The New Face of Web Analytics - How it Works

Generally all of the major vendors take the same approach. You license their technology for use on your website, the cost varying based on monthly count numbers. Then all you need to do is install a small piece of JavaScript code on each page of your website, and you’re off to the races! If your site is maintained by a Content Management System, this could be an implementation time of only a few hours, perhaps less!

Don’t be too concerned by the use of JavaScript, as it’s only a very small percentage of visitors that disable it. What will happen for approximately 97 percent of your visitors (the ones with JavaScript), is that the code will pull as much information from the user's browser as possible –- which is quite a bit -– and return that information to the ASP’s server. This is usually accomplished by making a call for a dynamic, transparent, 1x1 pixel gif image, with the compiled information encrypted into the request. The moment this information is logged at the ASP’s data store, it is immediately accessible.

A side benefit to this method is that search engine and spider traffic is not counted as valid hits to your site, only real people! And the amount of information exchanged is so insignificant that it will not disturb the user’s visit to your site.

So, what sorts of unique advantages does this model provide us as webmasters and Web marketers?

Next: The Advantages >>
 

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