Measuring user interactions with websites: A comparison of two industry standard analytics approaches using data of 86 websites

<div><p>This research compares four standard analytics metrics from Google Analytics with SimilarWeb using one year’s average monthly data for 86 websites from 26 countries and 19 industry verticals. The results show statistically significant differences between the two services for tota...

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المؤلف الرئيسي: Bernard J. Jansen (7434779) (author)
مؤلفون آخرون: Soon-gyo Jung (7434773) (author), Joni Salminen (7434770) (author)
منشور في: 2022
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author Bernard J. Jansen (7434779)
author2 Soon-gyo Jung (7434773)
Joni Salminen (7434770)
author2_role author
author
author_facet Bernard J. Jansen (7434779)
Soon-gyo Jung (7434773)
Joni Salminen (7434770)
author_role author
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Bernard J. Jansen (7434779)
Soon-gyo Jung (7434773)
Joni Salminen (7434770)
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2022-05-27T03:00:00Z
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv 10.1371/journal.pone.0268212
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Measuring_user_interactions_with_websites_A_comparison_of_two_industry_standard_analytics_approaches_using_data_of_86_websites/25672539
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv CC BY 4.0
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Commerce, management, tourism and services
Marketing
Intelligence
Computer software
Marketing
Statistical data
Internet
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Measuring user interactions with websites: A comparison of two industry standard analytics approaches using data of 86 websites
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv Text
Journal contribution
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
text
contribution to journal
description <div><p>This research compares four standard analytics metrics from Google Analytics with SimilarWeb using one year’s average monthly data for 86 websites from 26 countries and 19 industry verticals. The results show statistically significant differences between the two services for total visits, unique visitors, bounce rates, and average session duration. Using Google Analytics as the baseline, SimilarWeb average values were 19.4% lower for total visits, 38.7% lower for unique visitors, 25.2% higher for bounce rate, and 56.2% higher for session duration. The website rankings between SimilarWeb and Google Analytics for all metrics are significantly correlated, especially for total visits and unique visitors. The accuracy/inaccuracy of the metrics from both services is discussed from the vantage of the data collection methods employed. In the absence of a gold standard, combining the two services is a reasonable approach, with Google Analytics for onsite and SimilarWeb for network metrics. Finally, the differences between SimilarWeb and Google Analytics measures are systematic, so with Google Analytics metrics from a known site, one can reasonably generate the Google Analytics metrics for related sites based on the SimilarWeb values. The implications are that SimilarWeb provides conservative analytics in terms of visits and visitors relative to those of Google Analytics, and both tools can be utilized in a complementary fashion in situations where site analytics is not available for competitive intelligence and benchmarking analysis.</p><p> </p></div><h2>Other Information</h2> <p> Published in: PLOS ONE<br> License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0268212" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0268212</a></p>
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
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identifier_str_mv 10.1371/journal.pone.0268212
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oai_identifier_str oai:figshare.com:article/25672539
publishDate 2022
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spelling Measuring user interactions with websites: A comparison of two industry standard analytics approaches using data of 86 websitesBernard J. Jansen (7434779)Soon-gyo Jung (7434773)Joni Salminen (7434770)Commerce, management, tourism and servicesMarketingIntelligenceComputer softwareMarketingStatistical dataInternet<div><p>This research compares four standard analytics metrics from Google Analytics with SimilarWeb using one year’s average monthly data for 86 websites from 26 countries and 19 industry verticals. The results show statistically significant differences between the two services for total visits, unique visitors, bounce rates, and average session duration. Using Google Analytics as the baseline, SimilarWeb average values were 19.4% lower for total visits, 38.7% lower for unique visitors, 25.2% higher for bounce rate, and 56.2% higher for session duration. The website rankings between SimilarWeb and Google Analytics for all metrics are significantly correlated, especially for total visits and unique visitors. The accuracy/inaccuracy of the metrics from both services is discussed from the vantage of the data collection methods employed. In the absence of a gold standard, combining the two services is a reasonable approach, with Google Analytics for onsite and SimilarWeb for network metrics. Finally, the differences between SimilarWeb and Google Analytics measures are systematic, so with Google Analytics metrics from a known site, one can reasonably generate the Google Analytics metrics for related sites based on the SimilarWeb values. The implications are that SimilarWeb provides conservative analytics in terms of visits and visitors relative to those of Google Analytics, and both tools can be utilized in a complementary fashion in situations where site analytics is not available for competitive intelligence and benchmarking analysis.</p><p> </p></div><h2>Other Information</h2> <p> Published in: PLOS ONE<br> License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0268212" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0268212</a></p>2022-05-27T03:00:00ZTextJournal contributioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersiontextcontribution to journal10.1371/journal.pone.0268212https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Measuring_user_interactions_with_websites_A_comparison_of_two_industry_standard_analytics_approaches_using_data_of_86_websites/25672539CC BY 4.0info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:figshare.com:article/256725392022-05-27T03:00:00Z
spellingShingle Measuring user interactions with websites: A comparison of two industry standard analytics approaches using data of 86 websites
Bernard J. Jansen (7434779)
Commerce, management, tourism and services
Marketing
Intelligence
Computer software
Marketing
Statistical data
Internet
status_str publishedVersion
title Measuring user interactions with websites: A comparison of two industry standard analytics approaches using data of 86 websites
title_full Measuring user interactions with websites: A comparison of two industry standard analytics approaches using data of 86 websites
title_fullStr Measuring user interactions with websites: A comparison of two industry standard analytics approaches using data of 86 websites
title_full_unstemmed Measuring user interactions with websites: A comparison of two industry standard analytics approaches using data of 86 websites
title_short Measuring user interactions with websites: A comparison of two industry standard analytics approaches using data of 86 websites
title_sort Measuring user interactions with websites: A comparison of two industry standard analytics approaches using data of 86 websites
topic Commerce, management, tourism and services
Marketing
Intelligence
Computer software
Marketing
Statistical data
Internet