 Google Analytics, Click Tracks, Web Trends - What's The Difference, Is Google Analytics Sufficient? |
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High Rankings Search Engine Optimization Forum > Search Engine Marketing > Web Analytics, Server Logs and Tracking ROI  |
 May 4 2007, 09:07 AM
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#1
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 HR 2  Group: Active Members Posts: 39 Joined: 31-August 06 User's local time: Feb 9 2010, 03:31 PM From: Buffalo, New York Member No.: 13,534  |
Hello everyone, Happy Friday.
I have hesitated purchasing a tracking software, basically because the company that hosts our website does not keep the log files (don't get me started). For that reason, I cannot test these programs. That's where you come in. I am about a month out from having a new site with a new company and I'd like to start looking into tracking software, but I'm questioning whether Click Tracks or Web Trends is any better than what Google Analytics already offers me. So, 1. How beneficial are those robot reports offered by Click Tracks? 2. Is Click Tracks or Web Trends more organized? Can the data be sorted according to what I want to review and then put into a specific spreadsheet? 3. Is it smart to just stick with Analytics? 4. The new web company offers Urchin Reports, isn't this similar to Google Analytics? Your input is appreciated. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) |
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May 4 2007, 12:09 PM
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#2
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 Convert Me!  Group: Admin Posts: 17,380 Joined: 17-August 03 User's local time: Feb 9 2010, 02:31 PM Member No.: 551 |
#1 and #2 I can't comment on since I haven't used Click Tracks or WebTrends in ages and I'm sure much has changed.
#3 To me it depends upon if you have any problems with data about every visitor, where they come from and what they did on your site to a 3rd party. I have an issue with this personally so will not use GoAn or any 3rd part stats package on any of my e-comm sites. I do use GoAn on a couple of personal sites just to see what it was like, but that's it. #4 Urchin was the name of the software what Google Analytics was built on. Google bought them a year or so ago, and started offering the GoAn product that uses much of the Urchin back end. They're not exactly the same (they've not yet upgraded the Installed version of Urchin to my knowledge) and it depends a bit upon which modules your host makes available. If your host's installed version of Urchin supports UTM (Urchin Traffic Monitor - most will) and Urchin's E-Commerce Module you'll be able to crank out some pretty amazing stats regarding conversions. All in all GoAn and Urchin are pretty similar. Just that Urchin is installed on your server --thus doesn't share data with Google-- and the other sends the data over to their servers. |
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May 4 2007, 12:25 PM
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#3
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 HR 4 Group: Active Members Posts: 242 Joined: 21-June 06 User's local time: Feb 9 2010, 04:31 PM From: Ohio Member No.: 12,302 |
#1- the robot report lists out every page on the site along with how long ago a robot visited it, or if one has visited it at all. It reports for Google, Yahoo, Ask and MSN, and perhaps other engines. (my CT is processing now, so I can't really see).
So, it helps you troubleshoot where the bot might be getting stuck. If you think this would be beneficial, then it is! #2 CT allows you to export different reports to excel. I haven't really done this much, but I think you'll have to do the sorting in excel. This post has been edited by jtaylor123: May 4 2007, 12:30 PM |
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May 4 2007, 06:05 PM
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#4
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 High Rankings Advisor Group: Admin Posts: 29,201 Joined: 21-July 03 User's local time: Feb 9 2010, 03:31 PM From: Ashland, MA Member No.: 2 |
Since Google Analytics is free, it's easy enough for you to simply apply the code to each page and test it for yourself to see if it meets your needs.
If it doesn't, try something else. |
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May 8 2007, 06:18 PM
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#5
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HR 2 Group: Active Members Posts: 27 Joined: 1-February 06 User's local time: Feb 9 2010, 01:31 PM Member No.: 10,314 |
QUOTE(Peprmint @ May 4 2007, 07:07 AM)  ... what Google Analytics already offers me. fyi... It looks like they're going to be offering some more reporting features real soon: http://analytics.blogspot.com/2007/05/new-...-analytics.html |
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May 8 2007, 09:44 PM
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#6
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 HR 10  Group: Moderator Posts: 7,489 Joined: 24-July 03 User's local time: Feb 9 2010, 03:31 PM From: Somerville, MA Member No.: 22 |
And Avinash Kaushik really loves it: Google Analytics Is Re-Launched: Do These Five Things First In V2
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May 8 2007, 11:29 PM
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#7
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 HR 5 Group: Active Members Posts: 379 Joined: 10-August 06 User's local time: Feb 9 2010, 02:31 PM From: Dubuque, IA Member No.: 13,155 |
[quote name='qwerty' date='May 8 2007, 09:44 PM' post='248796']
And Avinash Kaushik really loves it: It sounds like a lot to love. Especially for something free. |
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May 15 2007, 05:53 AM
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#8
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HR 1 Group: Members Posts: 3 Joined: 23-April 07 User's local time: Feb 9 2010, 10:31 PM Member No.: 16,987 |
do you get more accurate data using web logs when compared to javascript like with Google Analytics?
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May 15 2007, 05:59 AM
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#9
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 HR 9 Group: Moderator Posts: 4,356 Joined: 13-August 03 User's local time: Feb 9 2010, 08:31 PM From: Blackpool UK Member No.: 492 |
You won't get information on bot visits with javascript methods.
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May 15 2007, 06:03 AM
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#10
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HR 1 Group: Members Posts: 3 Joined: 23-April 07 User's local time: Feb 9 2010, 10:31 PM Member No.: 16,987 |
QUOTE(chrishirst @ May 15 2007, 12:59 PM) You won't get information on bot visits with javascript methods. but the keyword data will be accurate if you use a tool like weblog expert |
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May 15 2007, 10:35 AM
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#11
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 HR 6 Group: Active Members Posts: 848 Joined: 21-November 05 User's local time: Feb 9 2010, 08:31 PM From: Ogmore-by-Sea, Wales, UK Member No.: 9,487 |
You get pretty much similar data. There are some things you don't get from analysing your log files - such as screen resolutions and flash version installed to name two, whereas if you use a JS method you do get those, but no information on robots as mentioned, and to track e.g. .exe or .zip downloads you need to use some tricks.
Both logfiles analysers and scripting methods have there own (in)accuracies. They measure in a different way but they both provide a good source of information. AFAIK they both use the keyword data sent by the browser so there won't be any differences there. |
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May 25 2007, 04:54 AM
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#12
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HR 3 Group: Active Members Posts: 65 Joined: 28-September 04 User's local time: Feb 9 2010, 04:31 PM From: Johannesburg, South Africa Member No.: 5,196 |
Hi All,
My google analytics stats are considerably lower than log analysis. Is this because of the security settings in IE? How can you then use this stats if its inaccurate? Thanks |
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May 25 2007, 10:25 AM
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#13
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HR 6 Group: Active Members Posts: 848 Joined: 21-November 05 User's local time: Feb 9 2010, 08:31 PM From: Ogmore-by-Sea, Wales, UK Member No.: 9,487 |
You can't really compare the two.
It could be that a higher percentage of your visitors doesn't have JavaScript enabled, or maybe your log analyser counts a lot of robots as visitors. It's best to look at trends over time instead of comparing two analytic types. |
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