discrepancy between WP and Google Anayltics stats???

Visitor count is always more important than view count. If 1 visitor viewed all 30 or so pages of your blog, you may be excited to see 30 views, but that was still just 1 visitor, and hardly something worth celebrating.

In my studies, I have seen that the numbers reported by Google Analytics were considerably lower than actual visitors and views as detailed in the server access logs. On the other hand, the numbers reported by WordPress.com Stats were considerably higher. I have a feeling that this might be because some people are blocking the javascript from Google, and I suppose there could be a bug in WordPress.com Stats causing unreliable counts. Also, keep in mind that Google Analytics logs your visits and views, but WordPress.com Stats will ignore all logged-in WordPress users.

After evaluating several stats programs for a client a while ago, I found that Mint was the most reliable when compared to the server access logs. It’s also highly extendable and well worth the $30 price.

Considering that Google under-shoots the visitor count, if that’s 120 visits per week, you’re doing just fine. If that’s 120 visits per day, you’re doing incredibly well!

Google Analytics uses javascript – which means that it will miss approx 4 – 11% of visitors (ie those with js disabled).

Even then, the numbers are just too far off when compared to the server access logs. Mint also uses javascript, but it’s far more accurate. I think that some people are specifically blocking Google, which is probably just another symptom of “Google Paranoia.”

So appreciate your input, both of you.

I will investigate Mint – it does seem well worth $30 to get more accuracy. And I didn’t realize that Google was counting my own obsessive viewing of my blog! That could definitely throw things off. ??

Today WP stats show 549 page views so far – given how new the blog is, I’m thinking that’s pretty encouraging???

549 views so far for just today on new blog is very encouraging. Keep in mind that it may be just a few visitors investigating every single page on your blog, but it is promising nonetheless.

Hey there, me again.

Keeping in mind that I am a writer, NOT a techie, do you think I can handle Mint? I was put off by the notice on their site that use of Mint “requires a basic familiarity with HTML, FTP and following written instructions.”

I’ve been blundering around www.remarpro.com and Thesis and getting by on trial and error but I really know nothing about HTML and FTP.

What do you think?

You should be able to handle it, just follow the instructions very carefully.

Start with the compatibility suite.

If everything checks out and you do buy Mint, you’ll need to download it and manually install Mint. To do that you’ll need to create a MySQL database in your hosting provider’s control panel and upload the files with an FTP or SFTP client.

Once that’s done, continue to follow the installation instructions. You’ll be given a code that you should add to the header of your site. To do that, go to Appearance/Editor in your WordPress admin panel, select the Header template, and past the code anywhere after the </title> tag and before the </head> tag.

Much of what you just said is greek to me, but I’ll wing it, I guess. Thanks for your help on all of this.

You’re welcome!