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Forget Google Analytics, try realtime web statistics

rosshill.com.au

1–10 of 14 posts

Re: Forget Google Analytics, try realtime web statistics

#4
Hmm, this site has failed me from a usability standpoint.

After browsing there via Firefox, I was told I could not use the site without Flash (which I don't have installed for Firefox). That's usually strike one. But I really was interested in what the site had to offer.

So, after copying the URL and opening Internet Explorer to see the page, which I often do on Flash-centric designs, I got this notification:

=== You need to install Microsoft Silverlight if you want to use chartbeat with Internet Explorer. Or, you can use Firefox or Google Chrome browsers (chartbeat functions smoother with either) ===

I can imagine more than one scenario where users wouldn't be able to install Silverlight (or had painful installion failures like I did).

Re: Forget Google Analytics, try realtime web statistics

#5
Chartbeat isn't trying to compete with an analytics package like Google Analytics, they don't measure any of the same metrics. Chartbeat allows you to react in real-time when events occur. If your site goes down or suddenly a flood of traffic comes to your site after a review (good or bad) you can get alerted and respond without having to wait a day.

Think of it like this: Google Analytics can tell you how to better position fire hydrants and increase the efficiency of the fire engine's route to your house. Chartbeat can tell you that your house is on fire.

Re: Forget Google Analytics, try realtime web statistics

#9
post #4

Hmm, this site has failed me from a usability standpoint. After browsing there via Firefox, I was told I could not use the site without Flash (which I don't have installed for Firefox). That's usually strike one. But I really was interested in what the site had to offer. So, after copying the URL and opening Internet Explorer to see the page, which I often do on Flash-centric designs, I got this notification: === You…

The "users" are the site administrators. I think it's fair to expect an administrator to be able to install Flash or SL.

Re: Forget Google Analytics, try realtime web statistics

#10

What would stop google to add a couple of lines to Analytics to match that functionality?

Scale. It's easy to give real time stats when you're only monitoring a few hundred sites. There's a lot more data to crunch when you're trying to monitor half the web.
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