Unique Visitors

A unique visitor is tracked by their unique computer address correct?

What if that computer is a laptop and they log onto the site from a different state? That is is still one unique visitor correct.

I use a combination of WebTrends/Google Analytics (so if there is a difference between how they analyze the info then I would to know).

Thanks in advance.

 

If on a laptop, you'll get assigned a different IP address.
It is still unique.

 

Unique visitors are tracked by IP address. If you go and use a different internet service provider with your laptop, your IP will change, therefore if you visit the site again, it will be recorded as a unique visit.

 

I read that Google Analytics puts a cookie on your computer (WebTrends reads the server logs) and that should identify the computer regardless of IP.

So with Analytics: Laptop from different locations=Unique
WebTrends: Laptop from different locations=2 uniques

Correct?

 

I doubt that tracks your uniqueness. If so you could delete the cookie and visit the site as many times as you want creating unique visits constantly.

 

No service could make 100% sure that you are unique, cookies could be deleted easily and IP number could be changed too either be logging off and on to your ISP or using proxies. Those measurements like the ones used in GA are only meant for normal site usage that's not meant for people who are trying to fool the system. Don't believe me? Check how many people fool rapidshare download limits by erasing cookies and changing their ip easily.

 

I dont doubt that people delete their cookies/use proxies/change IP addresses often (especially users of this forum) but I am talking of the average internet user. Is it safe to say:

1) Google Analytics tracks the uniqueness of a visitor by a cookie
2) WebTrends tracks the uniqueness of a visitor by their IP address (from the log files).

Again I am not looking for 100% accuracy, just looking for how each program works.

 

Many times you simply don't know.

I don't even bother with it.

 

Apart from the IP address, the duration of visit is also considered in tracking unique visitors. In programs like Statcounter, Maximum Visit Length is used to calculate your unique and returning visitors from a cookie. If this amount of time or more has elapsed since a visitor last visited a page on your website, then that visitor is considered unique.

 

sikandar , you are right, they do that because many visitors have dynamic IPs. many people could have the same IP over time that's why the are using this session time. I think it's 30 minutes for GA.

 

Stats will probably never be 100% accurate due to people regularly using different computers. However, you can assume that Google Analytics is fairly accurate in my opinion.

 

Wait wouldnt it just be considered a new visit and not a new unique visitor? It should be basically the same IP address. If the time limit (30 mins) is exceeded then it would be 1 unique visitor (based of off IP) and 2 visits (or sessions....due to the 30 min timeout).