Google Analytics

[fisicx]

Is it just me or is Google analytics slowing things down. I'm discovering an increasing number of sites who hang during initial page load waiting for GA to connect. Pressing F5 usually clears the problem but it is becoming a little annoying.

Once the site is in the browser cache all is OK, it's only during the first visit that there is a problem. Note that I block cookies as well but that's never been a problem in the past.

 

[DLWhitehouse]

Not seen or heard of this before? Only problems I have seen with Google Apps is when implementing them onto affiliate advertising sites it tends to do more harm than good by lowering SEO rankings (as they know what your up to)

 

[FreelanceSoftwareDeveloper]

Do you put the script at the end of the page between the /body and /html tags?

That's where I always put it, not in the head.

 

[mobyme]

I've noticed it too but as you say only on the first visit and F5 soon clears it. Interesting because I block cookies too...mmmmm

 

[cmcp]

Do you put the script at the end of the page between the /body and /html tags?

That's where I always put it, not in the head.

I don't think he's talking about his own site.

 

[shawnchin]

I've noticed it too because of java script loading as already mentioned if you paste script bottom it i will take less time as paste on top.

 

[Esk247]

yup, definitely a hang when loading websites for the first time and it says it's loading analytics.

As above, people have been telling me to stick the code at the end of the site but Analytics says to stick it at the start of the page before the closing head tag. Confusing.

 

[shpangle]

yup, definitely a hang when loading websites for the first time and it says it's loading analytics.

As above, people have been telling me to stick the code at the end of the site but Analytics says to stick it at the start of the page before the closing head tag. Confusing.

Google changed the positioning of the Analytics code with the newer 'Asynchronous' code. The older Analytics code used to be positioned at the end, but now with the newer Asynchronous loading code it needs to be placed in the head.

I wonder if all these loading issues are related to sites with the old Analytics code or new?

Mick

 

[directmarketingadvice]

I've noticed it happening with sites that have other programming on the page (esp java).

I've long wondered if this is a result of poor java coding by the site designers perhaps interfering with the analytics code loading.

TBH, I've no idea.

Steve

 

[fisicx]

It seems then that if the browser struggles to connect to GA when the code is at the top of the page the site simply won't load. This may well result in a number of first time visitors who will be lost forever. Just think of all those potential sales gone out the windows because the google servers are overloaded...

Yet another reason to leave Google and use one of the many better analytics providers (my vote as always is for getclicky).

 

[shpangle]

The problem may be caused by peoples implementation of the Google Analytics tracking code, for instance putting the old tracking code in the head section of the website would be the wrong thing to do.

The newer Google analytics tracking code SHOULD be placed at the bottom of the head section and is designed to execute without blocking other code or content.

Mick

 

[fisicx]

You may well be right. Either way it's causing problems for quite a lot of sites. Clear your cache and cookies and you will be surprised at how many sites hang - on some days it's almost every site running GA that I visit.

 

[Esk247]

GA Code says the following on Analytics:

Copy the following code, then paste it onto every page you want to track immediately before the closing </head> tag

Thats for all three variants, standard, advanced and custom.

I think the code was better at the end of the website personally but perhaps they thought it best to stick it up top so that it gets the data before people have to wait for any content to load? some websites are code filled nonsense.

 

[sidera]

shpangle is probably correct.
you should be using the new asynchronous script that does not impact page load times.
If you're on WordPress, the only GA plugin that has it is "Google Analytics For WordPress" by Yoast

 

[cmcp]

Yet another reason to leave Google and use one of the many better analytics providers (my vote as always is for getclicky).

Based on the analytics features I agree with you about getclicky. It's what I use, and it's spot on.

But fundamentally you're not solving anything by moving to another third party provider. The same risk is present, that you are relying on their uptime to render your site.

(From recent experience) this is also why js frameworks shouldn't be hosted by a third party. Your local js will get served but because the foundations don't load the site will throw up errors (or worse, not load).

I've noticed it too because of java script loading as already mentioned if you paste script bottom it i will take less time as paste on top.

If links are clicked before the javascript is loaded then those links won't be recorded, or any functions associated with the javascript won't be actioned.

 

[shpangle]

I know I will probably get shot down for saying this...but have you ever considered that by using Google's analytics code, the website actually scores points with Google and gets credited for it and that Google penalises websites that you something provided by another third party. They have the power after all!

Mick

 

[DotNetWebs]

...But fundamentally you're not solving anything by moving to another third party provider...

100% agree.

I always prefer to stick to a decent log analyser.

Regards

Dotty

 

[Raw Rob]

I'm using Piwik, an open source analytics program which you install on your own server. Maybe not yet as powerful as Google Analytics but I prefer not to give my data away to Google.

www.piwik.org

Rob

 

[fisicx]

I know I will probably get shot down for saying this...but have you ever considered that by using Google's analytics code, the website actually scores points with Google and gets credited for it and that Google penalises websites that you something provided by another third party. They have the power after all!

On the other hand I moved a bunch of sites from GA to Getclicky and ranking stayed exactly where it was.

 

[Esk247]

On the other hand I moved a bunch of sites from GA to Getclicky and ranking stayed exactly where it was.

Maybe because the website was already crawled and listed at that point?

I always work from the assumption that tickling Google and making it happy gives you more points. E.g. adding to Google Analytics, Webmaster Tools and running a short AdWords campaign (£20) to make Google all smiley

 

[fisicx]

Maybe because the website was already crawled and listed at that point?

Nope. Two were brand new sites, one inbound link, no PPC, no webmaster tools, sitemaps, GA.. no nuffin'. Both site were fairly niche and both rank near top on page 1.

People worry too much about what Google can or can't do. If you just follow the guidelines then most of the time a niche site won't experience any problems. You really don't need GA and all it's snooping, it's almost as bad as installing the Google Spyware Toolbar.

 

[MASSEY]

People worry too much about what Google can or can't do. If you just follow the guidelines then most of the time a niche site won't experience any problems. You really don't need GA and all it's snooping, it's almost as bad as installing the Google Spyware Toolbar.

But if you follow the guidelines you don't care about google snooping do you?

 

[fisicx]

But if you follow the guidelines you don't care about google snooping do you?

Sorry me no understand. The guidelines are those offered by Google on how to build a website. It's pretty basic stuff that an awful lot of people ignore and as a result complain that Google doesn't like their website. There is no snooping other than the indexing robots and I don't mind them visiting!