Web Analytics Demystified
Web Analytics and Website Statistics is a field that remains in the dark for some people. There are many experts that it seems like you must have a Ph.D. in computer science in order to obtain data from your site do to. Fortunately, you do not need a PhD, another MS is all you need some time and the right analytics package.
What is the right package?
It is not cut and dry answer to this question. The right package is the one that you the information you need and want when you need it and in a format that you can use. All the Web analytics software market measures a little differently, but all things being equal they will all say how visitors use your site.
OK, how about a few names?
Let’s see, what I think are the 3 best and easiest ways to implement. We start with the 800lb gorilla of analysis and move to the list:
Google Analytics: This is the most comprehensive free tool available. All you need is a Google account and you’re good to go. Basically, you add to your site, then copy and a small snippet of JavaScript to the page on your site and completion of Google Analytics does the rest. It tracks your visitors and inform them to visit in the first time, repeat visitors and it gives you a complete breakdown of your bounce rate by keywords that you target some keywords better. You can create custom reports with warnings and other measurements to judge you on the performance of your website. Another nice feature is that your AdSense and AdWords account and then use a complete picture of your performance can integrate all in one place.
AWstats: Normally, you will activate your hosting provider offer this package free of charge and analysis by default. It runs at the server level and produces some really nice graphics. The disadvantage of this package is that you can not create custom reports, but it shows you in a clear format how many visitors came to your site. Unfortunately, it does not tell you how many of these visitors were first timers and returning visitors, so there’s no real way to tell if you’re on the establishment of effective regular readers / visitors.
WP-Stats: This is a plugin for WordPress that a web site is an exclusive one. It can be hosted on your website or in your WordPress.com WordPress.org powered site. This plugin provides you with information as it relates to your WordPress site as your favorite post, where you rely on your site and tells you where visitors come to your site. How awstats is not tell you how many visitors returning user and you do not even get it, you can create reports.
One of these 3 analytical packages should start with enough information to optimize your website. Since all 3 of them are free and they work without each other’s toes, you can use all 3 of them at the same time to obtain a complete and well-rounded picture of the performance of your website.
Editor Tips
In HBX Analytics funnel is cool because your funnel for each type of process on your site setup, not just a shopping cart. For example, you can build a funnel that handles all the top landing pages on your site than the upper part of the funnel, all your product pages as a further step, and then falls into the basket from there.
Why does the effect-based tracking page? A page-based tracking system uses special technology (often by Admen as a cache-busting “), and to ensure that, even if the page is cached, will not know who viewed by a visitor.
You would be surprised how often this happens with complex products like mortgages, insurance and other financial products. In general, the more detailed the site, the more commitment is needed to buy, the more chances you will occasionally display page to get more than 30 minutes.
