Am I loosing visitors? Or are the analytics wrong?

Discussion in 'Google Analytics' started by powwows, Nov 13, 2014.

  1. #1
    I've been looking at my Facebook insight stats.

    On a story I posted yesterday, Facebook says that the story received 2,500 clicks. That's great, right!

    I check Google Analytics and that page only has 800 page views for the day.

    So am I loosing 1,700 page views somewhere? Which stats are right?

    I'm using CloudFlare to cache my content, could that be the difference?

    Here's a link to the article:
    http://www.powwows.com/2014/11/11/2014-native-american-holiday-gift-guide/

    I want to make sure, I'm not loosing traffic somewhere!

    Thanks!
     
    powwows, Nov 13, 2014 IP
  2. Randall Magwood

    Randall Magwood Well-Known Member

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    #2
    Every tracking system will have its discrepancies. Did you get any sales off of the story? That might be the most important question to ask.
     
    Randall Magwood, Nov 13, 2014 IP
  3. midnightblur

    midnightblur Greenhorn

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    #3
    Facebook only counts clicks, and Analytics count pageviews. If one persion click several times, you'll get more clicks but pageview may not increase.
     
    midnightblur, Nov 13, 2014 IP
  4. sarahk

    sarahk iTamer Staff

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    #4
    Analytics also has a lag as the javascript loads so the page could open and then be closed instantly. Happens a lot, you think you were clicking one thing, suddenly a page is opening and you kill it or hit back.
     
    sarahk, Nov 13, 2014 IP
  5. powwows

    powwows Active Member

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    #5
    So you all don't think I"m loosing visitors?
     
    powwows, Nov 14, 2014 IP
  6. sarahk

    sarahk iTamer Staff

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    #6
    Yes, you probably are - but they're people who either didn't mean to click, clicked and then changed their mind, or - and these are the ones you have to worry about - seeing your page load, instantly deciding it's not for them and leaving.

    Now, it's up to you to work out if those people who leave instantly are a problem or not.

    Lets say I was looking to rent a sleepout. I see a promo or a search result or something and click it. The page starts to load and the first thing I see is a banner about owning a sleepout. I'd close that page instantly because I don't want to own, I want to hire. I'm probably gone before analytics has a chance to fire. The guy who owns the website might be upset because he's lost my visit - but he would never have been able to convert me to a sale anyway so losing me is neither here nor there. He should be upset if he PAID for my click to his site with adwords or facebook ads because I was not a real customer.
     
    sarahk, Nov 14, 2014 IP