Handling errors

For the last three days I've been working on my own way have handling errors. Yawn, I know, sounds boring but it excites me. From concept to database design to conditional displays, I've had a good time creating the perfect method of handling errors on my websites.

As a webmaster, I feel it is my duty to reduce the number of pages not found on my customer websites to as few as possible. With this in mind, I've created a method of tracking all page errors on all sites in one report. When I find a page comes up missing, I can replace it or redirect traffic to a more appropriate page. I can also notify the website that has a link to a missing page that the file is moved or they need to fix something. Personally, I like redirecting better as it relies on no one but me.

Since I plan to erase most of the content on my personal and corporate websites, I had to do this first. But, I've also started the groundwork on the "Visitor Information System" or "VIS." This system will be used to track all traffic on my customer websites so we can analyze where people are coming from and adjust our marketing accordingly. It will also help me see what content is more popular from a variety of websites.

Oh, I already accomplish statistical analysis using tools available but I wanted to be able to drill down to page specific, IP specific, Referrer specific information. It's also part of my "anti stalking" application which has become necessary over time.

Here's what I've already accomplished.

The visitor arrives and I look for their browser, cookies, JavaScript etc so I can deliver a page that works.

I screen out known "stalkers" or abusers by cross referencing their IP address in the database.

I assign a unique ID as well as set some cookies to help in navigation and site preferences.

I insert all that data into a database.

IF the page was not found, I enter the page they were looking for as well as where they came from into the database so I can address the issue by redirecting or replacing files.

From this point, it will be easy to monitor the sites as well as who is looking at what. This will help us create websites that are more popular and more enticing to visit. How? By expanding on content that people enjoy and leaving the boring stuff for the boring people. LOL

What's next?

Reporting as well as user specified preferences. I'll write more on that late.

Hey, this is my personal blog and I can write about what I want right? Well, this is what I've been working on; it's what I've been thinking about; it's what is important to me. In the end, it excites me and if you're reading this still... it must excite you too. (grin)