Hey Kate
Webalizer is log-based if I recall, and GA is page-tagging based. They're therefore measuring activity in very different ways. Also (and without digging about a bit, I don't know) - results could be also skewed by robots, definition of what/how long a "visit" is, etc.
"Unique visitors" is a different measure altogether - see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unique_visitor
GA seems to be the emerging standard across museums, so personally I'd go for that over Webalizer. Also almost everyone nowadays accepts that tag-based analytics is a better approach than log-based - although it isn't 100% foolproof.
You might also want to consider how (or whether) you might want to compare stats with your peers. If - say - all the museums in your peer group are using Webalizer then that might override the advice that GA is a "better" tool.
Lots of "it depends" there. Sorry about that. Ping me off list at [log in to unmask] if you need to.
Cheers
Mike
Mike Ellis
Digital Strategist
eduserv
t: 01225 470522
m: 07017 031 522
twitter: @m1ke_ellis
www.eduserv.org.uk
-----Original Message-----
From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Maynard, Kate
Sent: 22 June 2011 11:47
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: analytics or webalizer?
Hi,
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'.
Thanks for any advice you have!
Kate
Kate Maynard
Principal Museums Officer
East Lothian Council Museums Service
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