Google Analytics says my site is getting aprox. 7000 pageviews per month, however the stats on Hostgator say aprox. 19000 pageviews. This is a BIG difference. Anybody have knowledge on why these statistics are so different?
Hostgator use AWstats,, This will count all hits to your site even if it is just a hit for an image file. So if someone was to hot link to a pic on your site, every hit that pic got, even if is posted on someother site, will log a hit to your server, and count as a hit at your site.
Yes, Hostgator's Stats (AWStats) will count all of the Search Engine bots, Plus even if the user closes the page right after opening it, mostly common with buying fake bot traffic (where as Analytics wont count this as a hit). Also any Image/SWF/Video files that are loaded separately will add to your counter.