Frames, Traffic, CSS

[DJilla]

Frames... who uses them any more I thought they were in their death throes back in 2000.

I got the following explanation from a traffic provider and it doesn't make any sense to me can anybody clarify please?
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"If you break frames, which you should, then some of the traffic will be counted as bookmarks. Bookmarks do not have referrers. This is explained in the text where you got the frame code from."
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First off if my server logs don't count a hit because its a "bookmark" then is it really a hit as far as I'm concerned? I'm thinking NO! But maybe you all would?

Second, aren't frames so dead that a frame breaking script is sort of useless? I'm not liking it because the script is screwing up the css design of my page. Any suggestions?

[oast]

I'm guessing that they mean if you use the 'traditional' way of breaking out of a frame i.e. using the Javascript "top.location.href=location.href;" to immediately break the frame, then in effect it is calling your page from itself and not from the original referer... thus appearing as tho someone came to your page/site twice. Once from the referring site and then again from a bookmark or favorite and so, not giving a (completely) true reflection of traffic.

Originally Posted by DJilla

Second, aren't frames so dead that a frame breaking script is sort of useless?

1 - Google's image browser is in a frame.
2 - Thumbzilla (and others) use them for their "extra" content
3 - There are sites out there that pull others in frames to appear to have loads of their own content!

[juggernaut]

Heres a link to a well known guys site here which might clear this up a little better for you. And he has some code to help.
http://adult-site-traffic.com/stats/breaker.html

[DJilla]

Originally Posted by oast

I'm guessing that they mean if you use the 'traditional' way of breaking out of a frame i.e. using the Javascript "top.location.href=location.href;" to immediately break the frame, then in effect it is calling your page from itself and not from the original referer... thus appearing as tho someone came to your page/site twice. Once from the referring site and then again from a bookmark or favorite and so, not giving a (completely) true reflection of traffic.

The above makes sense...

Soooo, if I'm breaking the frame my server records should show HALF as much traffic or TWICE as much traffic as a result of the "page coming from the referrer" and then again "as a bookmark" to that particular page when a surfer is coming in from a site using frames?

Thanks all.

[oast]

Your logs would show TWICE what you are actually getting, but only for those with Javascript enabled.... confusing isn't it

A better technique would be to add the target="_top" attribute to your navigation or front page "Enter" link(s) (unless you are using valid strict XHTML code)

[DJilla]

Originally Posted by oast

I'm guessing that they mean if you use the 'traditional' way of breaking out of a frame i.e. using the Javascript "top.location.href=location.href;" to immediately break the frame, then in effect it is calling your page from itself and not from the original referer... thus appearing as tho someone came to your page/site twice. Once from the referring site and then again from a bookmark or favorite and so, not giving a (completely) true reflection of traffic.

So how can I narrow and count this occurence of traffic coming from "bookmarks"?. I'm guessing the only way is to estimate previous traffic to the designated url that traffic is coming to and cut it in half?

[oast]

The only way to distinguish the genuine bookmarkers from the escaped framers is to view the IP addresses and see if a bookmarker had accessed your site in the previous few seconds from a referer.

[oast]

escaped framers

Yes that was spelt correctly.. I was referring to surfers that had broken out of frames; not field workers that are missing from the lunatic asylum

[DJilla]

Originally Posted by oast

Yes that was spelt correctly.. I was referring to surfers that had broken out of frames; not field workers that are missing from the lunatic asylum

Thanks! Might be easier to just get traffic not coming in frames?

I thought you were talking about the type of escaped framer that's always running around screaming "Picture This!"
Bada bing!

[oast]

Originally Posted by DJilla

Thanks! Might be easier to just get traffic not coming in frames?

Seems so yes... unless, as I mentioned earlier, if you have an "Enter" link; target it to "_top".