Written on April 8th, 2007 at 01:04 am by Darren Rowse
What Blog Metrics Packages Do You Use?
Edward asks – ‘How can I know where the readers of my blog mostly come from? Search Engines? MyBlogLog? Other Blog’s Links?’
Finding where the readers to your blog mainly come from is something that is well worth doing as it can help you grow and improve your blog.
There are many statistics (or metrics) programs out there available for you to use to get this information. They range from the free and very easy to us to paid packages.
Let me outline four that I use on most of my blogs (note – there are many others and I’m sure readers will suggest their favorites in comments below):
Sitemeter – this is one that a lot of bloggers use because it’s very simple to install and gives you some good, basic, useful information – it’s also free (as long as you don’t mind everyone else being able to see your stats too). I use Sitemeter on many of my blogs and find it very useful for checking how a blog is doing from day to day (or hour to hour). While it’s not quite as accurate as some of the other stats packages below (I find that it under estimates actual figures) but many bloggers find it a useful tool to get a feel for what’s happening on a blog quickly.
Google Analytics – Google’s stats packages is quite a bit more advanced than a package like Sitemeter. While it does give you all the same information it also allows you to track a whole lot more and even to set goals and track them. I don’t use Analytics on a daily basis – but find it a very useful to check into every week or two to see how the blog’s performing on a higher level.
Server Side Stats (AW Stats) – If you host your blog on your own server (or a shared one) you’ll almost always be offered some sort of statistics package. For example many servers will offer AW Stats. Again, these stats are very comprehensive. While Sitemeter will only really show you statistics for the last 100 visitors on your site – packages like AW Stats will give you stats for all your visitors over different time periods. Again – I don’t use AWS on a daily basis – but if I’m wanting to do more detailed analysis of how my blog is going this is where I’ll head.
103bees – in addition to the above packages I do also use one more that has more of a niche focus – search engine traffic. 103bees looks at those arriving at your blog after doing a search on a search engine and gives you an array of useful information about them including the words that they use, the questions that they ask etc. While you can get a lot of this information from the above packages too, 103bees put it in really useful form.
But the above four stats packages are just the ones I’m using. What do you use and why?
75 Responses to “What Blog Metrics Packages Do You Use?” - Add Yours
Hip Hop
April 8th, 2007 1:31 am
I use a wordpress plugin called Counterize, it’s realy great
Wordpress Guy
April 8th, 2007 1:36 am
I find that Google analytics and 103bees give me everything I need.
I also run feedburner stats on all feed items and on page traffic, these are less useful but give a quick overview of real time traffic in one place.
So feedburner for daily ego massage, analytics and 103bees for the actual analysis.
basketer
April 8th, 2007 1:41 am
I use Google Analytics and 103 Bees. They are a good combination to use together. Actually, I am still looking for some meter which will help me know and identify which post or page or link is doing the best. MBL widgets do this to a certain extent, but they are quite week and I need a full fledged software. If anybody can suggest it, I will have 3 packages which complement each other perfectly.
Michael From The Future
April 8th, 2007 1:47 am
Hi Darren,
I wanted to point out that it is possible to use the free version of SiteMeter and keep your stats private. Log into your SiteMeter account then choose:
MANAGER
PRIVACY
HIGH
By the way, I chose SiteMeter when I began my website because you used it ;) I still read your site daily and pass along your advice & tips via your links whenever possible, I’ve learned a lot here and my online venture has grown very quickly since November 06 !
Take Care Darren,
Best to you !
_ michael _
Leanne
April 8th, 2007 1:52 am
I usually just want a quick glimpse and overall summary, and for that, I use the wp-shortstat plugin for wordpress. It rocks. You have to clear it in the database once in a while though if you have heavy traffic, it tends to use up a lot of space in the db. For a more comprehensive review, I use statcounter and awstats.
Peter Cooper
April 8th, 2007 1:59 am
And FeedBurner!
Eric F.
April 8th, 2007 2:44 am
Statcounter fo a quick visitor-by-visitor look at what’s happening, AW Stats and Google Analytics for the big picture, though with my traffic, I could probably just use an abacus and a piece of paper!
Louis Gray
April 8th, 2007 3:12 am
I use SiteMeter. I had enabled Google’s stats, but they aren’t as detailed.
