Filed under: Analytics
We’re moving servers at the moment (eek!). Every single website that we currently host will be moving across to a new location (more on that soon). Included in our server move is an update in the web analytics which we provide to our clients.
At the moment we offer a free inhouse solution which we host internally. The old server which it all sits on is about to collapse and it would cost quite a bit to buy new hardware solely for analysing web logs. I have decided instead to look for an improved analytics solution for all of our clients.
I will try to provide as much information as possible during this buying process…
I am looking for two types of analytics software:
- 1. A free tool. This will need to be set up as standard when we launch a new website and will either need to be accessible through web based reporting or through our customer gateway.
- 2. A more advanced solution for the clients which I provide with SEO and internet marketing services. I will need a tool which is relatively low cost to begin with but also has options to upgrade to more advanced features. This tool will be used on ecommerce websites and will therefore need to successfully provide accurate conversion analysis with the ability to run custom reports.
The Free Tool
My options are quite simple; use a web log solution and host it inhouse or use a web based tool. I have used awstats and Stat Counter in the past, both tools work ok on a low cost site and when analysing spider visits but I have found them to be restrictive and fairly inaccurate. The other tool which is completely free is Google Analytics. I have been using Google Analytics for a while now and it is head and shoulders above the other free tools. The data seems to be accurate, it works really well along side an Adwords account and even provides a free site overlay tool. I have therefore decided to set up all clients with a free Google account.
I am in the process of setting up about 30 sites on one Google Analytics account. Other clients with white label and sub domains will be set up on their own Google account. Each site requires some Urchin code to be placed on every page, in our case it will be added to a php template and then set up within the account on Google.
The whole process took about half a day and was relatively painless, after 24 hours each profile was receiving data.
Advanced Analytics
The selection process for the paid for program has been a little bit more difficult. There are so many solutions available, all offering very similar tools but all with their own USP. After some careful research and talking to other SEO’s I have decided on a shortlist of these two services:
Click Tracks
Click Tracks offers “intuitive, insightful analysis of your web site. It shows you campaigns, site navigation patterns, PPC, SEO and ROI stats instantly”. I have seen a demo of the product and I must admit it is pretty special. The user interface is extremely friendly and it provides really in depth and accurate data. The main reason I looked at this product was due to a couple of our clients completely redesigning their website this year. I wanted to be able to do some multivariate testing on two designs. Click Tracks is able to show you both versions of a page and analyse what was clicked and what converted more successfully. The SEO and PPC campaign data is also very impressive and allows you to see exactly where your referrals are coming from and which are converting most successfully.
Index Tools
I have heard a lot of great things about Index Tools. Mainly from other SEO’s who have told me its extremely powerful, not as expensive as its competitors and is fully customisable. Index Tools “provides e-business leaders accurate, insightful and timely intelligence about the effectiveness of their Web efforts, thereby helping them to increase sales, reduce marketing costs and provide a higher level of service to their customers and partners”. The screen shots which I have seen look very nice and data is provided by adding a javascript file to the root of your site and placing a small piece of code on every page which requires tracking.
I have been set up with an demo which I am sure will help me with my decision.
I will now be trailing both services over the next few days and will make a final decision next week. I will post my thoughts on both packages with details of my choice next week.
Which analytics package are you using?
5 Comments so far
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Hi there,
I actually think that if you are doing hardcore SEO, REPORT-based tools like Google Analytics and the other free packages out there – just it not enough to drill-down, cross-reference, filter and segment on multiple levels on a KEYWORD level.
My first advice to anybody starting to use Analytics is: forget ALL the canned reports offered by the vendor out of the box, they can and will not provide you with any value what so ever - Force yourself to start on a BLANK dashboard and with BLANK custom reports, this way you will have to think about what your question really is and what you want to see as an output.
Friends and renowned SEO speakers like Rand from SEOmoz and Mikkel from Demib.com are using (yes, actually IndexTools) – but tools where one can work the individual report.
NB:
Dan, let me know if you would like to try out the Enterprise version of IndexTools – then I will make sure you get access to it and that you can play around with it for a couple of months..
Cheers mate.
Dennis, COO IndexTools
My Analytics Blog
That’s great advice Dennis and something that I will be putting into practice on all of my clients websites.
I have been speaking with Bill Maloney over the last couple of weeks, he has been very helpful and has set up an enterprise trial for one month.
I will be sitting with the Head of eCommerce for this client over the next few days to set up some bespoke reporting. I will post the outcome of this during the next few weeks.
I have also had a good look at your analytics blog and have to say it’s got some really great content. I will certainly be recommending it to fellow SEO’s who are also deep into their analytics.
Cheers!
Dan
Super.. I am glad William is in contact with you already. Let me know if there is anything in particular you would like to know, then I am happy to help - or if you want input for a post on your blog!
Later
Dennis, COO IndexTools
My Analytics Blog
For the free web statistics, you can check out http://www.phpmyvisites.us ; this is a fairly good piece of software.
Comment by pasc 03.16.07 @ 8:35 amLeave a comment
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hey dude,
Great post, and a hot topic at the moment. It seems that companies are only catching on to the importance of Web Analytics. Which is weird, who wouldn’t want to know where their traffic comes from what they do and how many converts!!? Ok so I’m a stats freak and love seeing that upward graph..
My company (Base One) have recently been through exactly the same, both the server move (which came with a lot of added problems)and we have recently upgraded from Google Analytics to a paid analytics software. Now we went through them all, online demos, personal demos…demos up to my ears. We saw ClickTracks (great program but man their sales man was supremo bastardo), WebTrends (one word EXPENSIVE), NetInsight (not too expensive and good tools…made it to our top 2). BUT we decided on Indextools in the end. We are implementing tracking codes this month, although I must say one thing. Having used Urchin then Google Analytics you get spoiled with an easy to use interface. Even Indextools is alot of work to set up…but it will be great once everything is set up and tracked. Will let you know next month how the stats compare!
Comment by Lisa Ditlefsen 03.02.07 @ 4:43 pm