Advanced visitor stats with php

[kapow]

Is it possible to create a database of website visitor tracks, that can be analised to show:
- The sequences of pages visited (for those who buy and those who don't).
- The Keywords used in SE (for those who buy and those who don't).
- The Referer (for those who buy and those who don't).

I guess this could be done with: PHP, Cookies, Javascript and Mysql database. Does such a thing already exist? Can it be done?

[Lisa]

> Can it be done?

Yes, My websites currently do this.
I use Cookies, PHP, and a dash of MySQL.

I believe there are several programs out there that do this... They just analize your log files and see when visitor from IP 21.23.63.78 goes to a next page. I have also see a few programs that use javascript to pulse your webserver every 6 seconds so you can see just how long the visitor is reading your page.

[kapow]

Thanks Lisa

Should I get someone to create this (my php is rather basic) or is there a system you'd recommend that I can get (not too expensive).

[Lisa]

Well, you can custom do it...
There are lots of free scripts out there. Try Freshmeat.net and all those other sites like that.

I did see this company (http://www.eloqua.com) has the 6 second pulse and all you have to do is pay. You just embed a a few javascript files on each page. Not sure what they cost.

[Nick_W]

I beleive there's a good tutorial on zend.com covering exactly this.

Nick

[Dpeper]

"I use Cookies, PHP, and a dash of MySQL"

Same here let me look and see where i got mine it was a free script i believe... one sec.

[Mardi_Gras]

Dpeper and Lisa - could you give a little more detail on exactly how you are using those ingredients? I am looking to cook up something similar myself.

[Lisa]

Sounds like Dpeper has something good for you.

Well, I give the user an ID number. I then store that in a cookie for 24 hours. I then take the first referer and story it in a database. Then start logging each page that the user looks at. Easy to assemble a trace of what they did by the datastamp of each click.

Then I have an admin webpage that shows users and allows me to see the path each user took. I can also see how many people take each path. You will notice lots of people go two steps in then vanish. You want to really watch them and see if they go to the order page then back out to product pages. Shows they have questions or they are deciding.

[kapow]

Thankyou Lisa - thats just the kind of answer I was hoping for (I didn't know if everyone is doing this or if it is next to impossible)

Hey Dpeper - getting excited about your next post :) don't keep us in suspense too long.