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ActiveMeter Shutting Down - Remove Dead Codes on ActiveRain

By
Education & Training with Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp Non-Licensed

Some time ago, I shared a post showing some of the alternative sites that allow you to install their widgets or codes to get access to a variety of stats and an analysis of your Blogs here on ActiveRain.  Since Google Analytics was not an option back then, I did find a few others that worked fairly well here.  Unfortunately, I was just informed that Activemeter is shutting down their service on Feb. 28th, 2011.  They were one of the alterrnative companies mentioned in this post.

If you use Activemeter (on any site or blog), remove the code from your settings page before 2/28/11.

"IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU REMOVE THE CODE FROM YOUR WEBSITE BEFORE THEN, SO THAT YOUR WEBSITE WILL NOT TRY TO ACCESS ACTIVEMETER. TRYING TO ACCESS IT WHEN IT IS SHUTDOWN WILL CAUSE YOUR WEBSITE TO SLOW AND PERHAPS NOT DISPLAY."

The slowdown they mention above can also happen when accessing other 3rd party sites and widgets, videos, and codes too.  Hidden and useless code on your site or blog can slow it down extremely.  Just look at mine!!  haha~  Seriously, please spread the word if you know others that are or might be using Activemeter (or any other codes like activemeter) on their Blogs.  They may be down frequently, possibly broken, or in cases like Activemeter...GONE!

Many of us simply forget that we have these installed on our blogs, so make sure you check yours too

So while Activemeter is shutting their service down, and you can "speed things up" by removing their code (I just did)  I've found that sitemeter and getclicky still work well on AR if you're desiring additional stats, but I can't promise they aren't slowing AR down.  I think there's a fine line in the trade-off.  You have great stats available here on AR, but getting some additional detailed stats and analytics never hurts in helping you build a content rich and valuable blog for your clients and readers. 

      

Are you using the provided ActiveRain stats page that's already available here?  If not, Why?

Comments (19)

James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Thanks Brad

Jan 10, 2011 09:10 AM
Gary De Pury, ESQ.
Bay Vista Realty - Land O Lakes, FL

I never thought about using an outside stat site. I use Google Analytics for my website, but that is it.

 

Gary De Pury, SFR

Jan 10, 2011 09:11 AM
Karen Monsour
Coldwell Banker Fort Lauderdale Beach - Fort Lauderdale, FL
REALTOR, SSRS - Sells FL Waterfront, Short Sale Expert!

I'll have to go back and check to see, my widgets have been there a few years. Thanks. Suggested a feature!

Jan 10, 2011 09:13 AM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Lots of measurement tools out there Brad and many companies go by the wayside...

Jan 10, 2011 09:22 AM
Chandler Real Estate Liz Harris, MBA
Liz Harris Realty - Chandler, AZ
#ChandlerRealEstateAgent

Didn't know about this... thanks for sharing!

Jan 10, 2011 09:25 AM
Martin E. Kalisker, Esq.
Natick, MA
Real Estate Law From A Practical Perspective

I think the same goes with dead RSS feeds too!

Jan 10, 2011 09:37 AM
Steve, Joel & Steve A. Chain
Chain Real Estate Investments & Mortgage, Steve & Joel Chain - Cottonwood, CA

Brad,

Great post; yes, I use AR stats, but MY STATS don't look LIKE YOURS. ( I smile)

Steve

Jan 10, 2011 09:37 AM
David Spencer
Keller Williams Northland - Kansas City, MO
Show Me real estate in Kansas City

Helpful info, thanks.

Jan 10, 2011 10:35 AM
Randy Ostrander
Lake and Lodge Realty LLC - Big Rapids, MI
Real Estate Broker, Serving Big Rapids and West Central MI

Never thought of using Google Analytics for my blog. Thanks Brad.

Jan 10, 2011 10:54 AM
Lori Bowers
La Quinta, CA
The Lori Bowers Group

Very helpful info. This is so amazing how many people view our site.

Jan 10, 2011 11:04 AM
Fred Carver Real Estate Consulant
Retired BC Realtor - Victoria, BC
Accredited Real Estate Consultant

Hi Brad....Thanks for the tip and options.

I'll bookmark another of your helpfull posts :O))

 

Jan 10, 2011 12:17 PM
Simon Mills
Mills Realty - Toluca Lake, CA

For some reason I had never clicked on the statistics tab.  Thanks for pointing it out!

Jan 10, 2011 12:45 PM
Denise Roberts
New Colony Properties, LLC - Pinehurst, NC
e-PRO, REALTOR - Specializing in Pinehurst, NC Area

Is this why my facebook page 'insights' aren't reporting any more???

Jan 10, 2011 01:24 PM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Not sure if this affects Facebook insights, but AR blogs, other blogs, and websites for sure.

Jan 10, 2011 02:34 PM
FN LN
Toronto, ON

Hi Brad - I've never been a big fan of all the widgets down the side.  Many of the underlying widget servers noticeably slow down page loading.  I also notice the same things when major daily newspapers use certain advertising networks that slow down, if not stop, the downloading of the newspaper article due to the server being extremely slow.l

Jan 10, 2011 11:08 PM
Rebecca Gaujot, Realtor®
Lewisburg, WV
Lewisburg WV, the go to agent for all real estate

Brad, definitely something I need to check into, hope all is well at Zillow!

Jan 10, 2011 11:58 PM
Laura Reilly
Real Living Real Estate Professionals - Redding, CA
Home Sales Realtor - Short Sale Team Member - Redd

Ah ha. So that's how you do that. Thanks!

Jan 11, 2011 02:55 AM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Just a reminder if you subscribe to my Blog or this post:

This is a reminder to let you know of ActiveMeter shutdown. Please take appropriate actions if you haven't already done so.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU REMOVE THE CODE FROM YOUR WEBSITE BEFORE THEN, SO THAT YOUR WEBSITE WILL NOT TRY TO ACCESS ACTIVEMETER. TRYING TO ACCESS IT WHEN IT IS SHUTDOWN WILL CAUSE YOUR WEBSITE TO SLOW AND PERHAPS NOT DISPLAY. WE CANNOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE PROBLEMS.

Jan 20, 2011 04:21 AM
George Fanucci
CoreFact.com - Los Altos, CA
Internet - Technology - Business - Solutions

Hi Brad, I was trying to install Google Analytics in my AR Blog.  I have used GA on many hundreds of agent websites. AR custom stats are good, as far as they go, but I also want more info, such as GA provides.  

I was surprized that my GA code was deemed UNacceptable to AR's widget HTML check.

I copied and pasted the GA HTML code from GA into my Blog Description, to no avail. The HTML code appears on my view of the settings page:

Blog Settings

Blog Title: ...

Blog Description: ...
  

Google Analytics JavaScript HTML

It looks okay on the AR Blog setup side, but when I check the HTML source code in the web browser, the GA code has been removed by some HTML parser that AR is using.

Site Meter JavaScript HTML

Next, I tried SiteMeter, and found that HTML comments are not escaped, and other wierd side effects.  NOT GOOD.  The AR Blog setup code needs some work, it seems... 

The result on the right sidebar in my AR Blog is now very ugly when I view a page of my AR blog.  The sitemeter image appears twice. The HTML comments are visible.

AR should support GA and SiteMeter HTML code in the widget code box of the Blog Description.

(I tried pasting the HTML code here, but that was a disaster.  Should I email it to you?)

Can you illuminate?  How to add Google Analytics to an ActiveRain Blog?

Feb 12, 2012 06:55 PM