@rich-brooks —  

Why does anyone need GA to begin with? 


Yeah, that’s my question up there. I see people who think everything online revolves around Google Analytics and this is just no so.  It’s a good tool but not definitive. I believe you need to get your numbers from more places than the one place that can make or break you with their search engine. 


Yes, I use G-analytics at a couple of websites but not nearly all of them.  I have to haggle with a couple of clients over GA numbers as they think it’s the only way to gauge traffic, et ali – and this just is NOT SO.  


I don’t think GA is necessary for every website because there are other tools that measure REAL traffic and does not allow Google to be nosing around inside.

.02

Eileen 

Hi @rich-brooks — 

I believe sometimes the Big G’s numbers are skewed.  Compare their numbers to some of the other tools and they don’t always jive. You can certainly drill down a lot of incidentals with Google A – but much of that is not necessary for a good overview unless you are doing PPC, which I don’t do and don’t recommend to my clients. For obvious reasons.

I do use AweStats – a very simple program that I’ve never had trouble with and since it is independent of any search engine I trust the numbers. I also use a lot of free tools online. Open Site Explorer for a quick look at incoming links (backlinks) sometimes. Also use SEOcentro for research along with the Google Adwords Keyword tool. I love StatCounter and still use that at some of the older websites.

Here is the thing – I don’t want to rely on Google; I rely on them as little as possible so having them inside every website, for me, is a no-brainer.  Just like FB, Google could change their tactics at any time. If I depend solely on them, I could be cut off, at their discretion just as many people have been in the past.

Here is a comment from an article I have not forgotten:“…The reason I’m reading this post is because I just lost a website profile from my google analytics account. That’s 2 years of data lost with little chance of retrieving it because of a bug with google. This has happened to countless others too over the years. I still intend to use google analytics, but I’ll use another service at the same time in future.”

And the article is here —11 Leading Tools for Free Website Analytics - A couple of years old but still some good links there.

I have numerous websites of my own.  IF I allow Google in any more than they already are, they might decide to devalue my efforts of let’s see – over 20 years. Their rules change just as their search engine changes how they decide to use the information we provide. I’ve never done any black hat SEO but I have seen it time and again with no repercussions from the Big G. So, as much as we love a lot about Google, we do have to remember — THEY don’t have our best interest at heart.  Only WE have that.  

Eileen