Google Analytics virgin...

[ctrlbrk]

...so please excuse the noob questions.

GA4 is set up, it is (apparently) collecting traffic. I see some visits from certain countries, but I don't know if I'm getting all visits?

For example, I wanted to see if I am getting specific traffic from a new country. So I used a VPN from Singapore. I did this twice (3rd October and earlier today), but no visits from Singapore show up on GA4.

Why is that?

Do I need to set up specific metrics to see basic page views, or should they be picked up automatically??

Thanks

 

[finleydesign]

The VPN would block all tracking! Thats it's point

 

[fisicx]

Exactly. And many visitors to your site will be using tracking blockers do you won’t know about them either.

You server stats will provide a better picture of total visitors.

 

[ctrlbrk]

The VPN would block all tracking! Thats it's point

I don't get it. The VPN should make my connection "anonymous" in that it groups the traffic of several connections through a set of geographical IP addresses.

But it still should be tracked by the website, shouldn't it?

 

[ctrlbrk]

You server stats will provide a better picture of total visitors.

Which server stats?

 

[fisicx]

If you have cpanel there a whole load of them in the Metrics section

 

[ctrlbrk]

If you have cpanel there a whole load of them in the Metrics section

Nope. It's a self-built VPS so no fancy stuff.

 

[fisicx]

try one of these, far superior analytics:

Matomo - The Google Analytics alternative that protects your data

Matomo's the Google Analytics alternative that protects your data and your customer's privacy. A powerful web analytics platform with 100% data ownership.

matomo.org

Privacy-friendly Google Analytics alternative | Real-time Web Analytics | Clicky

Clicky's privacy-friendly web analytics is simply the best Google Analytics alternative. Monitor, analyze, & react to your website's traffic in real-time.

clicky.com

You will wonder why you ever bothered with G4A

 

[ctrlbrk]

Thanks @fisicx I will give them a go but, does this mean these tools you're recommending will show me something that GA4 is not showing me now??

 

[fisicx]

Lots of clever things. If you use the paid service you get heatmaps and lots of fine detail.

For example the live feed which shows you who is on the site and what they are doing in real time.

Or drilling down to city locations, devices, operating systems and much more.

I’ve been using clicky for years. $49/years let’s me monitor 10 different sites from one dashboard.

And you can set up a big screen to show an overview.

 

[antropy]

Thanks @fisicx I will give them a go but, does this mean these tools you're recommending will show me something that GA4 is not showing me now??

Matomo is good - we use it - but it's not server based so it won't show you the missing data.

You'd need to install some software that can analyse your HTTP access logs if you want to see people who use AdBlockers etc.

Paul.