Yahoo! Inc., a leading global Internet company, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of Tensa Kft., more commonly known as IndexTools, a leading provider of Web analytics software for online marketing.

The acquisition includes IndexTools' Web analytics business and technology as well as its Tensa R&D Kft. subsidiary. Upon completion of the acquisition, the addition of the IndexTools' assets is intended to expand Yahoo!'s powerful set of services designed to maximize its clients' online marketing efforts.

Yahoo Acquires IndexTools Analytics Business [yhoo.client.shareholder.com]

That was one of my favourite tracking services. Unfortunately tech/customer support wasn't up to snuff, and I ended cancelling my service.

Why do they aquire other companies, I thought they will be probably aquired by MS, this doesn't make sense at all.

anyone know of anything better than Urchin which I can install server-side? (for privacy, speed of site)

Not only did Index Tools have horrible customer service their product has huge holes, the data is far from anything close to being reliable. I don't know if it was hardware issues, coding issues or what but we had a horrible time making sense of the compiled data. Rudimentary analysis proved the data was just not accurately reporting.

We graduated from Urchin to Index Tool, from Index Tools to Omniture and haven't looked back. Couldn't be happier.

Why do they acquire other companies...

Well they are probably trying to do this to improve their offerings...except they are a few years late on most of them IMO.

They probably also want to rush a few decent sounding deals before they report their Q1 results.

Buying companies can also load Yahoo with more debt, which may put M$ off?

Third party trackers are not reliable, they will never be. I run a few hosted trackers.

It's best to rely on your server stats (awstats, webalizer), but if you are for unreliable stats you can go on using third party tracking.

I've found Index Tools to be excellent, with great customer service. They've been extremely helpful and accommodating, and have actively worked with me over several years now to find solutions that would work with some unusual needs.

They use javascript tracking, which has its tradeoffs with server side tracking, plus and minus. The online reporting gives real-time stats and reports, something I couldn't get from any other analytics packages in this price range... and necessary for certain types of businesses. I fear this is a feature that's going to get dropped in this transition.

I had it on my to-do list to suggest their ROI module to one client who had given up on Atlas OnePoint and a couple of other packages.

As I understood it, the IndexTools ROI module antipated working with all of the major engine PPC programs, so all search engine ads could be integrated and managed from one console. I don't know that they'd gotten this implemented.

I feel this is a smart move for Yahoo. I'm hoping they don't end up messing up a tool I'd come to rely on. With the larger volume I envision, I can't imagine things will stay the same.

It's best to rely on your server stats (awstats, webalizer), but if you are for unreliable stats you can go on using third party tracking.

I have to strongly disagree with this statement. I use (and test for accuracy) a wide variety of statistics packages. If you want raw data - use server logs (certainly not awstats or webalizer either, if you ask me!). If you want to monitor human activity, third party trackers are a better choice.

As for Indextools, I'm a big fan and I second Robert Charlton's comments. Thus far, they've struck a great balance between nice reports for everyone, but handy features (and masses of data) for power users like me.

Indextools also has a hosted bid management software. It's going to be tricky because Yahoo can now get a direct peek into merchant advertising information (Adwords and AdCentre). I am not sure how many people use IndexTools bid management software, but if Yahoo starts giving it away for free....

I always liked Indextools. It was my analytics of choice (Before Clicktracks came into picture).

It must have been nice to use Index Tools and have it be reliable. Maybe they made some improvements after I left but the product I used was definitely not cutting it.

As far as SEOPTI's comments about server stat analyzers, I as Receptional Andy, have to disagree. If you are relying on server stat softwares to do your analytics in today's world you are falling way behind.

There is so much more to analytics than just raw traffic data. Plus server data is traditionally bloated so the numbers are no where near accurate.

I have used Indextools along side two other stats programs for over 6 years now, and found it to be the best of the three overall. However I am very concerned about this merger though, as good as they were I dont think I can trust any Search AD company I spend money with to report stats in the same manner someone who is not tied to my bank account is. Looks like I should invest in Clicktracks finally ;-)

IMO, this deal is all about Y! Small Business having a low-cost analytics offering for their 1000's of small business customers. That's what's likely to drive IndexTool's product development going forward, and while it's good for Y! Small Business' customers - most of whom have *no* analytics in place today - it's likely to mean a lower overall level of support for IndexTool's higher-end customers.

indextools stats have borne us in good stead over the years and have measured up to our log stats, but provided much more user behaviour data that we couldnt have got from log files alone.

Dennis R. Mortensen, COO of IndexTools announced:

Yahoo! currently intends to provide the IndexTools Web Analytics service FREE of charge to clients and partners who accept the standard Yahoo! agreement.

It looks like that whole web analytics community is very excited with this move.

Hope they will open registration soon, so we can test advanced functionalities like data warehouse, external data sources and bid management that will be included by default.

Does anyone have any updates on this? Has Yahoo announced any timeframe for opening doors to advertisers?

[edited by: MadeWillis at 8:49 pm (utc) on May 13, 2008]

if you're a yahoo advertiser then you can just click on administration and then analytics - the right hand side allows you to select "full analytics" and you can get your tag from there.

Are you saying that I can sign up for advertiser account and access the IndexTools even today?

yip. it seems so. I've not yet launched it on my sites, but i'm very tempted. Was hoping i might be able to get some recent user feedback on it first before i take the plunge.

Anyone? Anyone? Anyone?

I think Indextools is great analytics software, and is leagues ahead of its closest competitor in free web stats (Google Analytics). I use the system at least once a week. My only concern is that it will go downhill now the world and his dog start using it. So, actually, I take that back: don't use it, bad things will happen ;)

hmmmm.....so has anyone been able to access Indextools (free Yahoo version)? I know how to generate conversion tags for Yahoo, but are they allowing advertisers to access the Indextools interface yet?