How do I find out info re visitors to my site

[Maslins]

Sorry for the second noob question in quick succession.

Just read a thread where someone says they don't get much traffic from Touch Local...I was wondering, how do you know?

Yeah, if someone phones up and says "Hi, I saw your details on ..." then it's fairly obvious, but assuming they make no contact with you and only view your website, how can you find this info out?

I imagine this kind of information must be very useful, especially to a noob like me who's putting up cheap crappy ads everywhere with no idea which (if any) are doing anything of any use!

[NetConneXions]

Most stat programs with your hosting should give you the referals? Or install google analytics to your site, and it gives you the info of where visitors came from.

[BusinessIdeas]

I am always logging into stats for my sites. Just type in the toolbar www.yoursite.com/stats (http://www.yoursite.com/stats) and it will come up. If you havent got stats enabled for your site it will probaly tell you how to do it. You will need to enter the password and user name for your ftp hosting.

[KidsBeeHappy]

Try Clicky, its like a virtual vistitor stalker. it tells you where people came onto your website, what search engine they searched on, what term, what ISP, where they went, what buttons they pressed, actions, pages viewed, where they came in, where they exited, and you can aggregate all of their each unique visitors visits together.

It's ace.

[fisicx]

I imagine this kind of information must be very useful, especially to a noob like me who's putting up cheap crappy ads everywhere with no idea which (if any) are doing anything of any use!

It's vital! Analytics is the only way to tell if your marketing is working and more importantly how effective your website is.

I'd second using getclicky.

[cmcp]

Get yourself signed up to here: http://www.google.com/analytics/en-GB/

[FreckleRed]

I strongly recommend Google analytics, it's free and in most instances rivals paid analytics packages.

Once you have the code installed on your site you will start seeing where your visitors are coming from, where on yur site they go, where they leave, how long they stay, and more. You can also set it up so that it tracks which visitors convert, so you can see where your most profitable customers are coming from.

The key is to not just set it up and leave it though, making sure yu know where your visitors are coming from and what they are doing can help you make the most of the traffic you get, and increase yoru traffic too.

[ginantonic]

I like Statcounter. It's free and it works.

[Mechanic]

For analytics how do i get the code and where/how do i insert it?

[ThePrintBarn]

another google analytics fan here :)

[ThePrintBarn]

sign up for a google account, add analytics, and there'll be nice easy instructions to follow, literally copy and paste the code into your html pages and let google do the rest!

[fisicx]

I'd still give Getclicky a go though. You can have a 30 day trial and the interface is so much simpler than Google.

It's also worth investigating Crazyegg to see where your visitors are clicking.

[DRB]

Sorry for the second noob question in quick succession.

Just read a thread where someone says they don't get much traffic from Touch Local...I was wondering, how do you know?

Yeah, if someone phones up and says "Hi, I saw your details on ..." then it's fairly obvious, but assuming they make no contact with you and only view your website, how can you find this info out?

I imagine this kind of information must be very useful, especially to a noob like me who's putting up cheap crappy ads everywhere with no idea which (if any) are doing anything of any use!

Statcounter and google analytical is a good tool

[DRB]

For analytics how do i get the code and where/how do i insert it?

First login google analytics select add website profile that will take you to another page Create New Website Profile add your site name there and click on Add a Profile for a new domain click finish button, it will take you the code page just copy it and paste it in you html page at the bottom before </body></html>

[AndyBlack]

I think Google Analytics offers a great deal of stats. You'd be suprised how deep into your stats you can go with this tool.

[lukd]

Google Analytics - google.com/analytics/
Allows you to see various stats, from number of visitors to keywords

[Joe E]

Hi I needed to do this as well and followed the advice here, however the status is the warning sign saying haven't inserted correctly is it definitley before the </body>/html> or after or even betwen the two?

Regards

Joe E

First login google analytics select add website profile that will take you to another page Create New Website Profile add your site name there and click on Add a Profile for a new domain click finish button, it will take you the code page just copy it and paste it in you html page at the bottom before </body></html>

[Mechanic]

How do i paste it into my html page?...how do i get to that? Not much good with computers :redface:

[QVA - Emma]

How do i paste it into my html page?...how do i get to that? Not much good with computers :redface:

Hi Mechanic,

Do you have access to your website? I guess I am asking if you built it or did someone else or a designer build it for you? Your "not much good with computers" kinda says you didn't :)

Basically you need to access the pages of your website and paste the code in. If you don't have access you will need the person who created it to do it for you, if you have any difficulties I am happy to help just send me a PM.

