Often a client with Google Analytics will question why other stats programs are showing different numbers. For example, we track click throughs from our Advertising on LakeGeorge.com, Saratoga.com and Albany.com to our clients websites. However, even when we know we sent 13,565 visitors to a clients site, but the clients Google Analytics show 9,989 visitors, the question comes up… who is right? Why ours of course!
What you should do to make the Google Analytics Stats more accurate:
So why is there a discrepancy? Who is right? Why ours of course! But first things first. To help track your advertising, first let’s replace your direct web link with a link with a UTM tracking code.
If you want the most accurate Google Analytics reporting on your advertising you should first get a tracking code here: http://support.google.com/analytics/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1033867 then we will replace your web link in your advertising and you will have much more accurate results.
Why is Google Analytics different than Smarter stats?
Because of the limitations of script-based analytics, Google Analytics will underreport or misrepresent some website statistics. GA uses JavaScript tracking code on every web page of your site to track visitors. However, if your webmaster did not put the code on every page, your stats may be inaccurate. Furthermore, even when done correctly, if the visitor to your site is not using a browser that supports JavaScript or does not have cookies enabled (to allow tracking) or has security software to protect the browser, your numbers will not be exact.
Here is an article that explains GA vs. Smarter Stats. We recommend using both GA and Smarter Stats and that is why Mannix Marketing installs both on every site that we develop.
