Site statistics....

bunot78 · 03-13-2008, 02:01 PM

i don't know which forum this question should go, so i'll just drop it here.

which statistics service is the most accurate (granted, none of them are incredibly accurate), but which is the best in determining another website's traffic?

alexa? compete.com? quantcast? etc. give me the lowdown!!

thanks.

mudkipz · 03-13-2008, 02:06 PM

Aside from those, there's Google's webmaster tools. You can also try stat counter and sitemeter.

Arleigh · 03-13-2008, 04:21 PM

I use Stat Counter and Good Analytics for my site's stats....

bunot78 · 03-13-2008, 04:32 PM

ah, but what if you were trying to find how much traffic a rival website is getting? which service/site would you use as being the most accurate of the bunch?

gobeyond · 03-15-2008, 08:53 AM

Google Analytics is the only one I use. It has more info than you care for. The service is very solid. Plus it is free.

If you have access to your raw traffic data, you can use an off-line traffic analysis program called Web Log Expert. There is a free version and there is a paid version. You can generate a decent traffic report and put it into a PDF file.

There is no such a thing perfect accuracy. All the data are based on some educated guesses by these programs. The traffic data will give you an overview of what is going on.

eukristian · 03-15-2008, 09:36 AM

i use statcounter because i had a problem with Google Analytics .

pinkfluffybunny · 03-15-2008, 10:27 AM

Acurate - you will have to get a good log reader/analyzer and access to your site logs.

Otherwise you're not playing with the big boys.

dman_2007 · 03-15-2008, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bunot78

i don't know which forum this question should go, so i'll just drop it here.

which statistics service is the most accurate (granted, none of them are incredibly accurate), but which is the best in determining another website's traffic?

alexa? compete.com? quantcast? etc. give me the lowdown!!

thanks.

None of the services you mentioned are accurrate, each of them use flawed methods. Use them to get a basic idea of traffic your rival is getting and concentrate on how much traffic your site is / should be getting.

swapw · 03-15-2008, 02:33 PM

I don't think there's an "accurate" method in algorithem to measure your rivals page because it is not cookied onto their page. Unless it is cookied onto their page like a bot, no existent site can give you an accurate measure of your competition.

Most are just a measuring stick nothing more.

-Swapw

Kaiser_Dealxa · 03-15-2008, 03:28 PM

i use statcounter and extremetracking.i recommend these.

pinkfluffybunny · 03-16-2008, 06:29 PM

LOL,

Just met with the CEO of a company the other day. I asked for the site logs so I could see where they are now before I took them on.

The IT guy came in and said they have no log files and wanted to show me Google Analytics stats.

I advised them they are working blind, get me the log files.
The IT guy said he would have to upgrade the server soft.
The CEO said upgrade. "but they use up so much space." "Buy storage, they're cheap."
"I don't have access to logs, I can't do my job."

As soon as I can analyse where they stand now, I can give them an estimate on what it will take to increase conversion, leads etc. I put my job on the line everytime.
"If I don't meet quanitative goals - fire me" I want long term clients and word of mouth referal. I don't guess, I NEED to know that information only the log files can provide, my rep and income depend on it..

Without the log files you are just playing at this game.

If you don't care or your job doesn't depend on it - use anything you want.

stacy131 · 03-16-2008, 10:34 PM

Good - my Awstats and I'm a big fan of Compete
Neutral - Google Analytics
Way Off - Statbrain, Alexa, Quantcast

full house · 03-17-2008, 03:57 AM

use google analytics . . .

zeruel · 03-17-2008, 04:01 AM

I prefer Google Analytics. I also use Awstats and Statcounter...

pinkfluffybunny · 03-17-2008, 05:51 AM

Here is an example from an actual report I sent to a client yesterday:

Quote:

81.23% are using windows 2000 or NT systems (not surprising since a large portion of your traffic is during work hours - high percentage of work related computers used to visit the site) only .11% use a MAC

Why is this important? Because a large percentage of work stations don't allow Java or even updates without permission from IT.
You go trying to get accurate stats with a java script - guess what!

Can't tell you the problems I've had with IT departments of large corps - it took 6 months just to try to get one company (Merrill Lynch) to upgrade to a newer version of flash so they could watch training videos. I finally gave up and had to stream wmv on acceptable port for them, that only took 3 months to get them to open a port. Pain in the butt.

Most companies know what unauthorized installs and upgrades can do to a company's system and take appropriate steps to prevent it.

Ferre · 03-17-2008, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eukristian

i use statcounter because i had a problem with Google Analytics .

I use Awstats because I don't feel that Google or anyone else should be able to read my stats. If any company wants me to participate in their data collection schemes they should pay me for it.

x3mario · 03-17-2008, 08:18 AM

I only use Google analytics and statcounter. They're quiet accurate.

corlock · 03-17-2008, 09:24 AM

I suggest statcounter for monitoring your site's status...its detailed and easy to understand...

ezhel · 03-17-2008, 11:17 AM

I prefer stat counter, it works accurately in my site and blog.

pinkfluffybunny · 03-17-2008, 04:02 PM

LOL -Oh well have fun kids -