What is Lilypad?
First, it makes most sense to explain what Lilypad is not. Lilypad is not a log-file analyzer, and does not use your Web site's server logs. Lilypad is standalone software application which simply helps you gauge the effectiveness of your online media promotions. Lilypad takes much of the guesswork out of Web site promotional planning and the post-buy analysis of commercial Web media placements and sponsorships by allowing you to learn how Web users are finding your Web site.

When should I use Lilypad?
With daily traffic summary reports you can use Lilypad right away to observe the popularity of your Web site, tracking if your Web site is growing or declining in prominence and use. Lilypad is of particular use if your Web site is involved with pay per clickthrough banner advertising.

However, keep in mind, that Lilypad prepares reports based on data which it gathers on its own. In order to use the aggregate performance history reports, you'll need to have several days worth of information before the reports will be very meaningful.

What will Lilypad do for me?
First, Lilypad will end your dependence on the often unverified and diverse unstandardized clickthrough reports provided by the Web media you've sponsored. Lilypad will provide you with critical information in easy to read reports that will allow you to make better evaluation decisions concerning your Web site promotional efforts, e.g. which Web sites are giving me the most bang for the buck?

The Lilypad report is confusing! What does it really mean?
Lilypad is a feature-rich environment, and depending on what you need from Lilypad, the various report parameters will have different levels of usefulness to different people. Although we have a good idea of what you might be using it for , the best thing to do is experiment with Lilypad. Let us know what you like and don't like, we're always looking for ways to improve our software.

What is the value of Lilypad?
Lilypad is most valuable when used to help make informed decisions about Web site promotion, particularly repose oriented banner advertising. Simply as an independent source of information, Lilypad provides insight about Web surfing behavior.

How can I be sure Lilypad really works?
It's very easy to test Lilypad, simple open two Web browser windows with one set to Lilypad and the other on a page which links to your Web site. First, run a real-time traffic summary report noting the total. Next, quickly click on the link in the other window and wait for your Web site to load. Finally, quickly reload your traffic summary report - it should have increased by one.

Does Lilypad data need to be audited?
No, auditing is a process which involves objective third-party researchers that determine the veracity of the claims of commercial Web media suppliers. Since Lilypad strictly reports response to Web promotion and resides on the advertiser's Web server, there is no need for auditing. Instead, Lilypad is more like a "checks and balances" system for monitoring your Web media suppliers.

What happens, when I click on a hyperlink in the report and nothing comes up? Typically when this phenomenon occurs, you are requesting an expired hyperlink. As you will begin to notice the Web is under constant turbulence as Web sites are moved, hyperlinks get archived to another part of site and servers sometimes are temporarily inaccessible. Often, hyperlinks are provided on Web pages which have been created dynamically, i.e. they only exist once and therefore you'll never be able to visit the actual page which caused the visit.

Is Lilypad effected by browser-caching, proxy servers and site mirroring?
Lilypad is dependent upon the direct client-server connection to properly recognize an incoming visit. It is likely that as a result of this phenomenon, Lilypad understates traffic in certain instances, e.g. a frequently visited Web site cached on America Online's system will not be counted since the browser never connects directly to it. Fortunately like most server applications, Lilypad understates Web traffic about as much as your Web media suppliers banner management software does and therefore "apples to apples" comparisons are relevant.

Who should use Lilypad?
Although many folks on the Web team will find the Lilypad data fascinating, Lilypad is not as much a tracking tool as it is a tool for assessing the effectiveness of Web site promotional efforts. Lilypad was developed by Web marketers for Web marketer's honed in the field to provide the information you need most. As such, Webmasters, online media planners, Web promotions specialists, marketing staff and especially Web advertising experts will come to depend on Lilypad for it's centralized easy to use reports.

If you are spending money to promote your Web site Lilypad can make your life easier.

Does Lilypad count hits?
No, Lilypad does not count or analyze log file hits. Instead, Lilypad counts destination Web page requests, or visits that have occurred.

How does Lilypad work?
Essentially, Lilypad gathers data using a proporitary method which allows for on demand generation of traffic summary reports and sophisticated hgistorical performace reports. Lilypad does not use sample data, but instead provides a census of the server traffic data which it generates.

© 1995 Streams Online Media Development, Corp.