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Chris Maxcer

Guide to Monitoring Your Web Site Activity

Knowing who's visiting and targeting them can help increase your sales

By Chris Maxcer, Freelance Writer

Web sites and the computers that visit them generate an electronic "trail" of sorts that can deliver a bevy of useful information to anyone wanting to improve their business' online performance. Here are some ways to monitor traffic and tips on what traffic analysis tools can do for you:
  1. Count the number of visitors you have each hour, day, week and month
  2. Track the number of unique visitors you receive
  3. Report where your visitors came from
  4. Track sales campaign effectiveness

By analyzing your Web site traffic patterns, you can see which pages and products people are most interested in. If, for example, you have a high number of people visiting a product page but they do not buy, finding the problem is the first step to solving it. Traffic patterns can also help you understand which promotions are working best. For example, you can easily learn how many customers are referred to your site from one of your online ads.



Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done


Choose a Traffic Analysis Tool

Your most robust option is to buy a dedicated Web traffic analysis solution that comes with customer support and can expand as your business grows.
I recommend: Webtrends (Small Business Solutions) from NetIQ, has become one of the most popular Web analysis products for small business. This software can help you improve your online marketing efforts and make more sales. Many product variations and add-ons are offered. Other choices include IWebTrack, ClickTracks, AlertSite, NetTracker or ClickZ Network's Web Site Analytics page, which lists dozens of solutions.

Consider a complete ecommerce solution

NetCommerce, from NetSuite, is a popular Web analysis solution for small business that can turn a static site into a much more sophisticated, dynamic ecommerce portal.
I recommend: Visit the NetCommerce site for details and to download a data sheet.

Leverage your Web log information

Nihuo Web Log Analyzer uses Web logs to provide you with key site analytics. Costs just $99 for a single-user license.
I recommend: A free trial version is available at Nihuo Software.

Use a Free Site Analysis Solution

There are some free Web analytics tools you can use, although they tend to have limited if any technical support.
I recommend: Google Analytics is the most widely distributed option. Also check out StatCounter, a free Web site monitor.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

  • Many website hosts also provide built-in site analysis tools as part of your service, so evaluate your provider's solutions, too.
  • For more in-depth instructions and strategies, check out Eric T. Peterson's Web Analytics Demystified Blog.

The official source of Monitoring Your Web Site Activity is
the Web Site and Network Monitoring page at Business.com

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Recommended Solution Providers

AlertSite: Web Site Monitoring
Web performance measurement, systems monitoring and security scanning services.

Alertra: Web Site & Server Monitoring
Monitors server availability, performance and security from a global network of stations.

Webmetrics: Web Site Monitoring
Application, web site, server and network monitoring plus load testing and web analytics.

PingALink: Internet Service Monitoring
Web site, network and protocol server monitoring.

Gomez: Internet Performance Monitoring
Suite of web application performance management tools.

Nagios: Service Monitoring
Open source host, service and network monitoring program with links to professional Nagios service providers.

ExclamationSoft: Web Watch Bot
Web site, application and infrastructure monitoring for e-commerce.

ApicalSoft: Radar Website Monitor
Customizable web site monitoring software.

IWebTrack: Web Analytics Service
Monitor traffic and observe activities of visitors with reports to analyze trends and performance.

DotCom Monitor: Website Monitoring Service
Web site, network and business transactions monitoring.

Empirix: Testing and Performance Management
Tests and monitors applications for web, contact center, instant messaging and voip.

WebTrends
Measures your online business by the numbers.

ClickTracks
Offers intuitive, insightful analysis of your web site.

Best Sites to Learn More

Monitoring Central: Web Site Monitoring Information
Educational resource center.

BitPipe: Web Site Monitoring Software
White Papers, Product Literature, Webcasts and Case Studies

Forbes.com: Web Site Monitoring Software
IT Research Library of white papers with news and vendor trial announcements.

Cornell University Library: Web Tool Resources
Links to information about site monitors, link checkers and change detection.

Inc: Web-Site Starter Kit
Walks through domain names, web hosting, design, promotions, and utilities.

Best Blogs and Forums

The Webmaster World Forums: Website Analytics
Discusses use and implementation of counters, traffic statistics and user tracking methods.

Nabble: Web Analytics Forum
Web measurement and analysis discussion group.

ValidatedSite: Blog
News and information about optimizing web performance including monitering services.

Omniture: Web Analytics Blog
Discusses how using information about web site users can improve online business performance.



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