As mentioned previously, we will be providing a monthly snapshot of popular aussie locations in Second Life. We’re pleased to provide the initial SLOz Traffic Index (STI) for June. Being the first one it’s a fairly modest list. A few important notes on methodology as well as a couple of disclaimers:
1. The number linked to each presence is a standard average based on dwell statistics provided to all SL users via the Search Places option.
2. For large presences we’ve chosen the most popular area rather than add up total dwell – this means larger presences may have overall larger numbers but that’s not what we’re measuring (see also point 5).
3. Each presence, unless an addition since the start of the reporting period, has had their traffic stats measured at least ten times with each instance at least 24 hours apart.
4. The individual times and statistics can be found here
5. The STI is indicative only – yes we know there are much more detailed methodologies and that ours is a rough guide only for the SL community – we think of it as a ‘what’s hot’ measure. Discussion / criticism on the STI here.
Onto the STI:
Telstra’s Billabong Bar and the ABC Island Sandbox are no surprises as popular haunts. Armory Island by its very nature has a wide international popularity hence its number one position. The Australia Sim is garnering a lot of traffic for a new build and Lord Coalcliff’s Skyhome Resort is a stayer. Another relatively new presence is Sofia’s furniture and its popularity isn’t to be sneezed at either.
If you have a presence in SL that you’d like added to the index, let us know. It just has to be owned / operated by Australians for inclusion. We look forward to any feedback and watch out next month for a more comprehensive index.
Gary – you’ve made these points numerous times and I understand your position. As stated repeatedly by myself – the figures are INDICATIVE and purely a guide to popular areas that aussies are congregating or doing business. It’s a work in progress etc etc and I’ve never claimed otherwise.
Just to repeat again – I’m not using the figures to attaract business to SL, I’m using them as a ‘what’s hot’ guide. I also agree with the great analogy Nick from Metaversed.com made in his lateset podcast – something along the lines of ‘using traffic stats to measure use is like using turds to measure digestion’ – hence my constant flagging that it’s indicative. It gives Aussies a rough idea of what’s popular, nothing more.
Next month’s will contain more data points and we’ve got other stuff under way for the medium term.
As expected you are comparing apples and oranges. The Billabong Bar and ABC sandbox are tiny 4-5000sqm plots on their parent sim of 65 000sqm – and part of their success is the areas around them.
Most of the others you mentioned are 65 000sqm islands (Armoury, Australia Sim, RMIT, Terra Icognita, Esperance) and these islands have spots within them – such as the club on Australia Sim. So why do you take the whole island for some and just small plots for others, unless you want to reduce the perceived impact of the two major brands ABC and BigPond. At least do the whole sim that those are on so ABC Island and The Pond (forget the other 10 if you want!)
Again I point your readers at the actual linden figures for key brands updated for 18 June at http://www.theprojectfactory.com which take into account the full area, not selected subsections.
Gary – you’ve made these points numerous times and I understand your position. As stated repeatedly by myself – the figures are INDICATIVE and purely a guide to popular areas that aussies are congregating or doing business. It’s a work in progress etc etc and I’ve never claimed otherwise.
Just to repeat again – I’m not using the figures to attaract business to SL, I’m using them as a ‘what’s hot’ guide. I also agree with the great analogy Nick from Metaversed.com made in his lateset podcast – something along the lines of ‘using traffic stats to measure use is like using turds to measure digestion’ – hence my constant flagging that it’s indicative. It gives Aussies a rough idea of what’s popular, nothing more.
Next month’s will contain more data points and we’ve got other stuff under way for the medium term.
As expected you are comparing apples and oranges. The Billabong Bar and ABC sandbox are tiny 4-5000sqm plots on their parent sim of 65 000sqm – and part of their success is the areas around them.
Most of the others you mentioned are 65 000sqm islands (Armoury, Australia Sim, RMIT, Terra Icognita, Esperance) and these islands have spots within them – such as the club on Australia Sim. So why do you take the whole island for some and just small plots for others, unless you want to reduce the perceived impact of the two major brands ABC and BigPond. At least do the whole sim that those are on so ABC Island and The Pond (forget the other 10 if you want!)
Again I point your readers at the actual linden figures for key brands updated for 18 June at http://www.theprojectfactory.com which take into account the full area, not selected subsections.
OK if it is just a ‘what’s hot’ or ‘fun/indicative’ can I suggest you don’t call it a Traffic Index (which makes it sound scientific and formal) and call it something like “Lowells Top Oz Pics” or something fluffy like that.
Regarding your quote – can I suggest yet again that there has to be some ‘common’ measurement for SL (or it will not be taken seriously by anyone and will fail). At the moment SL dwell figures are the only game in town that everyone can see – rather than the alternative of hot air, selective sites, opinion and hype.
You will be glad to hear that I will not comment on this topic again.
OK if it is just a ‘what’s hot’ or ‘fun/indicative’ can I suggest you don’t call it a Traffic Index (which makes it sound scientific and formal) and call it something like “Lowells Top Oz Pics” or something fluffy like that.
Regarding your quote – can I suggest yet again that there has to be some ‘common’ measurement for SL (or it will not be taken seriously by anyone and will fail). At the moment SL dwell figures are the only game in town that everyone can see – rather than the alternative of hot air, selective sites, opinion and hype.
You will be glad to hear that I will not comment on this topic again.
Traffic is probably not the best way to measure the popularity of a place or brand within Second Life – it does have it’s weaknesses, so hopefully Lowell can find more indicative ways of measuring popularity and brands.
One thing though is that brands do build within Second Life too. For example, with Armory Island, we have engaged in a number of brand building exercises such as the SL Combat Expo, which we did in March of this year. Whilst this means we are not a major brand outside of SL, we are probably quite well known within SL. (Given that the number of Australian residents in SL is a few percent only, more SL’ers have probably heard of Armory Island than ABC or Big Pond).
Anyway, traffic while not perfect gives some indication, and there will continue to be some debate as to the best method of measurement.
Traffic is probably not the best way to measure the popularity of a place or brand within Second Life – it does have it’s weaknesses, so hopefully Lowell can find more indicative ways of measuring popularity and brands.
One thing though is that brands do build within Second Life too. For example, with Armory Island, we have engaged in a number of brand building exercises such as the SL Combat Expo, which we did in March of this year. Whilst this means we are not a major brand outside of SL, we are probably quite well known within SL. (Given that the number of Australian residents in SL is a few percent only, more SL’ers have probably heard of Armory Island than ABC or Big Pond).
Anyway, traffic while not perfect gives some indication, and there will continue to be some debate as to the best method of measurement.