Google Analytics

According to Wikipedia.com, Google Analytics is “a free service offered by Google that generates detailed statistics about the visitors to a website.” The main advantage that Google Analytics offers is that a webmaster can utilize their AdWords advertisement and marketing campaigns through the use of the site’s analysis of where the visitors are from, the time period they spent on the website, and where in the world the user is.
Google Analytics was modeled on Urchin Software Corporation's analytics system, Urchin on Demand (wikipedia.com). Google continues to sell the standalone installable Urchin software through a network of value-added resellers. In 2005, Google Analytics debuted, and anyone who desired its services were allowed. With the type of service Google analytics was offering however caused an enormous demand, and as a result, new sign-ups were suspended only a few days later. This in itself is revealing about the importance of web analysis of such type. As capacity was added to the system, Google began using a lottery-type invitation-code model. Wikipedia explains that, “Prior to August, 2006 Google was sending out batches of invitation codes as server availability permitted; since mid-August, 2006 the service has been generally available (wikipedia.com).”
Google has been working to improve system performance, and reports now generally update in less than 1 hour. All users can officially add up to 10 site profiles, and "pre-free" customers can add up to 50. Each profile generally corresponds to one URL.
GA's approach is to show basic dashboard-type data for the casual user, and more in-depth data further into the report set. There are currently over 80 distinct reports, each customizable to some degree. GA also offers three dashboard views of data, Executive, Marketer, and Webmaster.
Google Analytics uses a small JavaScript on each page the user wishes to track. This JavaScript loads files from the Google webserver and then sets variables with the user's account number. The GA reports interface will check for the presence of this script on a tracked site's homepage, and warn should it not be available.
Many ad filtering programs and extensions (such as adblock) block the Urchin JavaScript. This prevents some traffic and users from being tracked, and leads to holes in the statistical data. Also, privacy networks like Tor will mask the user's actual location and prevent accurate geographical data.
Following extensive time spend on Google analytics, examining its processes while looking at a report on the Global Internet Collaborate Blog page, the functioning and effectiveness of Google analytics is better understood. According to Google Analytics, there has been 215 page visits. These visits are seen to peak on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Considering the users of the site attend class on both of these days, it is not surprising, and seems reliable that this information is true. Secondly, the main visitors to the site are returning visitors rather than new visitors. However, the percentage difference is not considerably different between new and old users. Visits by source reveals that the main source feeding to the Global Internet page come from the Blogger.com. However, there are also various other pages feeding to the internet blog, including other specific blog pages on blogspot.com. Next Google Analytics displays the georgraphical location of those accessing the website. The main location is France, which as well is logical. Europe is the site of most access, however there also include many others from around Europe. The United States is also home to visitors of the site, which could likely be attributed to the fact that many of the contributors to the site are American, have travelled back and forth to the states, or have spoke with friends and family in the states. Interestingly, there is a high level of visitors from China and other Asian countries. What is interesting as well about this geographical analysis, is that following the request of a friend in Tuscon, Arizona to access the blog, the user indeed did show up on the site. Therefore, the accuracy of Google Analytics is evident.
Above all, the accuracy of Google Analytics is clear. The high demand for the service makes it evident that in an age of Web 2.0, attention is of the utmost value. By having access to an analysis of attention, Google Analytics offers those in desire of attention and hence value, a complete analysis and the possiblilty to increase views with more knowledge of the site’s usage.