Which Web Stats Should I Use?

[BonkerBids]

Well I finally got a resource site up and I am looking for some answers to some webstats questions. Do I just use the webstats provided by my hosting or what? I'm not sure how the site will turn out and I may just decide to sell it in the future. So If I go to sell the site from whom are potential buyers going to want to see the sites stats from? Hope it's free, as my resources are limited. Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[Scilynt]

You should probably use a couple different stats apps to compare and such. Some will be more accurate with some things while being way off on others.

Definitely use what comes free with your host but people say awstats are not accurate because they track images as unique visits. But there is other useful info.

I like googles analytics and it's free. I don't even use any of the advanced tools/figures yet but from what I can tell, it's pretty in depth.

[AzBlk]

statcounter.com or statsheet.com

[miller2348]

I used statcounter and mint. Both are good for different reasons.

[DavidR]

I use extreme counter, because lots of the big sites do and I like to be able to compare. Even though there's no comparing my stats to theirs...

Also it's free.

[MSowner]

Using extreme counter as well

[Cyclops]

Awstats is good enough ..... the important fighres are down near the bottom, where you can see which search engines and sites the traffic came from, also the terms used that bought them to the site.

It's quite easy to break down the figures to dismiss the images.

[chihpih]

google analytics

[Rob]

google analytics

Same here.Definately gives you all you need.

[AzBlk]

I use extreme counter, because lots of the big sites do and I like to be able to compare. Even though there's no comparing my stats to theirs...

Also it's free.
The problem with the free version of extreme tracking is it only tracks one page so I guess you can use it to track the most popular page but it does not give the full picture. I think the best way to go is to use multiple trackers. I use extreme, google analytics, statcounter and statsheet because each one has its advantages

[DavidR]

The problem with the free version of extreme tracking is it only tracks one page so I guess you can use it to track the most popular page but it does not give the full picture. I think the best way to go is to use multiple trackers. I use extreme, google analytics, statcounter and statsheet because each one has its advantages

Does it? I don't think that''s right. It gives the full picture.

I put it on everypage and it tracks them all... so if someone enters my site on index.php or layouts.php it will track them.

It tracks your entire site, presuming you put the counter on each page, which everyone with a brain does.

[AzBlk]

No it does not it only tracks one page where you put it on all pages. it will only track a visitor who came into site from another page if that visitor that visitor goes to index.php from that page but they only get a glitter etc and leave you wont see them, the paid version though tracks a whole site. Try an experiment by adding urchin to all your pages and leave extreme there as well and you will see the difference.
:stupid: By the way I got a brain too albeit a small one.

[BonkerBids]

Thanks for all the responses so far. The big question though is which stats would a potential buyer of my site want to see the most. If you could list what you think would be the top 2 and the url to where I can sign up for it, that would be great. Again, I'd like it to be free, which I think most that have been brought up here are. Thanks.

[Cyclops]

Go to digital point and have a look through the sites for sale thread, you will find that 90% of the stats come from Awstats. It comes free with most hosting providers so you might even have it already.

[miller2348]

Awstats is free but not accurate for actual visitors on your site. It's good for telling me how much bandwidth and what ten images are using the bandwidth.

Many people also provide any of the others mentioned, statcounter, extreme tracking... Just have two on the site so you can compare. I have both statcounter and mint because each display different info.

[LinkPromo]

Ive been hearing a lot about mint. Anyone tell me a little more about how they find em?

[miller2348]

http://haveamint.com/

[money_train]

mint is good i have it on my msrs. 30$ a licence is expensive for all sites.

i really love my awstats as well. Free with hosting.
anyway are these accurate enough?

[icesar]

I've been considering getting a second package. I currently use Google Analytics, but it is a very complicated package. I'm sure it does everything I would want it to do, but I've often spend 45 minutes trying to answer just one question I had.

And still don't know how to find specific referring URLs in there. If you know of a simpler package, please elighten me!

[money_train]

And still don't know how to find specific referring URLs in there. If you know of a simpler package, please elighten me!

mint does that.

[Connections]

I just use extreme tracking it seems to work ok

[Andria]

Extreme is usually always way off, i've noticed anyway. I use my cpanel stats, been pretty on point so far.