AWStats V Google Analytics - strange differences

by 10 replies
12
Hi

my AWstats and Google Analytics stats for Unique monthly visitors have been more or less following each other over the last two years. However since January they have started to diverge quite dramatically.

Can anyone shed any light on why this might be so?

Supplementary question: I am assuming the AWStats figure to be more accurate because it is reading server traffic rather than GA, which uses javascript. Is that correct?

Thanks!
#search engine optimization #analytics #awstats #differences #google #strange
  • Maybe you should get a third web metrics and see where it comes closest to - GA or AW.

    I guess it's like getting a third opinion...
  • Yes. AWStats records every request from every human, bot and scanner alike, so it will always show you that you're getting more hits than GA will.

    Another thing about JavaScript - if it doesn't load or loads too slowly, GA won't record the visit.
  • Looks like you might have a problem with your site or the tracking codes. You made any changes recently
  • There is no problem in the tracking code... @athenistic said right about AW.. you also try the statscounter which is not exact figure like GA.. but 90% same analytics score.
  • What version of AWStats is that you use ?
  • It could mean two things.

    - Either you have more bot activity/scrapers on the site. Awstats will be count those.

    or

    - There's a problem with the analytics tracking code.
    • [1] reply
    • hi retsek, can Google identify bots? E.g. does it know when for example a Ubot bot comes knocking on the site?
      • [1] reply
  • AWstats inflate true site visitors by a factor of five at least IMO.

    Best to quote AWstats when you go to sell a site
    • [1] reply
    • Hmmm ... not sure about your first sentence. AWstats and GA data has been pretty similar for two years of tracking.

      Second sentence is true though!
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