When I want even more info, I will just download the stat files and run them through Analog. But SiteMeter is great for day to day.
Ian McKenzie
April 8th, 2007 3:18 am
I use Clicky Web Analytics 2.0, an new service that has more features than I have found in other tracking packages.
Diogo Azevedo
April 8th, 2007 3:31 am
I use Mint and Reinvigorate.
Maki :: Dosh Dosh
April 8th, 2007 3:46 am
Darren and everyone,
Sitemeter recently installed a third party tracking cookie from a marketing firm on all Sitemeter scripts.. Some have considered this a violation of privacy policies and many have claimed that it is spyware.
No official word from Sitemeter on this as yet.
More info here:
http://conservablogs.com/EricOdom/2007/03/26/did-sitemeter-sell-out-to-spyware/
http://www.shaftek.org/blog/archives/000429.html
Lord Matt
April 8th, 2007 3:51 am
I use MyBlogLog but I also use my servers internal stats AWStats being one such package. I also use the blog platforms stats (not so good).
I also use google ad imps as a guide too… nothing agrees with anything else.
Darnell Clayton
April 8th, 2007 3:56 am
You forgot Stat Counter!
http://www.statcounter.com
It blows sitemeter out of the water, plus offers many of the details of Google Analytics, except you can actually understand the info better.
Stat Counter with G/A is what I use.
PS
Also, if anyone uses Google Ad Sense, it has a “stat counter” as well. Not as accurate as the other ones (as it only tracks info for the ads) but it does give you an impression of your site.
Evan
April 8th, 2007 4:03 am
I use Mint and Google Analytics but prefer Mint. Its extendable like WP and gives you Realtime stats, its pretty amazing. I have open access to my web stats if anyone wants to play with the interface.
Liudmila
April 8th, 2007 4:32 am
Just to add other free program to the collection, I use now Webmeter.ws I had a StatCounter befor but had problems with it. Maybe I’m not very expert in use but there were great differences in stats giving me by the site manager and StatsCounter.
David
April 8th, 2007 4:45 am
I’m using a combo of Google Analytics, Feedburner and a stats plugin for Wordpress. I find GA is great for broad, campaign type of info but sometimes is a little more geared towards analyzing the impact of adsense campaigns (for obvious reasons).
When I want simple, up-to-the minute blog stats I like the WP plugin Slimstat..although it slows down the loading of the site so I only use it during off-peak hours.
Haven’t tried Feedburner for daily page hits/uniques, but RSS info it gives is invaluable.
cameron
April 8th, 2007 5:10 am
I’ve just started the whole blogging thing, so I haven’t had much exposure to metric software. But I have been using Google Analytics. I have found it to be very easy to use and packed with a lot of great features.
ogletree
April 8th, 2007 5:36 am
What about feedburner stats? They have feed stats but they also have webiste analytics.
Raj
April 8th, 2007 5:43 am
I use 103bees, Analytics and Mint to see the visitor information. Analytics really goes into lot of detail but I prefer to watch the visitor stats in Mint because it shows you all the stats in real time. Moreover, Mint is installed on your server, so you have access to the database to be able to run custom reports against the database of Mint. This way, I can pull up a variety of reports which otherwise gets tough with other softwares. And since it has a RSS feed, I don’t need to login into it to see the visitor info all the time.
Joe
April 8th, 2007 5:45 am
In addition to Google Analytic, 103bees and Feedburner, I use the free part of MyBlogLog to get a quick feel for where my users came from the day before (have too pay to see live stats). This is the simplest view I’ve found for seeing what the top incoming links to my site are.
Carl
April 8th, 2007 5:48 am
I use a combo of firestats / google analytics / mybloglog stats (the free part) / feedburner stats (also free) . I find that each of them have their virtues. I think my favorite out of them is firestats for the ability to see whats going on real time, but second is google analytics for its graphs.
Kulbir Virk
April 8th, 2007 5:54 am
I use Sitemeter because its so simple and easy to use.
Chris
April 8th, 2007 5:59 am
Good information in both the post -and- the comments. :-)
I still have Google Analytics running, but lately I’ve been using Feedburner’s relatively new Site Stats. It’s very easy to use — and many features.
