Google Analytics

Does google analytics show us the exact traffic coming on the site?

[engine friend]

I have noticed that Google analytics code implemented on my site doesn't show up the exact traffic. When I crossed checked it with log files, traffic found was much more as compared to the stats shown by Google analytics.

I cross checked all the pages of the site and analytcs code is available on all of them. Has anybody else ever noticed this problem?

Is there any other s/w that I can use to track down the traffic. Is there any s/w which gives us the liverage to track down the traffic of more than 1 site to 1 subscriber.

[goodroi]

Welcome to WebmasterWorld!

Every analytic solution will return different results because they all count traffic differently.

The big difference between log files and Google Analytics is that Google Analytics does not count spiders & automated robots. Log files include traffic from googlebot and googlebot is not included in the Google Analytic numbers.

When you compare traffic reports from different sources a possible mismatch of numbers can come from users using non-javascript supporting browsers. This is normally a very small amount.

I don't worry about the small differences in reports. I look at the general trends.

[engine friend]

Thanks for your reply Goodroi.

I have noticed this issue with another site where the traffic is being tracked by SmaterStats software and it shows lot of discrepancies in google analytics data. Are these traffic tracking s/w are not good enough to be used? Is there any other alternative to google analytics in case there is a requirement to track down traffic for many websites?

[g1smd]

No two products will give the same results.

Server log files will record all accesses, but the numbers are polluted with visits from bots.

Other products may exclude bots from the count, but miss people visiting the site with JavaScript turned off.

No two products will ever agree. Look at the trends not at the actual numbers.

[engine friend]

My concern is that I have committed traffic to one of my clients. So, I am required to keep the right track of traffic coming on the site. I too personally do not prefer log files but my experience with Google analytics has not been very good in the recent past. Is there any other good & reliable tool which can be used to track down traffic for more than 1 site.

Please help!

[AnkitMaheshwari]

Though log files is by far the best way to track traffic efficiently as they record each and every visits, however as @goodroi and @g1smd said they add visits from bots which GA does not as well as log files record those pageviews/visits where the page load did not complete due to connection error/time-outs/others which GA and other JS based s/w miss as they are generally load on browser after the complete page is download (present at the end of page).

Trends would be the best way after the log files (if you can filter the bots data from it)

[JS_Harris]

I've noticed Analytics will also completely ignore some keywords, even if you're getting decent traffic from them. Your answer is a resounding no.

[RonPK]

AWstats is a good package to analyse log files. It does a nice job in keeping humans and bots apart. It can track as many sites as you like, provided that the sites are on the same server as the package. You will need root access to the server to install it (I think).

By the way, JS-based counters can easily count visitors with JS disabled. All they need to do is put an image inside a <noscript> tag and analyse the image request. I never understood why GA doesn't do that.