I know that there have been many discussions on this and I am sure that there are many threads that incorporate some of the material here, but times change and I wanted a brand new fresh look at what people are using and how you are dealing with analytics.

Coremetrics
Omniture
Websidestory
Urchin - Google analytics
Click Tracks
Yahoo Search Optimizer
Deep Metrics
HitBox
Web Trends
AWstats
Etc....

I think there is a distinct difference between Statistics and an analytical package. One reports simple statistics and the other helps you analyze various amounts of data with the ability to interpret that data.

I have found many that are good at one or two things, but I am still waiting on for one that does it all.

What sort of things do you look for and need from a package. I would really like to see an open source version pop up! I could name 10 different people in 10 different industries that would be an asset as well as be willing to add development time to it. I think we have all been down this road but chose to *settle* for a solution rather than continuing to look for the right one.

I'm not ready to settle.

We were considering building our own, in-house analytics until I hooked up with a firm called Indextools. It's not absolutely perfect in every way, but it's fast, accurate, flexible and well priced. I've been happy enough that I'm not switching away or in need of something new. We're fairly demanding with analytics and these guys are doing (by and large) a bang-up job.

I have just started trying to use the new Google Analytics, and I'm very unhappy with it. I find the interface unintuitive. I used to like Urchin before Google bought them. I also have tried the basic Index Tools package, and liked it. But here is my question: how many of these companies will be able to stay in business much longer, now that Google Analytics is free up to a certain level?

wb

how many of these companies will be able to stay in business much longer, now that Google Analytics is free up to a certain level?


This is a good part of the reason I posted this comment. Yahoo used to charge for their "Search Optimizer" tool. But they have found out that they have to let people use it for free just to compete as well as in lieu of an upgrade to their Direct Traffic Center mess.

I think that as Google progresses and adds functionality to their package, that the companies that currently charge will be forced to provide a complete service and probably reduce rates as they automate more of the functionality.

I see Google analytics as a website statistics package and not an analytics package though. I know that you can integrate PPC data as well as other campaigns, but it still lacks many things before it will be a complete tool.

You are completely right though... how *do* you compete against "FREE!"

The Google free analytics package is based on Urchin, which has long been a very competitive product. However, giving it away free has caused for some "watering down," it would seem. We use Urchin 4, 5, and 6 and they all work pretty well for the traffic levels many of our clients experience. In my opinion, Google's free analytics will probably never be able to compete fully with the data compiled by a more industrial-strength products such as Omniture.

The others will certainly have to continue to be innovative with their products in order to remain competitive, one would think. Yet it seems to me that a great selling point for any of these products is the "third party" status. Even if you are using Google analytics, woudln't it be nice to have a third party verify at least your AdWords stats, for example? I am not saying that google would attempt to manipulate the data in any way, but an independent audit every once in a while may lead to some interesting finds. Then there is of course the camp that feels that giving Google access to all of your PPC conversions through Google Analytics or simply even installing the conversion tracker code will only help Google increase minimum bids for their high-converting keywords.

But I digress...

I have found many that are good at one or two things, but I am still waiting on for one that does it all.

Please let me know if you find one! :p really though, I have had good luck with Urchin doing most of what we need in terms of statistics and organization of data. The best software for the analysis has always been and always will be the human brain, IMO.

Then there is of course the camp that feels that giving Google access to all of your PPC conversions through Google Analytics or simply even installing the conversion tracker code will only help Google increase minimum bids for their high-converting keywords.


One thing that I do know is that during the setup process I had asked for some help and the Google adwords rep. is NOT allowed to access your analytics data. I even offered up our account info, simply to aid in the setup. The rep told me that they were unable to even accept the information for fear of compromising the data and legal reasons.

This leads me to believe that they are separatists as far as the two are concerned, even thought they can be integrated.

For myself, I would like to associate the actual orders, with the ads. Then I can pull that info down and align it with cost data to see exactly how much each ad is cutting into GP or finding true costs.

But I'm in retail and I know that there are many industries that this doesn't apply to.

This leads me to believe that they are separatists as far as the two are concerned, even thought they can be integrated.

Not necessarily. There is a difference between using the data specific to your site and using the generic data for google to make decisions about how to maximze their revenue. I for one can't believe that Google - a company now run for profit - would give everyone fairly reasonable statistics about their site free of charge and then not seek to find a way to financially benefit from it. That just wouldn't make sense.

So - I can only presume Google is (or at least intends) to use tracking data for its own ends. Presumably, somewhere in the Googleplex, there is a "summary" screen, that shows aggregated data about search phrases and user habits.

(The sort of screen that Google mind not like to tell a givernment it has perchance???)

I've been pretty happy with Coremetrics. I've been using it for 3 -4 months and have been impressed with the repoting capabilities and overall support from my account rep.

I've also used Urchin and Omniture and at this point would say my preference out of the 3 is Coremetrics.

Receptional.... you may very well be correct.



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