your site" )..The only thing that interests me about what G thinks / knows about my sites , I can see in my serps positions..and ( for now ) I don't have to be signed in to search..and I know ways to nullify their geo targeting aspects, and their personalisation of serps when I want to ..and I don't trust them when they say they don't not use data from Ganalytics or what you do when inside WMT to fold into what they do with your site or your "niche"..

They were caught lying over the "wi-fi slurp" and trying to cover up their lies..and then they tried to take the 5th..so I only trust them to send any adsense money due..what their "cut" is , I don't care..it is "extra"..

I'm the grandson of an Irish horse trader..you don't look in the mouths of "gifts" ..but you do check that they have solid legs and backs..and slap their ribs to check for hollowness and trojans ..;-) and you know when you ride them that there is always a risk of being throw for a reason that you probably won't see coming..

Google isn't interested in saving you money re "links"..the only links that G truly approves of ("approved" is decided at a level above Matt's pay grade ) are the links that they sell you via adwords..

They figure if you do have the money and the time to buy links "to be seen" ( as distinct from links to bring actual "organic" traffic ) then you can damn well buy them via adwords from them..

Google are not your enemy..neither are they your friend..as netmeg said..( cant' find the exact post to quote , but it made me laugh out loud and spill my wine;-) ."they'll throw you under the bus in a heartbeat if it suits them, their bottom line, their advertisers and their users" ( and in that order of importance to them when they make that decision ) they 'll do that if your site is good or bad, sticky or not, good metrics , bad metrics, makes no difference to them..

And if they want your vertical for themselves, what they cannot buy they'll crush into oblivion with "free"..anyone who thinks or says differently is IMO and IME deluded, or is trying to sell you "how to rank" potions, books, software and courses..or has not been paying attention, or is shilling..and all four of those things happen in these threads, and on this site and elsewhere..

You can use Google to help you make money, but don't count on them for the mortgage, and don't make your "niche" look so attractive that they'll move on it , and don't make them look dumb..long term it is actually easier and pays off better being unique and with a good site or sites and building for real live users, rather than farting about trying to second guess the next animal..sites that look too much like they depend on Google to exist, they seem to slap hardest, they just don't get all of them each time, and ehow gets a pass..when all the drama of each animals passage has died down..
edited for "speeling"

[edited by: Leosghost at 5:15 pm (utc) on Jun 28, 2012]