Web Site Stats: Tracking Hits and Analyzing Web Traffic [Paperback]

Rick Stout (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1996

This book will run the gamut from an overview of Web statistics, through the technical details of collecting and analyzing information, to using that information to develop strategies and pursue organizational goals.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Everyone has a counter on their web site nowadays, but no one knows what the numbers really mean. The commercial market is grappling with the evaluation of these statistics as they try to calculate advertising revenues. But folks in the nonprofit sector also have to understand the numbers?if a library wants to argue for additional funds to expand service, for example, its director needs to measure use. The discussion here ranges from analyzing transaction logs, to a review of available tools and services, to applications in marketing and advertising.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Back Cover

Track and Analyze Your Web Site Audience with Web Site Stats! Other web books show you how to add smashing graphics and animation, handy forms, and cool sounds to attract visitors to your web site. This book doesn't. It teaches you how to get more out of your web site by tracking hits and analyzing traffic to measure your site's effectiveness and to document your traffic for potential advertisers. In Web Site Stats, you won't just learn how to gather and analyze data. You'll also find out how to put that information to good use-knowing who's visiting your site and how often, the paths they follow through your web site, how to tailor your site to keep them coming back, and how to document it all to compete effectively for advertising revenues. Internet authority Rick Stout starts by showing you how to extract useful information from your web server's logfiles and put that information to work. with this book, you will; Gain and understanding of how stardard web servers accumulate traffic data; Learn how to capture the maximum possible amount of data about your site's visitors to define and understand your web audience; Master web statistic-everything from collecting and analyzing the raw data to transforming it into useful information to develop strategies to pursue your organizational goals; Track your web site's visitor's-find out where they came from, which paths they chose to take within your web site, and how long they linger on each page; Tailor your web site's visitors-find out where they came from, which paths they chose to take within your web site, and how long they linger on each page; Tailor your web site to attract and hold more of your target audience; Prove the value of your web site to add agencies and potential advertisers; Learn all about the best freeware, shareware, and commercial software packages for analyzing web site traffic; Experience the best traffic analysis software packages-they're ready to run on the accompanying CD-ROM! Creating and attractive web site is only part of what it takes to be an effective web marketer. Getting into your visitors' heads and finding out what's working and what isn't in your existing site is the other part-and you'll do just that by picking up Web Site Stats. There's no other web book like it!

Product Details

• Paperback: 298 pages
• Publisher: Mcgraw-Hill Osborne Media (December 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 007882236X
• ISBN-13: 978-0078822360
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,046,582 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent overview of web site hits and traffic, July 30, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Web Site Stats: Tracking Hits and Analyzing Web Traffic (Paperback)

Analyzing web site traffic is an important aspect of web site management. This book begins with a basic overview of server log files and fundamental web statistics and ends with detailed descriptions of complex applications like dynamically created web pages and advertising networks.

The book offers detailed reviews of software packages and tracking services. The book comes with a CD-ROM that includes fully functional evaluation copies of log analysis programs from a number of companies. The CD-ROM also includes HTML and multimedia presentations from tracking services.

This book will be most helpful to companies looking to add banner ads to their web site. It provides detailed information on software and services as well as CGI scripts for sites that want to create their own ad management system.

The book is well written and easy to read. It is organized to serve as a ready-reference for questions about web site hits and traffic.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great intro Book, January 21, 2000

By 

MichelleNCheese "MichelleNCheese" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Web Site Stats: Tracking Hits and Analyzing Web Traffic (Paperback)

This book while a little old in the technology world was a fabulous introduction to an essential topic to anyone in e-commerce. Question: Any other books by this guy? Or is he still out there?All his sites are disabled!

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful comprehensive bible of web sites analysis, October 31, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Web Site Stats: Tracking Hits and Analyzing Web Traffic (Paperback)

Clear, exaustive and perfect both for the novice with some time to devote to the subject and for the expert. A must have to understand in depth technical details without technicalities!