Analyzing traffic to a site is a key factor in tweaking search engine optimization and marketing campaigns. Determining how people get to your site is critical. Surprisingly, few sites take advantage of the data available on their servers.
Server Logs
Typically, there are two server tools available to you. Server logs are on your server and analyze site activity. The log keeps track of the files created on the server, the number of times there is a request for the file, where the hit came from and the exact phrase typed in by the person accessing the page of the site. Every system is different, but these basic elements should be included.
The second tool, a traffic analysis program, is pretty standard for most hosting companies, but you may have to ask them to turn it on. The programs analyze the raw data from your server and convert it into fascinating charts, diagrams and statistics. Most of the information is overkill. You have to be careful not to get overwhelmed by numerous ways to look at the data. Try to focus on the following information:
1. What sites are sending you visitors?
2. What search engines are sending you traffic?
3. What keyword phrases are people using to find your site?
4. How often are major search engine indexing robots visiting your site?
As you access the data, you are going to find some very surprising things. Actually, you are probably going to be stunned.
Initially, you are going to be amazed when you see which keyword phrases that are sending traffic to your site. Many of the keywords will not match your meta tags. Instead, they will be a combination of various keywords on a particular page. This is reflection of the fact that search engines mix and match your keywords as they see fit. So, should you change your meta tags to reflect the phrases shown in the data? No. The data you are seeing typically reflects keywords with little competition. Since you are already getting traffic from them, keep focusing on your original goals.
In looking at your data, the second key piece of data is identifying where the traffic is coming from. This data often falls under the "referrer" heading. By reviewing the data, you can see what search engines are producing data for you. If you are running advertising on a site, you should also be able to track the campaign.
The final area to analyze is the robot visit information. Depending on the program, the robot information may appear under "robots" or "user agents" headings. Robots are programs used by search engines to index web sites on the net. In reviewing your data, you should be able to determine how often the robots are coming to your site. If at all possible, make sure you add new content to your site before the next visit. The robots for the top search engines are Yahoo ? Slurp, Google ? Googlebot, and MSN ? MSNbot.
In Closing
Analyzing the traffic to your site is a key element to marketing your site. The more you know about your customers, the more you can cater to their needs.
Halstatt Pires is with MarketingTitan.com - http://www.marketingtitan.com - an Internet marketing and advertising company. Visit our article section - http://www.marketingtitan.com - to read more internet marketing articles.
It may come as some surprise to a traditionally off-line... Read More
Failure, just like success, is measured differently by each and... Read More
What happened on your website yesterday? What about last week... Read More
Revenues are often lost because many business owners don't see... Read More
Conceptualize, Build and Publish a Web site - What's required... Read More
Dan Kennedy once said that if you can't make money... Read More
Just like all things in life, the ways to run... Read More
Many small businesses have the misconception that their business can... Read More
The cost of setting up a web site is dirt... Read More
Whether you have your own business already, or are looking... Read More
Designing an E-commerce Web site is not as simple as... Read More
The evolution of web development parallels the model of technology... Read More
A website provides invaluable advantages for businesses who have one.7... Read More
Many of site owners still don't realize all advantages of... Read More
If you ever want to create a state directory, article... Read More
Every small business owner knows that they need a website,... Read More
With search engines putting a damper on direct reciprocal links,... Read More
We've all seen those messages on some websites warning not... Read More
Dance is how you pamper your soul and satiate your... Read More
Mini Websites are the most powerful and cost effective solution... Read More
With the New Year upon us yet again, it's time... Read More
Although there are significant differences among the various types of... Read More
There was a time not long ago when setting up... Read More
I've heard several prominent web marketers mention in their classes... Read More
Now that you have got your domain name registered, your... Read More
Before you jump into spending coutnless hours on designing and... Read More
Selecting the Perfect Domain NameThe first issue I have with... Read More
With the New Year upon us yet again, it's time... Read More
What happened on your website yesterday? What about last week... Read More
When you publish a content site there are times when... Read More
The popular search engine Google indexes over 8 billion websites.... Read More
Your site is fast and getting traffic, but conversion rates... Read More
When you started reading this sentence you assumed lo acabar?a... Read More
Psychology is a long word which everyone thinks, "no, that's... Read More
Do you need a web site? Are you considering getting... Read More
If you ever want to create a state directory, article... Read More
I still remember it very clear ... It was almost... Read More
While most marketers are beginning to understand the critical importance... Read More
1. Splash pagesMost of the time splash pages are uncalled... Read More
The evolution of web development parallels the model of technology... Read More
Most interactive websites nowadays would require a user to log... Read More
Never has competition been so difficult in the Internet world.... Read More
What you should do and know if you are an... Read More
If you are living in a country that its native... Read More
When we review the sites of potential clients, there are... Read More
URL rewriting are major needs for your sites that produce... Read More
Did you know that hosting companies overcrowd their servers despite... Read More
Spend time planning your Web site. Before you design a... Read More
Designing an E-commerce Web site is not as simple as... Read More
Appealing to others is really important when you have a... Read More
Web Development |