Take the 2011 ATS User Survey

very interesting survey, i personally hope that you do make a magazine, or something like that in the future.

I took my survey, do I get farm-ville cash?

I wasn't prepared to give the personal information required at the beginning of the survey, so I cannot complete it.

Do my opinions not count?

Do you really need to know my age and level of education to take me seriously if I say I'm fed up with my new friends not showing up on my friends list?

Or that, now I've got used to it I quite like the new design of the site but, given the choice, I'd like to go back to the old style?

Ah well.....

Signed: Disgruntled of Wherever

Originally posted by berenike
Do you really need to know my age and level of education to take me seriously...

Within everything posted and said about this survey, what could possibly make you think anyone want's to know YOUR age and education?

Below are some preliminary results. We're most likely going to let the survey run for at least two weeks as the longer it runs, the more we'll see a diverse set of opinions and clear trends.





Preliminary results after 18 hours:

Number of respondents: 2,817, 43% are not ATS members.

Largest age group: 18-34, 50.7%

Education: Some college and 4-year degree combine for 60.3%

Largest income group: $40k-$60k at 55.7%

Gender: 77.5% male, 22.5% female

Most popular job: Office professional/executive at 27.8%
(self-employed and unemployed are second and third)

Largest marital status category: not married at 36.3%

Largest Internet use category: 4-6 hours a day at 55.6%

Most common online activity: read news and current events at 62.8%

Most comment "never do it" online activity: visit social networking sites at 22.3%

Most common preferred method of obtaining news: Internet: alternative sites at 45.2%

Most common "never do it" category for getting news: Broadcast news at 33.8%

Largest category for "how often do you visit ATS:" 2-3 times a day at 26.9%
4-6 times a day a strong second at 21.5%

Most common "favorite" section of ATS: Breaking Alternative news at 71%
Conspiracy theories and aliens & UFOs a strong second and third

Most common "never visit" section of ATS: extremely speculative theories at 16.3%

Most common "future initiative" of ATS: employ investigative reporters at 47.2%
Field investigations of UFO sightings a very-strong second

Most common "don't want" future initiative: subscription-based premium content
Monthly glossy magazine a strong second place





A startling side-note: Since placing the survey banner on the site home, about five-times more people click that banner than have been clicking on the thumbnails for ATS videos previously appearing in the same spot.

Odd.

reply to post by SkepticOverlord


WOW, very interesting.. lots of like minded people out there then
Good to see.

Thanks for posting that, really appreciated.

One thing that has been on my mind for a while but I've not brought to the pages, but maybe on a members profile you can see how many flags and/or stars they actually given out?
Would have no effect on anything, but might be nice to see who actually bothers give. Might be an incentive to help threads/posts that deserve a flag/star instead of great writing/research/ideas being flushed into the dark depths of the ATS vaults

Most common "future initiative" of ATS: employ investigative reporters at 47.2%
Field investigations of UFO sightings a very-strong second

I like the idea of this a lot. I think It could only be a good thing for ATS and It would be great to see it happen sometime in the future.

Originally posted by SkepticOverlord

Originally posted by berenike
Do you really need to know my age and level of education to take me seriously...

Within everything posted and said about this survey, what could possibly make you think anyone want's to know YOUR age and education?

Well, basically that was some of the information the survey asked me for. And without giving it, I was unable to complete the survey.

I read what you said and still didn't want to give it.

I'm not suggesting that my personal information in particular is of any more interest than anyone else's.

I would have preferred it if there was an option to opt out of giving it. I contribute regularly to ATS and drop in every day so I would have like the opportunity to say what I'd like to see happen next. But not if it means I have to fill in my personal information first.

Originally posted by berenike
I'm not suggesting that my personal information in particular is of any more interest than anyone else's.

You seem to misunderstand.

YOUR personal information is not being collected. The survey simply adds to aggregate totals as a result of the responses of those who complete it. Also, the income, marital status, and job fields are not required items to progress through the survey.

Personally I didn't like the survey, although I completed it. To me it felt more like a "what commercial avenues to increase annual turnover should we take" type of survey, with non-commercial questions acting as nothing but filler.

I apologise for the cynicism but it really would be great if websites and communities were honest about their intentions. If you're trying to expand commercially and increase revenue, let people know! Members aren't going to run away. We're not going to wield e-pitchforks and stick you on a bonfire. But that might happen if transparency isn't there and members feel you're being dishonest.

At the moment I feel you're operating your business vechile with tinted windows. Wind them down, you're only breeding distrust otherwise. After all, this is a conspiracy forum!

