Home > Status Updates > What is the advantage of using Google Analytics over regular Squidoo stats?

Squidoo has always believed in providing lensmasters with useful, easy to access traffic statistics for their lenses. In addition, because Squidoo traffic statistics are tied to LensRank, it is a valuable way to understand why a lens ranks where it does.

However, lensmasters have asked for more powerful reporting tools, such as the ability to view aggregate traffic for all lenses, filtering for specific date ranges, and bounce rate and time on page statistics. With this in mind, we have decided to offer full Google Analytics access for lensmasters.

Why Google Analytics and not StatCounter, Clicky, or other trackers?
We have used Google Analytics internally at Squidoo for years, and are very comfortable supporting it. In addition, with Google Analytics, lensmasters will have access to customized event tracking information such as clicks to lens sidebar components, guestbook components, and clickouts to other domains.

Why don’t my Squidoo stats match up with Google Analytics?
Trends, such an increase in traffic, should correlate between both systems, but no two analytics systems are the same, and the numbers will never match precisely. In particular, Squidoo’s definition of a unique visit (a visit to a specific lens by a specific IP address within 7 days) is different from Google’s definition (which is based on a site-wide cookie).

So after polling lensmasters about traffic stats features, we have decided to release a Google Analytics for Lensmasters option. It was deployed moments ago.

A lensmaster can visit their Profile Page to enable the “Google Analytics Account” option. (See screen shot below). You will be asked to enter your Campaign ID, which must first be configured in Google Analytics itself. Within 24 hours, traffic information from her lenses and lensmaster profile page will begin appearing in GA.

We’ve been working with Fluffanutta to beta test this release for the past few days. He has helpfully updated his Google Analytics On Lenses page with detailed information about how to install and use GA with Squidoo.

PS – This new feature is geared towards advanced lensmasters who are familiar with Google Analytics and want even more stats so they can test and tweak and leverage their lens portfolios.. But you can also keep using our basic internal Squidoo stats, lens by lens, and live a long, happy, successful Squidoo life.