Why Should I Monitor My Web Site Traffic?

Monitoring your web site traffic is an inexpensive and effective marketing tool. Web site statistics tell you who's tuning in, what they're accessing, how long they're staying, and whether they're coming back. Web site monitoring tools quantify this information, analyze it and present it in an understandable format. You can use these statistics to fine tune your web site to home in on your target audience, improve your site content, capture your audience's attention, direct site flow to key products and services, and much more.

Most web hosts provide some type of statistical analysis free with your account. At Parker Web Marketing we provide the popular AW Stats with each account and Google Analytics with marketing accounts. Both are among the most used web analysis tools on the market and popular with customers because you don't have to have a degree in statistical analysis to understand them. Both tools generate monthly reports that are easily understood and highly useful.

What can web stats tell you? They track all kinds of interesting information, such as:

• The number of unique (i.e., individual) visitors to your site.
• The length of time spent on your site during each visit.
• The number of pages viewed per visit.
• The length of time spent on each page.
• Which day of the week generates the most traffic.
• Which hours of the day generate the most traffic.
• Which search terms are being used to access your site.
• How many visitors bookmark your site in their Favorites folder for easy return.
• Which search engine robots visit your site and how often.
• How many of your visitors use RSS/XML feed technology.
• They can even find errors on your site.

What kind of conclusions can you draw? When visitors stay longer or bookmark your site, it shows that they are finding the site interesting, improving your stickiness factor. If search engine robots visit your site often,the search engine spiders are reporting new changes in pages, keeping the search engines updated. If a significant number of your visitors are using up-to-date RSS/XML feed technology, you're drawing a more sophisticated, tech savvy audience. You'll find web stats provide you with a wealth of information that can be used to increase your web site's value as a marketing tool.

How can I learn more? If you're new to web marketing you may want to sign up for our free one-hour seminars, Exploring Your Internet Marketing Options. New seminar sessions begin Friday, May 11, 2007, at our Matthews, North Carolina office; just click the link or visit the Parker Web Marketing web site to register. We created our New Business Seminar Series to educate small businessmen about the wealth of web marketing options available and help them determine which might work best in their business.