Crazy Analytics: Comparing Google Analytics to SmarterStats
We use two stats programs to track analytics for our clients: Google Analytics and Smarter Stats. Both programs are solid, but often deliver different results.
We were asked by a client to check their site referrals from a local TV station spot that was playing. Here are the results from February 19 to April 1.
www.wptv.com
Smarter Stats: 303
Google Stats: 185
wptv.img.cdn.entriq.net
Smarter Stats: 96
Google Stats: 57
wptv.img.origin.entriq.net
Smarter Stats: 21
Google Stats: 8
www.cbs12.com
Smarter Stats: 84
Google Stats: 43
Google seems to consistently under report by 39% to 61% of the referrals. I would go by about 40% as it has a bigger population to report from, but still that is a lot.
Not sure why, but the program data is clear: Smarter Stats vs. Google Data. Perhaps it just has to do with the fact that Smarter Stats is a server program and runs on the server logs, which supposedly track everything. Perhaps its because Google runs on Javascript and some clients may have that disabled.
Anyways, the big idea to take from this is don’t fully trust your stats program.
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September 2, 2010 - 5:13:08 PM EDT
Hello Pete! My name is Tiffany and I am in charge of communications for SmarterTools. We came across your blog post this morning and were delighted to see that SmarterStats outperformed Google Analytics–and that you posted relevant data to boot! We agree that there are distinct advantages to choosing an analytics program (like SmarterStats) that doesn’t depend on cookies or JavaScript to track Web site visitors to ensure the most accurate results.
Thanks Tiffany. Yes, we always use two stats programs to track.
GA does a good job of making the charts look pretty for clients, easy to install, and some of the reports are easier to get too with one click. For instance, we have a filter installed to track all search engine queries, the exact page they come from, and the amount of inquiries from that word per day. Nifty.
However, if GA under reports traffic, that hurts our business in reporting better results to our clients. Ultimately, I believe using two programs is the best way to go.
Is it possible that because SmarterStats does not use JavaScript that it also reports hits from bots and other non-human users? Most bots such as Google’s own GoogleBot are text based only and therefore go ‘unseen’ by GA and other similar programs that are JavaScript based. It is true that there could be a very very small amount of traffic being lost for users that have JavaScript disabled, but in today’s world the average modern website requires users to have JavaScript enabled to view. One other thought is perhaps some of the new Adblocker programs are blocking GA, I know that most Adblockers block the ‘bad’ JavaScript (lick pop ups and such). I believe that this is unlikely, but it is still a possibility. Theses are just some thoughts I had on the topic, but someone with more knowledge on the topic would be needed to confirm my thoughts, or prove me wrong.
Yes, I think it is possible that SmarterStats is listing some search engine traffic and bots. However, usually that is detailed in another report or listed differently I believe. They know the IPs so they mark that data separately.
I also believe that with JS not enabled it will account for some of the traffic loss. According to this http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_stats.asp, 5% of people have it turned off.
It could be that SmarterStats is recording unsuccessful page views (404s, 30_ and 50_). Can you confirm this? That would account for higher stats than Google Analytics.
Only probelm is that smarterstats service will lock up. Many usesers including my self have had this problem. I contacted SmarterTools about this, but even a year later they still having fixed the problem. They have even went to the point of having many of my post on other site deleted to try to hide this information. The Idea behind smarterstats is great if it didnt lock up so much.
I think Tiffany from Smart Tools is wrong and that Google Analytics is the more accurate.
Good article on the topic:
http://www.webrevenue.org/google-analytics-vs-aws...