will pdf downloads be counted as literature "placements"?
They already are. If a JW refers someone to JW.Org and that person downloads literature, the JW can count it as a "placement".
I'm sure it won't be long before a JW can post a Facebook page, and every "like" they get from a non-JW will be a "return visit".
XBE: The thing is, how many people always, and only rely on an official site of a company or organization for information about that entity?
I've talked to business owners who track their website use, and they say most people spend less than five minutes on the site and are only seeking basic information, like an address/directions or a phone number. They do not read the articles or other informational aspects of the business.
But what do you expect from WT? This is the same Organization that feeds JWs a Tic Tac...then calls it a "spiritual banquet". WT has never been big on substance, just appearance.