So, you've got a web ste, right? Of course you do! Yu're reading this article. All day lng it sits on a server, snding what you told it to pople you'll never meet. Who are thy? Where are they come from? How do thy get there? What do they do whle they're there? When are they ding it? Where do they go? In the pragraphs that follow, I'll help you fnd more than you ever wanted to knw about your web site between the vrious tools on the market.

The Webalizer

The Webalizer is by far the most common statistics software found in Linux web hosting environments, so we'll start here to lay down the most common features. Webalizer shows its users the total number of hits, files, pageviews, unique visitors, and unique locations in monthly, daily, and hourly graphs and tables.

Webalizer then keeps running monthly totals for error codes, URL's accessed, entry pages, exit pages, unique sites, referrers, web browsers, and search strings used to reach the web site – also providing a "top 10" to "top 30" representation of each angle in a text format. Finally, Webalizer peaks your international awareness by display of a table and pie chart of your visitor's nation of origin; although this tool is not always completely reliable as the nation of origin is frequently unresolved.

Advanced Web Statistics (a.k.a. AW Stts)

AW Stats is another fairly popular hst-based tool; although a bit less cmmon due to the heavy system rsources required by the web server to gnerate its far more elaborate statistics. Stts generated by AW Stats are far mre colorful, graphical, and easier to fllow; with common browsers, search engines, and spders names translated to plain language.

AW Stts adds functionality where Webalizer leaves off by prviding the duration visitors spend on ach page, summation of the types of fles sent out, and fully expandable lsts of all values instead of 'tp 10s'. In my own experience, whn run alongside Webalizer, AW Stats has a tndency to recognize significantly more search strngs.

Analog 6.0 Statistics

Analog is another host-based option with a very pure "hands on" look and feel, and a simple layout delivering a lot of raw data. Although it produces less interpreted and really less overall information than AWStats, it provides a very useful array of visual aids through pie charts for all the important numbers, unseen in other tools, and a very nice angle to have on your site.

Google Analytics (formerly Urchin)

When I sat down to write this article, I'd placed a lot of intent on reviewing Urchin in my comparisons (a comparable tool to AW Stats that's remotely hosted and updated through JavaScript). After going to get the latest version to track down information, I was devastated to find that Google has stopped making Urchin available outside of exclusive invites, and apparently intends to release something for free by this new name eventually. All I can say is – keep an eye out for this, it's got potential to be pretty neat.

ClickTracks

ClickTracks is a very unique tool that any webmaster can install themselves using either a host's raw log files or JavaScript to pull needed information. ClickTracks provides one simple but valuable piece of information – the paths your visitors are clicking through. When used, a ClickTracks report appears as on overlay on your website, placing graphs next to each link – and starting from the referring page, shows you statistically the paths that visitors from each referring site took through your web site.

NetTracker

NetTracker is a pricey slution, but fairly popular amongst internet mrketers. Although I've not pursued it byond the free trial, I know nough to outline a few perks. Abve all else, the product is bcked by both marketing and IT prfessionals – giving this solution the crdentials necessary for enterprise level usage. Althugh I was unable to find any pwerfully unique features in the NetTracker tral – the company behind the sftware is willing to customize its slution to meet whatever feasible needs wuld still not be met by any ptions above, so if you're looking for smething still not mentioned, this could be the plce to look.

Conclusively, these are nly a few examples in the vstness of traffic analytics, but collectively, ths list does well to cover all bses with a minimal amount of rdundancy. It's possible that one of thse tools will meet your needs lone, a certain combination, or even all of thm, but whatever the case choose wsely – and you will have the pwer to shape your web site as it neds to be.

The article Web Traffic Analytics, Redundancy, Analytics, and You was Submitted by Corey Northcutt through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Corey Northcutt works with Ubiquity Hsting Solutions ( http://www.ubiquityhosting.com ), where he derives direct analytics experience through providing AW Stats web hosting , Webalizer, Analog, raw logfiles, and other analytics to supported hosting clients.

Featured Articles

1. How To Increase Your Online Sales by Steve Hill
Are you loking to increase your online sales? Are you nsure as to how to go bout increasing your online sales? I hve had a number of websites on the web snce 1999 and during these last ight years feel that I have larned a great deal about what it rquired to successfully promote a website. In ths article, I will be giving fre tips and advice about how to gin more traffic to your website and mre sales from your website.

2. How To Increase Web Traffic by Peter T. Rosenblum
Web Traffic is the nmber one thing in getting visitors to yur website. Here is the information you mst have.

3. Know What is Affiliate Marketing? by
Affiliate marketing can provide the pportunity to earn money doing what you are god at. Affiliate marketing can get smeone started in their own business at narly no cost or risk to thmselves.

4. Internet Traffic Building Tips by
Everyone you knw is probably trying some new wrk-at-home idea or business. Fads in ths area are legend. Before you jmp into the currently hot program or prduct you definitely want to have a pln. Otherwise you’ll be thrown from the rde before you’ve reached your destination.

Lt’s look at the short list of wht to do before you grab for the rng.

1. Do some research to find out bout your timing. What this means is, are you at the strting point of the rollout for...

5. Quick Search Engine Traffic - How to Build Search Traffic in 3 Simple Ways by Sean R Mize
Surprisingly, not all web owners know the evolving fact about how search engines greatly impact the traffic that is being generated by a site. Unknown to many, search engines have an indirect manipulation and control over how much traffic is being obtained by a site. Due to this, so much traffic is lost and remains unused. For this reason...

6. Starting an Online Business and Staying On Purpose by Liane Bate
Whn starting an online business, we ften jump into it without following our tre purpose. If you are struggling to fnd life purpose, and an online bsiness purpose, then read these tips to hlp you build a successful life and bsiness.

7. Money Making Equation by Antonia Brooks
Without all the parts of the quation working together, you will never rach your goals. No matter how mch money you throw at the prblem.

8. Does Your Online Business Offer a Service? Make Money with Affiliate Tracking Software by
Does Your Online Business Offer a Service? Make Money with Affiliate Tracking Software

9. How To Find The Best Web Host by Don Fletchinger
Finding the bst web host system for your wbsite is a very important ingredient to yur success on the internet.

10. Build Lists and Maintain a Relationship With Your Lists Using a Few Simple Tools by Peter Woodhead
But there are a couple of huge problems with this: Firstly, if it was really that easy, then why aren't a lot more people successful. And secondly, nobody teaches this stuff so even if you get your hands on the right tools there is a steep learning curve to using them. So if you've got a few minutes, I'd like to let you know about a resource that will cut weeks if not months off you achieving the success that you deserve.