Direct tracking of XML, PDF, MP3 or whatever you want can easily be set up in Google Analytics using virtual pageviews or, better still, using Event Tracking.
Pageviews method: http://www.google.com/support/analytics/bin/answer.py?answer=55529
Event tracking: http://code.google.com/apis/analytics/docs/tracking/eventTrackerGuide.html
The problem with using the pageviews method is that it artificially increases your pageviews. Event tracking is neater but needs a little more implementation time.
There are a number of extra JS libraries that you can load to automatically do this for you such as GATAG.JS.
http://www.goodwebpractices.com/roi/track-downloads-in-google-analytics-automatically.html
Seb
Sebastian Chan
A/g Head of Digital, Social and Emerging Technologies
Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, Australia
s - 500 Harris St Ultimo | p - PO Box K346, Haymarket, NSW 1238
t - +61 2 9217 0109 | m - +61 (0) 413 457 126
e - [log in to unmask] | w - www.powerhousemuseum.com/dmsblog
-----Original Message-----
From: Museums Computer Group on behalf of James Morley
Sent: Wed 22/06/2011 11:18 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: analytics or webalizer?
We've been using both Google Analytics and log file analysis as a way of comparing figures. In our case we've used Awstats in preference to Webalizer, but the points remain the same I feel. Benefits include being able to easily track direct downloads (pdf & xml being two examples). The key thing though is to make sure it's configured correctly, for example defining which file types to include as 'page views', excluding crawler activity etc. We too see a marked difference in figures between tools, but oddly that disparity is very uneven across various areas of our site.
Whilst on the topic, we've also had Reinvigorate running for about six months (hat tip to Seb Chan for suggesting it), which produces yet another different set of stats, but some very nice heat maps to look at user behaviour (click location on page especially). We haven't really explored the stats it generates as extensively as I would have liked, but I'd be interested to hear if anyone else has used this or similar.
James
----------------------------------------------------------------------
James Morley [log in to unmask]
Website Development Manager +44 (0)20 8332 5759
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew www.kew.org
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
> Mia
> Sent: 22 June 2011 13:56
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: analytics or webalizer?
>
> On 22 June 2011 11:47, Maynard, Kate <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
>
> > In compiling my Standard Performance Indicators I have noticed that
> the number of visits a web site gets is different when I look at the
> webalizer figures and the Google Analytics. Which one is the most
> accurate record of visits to a site? I have to provide information on
> the number of unique visits to sites, and have three different options:
> the webalizer 'visits' the GA 'visits' (very different to each other)
> and the GA 'unique visitors'.
>
> It's a great question, but unfortunately there's no definitive answer.
> In general the most appropriate metric will vary according to how
> it's being used e.g. some museums use different processes for
> reporting to funders or for internal content analysis; or for
> understanding changes in visits over time vs raw numbers.
>
> You might find this report on the Culture24-led action research
> project on evaluating online success useful:
> https://conference.archimuse.com/mw2011/papers/how_to_evaluate_online_s
> uccess_a_new_piece_of_
>
> Cheers, Mia
>
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