For web metrics to be comparable, a stringent set of measurement and reporting criteria is necessary.

The following set of criteria define what items should be included from web measurements and the minimum level of reporting.

The form and look of the reporting of audited web metrics data may vary from bureau to bureau.

INTERNAL ACTIVITY

May only be included where the Audit Bureau has excluded development traffic from the data.

AUTOMATED SEARCH ENGINE

Generated traffic will be excluded, as defined on a centralised list of Automated Search Engines updated at least monthly.

PERSONAL ROBOT

Generated traffic may be excluded.

FRAMES

Nonrequested panels within frames are excluded from certified activity.

SPLASH PAGES

These pages should be excluded from certified traffic, as they are not requested.

SERVER PUSH

SERVER PUSH delivered traffic does not count as it is not requested. Client Pull traffic where the browser, but not the BROWSER requests the pages should be reflected in the audit process, i.e., will be the auditors decision to include or exclude.

AUDIT PERIOD

AUDIT PERIOD to be at the discretion of the audit bureaux as determined by the local market, as is the subject of continuous reporting.

CERTIFICATE CONTENT

The following will appear on all certificates:

• Top Level URL
• Definitions (as above)
• Audit Opinion
• Time Frame (period) covered by the certificate
• Page Impressions
• Description of Site Content
• A Breakdown between Registered and Non-Registered traffic for sites declaring registration. To be claimed, a registrant must be contactable by the Auditor.