Ask News.YC: How do you measure website growth?

#1

Post by ahsonwardak » Mon, Sep 24, 2007, 2:26 AM UTC

My hunch is the answer is: "it depends". How do you measure the growth of your site? Is it based on page views, subscribed paying customers, registered customers, ad clicks? I know the obvious question may be revenue growth, but what about before the revenue starts to roll in? What metric is the most important for a certain situation?

I'd love to hear a whole spectrum of thoughts.

Re: Ask News.YC: How do you measure website growth?

#2

Post by thomasswift » Mon, Sep 24, 2007, 9:01 AM UTC

Great question. I'd also like to hear what people say.

I use Google Analytics for site stats, it's pretty informative once you understand where everything is.

Re: Ask News.YC: How do you measure website growth?

#3

Post by alaskamiller » Mon, Sep 24, 2007, 9:02 AM UTC

metrics is a big field. my personal list:

1) raw pageviews 2) account signups 3) consistent account activity 4) inbound links 5) revenue

Re: Ask News.YC: How do you measure website growth?

#4

Post by alaskamiller » Mon, Sep 24, 2007, 9:03 AM UTC

thomasswift wrote: post #2

Great question. I'd also like to hear what people say. I use Google Analytics for site stats, it's pretty informative once you understand where everything is.

i hate gAnal. it doesn't significantly slow down page loads but it does slow it down. i like how my current host has a version of urchin installed on the backend. i also bought copies of mint so that i can keep track of stats faster and better.

Re: Ask News.YC: How do you measure website growth?

#5

Post by thomasswift » Fri, Sep 28, 2007, 7:47 AM UTC

alaskamiller wrote: post #4

thomasswift wrote: post #2

Great question. I'd also like to hear what people say. I use Google Analytics for site stats, it's pretty informative once you understand where everything is.

i hate gAnal. it doesn't significantly slow down page loads but it does slow it down. i like how my current host has a version of urchin installed on the backend. i also bought copies of mint so that i can keep track of stats faster and better.

true. nice name for it :)

I had urchin back on an old host, i liked the way it showed referring pages.