Google Analytics

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Analytics is defined as the science of logical analysis. The Web
Analytics Association defines “Web Analytics” as “the measure-
ment, collection, analysis and reporting of Internet data for the
purposes of understanding and optimising Web usage.”
Web sites are hosted on servers that keep a track of the traffic
in the form of logs. The information logged varies, but usually,
information like visitor IP, browser, duration of visit, link which
brought visitor to the site, where the visitor headed to from the
site, etc. can be logged. These logs contain a wealth of informa-
tion, and identifying patterns and trends helps improve sites and
eventually bottom-lines—it is crucial for any online business.
While logs themselves can offer information, to be able to put
them in a form that enhances comprehension is also important.
Server logs can be limited by the parameters they can record or
some Web site hosts just do not log all the parameters. So, the
need for additional information can be satisfied by having addi-
tional code inserted in the Web page, which reports the visitor
data to another server—usually with a Web analytics firm. Such
firms also provide the analytical tools needed to make sense of
the collected data—for a price.