Okay took the survey. Hope it helps.

Should be interesting to see the results of it.

Originally posted by NadaCambia
I apologise for the cynicism but it really would be great if websites and communities were honest about their intentions.

At the bottom of the first page of questions, this information is clearly shown: "These demographic questions help to define the type of broad audience that visits AboveTopSecret.com, and will be used to provide aggregate information to potential advertisers so they may better understand who visits our site. Accurate answers to these questions will help us acquire better looking, better behaved, and better performing advertising that will ultimately help us fund future improvements and initiatives."
What is not honest and transparent about that?

If you're trying to expand commercially and increase revenue, let people know!

The opening post of this announcement thread contains this: "As we continue to grow and face the challenges of funding future initiatives, we're also looking to both improve the quality of ads that appear on ATS, while also reducing the overall quantity. Armed with some basic demographic information, it will be much easier for us to accomplish those goals. If you're uncomfortable answering, don't respond."

Members aren't going to run away. We're not going to wield e-pitchforks and stick you on a bonfire. But that might happen if transparency isn't there and members feel you're being dishonest.

Can you point out where we have not been transparent about this?

You are only interested in aggregate numbers, but the personally identifiable raw data is still there, somewhere, in perpetuity, and accessible by subpoena, theft, or accident.

I suspect your data will be off a bit concerning age demographics as older people might be more prone to caution and distrust, having been around the block more than a few times.

That shouldn't hurt the profile tho as advertisers would be happy to believe they are marketing to the young. They tend to part with their money relatively easier.

reply to post by SkepticOverlord

we're also looking to both improve the quality of ads that appear on ATS, while also reducing the overall quantity.

Yes, you were up front and honest so I completed the survey..

I hope it helps and you DO improve the type of adds..

I'm so tired of being the 999999th member to visit this site..

Originally posted by kevinunknown
I don’t really understand why ATS needs to know how much i earn or what age bracket i fall into.

Because more accurate demographics allow them to market a more premium service for advertisers.

Unless everyone intentionally fills it out wrong.

Originally posted by wayno
You are only interested in aggregate numbers, but the personally identifiable raw data is still there, somewhere, in perpetuity, and accessible by subpoena, theft, or accident.

We've made it clear that it's not stored nor associated with users.

with lots of testing and trials

I never saw any of this!

ALS

Originally posted by wayno
You are only interested in aggregate numbers, but the personally identifiable raw data is still there, somewhere, in perpetuity, and accessible by subpoena, theft, or accident.

THANK YOU, that's my concern but I couldn't possibly have worded it (or thought it out) as well as that.

Sceptic Overload - thank you for your time and patience in answering my posts, but I still wonder why some of the requested information is compulsory before we can complete the survey?

All the statistics you gather will only be relevant for the sort of person who is prepared to fill it in.

There may still be vast numbers of members who don't fill it in and they will remain dark and mysterious. An unknown quantity to you and your advertisers.

Couldn't those of us who are too paranoid or cautious to fill in the personal details remain dark and mysterious too, but still answer the survey?

I would pay ~$50.00USD per year for a monthly ATS Magazine!

This is clearly an attempt to accumulate demographic information about site usage for use in selling ATS as an advertising medium.

I am fairly sure ATS will not sell this information to anybody. But I am one hundred percent certain that it will give it away free, in collated form, to advertisers and potential advertisers. I used to do the same thing back when I worked in advertising for clients who owned media brands and products. Basically, the info becomes selling points in industry-media advertising and PowerPoint presentations made directly to potential advertisers. The advertisers will be shown, in numbers and percentages, what kind of consumers ATS is reaching. Yes, folks, here come the ads for water-filtering straws, aura exciters, camouflage-covered Bibles, Steorn flat-pack dynamo kits and DVD box sets of 'What the Bleep Do We Know?' We live in exciting times.

There is nothing illegal about this, nor do I believe ATS is doing anything wrong. Apart, that is, from presenting the survey to us as if its main purpose is to improve the site experience for users. Some changes to the site may result, but ATS is not doing this because it loves you.

Clearly, conspiracy fans have come of age as a values-and-lifestyles group. Katy Perry’s promotional video for her latest song clearly plays to the conspiracy gallery, as we’ve been discussing in this thread. Conspiracy theories have gone mainstream. I suspect ATS played a big part in making that happen over the past few years. Now we’re on to the next stage: advertising specifically targeting conspiracy fans. And again, it would seem, ATS is leading the way.

What a great business idea ATS has turned out to be. Skeptic Overlord, you are a genius.