3 ms·

yeah, well, google has made it difficult for 3rd-party analytics tools to collect query data so analytics is really the only thing you can use.

MichaelCrawford 11y ago
There are other search engines than google. Yes it is true that I don't get accurate data about google referrals but even so I have a pretty good idea as to what queries are getting referrals in general.
MichaelCrawford 11y ago
I'm completely cool with you knowing what queries I used to give you a search engine referral. Unfortunately google was the respondent in a lawsuit by someone who objected to that. My gripe is that you can use analytics to discover my personal traits. For example today I felt great joy that Starbucks was playing many of my favorite songs - some that I had not heard in years. How did they know? I always pay cash! But then I speculated that they're logging my computer's MAC ID then somehow using that as a key, with the eventual result that "Red Right Hand" by Nick Cave and the Black Seeds starts playing.
- Stoo 11y ago
  Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.
  - MichaelCrawford 11y ago
    Lysdexics Untie!
- ljk 11y ago
  > For example today I felt great joy that Starbucks was playing many of my favorite songs - some that I had not heard in years. How did they know? I always pay cash! Startucks doesn't just play a set playlist from the radio?
  - MichaelCrawford 11y ago
    I don't actually know how they get their playlist, but I expect it's chosen in part by professional DJs, and in part by analyzing coffee sales. That is, while I may enjoy hearing Red Right Hand that doesn't mean I bought a coffee in response. However the dreary playlists of ClearChannel FM radio was the direct result of determining what music produced the most ad revenue. In the long run though I stopped listening to the radio; at home I listen to recorded music or else I listen to whatever a wifi spot is playing. I would be very interested to know whether all the starbucks locations play the same songs, or whether they're individually tailored to each location. I speculate that it's something in between, that is the locations have a choice of one of several different playlists.

MichaelCrawford 11y ago

There are other search engines than google. Yes it is true that I don't get accurate data about google referrals but even so I have a pretty good idea as to what queries are getting referrals in general.

MichaelCrawford 11y ago

I'm completely cool with you knowing what queries I used to give you a search engine referral. Unfortunately google was the respondent in a lawsuit by someone who objected to that. My gripe is that you can use analytics to discover my personal traits. For example today I felt great joy that Starbucks was playing many of my favorite songs - some that I had not heard in years. How did they know? I always pay cash! But then I speculated that they're logging my computer's MAC ID then somehow using that as a key, with the eventual result that "Red Right Hand" by Nick Cave and the Black Seeds starts playing.

Stoo 11y ago
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.
- MichaelCrawford 11y ago
  Lysdexics Untie!
ljk 11y ago
> For example today I felt great joy that Starbucks was playing many of my favorite songs - some that I had not heard in years. How did they know? I always pay cash! Startucks doesn't just play a set playlist from the radio?
- MichaelCrawford 11y ago
  I don't actually know how they get their playlist, but I expect it's chosen in part by professional DJs, and in part by analyzing coffee sales. That is, while I may enjoy hearing Red Right Hand that doesn't mean I bought a coffee in response. However the dreary playlists of ClearChannel FM radio was the direct result of determining what music produced the most ad revenue. In the long run though I stopped listening to the radio; at home I listen to recorded music or else I listen to whatever a wifi spot is playing. I would be very interested to know whether all the starbucks locations play the same songs, or whether they're individually tailored to each location. I speculate that it's something in between, that is the locations have a choice of one of several different playlists.