[Web4lib] Google Analytics

Alan Cockerill alan.cockerill at jcu.edu.au
Sun Feb 21 18:00:51 EST 2010


And further to GA's limitations is that you can't put javascript in pdfs,
podcasts or other binary files.

It's still pretty sexy though.

Alan Cockerill
Library Technologies Coordinator
James Cook University 

PO Box 6811
CAIRNS QLD 4870
Phone:+61 7 4042 1737
Fax: +61 7 4042 1516
Email: Alan.Cockerill at jcu.edu.au
Skype: alan.cockerill.jcu
Web: http://cms.jcu.edu.au/libcomp/assist/contacts/JCUPRD_017401
Blog: http://jculibrarytechnology.blogspot.com/


CRICOS Provider Code: 00117J (QLD)
 
-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:web4lib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of John Bickar
Sent: Saturday, 20 February 2010 3:23 AM
To: Web4lib at webjunction.org
Subject: Re: [Web4lib] Google Analytics

Hi all,

I just wanted to add that, although GA is quite powerful and useful, one 
of its limitations is that it it only tracks usage for visitors who have 
Javascript turned on and aren't blocking it for your site.

Comparing and contrasting GA stats with server logs (using something 
such as AWStats for Apache) will yield more reliable data than GA alone.

Also, Google's Webmaster Tools 
<https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/> provides some data that GA 
doesn't.

-John Bickar
Stanford University Libraries



Kozlowski,Brendon wrote:
> Just as a followup to Stacey's solution to link tracking...  Using the
trackPageviews method will also increase your overall
visitor/visits/pageviews hit counts for your own domain.  Since this is
probably what you want on some of your links, that's a great solution - just
be sure that if you're tracking outbound links to other websites that are
not your own you do one of two things:
>  
> 1. Set up your account to separate the external links as something
separate
> ...or...
> 2. Use event tracking as suggested by someone else for external links not
part of your own domain/website structure.
>  
> That way your overall stats figures aren't off their expected margin by
leaps and bounds.  :)  Google Analytics is quite powerful, and there are
books written specifically for it. See if your institution has one or two,
and if not, perhaps it's time to get a copy.  Enjoy!
>  
>  
>  
> Brendon Kozlowski
> Web Administrator
> Saratoga Springs Public Library
> 49 Henry Street
> Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866
> [518] 584-7860 x217
> 
> To report this message as spam, offensive, or if you feel you have
received this in error,
> please send e-mail to abuse at sals.edu including the entire contents and
subject of the message.
> It will be reviewed by staff and acted upon appropriately.
> _______________________________________________
> Web4lib mailing list
> Web4lib at webjunction.org
> http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/
> 


_______________________________________________
Web4lib mailing list
Web4lib at webjunction.org
http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/






More information about the Web4lib mailing list