How ACCURATE is Google Analytics?

Discussion in 'General Marketing' started by PlateFish, Apr 10, 2008.

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  1. #1
    I have a forum website and yesterday it showed that there were about 30-40 users browsing the forum. (Not members but guests).

    I checked google analytics today and it said we only had 8 UVs yesterday... I'm not sure if I understand why that is. This has been happening for a while now where the forum and the analytics just don't match up.

    I use VBulletin. Is it reliable when it tells me that I have 50 guests or can this be messed around by something?

    Thanks
     
    PlateFish, Apr 10, 2008 IP
  2. overdrive

    overdrive Active Member

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    #2
    In my experience, I noticed that Google analytics understates the traffic on my website. I have 4 analytics packages as it is important for my company to know where our traffic is coming from and google analytics just doesn't get it all.
     
    overdrive, Apr 10, 2008 IP
  3. RankSurge

    RankSurge Banned

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    #3
    I have a site that uses both Google Analytics and WebTrends - here are the high level results:

    Webtrends - UV's - 55k
    Google Analytics - UV's - 47K
    Google Adsense Impressions - 155,714k

    For each page of the site, there is only 1 adgroup.
     
    RankSurge, Apr 10, 2008 IP
  4. coletrickle

    coletrickle Peon

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    #4
    Google analytics doesn't track users that have "noscript" for firefox as it uses javascript, if you have a lot of firefox users that may contribute.
     
    coletrickle, Apr 10, 2008 IP
  5. Robin.Bad

    Robin.Bad Peon

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    #5
    The limitation of google analytics is that it tracks users with java-script enabled only.
    I prefer AWStats.
     
    Robin.Bad, Apr 10, 2008 IP
  6. slymarketing

    slymarketing Active Member

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    #6
    That's interesting.

    I knew that Analytics understates the traffic, because I use several different statistics on my blog, but I didn't know why.

    Thanks for sharing.

    Jens
     
    slymarketing, Apr 10, 2008 IP
  7. Goran Giertz

    Goran Giertz Peon

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    #7
    Guests could have visited your forum many times before, there for they would only be 1 unique yet many returning.
     
    Goran Giertz, Apr 10, 2008 IP
  8. gingimaster

    gingimaster Well-Known Member

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    #8
    which stats generator do you think is the most accurate?
     
    gingimaster, Apr 11, 2008 IP
  9. akdiver

    akdiver Well-Known Member

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    #9
    What is the best way to get detailed, accurate stats. I use awstats but find it doesnt paint a clear picture.
     
    akdiver, Apr 11, 2008 IP
  10. wowla_123

    wowla_123 Peon

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    #10
    CNstats is the most accurate one among the ones I have used.
     
    wowla_123, Apr 11, 2008 IP
  11. touchAshley

    touchAshley Active Member

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    #11
    I switched from Analytics to Statcounter about a month ago. Analytics just started totally screwing up and wasn't tracking everything. The interface is also super slow for me. I'm diggin Statcounter
     
    touchAshley, Apr 11, 2008 IP