I have spent some time thinking about this for a while and I have come up with 4 reasons to explain this. My focus here today is why are Google Analytics page views lower then in Urchin 5 or Webalizer (any other system).

1. Google uses a “on-board” javascript you install on every page of your web site. So each time a page is loaded it talks to Google. Now what is a page load? I fresh page from the server? No, not to me… But to Google I think it is. So when you hit your back button or visit a page that is cache Google does not count that.

2. Your Urchin stats us actual log files….. This is like a speedometer in your car. AS the tires turn they register real miles. Each time apache (your web server engine) serves up a page that is a real page load - there is not any questions. Urchin has the most acurate page views no matter what.

3. Google is a money machine. Note that Google Analytics are attached to the Adwords system. They are being very conserative on the reporting side because they pay out to advertisers on page views and pay per click PPC. I’m sure they have all sorts of way that are very strict on “grading” what is a actual page view and what is now. They will naturally report on the conservative site. Think of all the fraud tools that they must have in place. My gut tells me that this alone cuts out 20% of your traffic alone.

4. All stats programs use differnet tactics to collect data. Some are java script and some use actual web logs. No stats system will reports the same data ever.

We love Google Analytics power to report data, but we know that it is off and on the low side by a min of 20%.

I welcome your comments.