Kind Regards

[Joe E]

Well the way I did it was using the software I built my website with go to each page right click select view source, notepad opens up and you paste it in there. Thats how google advised me how to do it however it's not clear exactly where some people have said at the bottom of the page in between <body> & </html> which is what I did but google still tells me that it is not recognised when I go back to analystics.
Can anyone help myself and Mechanic out?
How do i paste it into my html page?...how do i get to that? Not much good with computers :redface:

[QVA - Emma]

Thats how google advised me how to do it however it's not clear exactly where some people have said at the bottom of the page in between <body> & </html> which is what I did but google still tells me that it is not recognised when I go back to analystics.

You paste the code into the <head> tags before the <body> tags.

i.e.

<head>

Google analytics code

<head>

<body>

Hope this helps

[DRB]

instead of pasting between the <head> </head>

place before </body>

[Mechanic]

Hi Mechanic,

Do you have access to your website? I guess I am asking if you built it or did someone else or a designer build it for you? Your "not much good with computers" kinda says you didn't :)

Basically you need to access the pages of your website and paste the code in. If you don't have access you will need the person who created it to do it for you, if you have any difficulties I am happy to help just send me a PM.

Kind Regards

Yes i don't think i have access,will have to contact the designers,thanks.

[Joe E]

instead of pasting between the <head> </head>

place before </body>

Tried that also tried all the other suggestions but simply not working, have done all over again saved it in different ways exited in different ways, went back in immediately and its always disapeared.
Have added my own tracking code to replace the xxx's

Time to check out the other tracker programs mentioned on this thread

[DRB]

Tried that also tried all the other suggestions but simply not working, have done all over again saved it in different ways exited in different ways, went back in immediately and its always disapeared.
Have added my own tracking code to replace the xxx's

Time to check out the other tracker programs mentioned on this thread


Can you please elaborate how you have placed it. It should work. just tell me your sitename need to see that. or else i will create tracking code for you put that and see. if you can tell me your login id through private msg i will help you out later you can change the password.

[Multivariate]

Definitely use Google Analytics. It is a well of information - if you spend a bit of time digging in the results! To make it easier - customise the dashboard to see all the info you need straight away - such as keywords or traffic sources etc.

[DotNetWebs]

Definitely use Google Analytics...

I am going to go against the grain here. I would not usually recommend Google Analytics . Yes it free but it relies on JavaScript and Cookies both of which can be easily blocked and may not be present on some browsers such as many mobile phones and other Internet devices. The JavaScript may also [albeit slightly] increase the performance overhead of your pages.

The other issue is do you really want Google to have access to what could be critical business data about your website? If you are using Adwords / Adsense etc, Google Analytics will nicely integrate that data for you and the benefits will probably outweigh the loss of privacy but if you are not that closely tied to Google you may want to keep you data to yourself.

I personally prefer to use a log analyzer such as SmarterStats (http://www.smartertools.com/SmarterStats/Features/Web-Log-Analytics-Website-Statistics.aspx). We run our own installation of the SmarterStats server and many web hosts will do the same. I would first speak to you host to see what stats are available. If they cannot provide what you want then you may want to have a look at a remote, JavaScript based solution like Google Analytics but personally I wouldn't rush into using it without weighing up your other options.

Regards

Dotty

[Joe E]

After a lot of perserverance I've finally managed to get it working
I'd like to thank everyone who offered to help me esp Emma & DRB.
Have to say in the end it was worth the effort as you can really drill down and gets loads of info.

Thanks Again

Regards

Joe E

Can you please elaborate how you have placed it. It should work. just tell me your sitename need to see that. or else i will create tracking code for you put that and see. if you can tell me your login id through private msg i will help you out later you can change the password.

[QVA - Emma]

You are very welcome Joe E I am delighted you got thru it in the end!!

Do not hesitate to ask if you need any further help.:)

Emma