What Is Alexa Rank And How Do I Improve It?

Having just wrote about Technorati, and it’s ranks, I felt Alexa deserved some attention also. This often overlooked rank measure has more impact on your blog, and it’s advertisers, then you may be aware of. Alexa is thought of as a “webmasters” tool which is why the sites with a high ranking often relate to the Tech based users. If you are a blogger you should also be using this tool. When you clicked on this post, and are reading it, I just contributed to your Alexa ranking as I use the Alexa Tool, you’re very welcome. So, what is it and how do I improve it?

What Is Alexa?

Alexa is a ranking system. They, Alexa.com, describe themselves as “The Web Information Company”. More appropriately what they do is to measure the traffic on the web, who visits who. However, it only measures the traffic of sites that have the Alexa Tool installed. What this means is all those readers that visit your site who don’t have the Tool installed, well they don’t help your ranking at all!

Why Is Alexa Important?

If you have ads on your blog its important. Most advertisers, if not all, use your Alexa ranking in their formula to determine what ads are placed and how much you earn on them. Also, your readers will be interested in your ranking. If they see a high ranking they are more apt to think your site has content of value. As with most ranking systems, the smaller your rank the better it is. Example – 202,000 is better then 2,400,000.

What Should I Do?

Install the Alexa Tool. This will help to increase your ranks, as well as those sites you visit. You can also install Alexa’s Widget on your site, as this will help towards counting visitors, not using the Tool. You can get the Tool for both Internet Explorer and Firefox. I recommend the Firefox version as it can be tucked away nicely down on your status bar.

Download Internet Explorer Tool

Download Firefox Tool

Alexa Widget Setup

How Do I Increase My Rankings?

Here are a few ways to increase your Alexa Rank. The are, as you may read other places, more ways that I myself would not recommend and are not worth mentioning.

1. Install the Alexa Tool – As talked about above. Using this tool you’ll be contributing towards the Alexa ranks.

2. Install Alexa Widget – This can help with your site getting counted by visitors who don’t use the Tool.

3. Wanted Content – As always, great content will lead to a higher rank. Your readers will keep coming back and adding to your rank.

4. Write About Alexa – Write about Alexa. This will often bring in traffic from curious Alexa users, both new and existing.

5. Create Alexa Category – Post often about Alexa. Have a category where readers can come to, to reference Alexa.

6. Tell Others – Ask others to install the tool, as this will help both you and them if you read each others blog. This should be in every bloggers tool box.

7. Multiple Places – Add the Tool on your work computer or anywhere else you’d have access. Take your computer with you and use it. Alexa uses IP Addresses to count, so using your computer with a different IP will count towards your rank.

To wrap things up, Alexa Rank is important to your blog. Install the Tool, and encourage others to add the Tool as well. If you have any thoughts or ideas on Alexa please do comment.