Richard
April 8th, 2007 6:14 am
Can’t go wrong with GoStats http://gostats.com
-easy to install and more advanced than many free providers. (not to mention a pro version is available)
Freesitebuilder
April 8th, 2007 6:18 am
Worrying news about SiteMeter, I’ve used them for several years, and recommended them to many people who only need the basic information.
For my blog I use the WordPress plugin FireStats, plus MyBlogLog and Feedburner.
Patrix
April 8th, 2007 6:25 am
I use Mint and Reinvigorate. although Mint is paid, I find its one-time site license of $30 to be well worth the stats it gives me and that too, in real time. Reinvigorate is currently under beta but looks (and is) powerful for stat whores.
Gauravonomics
April 8th, 2007 6:26 am
I use Google Analytics and Feedburner Stats, but am now experimenting with Reinvigorate, GetClicky, PMetrics, 103Bees and HitTail.
Brian Auer
April 8th, 2007 6:51 am
I use Google Analytics as my main stats package. I also use IceRocket’s Blog Tracker for the hour-to-hour stuff since Analytics only updates once or twice a day. I was also using GetClicky for the spy feature they have where you can see the realtime traffic coming into your site — kind of fun when you get a spike. But I stopped using that when my “free trial” expired.
I’ve sworn off any stats packages that you install into WordPress. I had a run-in with my host admin when I got a traffic surge from Stumble — actually it wasn’t a run-in, they just turned my database off and killed my site for about 12 hours. The stats package (FireStats) was overworking the database and it set off a flag at the webhost. Never again.
Albert
April 8th, 2007 7:39 am
I am a stats freak, I use Firestats / GoogleAnalytics / Sitemeter / and sometimes AWStats
How do you get Google Analytics to keep track of your adsense stuff?
Thanks
Ahmad Uzair
April 8th, 2007 8:13 am
i use Google Analytics since it provides good info and resources and the features that i need.I also use MyblogLog stats but not depend on it too much.
Jason Bartholme
April 8th, 2007 8:14 am
I use WordPress and use a nifty little plug-in called SlimStat. Nice layout and information, and it sits right inside of the WP admin.
I also use 103bees, and Google Analytics.
jhay
April 8th, 2007 8:48 am
I use the same packages in addition to StatsCounter dot com. This I use on a daily basis, just to get a quick view of the latest traffic trends.
I stopped using any metrics plugins since last year, to save up on dbase space and lighten the server load.
Brad
April 8th, 2007 9:06 am
I use a Stat Counter as my main tool for analyzing how many visitors I get, where they come from, etc. If I want more detailed information I use Google Analytics. However, because my blog is still fairly new, Google’s tool is a little too detailed for me (if that makes any sense).
I thought about using SiteMeter but I don’t like the idea of the whole world knowing how little visitors I get. I want my blog to be judged on its content and quality, not how popular it is or how many unique visitors I get every day.
Good Post! Thanks!
raising4boys.com
April 8th, 2007 9:37 am
Another vote for Mint. And Sitemeter. And 103bees. I really find Mint to be the most useful and generally informative, though.
Eli James
April 8th, 2007 10:05 am
I use reinvigorate – the stats offered are comprehensive and well organized, easy to understand what I’m looking at.
Quais Waseeq
April 8th, 2007 10:06 am
Didn’t know about 103bees.com, thanks for that. My main, and for now the only, stats package is Google Analytics.
I recommend using third party services opposed to installing one on your own server, specially if it uses databases such as the WordPress plugins. First it saves you all the hassle of installing and managing, and it will save you a lot of bandwith and takes off some load off your own server.
Cory OBrien
April 8th, 2007 10:16 am
I use mint, and I’ve never had any complaints. Especially with the new release, it’s quick, easy to use, and shows a lot of useful information (as well as being customizable).
Nice from Thailand
April 8th, 2007 10:33 am
I used to use okcounter.com , cqcounter.com
Richie
April 8th, 2007 11:29 am
I do use AW Stats and GA.
Cat Laine
April 8th, 2007 11:36 am
Google Analytics (for our entire site) and MyBloglog (for the blog)
ew01
April 8th, 2007 2:11 pm
Has anyone else detected a severe undercount from MyBlogLog? I’m not sure what the deal is, but it’s counts for my site are 10x lower than those that I get from other meters. I don’t get it.
