Read and comment on this Peace Corps Press Release that says that Peace Corps continues to see increases in website visitors this year and that the increase in website visitors coincides with a redesign of the Peace Corps website that took place in late September.
Alexa, an independent web ranking program sponsored by Amazon.com, shows a different picture. According to Alexa, since the new Peace Corps web site was introduced in September 2003, traffic to the Peace Corps' web site has fallen by two-thirds from a 3 month average reach of 53.5 per million users to their present 3 month average reach of 16 per million users. During the same period Peace Corps' 3 month average Reach Rank fell from 22,235 to its present Reach Rank of 72,440 (See above graph). A rule of thumb is that Web Traffic is inversely proportional to Reach Rank confirming the 2/3 traffic drop.
What is most interesting is that the drop seems to correspond directly to the change in Peace Corps' web site format which occurred the last week of September. The Dayton Daily News series on Volunteer Safety and Security which could also be considered a possible factor in the decrease did not begin until a month after the drop began with the first story appearing on October 24.
Maybe there is a good explanation for the discrepancy between the Peace Corps' figures and the figures from the independent web ranking survey. In the meantime, read the Peace Corps' press release, look at the graphs, check the traffic for Peace Corps at Alexa.com, and draw your own conclusions at:
* This link was active on the date it was posted. PCOL is not responsible for broken links which may have changed.
Peace Corps Web Traffic, Online Applications Continue to Rise
WASHINGTON, D.C., January 14, 2004 – This past year, the Peace Corps continued to see increases in website visitors and online applications, a trend that has been in place since President George W. Bush announced plans to increase the number of Peace Corps volunteers in his February 2002 State of the Union Address.
“As Peace Corps continues to move forward in the 21st century, we are finding that more and more applicants are turning to technology to research the Peace Corps and decide whether to apply,” said Director Gaddi H. Vasquez. “One of our goals has been to reach out to potential volunteers to provide them as much information as possible to aid their decision. The Internet is a powerful medium in that we can really show potential volunteers what is involved in Peace Corps service.”
In 2003, approximately 5.7 million people visited the Peace Corps website, a 32 percent increase over the previous year. The increase in website visitors also coincides with a redesign of the Peace Corps website.
Launched in September 2003, the website is part of the national recruitment and awareness campaign titled "Life Is Calling. How Far Will You Go?" The redesigned website incorporates a number of technologies and features to increase application acquisition, better serve a more diverse Peace Corps audience, and educate Americans about Peace Corps` goals and accomplishments. Since the launch of the new website, the Peace Corps has seen a 44 percent increase in online inquiries about Peace Corps service.
In conjunction with the increase in people visiting the website, more applicants are also turning to the web to complete their Peace Corps application. Last year, 70 percent of all applications to become a Peace Corps volunteer were submitted online. Since President Bush’s 2002 State of the Union speech, the Peace Corps has received over 14,000 online applications, and more than 200,000 inquiries about volunteering in the Peace Corps. Thousands of additional applicants used the website to educate themselves about opportunities for service, to locate recruiting events, and to read and view stories of volunteers serving in the field.
Since 1961, more than 170,000 volunteers have served in the Peace Corps, working in such diverse fields as education, health, HIV/AIDS education and awareness, information technology, business development, the environment, and agriculture. Peace Corps volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. Peace Corps service is a two-year commitment.
ALISO VIEJO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 10, 2003--Net Applications, Leaders in Web-based Applications that Measure, Monitor and Market Websites for the Small to Medium Enterprise (SME), today announced that they have forged a relationship to offer Alexa Data services with Hitslink(TM) Enterprise (HLE) Website & Keyword Analytics.
"Our customers want a centralized place to view all information for promoting and optimizing their presence on the web," said Jon Kyte, Director of Technical Services. Alexa's information about a site's rank & reach demonstrates the effectiveness of on-line marketing campaigns when combined with real-time analysis of keywords from Hitslink.
The Alexa site information is based on a global panel of millions of users and provides important and free comparative information that would normally cost thousands of dollars. Hitslink Enterprise will integrate Alexa rank & reach information automatically using XML data feeds. Integration is scheduled to be generally available during Q1 of 2004.
"Net Applications' popularity with webmasters and search engine marketers makes them an ideal partner for Alexa," said Geoffrey Mack, Product Manager of Alexa Internet. "Their integrated delivery of Alexa content will be the deepest partner offering to date."
Net Applications and Alexa have also agreed to promote each other's services on their web properties. Visitors will be able to download the Alexa toolbar from Net Applications, Hitslink, ToolShack and Submitter.net websites. Additionally, customers will be able to sign up for the Hitslink service from the Alexa website.
"Alexa & Net Applications make smart business sense together," said Tom Rose President of Rosy Solutions, who specializes in technology alliances. "Combining the information of these two companies provides unparalleled insight for search engine marketers."
About Net Applications(TM) -- Since 1999 Net Applications has been a leading source of tools and utilities for webmasters and eMarketers for the small to medium enterprise. Headquartered in Aliso Viejo California, Net Applications distributes its services through over 2,000 partners and affiliates. These services may also be founded at www.netapplications.com, www.hitslink.com, www.submitter.net, www.1stwarning.com, and www.toolshack.com.
About Alexa Internet -- Alexa Internet, a wholly owned subsidiary of Amazon.com (Nasdaq:AMZN), is a leading provider of dynamic, relevant data about the Web. Services of Alexa include Web site traffic information, statistics, and more, enabling users to make timely and intelligent business and consumer decisions. Alexa is available on the web at www.alexa.com and via the free Alexa Toolbar. Alexa's services are also available via our partners, including Microsoft and AOL / Time Warner.
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