Comparison of Web Analytics : Hosted Solutions vs Server-side Analytics
Mutai, Dominic (2015)
Mutai, Dominic
Metropolia Ammattikorkeakoulu
2015
All rights reserved
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201505229700
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201505229700
Tiivistelmä
The ratability of websites allows the aggregation of detailed data about the behavior and characteristics of website visitors. This thesis examines the value of different web metrics based on the analytics tools used and the behavior of website visitors. The objective is to test and identify key metrics and discuss how they compare between hosted solutions and server-side analytics. The value of the web metrics is evaluated by examining the relationships of the metrics to website conversions. This thesis also shows how different web metrics were analyzed to reveal important characteristics of site visitors and how web metrics can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the different aspects of a website.
This thesis evaluates the performance of Google Analytics (hosted solution) and AWstats Analytics (server-side analytics). The case study examines the metkaweb.fi website by following eight different web metrics during a period of three months. The relationship analysis between the web metrics and the data provided by the two analytics tools used gives an insight into the workings of each tool and why they differ in the results produced.
The case study described in this thesis identifies various key web metrics such as unique visits and page view. The sever-side and hosted analytics can be used together as a hybrid solution to tap into the capabilities of both technologies for more accurate reports. In general it is best practice to decide on the web metrics to be analyzed and then select a tool that is best optimized to analyze the metrics to get the most accurate results.
This thesis evaluates the performance of Google Analytics (hosted solution) and AWstats Analytics (server-side analytics). The case study examines the metkaweb.fi website by following eight different web metrics during a period of three months. The relationship analysis between the web metrics and the data provided by the two analytics tools used gives an insight into the workings of each tool and why they differ in the results produced.
The case study described in this thesis identifies various key web metrics such as unique visits and page view. The sever-side and hosted analytics can be used together as a hybrid solution to tap into the capabilities of both technologies for more accurate reports. In general it is best practice to decide on the web metrics to be analyzed and then select a tool that is best optimized to analyze the metrics to get the most accurate results.