Google Analytics - How Accurate is it?
Google Analytics - How Accurate is it?
Today, as it is said, that Google is the gateway to Internet and it’s the first page of Internet; I believe that Google is the Internet and so do might a lot of you. You type it and Google will give it to you; not only from search but the add-on services it provides.
Although our discussion is not about what Google is but it’s about what Google is not. My findings tell me that Google is not 100% accurate neither with Search nor with Analytics. Search Engine Optimizers know the fact about Google Search’s accuracy and they would never want me to reveal the secrets. As far as Google Analytics is concerned I think everyone’s looking for answers that are not yet part of Google Analytics’ online help and support. How Accurate is Google Analytics?
For past two months I conducted a couple of simple experiments. I placed a lead capturing page which redirected the user to a “thank-you” page on form completion. I shall not disclose the name of the website on which I placed the form but I’ll definitely share the results.
On analyzing the data over this period of time Google showed “679” conversions for my Lead Capturing goal. This meant that the “thank-you” was hit 679 times as per Google Analytics. But to my surprise the number of records in my database was “792”. I could realize the reasons behind this difference to be the JavaScript used in the analytics code (as many of us believe) or users’ behavior which intends them to exit the browser window before the “thank-you” page gets fully loaded.
I still felt that the JavaScript problem was not a concrete reason for such a big drop-out in the numbers. So, for the second month I planted the Google analytics script in the action event of the submit button. So this meant that whenever someone hits the submit button on successful completion, a goal is accomplished and this increments the number of tracked goals by one. Again the result was as spoofy as the previous one. The tracked goal conversions numbered at 1160 and the actual stored records were 1367.
The calculations actually tell me that Google Analytics is 85.26% accurate. I gave it an 86% accuracy score keeping in mind the JavaScript problem which includes browser incompatibility with JavaScript or any other issues a user might have running scripts.
The results obtained from these simple experiments tell us that what you see is not what you actually got. I think getting a lower estimate is far better than a higher one and then actually recording lesser goal conversions.
Now obviously, questions rise on the reliability of Google Analytics. I believe that relying on Google Analytics is not a mistake. All we need to do is to use this tool only for having estimates and studying the visitor behavior to have plans. In parallel we should also have our own ways of determining goal conversions to most accurate point if not the actual conversions. Using Google Analytics to study new search trends ad on-going demand by the visitors is again a reason to let Google go with an 86% accuracy score. This altogether will help the web-masters community for their better.
So now lets pray for Google Analytics to get better or some equally power alternatives to jump in.
Google Analytics How Accurate is it - To learn more about this author, visit Abhishek Bhardwaj's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
Article:
Today, as it is said, that Google is the gateway to Internet and it’s the first page of Internet; I believe that Google is the Internet and so do might a lot of you. You type it and Google will give it to you; not only from search but the add-on services it provides.
Although our discussion is not about what Google is but it’s about what Google is not. My findings tell me that Google is not 100% accurate neither with Search nor with Analytics. Search Engine Optimizers know the fact about Google Search’s accuracy and they would never want me to reveal the secrets. As far as Google Analytics is concerned I think everyone’s looking for answers that are not yet part of Google Analytics’ online help and support. How Accurate is Google Analytics?
For past two months I conducted a couple of simple experiments. I placed a lead capturing page which redirected the user to a “thank-you” page on form completion. I shall not disclose the name of the website on which I placed the form but I’ll definitely share the results.
On analyzing the data over this period of time Google showed “679” conversions for my Lead Capturing goal. This meant that the “thank-you” was hit 679 times as per Google Analytics. But to my surprise the number of records in my database was “792”. I could realize the reasons behind this difference to be the JavaScript used in the analytics code (as many of us believe) or users’ behavior which intends them to exit the browser window before the “thank-you” page gets fully loaded.
I still felt that the JavaScript problem was not a concrete reason for such a big drop-out in the numbers. So, for the second month I planted the Google analytics script in the action event of the submit button. So this meant that whenever someone hits the submit button on successful completion, a goal is accomplished and this increments the number of tracked goals by one. Again the result was as spoofy as the previous one. The tracked goal conversions numbered at 1160 and the actual stored records were 1367.
The calculations actually tell me that Google Analytics is 85.26% accurate. I gave it an 86% accuracy score keeping in mind the JavaScript problem which includes browser incompatibility with JavaScript or any other issues a user might have running scripts.
The results obtained from these simple experiments tell us that what you see is not what you actually got. I think getting a lower estimate is far better than a higher one and then actually recording lesser goal conversions.
Now obviously, questions rise on the reliability of Google Analytics. I believe that relying on Google Analytics is not a mistake. All we need to do is to use this tool only for having estimates and studying the visitor behavior to have plans. In parallel we should also have our own ways of determining goal conversions to most accurate point if not the actual conversions. Using Google Analytics to study new search trends ad on-going demand by the visitors is again a reason to let Google go with an 86% accuracy score. This altogether will help the web-masters community for their better.
So now lets pray for Google Analytics to get better or some equally power alternatives to jump in.
Google Analytics How Accurate is it - To learn more about this author, visit Abhishek Bhardwaj's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
| |||
 |
What I was looking for
Commented on Google Analytics How Accurate is it. |
||
|
liked the article and other content on the site
Commented on Google Analytics How Accurate is it. |
||
|
Leave Your Feedback | ||
|
|||
 Google Analytics - How Accurate is it?
| |||
| After an intensive study and analysis for over 2 months it has been found that Google Analytics is most likely to give you not more than 86% accurate results. Be it your online conversions or on-site goals fulfillme... |
|||
|
Google Analytics - Just the Facts
| |||
| It happened one day that I opened up my MC panel on Google Analytics and there they were, on the Keyword Tool, bright and shining....NUMBERS! Real, hard, cold search volume numbers, not just the 1-10 green bar scale... |
|||
|
Google Analytics
| |||
| A growing number of SMBs with a web presence are discovering the simple joys of Google Analytics. It's true that so many software brands exist now that can blow whistles and ring bells that outstrip the Google feeli... |
|||
|
Website Analytics – A Necessity for Growing Your Business
| |||
| Installing a good website analytics program on your website is simple and costs nothing. There are many small business websites that have not taken advantage of the amazing information they can retrieve through an i... |
|||
|
The Importance Of Using Web Analytics
| |||
| Using Web Analytics, the process of measuring the behavior of visitors to a web site, is a very important aspect of Search Engine Optimisation (SEO). By tracking where visitors go and observing the actions they take... |
|||
| |||
|
To learn more about the Evan Elite Author Program please contact us. | |||
 | |
 Abhishek Bhardwaj (Visit Abhishek's Website)
|  |
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
| Modeling the Masters: Learn the true secrets behind Walt Disney's business success factors & grow your company! Video produced by Phanta Media |
|
|
 |
| Have you written articles that would be of value to entrepreneurs? Become an expert on our site by publishing them! Expose yourself to a wide audience, drive more traffic to your website and get more sales! Click Here for details. |
 |
 | ||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
|
| ||
|
|
|
Get advice & tips from famous business owners, new articles by entrepreneur experts, my latest website updates, & special sneak peaks at what's to come!
|
|
|
 |
 Residual Income Management vs. Leadership Instant Yellow Pages Increase Performance Leadership Cash Flow Forecast Samples |
|
 | ||
 |
Top 50 Diversion Blogs
Top Diversion Blogs of 2008 | |
 |
Top 50 Raising Capital Blogs
Top Blogs To Watch In 2008 | |
| ||
 |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
|
||||||||||||
