AWStats v Google Analytics

I'd be interesed to see Warriors' opinion on this. I'd get Adsense impressions, but Google Analytics wouldn't record the visit... its the strangest thing.

Awstats numbers are sometimes skewed by bots, and I know for a fact that Google's tracking isn't 100% accurate.

As for the header code... the header in WP is used on EVERY page that's visited on your website, so Google SHOULD record hits to any web page that opens.

Neither are acurate, but seen as Analytics is owned by Google, I would guess it should be more on the mark than Awstats.

I think each of the tracking services will give different results. If I am going to do testing, I will just choose one and stick to it. Many of them have been using Analytics and it gives details of the traffic stats. I am personally using Analytics and I am happy with it

AwStats is more accurate than Analytics. In-fact it's as close to 100% accurate as you can get.

But at the same time, it's very inaccurate.

Confused?

Basically, AwStats (since it's installed server-side) reads from the Apache access logs - the big long files that records each and every HTTP visit to your website.

As a result, it is pretty much 100% accurate since it reads directly from the access logs. BUT this also means that it records everything - include search engine bots, other (even malicious) bots, software-driven visits (such as an article directory checking that the link are valid) and more. Along with actual visitors, of course.

Hence whilst 100% accurate, AwStats will show *more* than just actual, Human visits and as a result it isn't accurate. (So it's very accurate and inaccurate, all at the same time )

Analytics is Javascript driven, so it'll only load (and hence a visitor will only be recorded) when the JS is executed. And pretty much zero bots will execute the JS, hence why Analytics will pretty much only record actual visits.

Hope this makes sense and is useful.

So in short:

AwStats - data source is the server access logs containing EVERYTHING
Analytics - data source is executed Javascript, thus not containing automated bots et al

i guess so. i ever had same situation like you, my friend. but don't be worry about the comparison. focus the traffic by always posting article on your blog and write the unique topic regularly. i believe that if you had a good article on your blog, the visitor will be increased.

i suggest you learn about SEO. Not just see the graph of the visitor, but more than that if you want get more valuable visitor.

keep going, good luck

Thanx for the replies guys and gals.

Awstats registers all activity so you get bots etc.

Google Analytics registers only real visitors.

Quentin