Why we shouldn't use AWstats to measure marketing efforts?
-
and what are the disadvantages of awstats compared to Google Analytics?
-
I think the simple answer to this one is that Google Analytics is simply better. It provides way more functionality and the ability to actually track conversions, funnels and a whole lot more. AWStats gives you raw data almost, but Google Analytics allows you to make sense of it.
-
I use both AWStats and Analytics. I actually find the unique visits , hits,page views to be more accurate on AWstats than Google. However Google can provide more in depth analysis which is actually more useful. I also think that Google Analytics is heavily effected by the EU cookie directive, as when this arrived I noticed a drop in Analytics figures. For example page views on AWstats for one client shows 1000 people where google Analytics shows 600. We know that the AWstats figures are more accurate from the responses from the example page. However the 600 we can drill down the data to find where else the users visited and also how long etc... So AWstats in my view are for the headline figures and Analytics are for the analysts and number crunchers.
-
Pretty much agreed with Nakul and the reason is that AWstats might not provide you the tons and tons of data those Google Analytics posses in it.
Obviously you can use it technically as there is no harm in it but if you compare GA with AWStats there is no way you can compare!
-
You can. It's just that Free Tools like GA, provide you a lot more data and reporting that AWStats can't. Still, there's no reason for you not to use AWStats if that serves your needs and that's all your care about in terms of basic daily/monthly reporting.
-
But why we shouldn't use it for measuring marketing efforts?
-
Awstats, back in those days worked wonders. One advantage it has is that it's Server Side, which is crunching Raw Log Files. Other then that, GA and similar Analytics are much more advanced today and provide an insane amount of data and reporting. You can do Week over Week, Month Over Month, Year Over Year kinds of analysis, and other custom reporting, which you can't do with AWstats and alike.
Got a burning SEO question?
Subscribe to Moz Pro to gain full access to Q&A, answer questions, and ask your own.
Browse Questions
Explore more categories
-
Moz Tools
Chat with the community about the Moz tools.
-
SEO Tactics
Discuss the SEO process with fellow marketers
-
Community
Discuss industry events, jobs, and news!
-
Digital Marketing
Chat about tactics outside of SEO
-
Research & Trends
Dive into research and trends in the search industry.
-
Support
Connect on product support and feature requests.
Related Questions
-
How to filter blog pageviews using segments with regex
I must be overcomplicating this. I have a website with a blog structure that includes year subfolders, so: website.com/2019/blog-title, website.com/2018/blog-title, website.com/2017/blog-title, etc. I want to create a segment that I can apply in Site Content > All Pages to get quick stats for all blogs, regardless of year. (Pageviews, time on site, etc.) Unfortunately, Content Drilldown doesn't work well here as it is grouping by each year. I have tried setting up a segment using regex, but am getting a mixture of all pages, not just blog pages. I have set up the segment the following way: Advanced > Conditions > Page, Matches Regex, /2019/(.*?)/ Advanced > Conditions > Page, Matches Regex, /2018/(.*?)/ Advanced > Conditions > Page, Matches Regex, /2017/(.*?)/ Am I going about this all wrong? Is my regex wrong? Any advice is appreciated! Side note: glaringly obvious that now is the time to clean up my URLs. But I'd still love to see the data in its current URL state. Thank you!
Reporting & Analytics | | SoleGraphics0 -
I want to know how i use the new feature
i want to know how to use the feature for the www.alazharquranteaching.com learn Arabic online and Quran Online.
Reporting & Analytics | | saharali150 -
Google is reporting a server error, but there's no server error.
Google is erroneously reporting a server error and I just can't figure out the source of the issue. My links work, and GoDaddy ensures me there is no server error. This issue arose when I moved from HTTP to HTTPS and CPanel hosting, but I've got no idea how to fix it. I thought maybe I have duplicate content, but it does not appear that way. Any suggestions? I'm at a loss. www.thedishmaster.com
Reporting & Analytics | | TheDishmaster0 -
Enable Demographics and Interests reports using analytics.js
Hi, I may be going mad, but i can't find the code to activate demographics and interest reports if you are using the new analytics code. I can only find the code adjust for the old code. Any one know where to find this? Thanks Paul
Reporting & Analytics | | eminent0 -
The client's website serves as the main referral?
Hi mozzers, I have this weird case where one of my client's first referral is its own website!! I am really confused especially that I have checked there www vs non www and the non www is redirected to the www. This means that it resolve to one version which is good! Any thoughts on why the main referral is its own site? Thanks
Reporting & Analytics | | Ideas-Money-Art0 -
Analytics Filter for URL's
Hi Fellow Mozzers I am setting my analytics and need to set some filters and need some help. I have a number of Local Sites i need to include and can't find how to do it. some of the the paths are local.imsm.com/new-york/ local.imsm.com/chicago/ local.imsm.com/long-beach/ local.imsm.com/atlanta/ each of the local URL's are /name/ any help would be great
Reporting & Analytics | | imsmlouis0 -
How to Turn Google Analytics Into Your Own Rank Tracker Using Custom Variables
I followed the instructions here http://www.seomoz.org/blog/gettings-rankings-into-ga-using-custom-variables, but cannot see the report in Analytics under "Custom Variables". As I dont know JS syntax, I assume the code is wrong. I just added dohertyjf's code under my normal tracking code. Can someone tell me if and where the error is? | | Much obliged!
Reporting & Analytics | | zeepartner0