Visits equal hits

[Inter]

In my site statistics, for some IP addresses number of visited pages equal to number of hits. For some IP addresses it’s dozens and for some hundreds. Is any one know how to interpret this information?


www.interbucks.com

[nottheusual1]

Hi Inter,

Hits should refer to the number of file requests. A web page will be composed of a number of file types: the HTML page, any graphics, any linked CSS, any remote javascript, etc. So, a single page may generate a large multiple of hits, or conversely few if graphically/programatically sparse.

When you see a page that normally generates multiple hits only getting one/few hits, you can usually associate it with a browser/bot request that is set to ignore anything beyond the page's html content. This reduces the loading time - like running your browser set to NOT display pictures. There are other things, like the visitor, whatever it is, switching pages before the additional file calls are made (can't request the files till reading the HTML) so fewer hits.

Nothing to be worried about that I am aware of. I pretty much ignore the whole hit thing unless some really compelling issue comes up. Can't remember the last time that happened.

Visitors/sessions (whatever) are what's important - how they got there and where they went when they did.

:not_the_usual1
[you decide]
_______________
All in my opinion, which, when combined carefully with a $1 bill, gets you a cup of coffee at the corner store.

[Inter]

How can you explain if IP addresses with a few hundred visited pages and no sale from them? Also it would drive visitors/session with less then a minute duration to a high percent. And I notice that average customer visit 15 – 25 pages to finish ordering process and spend around 10 min on website.


www.interbucks.com

[nottheusual1]

How can you explain if IP addresses with a few hundred visited pages and no sale from them?

What is the browser type? Was it a bot? Do you have a Web service company that scans your site for broken links? Do you have competitors that watch your site? Who is the IP that's doing this? Did you do a reverse lookup on it?

It's tough to say definitively without looking at your log files.

If you want to find out more about the IP's, start here:

http://www.dnsstuff.com

Also it would drive visitors/session with less then a minute duration to a high percent.

Not always so - MSN bots have a habit of parking on pages - at least that's the way your logs see it. Same thing - tough without being able to pour over the files.

And I notice that average customer visit 15 – 25 pages to finish ordering process and spend around 10 min on website.

That is good info - now you can understand how customers interact with your site and work on improving their experience as much as possible.

Don't lose too much time in analysis - eventually you'll reach information paralysis and miss opportunities to really see what is going on.

:not_the_usual1
[you decide]
_______________
All in my opinion, which, when combined carefully with a $1 bill, gets you a cup of coffee at the corner store.

[Inter]

nottheusual1, thank you for the tip and good advise.


www.interbucks.com

[mikeewart]

Another possibility for having an IP with a single file is that it was an image file that thye requested. We get that when someone links one of our images into a blog, etc.

Hope that helps.

Mike
www.CubanFoodGuy.com

[mktplace]

How can you explain if IP addresses with a few hundred visited pages and no sale from them?

I don't know about others, but I spend a lot of time on some sites without buying. In fact, if 10% or more of the folks who spend time on your site buy, you are doing quite well.

[ronparrs]

After learning the difference between the 2 a couple of years ago, unique visitors is, in my opinion, is the stat that I'm interested in. Followed real close by the number of page views. If I really wanted to get crazy I could spend extra hours & dollars finding out their entry pages, time spent, etc.

[mktplace]

Awstats give you entry pages.

Webtrends and Urchin also give you "paths" through a site.

I like to compare unique visitors with total visotrs, to see how much "repeat traffic" I get.

[DrTandem1]

Hits=number of files accessed

Visits=number of of times someone goes to the site.

A visit can result in a gazillion hits. A gazillion hits may represent only one visit. Gazillions of hits do not necessarily result in more sales. Gazillions of visits may indeed increase your chances of more sales.

For instance, when a page is accessed, there may be dozens of image files, CSS, javascript, etc. accessed that make up that page.