Growth Analytics and Velocity (or something)

For quite some time now I’ve been using analytical tools to slice and dice user data on “small sites” (Wambo gets about 50K visits a month roughly, and I have 2 other small B2C service sites that I’m managing on the side). In doing so, I’ve realized that the kinds of metrics you look at for these sites that need to grow fast are very different from traditional analytics.

While traditional sites look at “improving” existing business processes (increasing conversion rates, enhancing the customer experience, etc etc ), startup sites are laser-focused on finding the right formula for their site or service. Startups are always building. And speed is what matters.

For us early stage sites, we look at a completely different set of numbers. And, we compare data ALL the time. Month-over-month, week-over-week, even sometimes, hour-over-hour. So I’m thinking of another kind of analytics that’d be useful for me, let’s call that growth analytics. In an ideal interface, I’d like everything presented in the context of velocity. Velocity been the uber measure, similar to a session or a page view in traditional web analytics.

I’d want to see user acquisition velocity by hour, day, week and month. I’d like to be able to compare velocities for different time ranges (this week vs last week). I want to be able to track acquisition velocity  for different segments. I want to A/B test my site and see what the impact is on the velocity metrics. And I want to project in the future what my KPIs will look like if I can sustain the current velocity levels (i.e. if I keep growing my users by 3% a week, that will get me to the 1Million user mark by ___). A new calendar type but with dates in the future too, not just in the past.

Yes, you see where I’m going now. I think what’s a little broken with the state of analytics today is the fact that we spend 90% of our time trying to answer the “what happened” question. And that’s soooo yesterday :)

About Wireless Modems

Modems or routers are devices used to connect to the internet. Most of the time, they are associated with telephone lines. When internet first came out, modems are useless if you do not have a telephone line at home or in the office. Furthermore, using both services at the same time is just not possible. Either you are using the telephone or the internet. Due to the fast development of technology, wireless modems have come to save the growing world of the internet. With a wireless modem, a person with a personal computer can connect to all available networks.

Initially, dial up modems or routers were used for easy access to the internet. But using this type of modem can be time consuming and browsing for a webpage can take a really long time to load. Bills are also sky high, since charge is per minute. It is as if you were calling someone on the phone. Whereas, a wireless modem can have the user connected to any network, anywhere, and anytime. Charges are fixed per month, and available 24/7 with no interruptions. Browsing is a lot faster, and speed of the internet can vary.

Wireless modems have opened several doors for creative ideas to flow. Due to the widespread use of the wireless modems, other devices and even the smallest device you can think of are able to provide internet connection. First type is the laptops and even desktops. Most laptops and personal computers come with a wireless modem inside. It is able to browse for available networks, and connect through it right away. Most people you see in coffee shops bring their laptops with them and are able to browse the internet while passing time at their favorite coffee shop. The next type is found in USB ports. A user is able to connect anywhere, as long as this USB is at hand. Due to security reasons, not all networks are available for access. This USB port is designed to provide connection, wherever the person may be. Plug it in your laptop, and automatically a connection is configured. Lastly, mobile phones are not just used for calling and sending text messages. They are now able to send emails and log in several messengers. Recently, mobile phones are now able to browse through the internet via the network provider. A mobile phone can be connected to the personal computer via Bluetooth or USB and the user is able to gain access to the internet. Over time, internet is becoming more accessible.

The invention of wireless modems or routers is a significant part of the internet history. It is found even in a small device like a USB drive. If not for these devices, internet will not be easily accessible and cables are still necessary to gain connection to the internet. Wireless internet is now in most homes and offices, making day to day tasks easier. Everyday, technology is constantly changing, showing the world what it is capable of and touching people’s lives.

Keeping a ethylotest kit in your vehicle for everyones safety

Most people don’t have a clue as to how much drinking is too much and imagine that having just another beer would not cause any harm or create any problems while driving. This however is wrong because everyone does not have the same tolerance levels and various factors such as age, weight and how quickly you become inebriated can make the difference between life and death. Since each person reacts in different ways to alcohol, it’s never alright to take chances and whether you’re a light drinker or heavy drinker it’s always better to check your own levels by using a breathalyzer.

Using an ethylotest or breathalyzer should not only be to keep the law away but also for reasons of safety; yours and other road users as well because it takes only a seconds indecision to cause an accident that could very well cause death. This is mainly the reason for France to decree a law which makes ethylotest obligatoire by November 2012 making it mandatory for every vehicle to have a breathalyzer in it. Although many people are up in arms about the new law, people should be happy that it has now become mandatory for them to test their alcohol levels before getting behind the wheel.

There are many instances where people drive home after a diner or get together regardless of how   intoxicated they are,  believing they are able to drive safely.  Maybe nine out of ten times they will be lucky but that one occasion is enough to let their guard slip which can result in a horrendous accident that can cause life and limb. Forget accidents; think of being pulled over by a policeman who suspects you’ve been drinking and driving? An ethylotest would have prevented a lot of woe where you wouldn’t have put yourself at risk.

In many countries the legal standard for drinking is 0.8 and anything above is considered being drunk. What anethylotest does is check the level of alcohol in blood by making the suspect blow into an apparatus.  It is believed that any alcohol in the blood goes straight to the brain and impacts on the person’s cognitive functions such as not being able to think clearly, or drive his vehicle skillfully resulting in accidents and injury.

In most states in the USA talented DUI lawyers are able to get their clients released from all charges by arguing about the state of the apparatus, accuracy of the reading and how legal it was to stop a person who was not involved in an accident. While this might be a relief to those who has been charged, it only means they will go on making the same mistake of drunk driving without bothering to take a ethylotest  that would keep them and other road users safe.

In the circumstances, the law passed by the French making the ethylotest obligatoire should be lauded because now at least the French drivers will be more cautious when they get on to the road and ensure they have their ethylotest device for any eventuality. There are different types of devices based on various methods that can be bought from most pharmacies with prices ranging from a couple of dollars for a disposable ethylotest kit to a portable handheld device that can run to hundreds of dollars.  If the law doesn’t state what type of device should be used, buying the least expensive ethylotest apparatus could serve just as well.