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Server Traffic Stats vs Google Analytics

by jan roos
14 replies
My server stats shows different stats than analytics for the number of hits my site gets etc.

Which one to trust?
#analytics #google #server #stats #traffic
  • Profile picture of the author manzilla911
    My suggestion is to get a third program and then determine the averages. Who to trust?: yourself
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  • Profile picture of the author Allen Graves
    I would think the server stats would be more reliable. But not really sure.

    AL
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  • Profile picture of the author sparrow
    I have seen this for many of the clients I do work for so I had my own program made that reports in real time.

    Both your server stats and Google will report in delayed time, this maybe the issue.

    As it was pointed out you need to use a stat program that reports in real time.

    E
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  • Profile picture of the author Steven Carl Kelly
    Server stats are likely to be more accurate, because they are being directly handled by the server itself. When the server receives a request it logs it and fulfills it. Google Analytics relies on a javascript that has to load on the client's PC in order to count.

    If I turn off JS on my browser, your server will log my visit to your site, while Google Analytics will not.
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    • Profile picture of the author jan roos
      What if the server stats show 329 hits while analytics shows 34? Could there be such big difference without something being wrong somewhere?
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      • Profile picture of the author Steven Carl Kelly
        Originally Posted by jan roos View Post

        What if the server stats show 329 hits while analytics shows 34? Could there be such big difference without something being wrong somewhere?
        Hits or pageviews? There's a big difference.
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      • Profile picture of the author Paul Hancox
        Originally Posted by jan roos View Post

        What if the server stats show 329 hits while analytics shows 34? Could there be such big difference without something being wrong somewhere?
        "Hits" do not equate to visitors. Hits are just requests to a file.

        If your page has 10 graphics, the server will register 11 "hits" per "visitor"... 10 to pull the graphics, and 1 to pull the page itself.

        On the other hand, I'd imagine that Google Analytics are actually measuring "visitors" rather than "hits".

        That could account for the difference. Server "hits" do not equate to "visitors", but simply to file requests.
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        • Profile picture of the author Will P
          Originally Posted by Paul Hancox View Post

          "Hits" do not equate to visitors. Hits are just requests to a file.

          If your page has 10 graphics, the server will register 11 "hits" per "visitor"... 10 to pull the graphics, and 1 to pull the page itself.

          On the other hand, I'd imagine that Google Analytics are actually measuring "visitors" rather than "hits".

          That could account for the difference. Server "hits" do not equate to "visitors", but simply to file requests.
          Well put, rep added; and to add to this.. all statistics modules are based off of different settings, both are accurate in their own ways but if using your servers statistics i would only refer to the unique visitors and visitors, not hits.


          --Thanks
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  • Profile picture of the author novelco
    Google Analytics never seems to be accurate. I stick with my server's Awstats, though it only updates once a day.
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    • Profile picture of the author TinkBD
      Originally Posted by novelco View Post

      I stick with my server's Awstats, though it only updates once a day.
      For those who may be new to Awstats... and something I forget to do... LOL

      You can update it whenever you want/need...

      Just hit the small, blue, Update Now link to the left of the *Last Update* time, at the top of the page...

      Tink
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  • Profile picture of the author Steven Carl Kelly
    From the date of installation. Google Analytics didn't know what was happening with your site before it was installed.
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  • Profile picture of the author marlondirk
    sometimes google analytics has an error but not that often. i guess there is a software out there that could help you tracking for your site traffic
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  • Profile picture of the author TimRobinson
    Yea google analytics is generally more reliable. Server stats count just about any kind of request as a "hit"
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