The Difference between hits, page views & unique visitors
There is often a big misconception in many WAHM Forums between hits, page views and unique visitor stats. Many websites slap on a website counter that counts "hits" thinking that the over exaggerated number this type of counter generates will show their site visitors that their website receives a huge number of visitors on a daily basis.
However, if you are a work at home business buying effective real estate on-line you should be aware of the vast difference between hits, page views & unique visitors counters found on websites. When I say "real estate" I'm talking about ad spots or ad spaces.
Hits, visitors, visits, page views: what are the differences?
definition of a hit: each file sent to a browser by a web server is an individual hit.
In other words, a visitor comes to your homepage which contains not just the html file for that page, but also contains image files. All of this put together will generate the hit counter to count that many hits for that one page.
definition of a page view: a page view is each time a visitor views a webpage on your site, irrespective of how many hits are generated. Pages are comprised of files. Every image in a page is a separate file. When a visitor looks at a page (i.e. a page view), they may see numerous images, graphics, pictures etc. and generate multiple hits.
For example, if you have a page with 7 pictures, then a request to a server to view that page generates 8 hits (7 for the pictures, and one for the html file). A page view can contain hundreds of hits. Notice that page view counts are similar to hit counts.
Technically, a hit counter is a page counter, as it measures and presents the same information, the only difference being in name. Page counters often provide a service that measures page views on multiple pages of a website, as opposed to hit counters, which are typically used to count hits on a single page.
definition of a visit: a visit happens when someone or something (robot) visits your site. It consists of one or more page views/ hits. One visitor can have many visits to your site.
definition of a visitor: a visitor is the browser of a person who accepts a cookie. Opentracker tracks cookies through a javascript. By this definition, a visitor is a human being, and their actions are 'human' events, because only humans use javascript to navigate the internet. If a cookie is not accepted, then an IP numbers is used to track visitors.
Technically speaking, “one visitor” means “one person” based on the definition of a unique visitor. So that if someone continuously visits your site over long periods of time, they will be recorded only as one visitor. This of course depends on the time frame you have programmed your counter. In other words, your counter settings can allow you to set your unique visitor count to start counting a unique visit after 30 minutes has elapase. Meaning, if that person returns to your website again in an hour, their visit will be considered a unique visit and will be logged as a returning visitor in your counter log analysis as well as your unique visitor stat.
What will show in your unique visitor counter value will be the amount of time one visitor has requested to view your website within every 30 minute time span. It is recommended that you set your Maximum Visit Length between 1 hour to 6 hours. Basically, a visitor won't come back to your website immediately usually a returning unique visitor will bookmark a favorite website and return within a day or two or more.
Your visit to your website, should not be logged into your counter value. Many web counters allow each account to block the owner's website visit to their own website. However, there are many web counter's that do not allow you to block your visits, so make sure you find and install one that will allow you this function. A web owner's visit can over inflate a web counter because their visits are being logged. Of course it is often imperative for web owner's to visit their website to make sure that their changes or additions are showing up correctly. If your site is being maintained by a web designer, make sure that their visits are not being logged as well.
In summation, if you plan to pay for advertising 0n any website, you should make sure that the counter value is registering "Unique Visitor" hits and not "hits or page views". Many site owner's have invisible counters installed on their website and deem it "unprofessional" to have a counter in full view.
The counter stats should be public for anyone who offers advertising on their website. How else can a potential ad customer decide whether or not the site is worth spending ad money on? Of course, the counter value should not be the deciding factor when any business owner decides to put their hard earned advertising dollars on any website.
However, if you are a work at home business buying effective real estate on-line you should be aware of the vast difference between hits, page views & unique visitors counters found on websites. When I say "real estate" I'm talking about ad spots or ad spaces.
Hits, visitors, visits, page views: what are the differences?
definition of a hit: each file sent to a browser by a web server is an individual hit.
In other words, a visitor comes to your homepage which contains not just the html file for that page, but also contains image files. All of this put together will generate the hit counter to count that many hits for that one page.
definition of a page view: a page view is each time a visitor views a webpage on your site, irrespective of how many hits are generated. Pages are comprised of files. Every image in a page is a separate file. When a visitor looks at a page (i.e. a page view), they may see numerous images, graphics, pictures etc. and generate multiple hits.
For example, if you have a page with 7 pictures, then a request to a server to view that page generates 8 hits (7 for the pictures, and one for the html file). A page view can contain hundreds of hits. Notice that page view counts are similar to hit counts.
Technically, a hit counter is a page counter, as it measures and presents the same information, the only difference being in name. Page counters often provide a service that measures page views on multiple pages of a website, as opposed to hit counters, which are typically used to count hits on a single page.
definition of a visit: a visit happens when someone or something (robot) visits your site. It consists of one or more page views/ hits. One visitor can have many visits to your site.
definition of a visitor: a visitor is the browser of a person who accepts a cookie. Opentracker tracks cookies through a javascript. By this definition, a visitor is a human being, and their actions are 'human' events, because only humans use javascript to navigate the internet. If a cookie is not accepted, then an IP numbers is used to track visitors.
Technically speaking, “one visitor” means “one person” based on the definition of a unique visitor. So that if someone continuously visits your site over long periods of time, they will be recorded only as one visitor. This of course depends on the time frame you have programmed your counter. In other words, your counter settings can allow you to set your unique visitor count to start counting a unique visit after 30 minutes has elapase. Meaning, if that person returns to your website again in an hour, their visit will be considered a unique visit and will be logged as a returning visitor in your counter log analysis as well as your unique visitor stat.
What will show in your unique visitor counter value will be the amount of time one visitor has requested to view your website within every 30 minute time span. It is recommended that you set your Maximum Visit Length between 1 hour to 6 hours. Basically, a visitor won't come back to your website immediately usually a returning unique visitor will bookmark a favorite website and return within a day or two or more.
Your visit to your website, should not be logged into your counter value. Many web counters allow each account to block the owner's website visit to their own website. However, there are many web counter's that do not allow you to block your visits, so make sure you find and install one that will allow you this function. A web owner's visit can over inflate a web counter because their visits are being logged. Of course it is often imperative for web owner's to visit their website to make sure that their changes or additions are showing up correctly. If your site is being maintained by a web designer, make sure that their visits are not being logged as well.
In summation, if you plan to pay for advertising 0n any website, you should make sure that the counter value is registering "Unique Visitor" hits and not "hits or page views". Many site owner's have invisible counters installed on their website and deem it "unprofessional" to have a counter in full view.
The counter stats should be public for anyone who offers advertising on their website. How else can a potential ad customer decide whether or not the site is worth spending ad money on? Of course, the counter value should not be the deciding factor when any business owner decides to put their hard earned advertising dollars on any website.
posted by C. T. Morgan @ 4:25 AM
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