Real-Time Web Metrics

Although it is an often-debated term, Web Metrics is becoming another way of referring to Web analytics, because metrics is generally referred to as a way to measure data. As defined by Wikipedia online encyclopedia,

"Metrics are a system of parameters or ways of quantitative and periodic assessment of a process that is to be measured, along with the procedures to carry out such measurement and the procedures for the interpretation of the assessment in the light of previous or comparable assessments. Metrics are usually specialized by the subject area, in which case they are valid only within a certain domain and cannot be directly benchmarked or interpreted outside it.

Metrics are used in business model, CMMI, ISM3 and knowledge management. These measurements or metrics can be used to track trends, productivity, resources and much more. Typically, the metrics tracked are key performance indicators."

By Wikipedia's definition, Web metrics could easily refer to the tracking of Website performance indicators, or visitor behavior. By visitor behavior, we are referring to:

• how site visitors find a Website,
  
  
• what link or keywords were used to get them to the site,
  
  
• what pages, links and downloads they use on a site,
  
  
• the trail of pages they follow through a site (called their "click path"),
  
  
• what page they choose to leave the site,
  
  
• among other valuable visitor information.
  
  

Visitor traffic reporting is the heart of Web analytics. By learning how your site visitors behave on your site, and how they get to your site, you gain excellent insight for making measured improvements, enhanced productivity, and building traffic numbers through more precise marketing results.

There are several good analytics services available, at a variety of price ranges. Each has some sort of focus that best suits particular types of Websites. Four top services are reviewed and rated here and we recommend you read the report as a good starting point in finding the right analytics solution for your needs.