jw11
Joined: Dec 20, 2005
# Posts: 4
|
Posted: 12/20/2005 12:44 pm
Do anyone know of a good web statistics package?
For a small business that is going to sell advertising so I need details like how many visitors clicked on a certain link or how many times a particular page has been viewed?
I have a free Urchin package which shows me some good overall info but I cannot request detailed information...and I'm using a Mac.
So far, I have found some rather expensive ones from ClickTracks, NetTracker and WebTrends - all of which require a PC.
Please help.
Many thanks!
|
 |
flyingrose
Moderator
Joined: Oct 30, 2003
# Posts: 3361
|
Posted: 12/20/2005 08:55 pm
You'll want to decide if you want a hosted version or a software program. Although you only "buy" a program once, with the way things change online not getting ongoing support might make it unusable at some point.
I have no idea if any of them run on a Mac; however, you might look at IndexTools if you think ClickTracks is too pricey. ClickTracks has log file analyzer (programs) and hosted versions. IndexTools is only hosted.
|
|
jw11
Joined: Dec 20, 2005
# Posts: 4
|
Posted: 12/21/2005 05:21 am
I would like to purchase the software (vs. hosting) but I'm unsure if the raw log files from my web hosting company will provide all the details I need and I'm having trouble interpreting the raw log files - which is a part of what I'm hoping a software package can offer.
I'm guessing you would recommend ClickTracks for software? If that's the best then I'm willing to spring for it.
thanks.
|
|
flyingrose
Moderator
Joined: Oct 30, 2003
# Posts: 3361
|
Posted: 12/21/2005 04:47 pm
There are many other log file analysis programs. Which one you want will depend on what exactly you want to know from the log files you have.
Have you checked to make sure your hosting company doesn't provide any log file analysis either included in your hosting or for an additional fee? Or is that where the Urchin comes in?
What is it you want from Urchin that isn't available?
|
|
jw11
Joined: Dec 20, 2005
# Posts: 4
|
Posted: 12/22/2005 05:23 am
I have Urchin free through my hosting company but I need more specifices - it only shows me the "top" pages/issues in each catagory, like top pages viewed. It does show me good information like duration of visits, visitors browsers, etc. but I also need:
# of visitors for a particular page
# of clicks on a particular link
entry pages/exit pages
keywords/phrases referred
easy to read robot report
1st time visitors
repeat visitors
I have tried to see if I could purchase an upgrade through Urchin but when I search for it or click a link to it I end up at Google AdTracks - I'm assuming that Google bought them...
thanks...
|
|
flyingrose
Moderator
Joined: Oct 30, 2003
# Posts: 3361
|
Posted: 12/22/2005 08:18 pm
Yes, Google bought Urchin and they're now offering a version of it free to people who are using Google Adwords advertising.
I don't know if it is a full version but have heard that it is. There is a waiting list to get it though and no estimate of how long the wait will be.
|
|
marstoni
Joined: Feb 15, 2006
# Posts: 4
|
Posted: 02/15/2006 07:55 pm
I keep hearing the best things about ClickTracks, but they are a bit pricey for those not needing all the features. I use Ecommstats and it works out great. Google Analytics is also great if you have access to it.
|
|
g1smd
Moderator
Joined: Jul 28, 2002
# Posts: 10060
|
Posted: 02/16/2006 04:52 am
There are many offline analysers, and some are free. Most are for Windows, a few for Linux.
For most, you need to download your log files by FTP to your local machine to use them.
|
|
flyingrose
Moderator
Joined: Oct 30, 2003
# Posts: 3361
|
Posted: 02/16/2006 01:43 pm
I really prefer the online real time analytics to using logfiles. Does anyone else have a preference in that regard?
|
|
huebdoo
Joined: Eons Ago
# Posts: 68
|
Posted: 02/21/2006 03:14 pm
Lets back up here a second and ask the question, "Why are you using a Mac?" and "Do Mac users really care about money? After all... they bought a Mac"
All kidding aside... it shouldn’t matter as long as you are going to work on an ASP model like web trends or Hitbox or something with some guts to it.
To be honest most of the ones mentioned previously are kinda toys unless you are constrained buy budget (you probably spent all your money on your Mac)
Seriously... All depends on your budget and marketing objectives ... We have clients that have looked at the gambit from ClickTracks to Visual Sciences.... Ummmm Visual Sciences (drool....I am in my happy place right now)
Seriously though... if you are serious about your web site and driving your metrics and analytics you will be required to spend more money on a proper tool...
See I didn’t even mention Mac's on that one.
Pricing depends mostly on Visits to the site per month Web Side Story for example might cost you a few grand a quarter.
Once again ... data is one thing ... acting and using it is another. Define what is most important then go with it
If all else fails you might have to actually buy a system that rhymes with Dee-Cee and then use that as your analytics system.
|
|
flyingrose
Moderator
Joined: Oct 30, 2003
# Posts: 3361
|
Posted: 02/21/2006 09:39 pm
Which "toy" an advertiser uses depends a lot on the size of their "playground". Advertisers with a huge online presence and multi-millions in sales have different needs than smaller niche ecommerce sites.
The larger the amount of data and the further removed the person analyzing it is from the nuts and bolts of running the business, the more power they need.
For the small entrepreneur managing data they're intimately familiar with these easier to implement and use tools are more likely to provide information they can actually use to make decisions which lead to improving their Web sites and increasing profitability.
|
|
keller18
Joined: Feb 09, 2006
# Posts: 21
|
Posted: 02/22/2006 01:26 pm
I use HitBox, which has SO MANY records to look at, it's almost perverse.
|
|
visitor
Insider
Joined: Sep 06, 2001
# Posts: 581
|
Posted: 03/10/2006 11:03 am
I use HitBox, which has SO MANY records to look at, it's almost perverse
QFE...hahahaha...perverse...I love it :D
I use HBX atm...just like every other analyzer out there, it has ups and downs...it pulls MOST of raw data I want...and it has export option through their Report Builder...I can generate most of metrics I set up from HBX data, so it's passes
just about all analyzers provide their own sets of metrics (most are pretty basic and quite-meaningless by themselves)...so I don't go by what they offer as I will end up using my own
I've used WebTrends and HBX...and tested ClickTracks...they all have ups and downs...and I go with one with most eager/helpful rep. lol
[ Message was edited by: visitor 03/10/2006 01:04 pm ]
|
|