Tony
April 8th, 2007 2:23 pm
I use an old version of CNStats I find with a few mods it tells me everything I need and also with the mods I made I can find out all the useful info in one click rather than have to look at 10 different pages to get the same info.
yankee
April 8th, 2007 2:57 pm
i always use the AW Stats & the Blogcounter in with accounts ;-)
Around the Net 4/7/2007 | knupNET
April 8th, 2007 3:39 pm
[...] Blog Metrics [Problogger] [...]
Justyn
April 8th, 2007 5:00 pm
Hittail is great if you’re getting a lot of search engine traffic!
Matt Jones
April 8th, 2007 6:18 pm
I use google analytics but it seems to miss out on the keywords people use to find my site, for those I use awstats from bluehost.
KC TAN
April 8th, 2007 6:51 pm
I find AW Stats sufficient in most cases and I usually only check it weekly. I find the referring sites and search engine queries very useful.
Baxter Tocher
April 8th, 2007 7:24 pm
I use a combination of FireStats, Clicky and StatCounter.
Alex
April 8th, 2007 7:26 pm
Unfortunately, none of the packages out there seem to work well with Ajax applications – since with Ajax, lots of things are happening on a single page. Google Analytics, for example, relies exclusively on on-load stats gathering.
I’m working on a new analytics platform for Ajax applications – http://www.ajaxmetrics.com – and I’d love to hear what you have to say about it.
Thanks!
-Alex
Viriatha
April 8th, 2007 10:27 pm
Google Analytics – cheap AND easy
Matt Wardman
April 8th, 2007 11:08 pm
I just dumped Sitemeter because they have started serving third party cookies.
I have blogged about some alternatives here:
http://www.mattwardman.com/blog/2007/04/06/site-meter-alternatives-for-refugees/
For this bank holiday weekend *only* I have put Gostats, Statcounter, Extreme Counter on my blog with public stats for comparison.
Rgds
Matt
azamzaki
April 9th, 2007 12:25 am
Im Comfortable with Analytics , Every single data can be measured and presented accordingly and the best thing its free.
Jessica Duquette
April 9th, 2007 12:41 am
Hi, Darren, thanks for this great post! I have a Typepad blog which I have been using Sitemeter with no problem. The best feature for me is the referral stats page. I can see where my readers are coming from and also which keywords they used to find me. With this information, I can write more on popular topics and also go to the referring blog and either comment or link back to them.
One important question: Does anyone know if/how I can find the referring information on GA? I have looked everywhere, but can’t seem to find them. I like GA, but I find it is not as simple and intuitive as other programs.
thanks!
Jessica from It’s Not About Your Stuff
Peng
April 9th, 2007 1:44 am
I have a free stats package with my service at 1&1, but my primary stats package is the BAStats WP plugin. I used to use TraceWatch on my old server, and I’m thinking about installing it again so I can drill through a user’s visit, something I miss in what I use now. I have GA, but I don’t use it much because it can be such a pain to use.
Neil
April 9th, 2007 2:00 am
I have tried tons of different metrics packages (Google, Performancing, Sitemeter, etc.) and I am currently enjoying Feedburner’s stat package. It does a great job of showing top line stats (Last 10 referrers, Top 10 pages, etc.) but it isn’t great when you’d like more detailed stats. I use my server’s builtin AWStats package for that…
Chris Baskind
April 9th, 2007 2:01 am
Performancing metrics is back with a new service, and it’s rather good. The coolest part is the “Spy” function, which gives you a near real-time view of what is happening on your site. It’s all very zoomy and Ajax-ified. If it proves stable, this will become my favorite stat service. It’s fun.
Beyond that, Google Analytics is the gold standard. For a quick snapshot, Feedburner’s site metrics (I look at the RSS stuff, anyway).
But y’all ought to check out the new Performancing stuff.
網路賺錢
April 9th, 2007 2:03 am
Google Analytics is free and easy to use. It got my vote!
Martin Reed
April 9th, 2007 2:42 am
I am also a big believer in Google Analytics – I have it running on all my websites and am amazed at what it has taught me.
Chasing a Dream » Blog Archive » Adding More Statistic Tracking
April 9th, 2007 5:26 am
[...] After running into one of Darren Rowse’s post at ProBlogger, What Blog Metrics Packages Do You Use? on how he tracks his stats, I decided to try some of his suggestions. It also led to other options too. [...]
