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Counting Ghosts: A case for abandoning web analytics

pcmaffey.com

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Re: Counting Ghosts: A case for abandoning web analytics

#21

Post by andrewchilds »

pcmaffey wrote: post #18

Thanks for all the constructive criticism on the pagination. It's an experiment I'm playing around with on my personal site (which is what they're for right?). Definitely sounds like I should have tested it on a few more devices, lol. Will work on a more readable view. In the meantime, a few helpers: - Scrolling "past" the end of the page will move to the next page. - Left arrow, Right arrow will nav back and forward…

I have to hit right arrow anywhere from 2-4 times to nav forward; left arrow 3-5 times to nav back. Seems to be fine if I wait longer than a second or so after the page transition - otherwise I see a blue border around the edge of the tab.

Anyway, as somebody that builds things with no trackers, I agree with you and appreciate you posting this! The one thing I want to know is if/when a page or website is picked up somewhere, I'd just like to see where the traffic came from so I can respond or engage with people. I find absolute traffic numbers, and most of the data you get from analytics tools a distraction and a net negative, especially given the privacy and performance issues that come with their JS.

Re: Counting Ghosts: A case for abandoning web analytics

#23

Post by d_j_b »

I agree with the central point, that web analytics lacks rigor. But I don't think it's wholly true that the problem is that our own motivations cause our analysis to lack objectivity. I think the other reason the author gives is the really key one: analytics data tantalises us with the idea that it may be coherent, complete and realistic; in fact it is wildly diffuse and represents only a tiny slice of the lived experience of users.

I wrote a post on a similar topic this week. https://mechanicalsurvival.com/blog/failing-to-visualise-web...

Re: Counting Ghosts: A case for abandoning web analytics

#25

Post by steve_adams_86 »

josefresco wrote: post #14

I build websites for small business, and since the beginning have used Google Analytics. What used to be a valuable tool that I would eagerly tell my clients to utilize, has now become an overly complex nightmare I loathe to install and rarely recommend to my clients. I recently had a client ask to use StatCounter.com (my reaction: "they're still around?!?") and it was refreshingly simple, much like the original Goog…

Another vote for plausible here. After reading what you described, I thought that’s exactly what you need. It’s cheap, especially if you have a lot of sites. It tells me more than I need to know and is wonderful as far as page weight and performance.

Re: Counting Ghosts: A case for abandoning web analytics

#28

Post by bovermyer »

posix86 wrote: post #20
josefresco wrote: post #14

I build websites for small business, and since the beginning have used Google Analytics. What used to be a valuable tool that I would eagerly tell my clients to utilize, has now become an overly complex nightmare I loathe to install and rarely recommend to my clients. I recently had a client ask to use StatCounter.com (my reaction: "they're still around?!?") and it was refreshingly simple, much like the original Goog…

plausible imo is the way it should be. Embed the script, done. Bonus: No cookies & cookie banner. They even have instructions on how to circumvent adblockers.

Using a different analytics service misses the entire point of the article.

The point is that we shouldn't be using analytics _at all_.

I'm not sure if I agree with that or not yet - I have to think about it more. My gut says that's right.

Re: Counting Ghosts: A case for abandoning web analytics

#29

Post by jklinger410 »

xyzzy4747 wrote: post #17

This is one of the most obnoxious websites I've ever seen. Why did they need to try to reinvent scrolling instead of just making their point?

I love the groundbreaking UX /s

Scrolling goes to the next page unless I want you to scroll to read, then it goes to the next page when you're done scrolling the content. Beautiful.

Exactly why most sites don't do this. But it's special!

Re: Counting Ghosts: A case for abandoning web analytics

#30

Post by capableweb »

vinaypai wrote: post #26

What a godawful page design. Who thought it was a good idea to break and article into pieces you have to swipe horizontally to scroll between and then also scroll vertically to see each page?

Apparently someone who calls themselves a "product engineer", whatever that means.

Seems to be a personal website though, so some leeway should be given, although I also found it a bit annoying. Especially the part when you go beyond the article contents and gets sent to the "homepage", but scrolling back doesn't go back to the article contents anymore.

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