Welcome to the Web - Rocketface(R) Workshop Webmaster's Tutorial - "How to Design a Website"


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Something a little different

Website Traffic Analysis
Analyzing traffic and trends of the visitors to your website

Website traffic and log files

Every time someone visits your website information like their IP address, time and date of access and error messages are recorded into log files that are saved on your servers (i.e. your web hosts) computer. These files can be used to analyze your website traffic. If your web host doesn't offer these log files, it is well worth it to switch to one that does.

The statistics generated by these log files are important tools for monitoring what your visitors do when they enter your website. Using the information gleaned from them you can track your website traffic and tailor your pages for maximum effect. Below is a checklist of what to look for when analyzing your website traffic.

Website Statistics and what they mean

Page views

A good measure of website activity, it is the number of HTML pages served. If your visitor goes to ten pages on your site, 10 page views will be generated. The more pages that your visitor views translates into more clicks and opportunities to produce revenue. This is highly dependant on your content. Good content means more page views.

Visits (unique visitors)

A trip to your site by one person, no matter how long they stay there or how many pages they view. If they leave and come back, another visit will be generated. This is a good measure of visitor loyalty. If your visitors believe in what you are providing them they will return.

Most popular pages

Tells you which pages your visitors request most. This helps you learn what works or what subject matter is generating the most interest! Build on this feedback. Your visitors see your website in a different light than you do, what seems important to you may not be important to them.

Average number of pages per visit

If this is low, you know your site is not holding on to your visitors. A visitor should want to stay on your site for awhile. This equates to page views and that equals revenue. You need to do some revisions if your page views are low. But don't give up! Just keep working at it until that number goes up!

Referring pages

This is an important one because it tells you where your visitors link FROM, who has links to your site, and what search engines you're listed with properly. Optimize your website based on what is working and what is not. Referral links expand your web presence.

Browsers used

Tells you what browsers people are using and helps you know how to design your web pages so that people can use them! Design your pages to accommodate the most browser types.

See: Understanding Web Logs

Implementing your website statistics

Once you understand what your visitors are doing you can make your changes, wait one week, and then analyze your website traffic again! Look for improved stats and make your plans accordingly.

Testing various layouts and content should be a constant practice if you want to be up with the big boys. Constantly monitoring the viewing trends of your website visitors will provide you with all the information you need for any future redesigns.

Note: Some webmasters say that you should never use a visible hit counter. They aren't reliable ( for a number of reasons ), they look tacky, and they never give your visitor a good impression.

Click here for links to traffic analysis downloads and services

Website Traffic and Maintenance

Website Traffic Generation Planning and Methodologies

There are both principles and rules of traffic generation; principles have to do with your approach to the task and the rules are the practical nuts and bolts of driving traffic. You need to have an understanding of the larger picture before you can successfully put the practical techniques into action.

Website Traffic Analysis for Beginners

Who is visiting your website and what do they do when they get there? Understanding your website's log files can help clear up the mystery.

Understanding Web Logs

General web statistics give pertinent information about website visitors. Webmasters analyzing these statistics have a better understanding of who their website visitors are and how they perceive the website.

Internet Marketing, Tracking Your Results

When people start tracking their marketing it is all too common that the wrong results are being monitored. Just because your website gets more visitors doesn't mean that you get more money.

Free Website Traffic

From all of my personal testing, classified advertising is still one of the most effective free website traffic and lead generators. Even better than that, it is a completely free website traffic source which just requires a little bit of your time!

7 Methods the Pros Use to Increase Website Traffic

It is no accident that the highest value businesses on the Web are not necessarily the ones with the highest annual profits, but rather the ones with the most website traffic. This is because consistent website traffic presents unlimited opportunities for conversion into profits.

Tips On Basic Website Improvements

Small changes to a website can often result in big changes in your ROI (return on investment). Check out how the following examples can make a big difference in your traffic, clicks and sales.

7 Different Traffic Generating Methods

If there is one thing that every website needs, it's consistent traffic and at times, it is necessary for us to continue to get more and more traffic along the way.

Link popularity check is one of the best ways to quantifiably and independently measure your website's online awareness and overall visibility. Simply put, link popularity refers to the total number of links or "votes" that a search engine has found for your website.

15 Fixes For A Failing Website

If your website's not performing, here's what you can do to improve search engine rankings, engage visitors and convert more sales.

Give Your Site a 10-Point Legal Check-Up

Online businesses are now highly regulated, and there's substantial liability if your site's not legally compliant. In addition, your customers are becoming more Internet savvy, and a site that's not legally compliant is not going to be trusted.

The Top 10 Tools for Monitoring the Success of Your Website

One of the most important aspects of running a website is monitoring the site and its progress. By monitoring your website you will be able to see how it is performing and how it can be improved.