Dan Chase
April 9th, 2007 5:42 am
Thanks for the inspiration, Darren! I’ve been reading blogs for years, and finally decided to get started with my own last week. After reading this post, I decided it was time to try some of the services you and your comment posters suggested. Checkout my post, Adding More Statistic Tracking describing my choices and plans.
Jacob
April 9th, 2007 6:30 am
Don’t forget about Mapstats!
http://mapstats.blogflux.com
AskaX
April 9th, 2007 4:20 pm
103bees worth of try
Thomas
April 9th, 2007 9:13 pm
I have been using stat counter and I’m very pleased with it.
Mike Panic
April 9th, 2007 11:18 pm
Sitemeter for quick stats info, kept in my Firefox bookmark toolbar, AWStats for just about everything else.
Elizabeth
April 10th, 2007 12:39 am
I’ve been using StatCounter, and I just now signed up for 103Bees-thanks! Off to check out Google Analytics and AWStats. Very informative and helpful post.
Jeff
April 10th, 2007 8:57 pm
I’ve been really happy with Sitemeter however, lately I’ve noticed some very slow loading times, default server generated pages stating the site’s bandwidth has been exceeded and some unusually flat visitor rate graphs. Perhaps they are being loved to death!
Thanks Darren for a useful post and to other commenters for their insights also.
Mary-Ann
April 10th, 2007 11:09 pm
I use Mint, and Feedburner integrated into Mint. I did use MeasureMap (is that still around?) and liked it a lot but didn’t want to use two packages ans Mint did more. I also like that Mint is in one page and I’m a sucker for things that look nice (!) which is why it wins over AWStats. I couldn’t get on with GAnalytics at all.
MJ Ray
April 11th, 2007 4:47 am
I’m using a mix of awstats for the basic baseline stuff and an as-yet-unreleased stats package that I wrote myself (I’m a statistics graduate) which can do more detailed analysis of blogs and OSCommerce sites, among other plugins. If you want to know when it’s released, head over to my site and subscribe to either the Hacks or All feeds (RSS-1).
HART (1-800-HART)
April 12th, 2007 12:40 am
I really liked that 103bees questions and keywords and search results it was providing me – for the first 10 weeks – then it got kind of old seeing the same things over and over again. I don’t trust it anymore.
I have all the server side statistics I can get, but I seem to rely on sitemeter and my “refer” script for all the curiousity-seeking information I need. But it’s the “Reader-Digest-Version” only, as its either summarized or stats are held for a short time only. It’s only when I’m contemplating over the results of the past year .. like, to see the most popular posts overall or searches etc
As for all my wordpress plugins – I do use “Wordpress Reports” plugin, which ties into my feedburner and google analytics right through my dashboard in my blog .. which is cool .. and also that “FireStats” plugin which covers the popularity and incoming/outgoing posts and browsers and stuff like that. I look at firestats more than I do at analytics or feedburner stats.. but not as much as just clicking that green Sitemeter button at the bottom of each of my pages.
Gary
April 12th, 2007 2:34 am
We use GA on all of our blogs
Manuel Lima
April 14th, 2007 12:39 am
I use:
- StatCounter (much better than SiteMeter)
- Google Analytics
- FeedBurner (new email feature is great!)
- CrazyEgg (I love the provided heatmaps)
Will try 103bees – sounds interesting.
Abhisek
April 14th, 2007 3:46 am
I didn’t know about 103bees and am using google analytics. Why? Because ….(you ‘ve mentioned the reason)…”Everything in one place”
DavidYin
September 19th, 2007 8:18 am
I use Sitemeter and Google Analytics both。
Alex Leonard
November 6th, 2007 11:25 pm
I’ve been using Google Analytics for a long time. Before that it was Awstats. I’ve kept awstats on as sometimes it gives a slightly different perspective than GA.
I like the look of http://www.hittail.com and both 103bees and P Metrics look pretty interesting as well.
website statistics
December 9th, 2008 11:24 pm
since statcounter is really expensive if you want more than basic stats, i recommend idlogger – http://www.idlogger.com which is very easy to install and powerful (and free of-course)
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