Discovering Analytics

Discovering Software Analytics

Google Analytics vs. Mint

Analytics is all about engaging, analyzing and understanding.  Marketers and businesses will uncover many important elements when looking inside their website through analytics.  It provides great depth into what users are finding interesting on a web page and what they are not finding interesting- which, if you’ve ever wondered why they may be leaving your website early or not clicking through to see what all it has to offer. 

Google Analytics provides a host of opportunities for businesses to view their analytics which can help them better understand user behavior.  This information is very valuable and it is important for businesses to learn more about their users and retrieve analytic results so that they can perform better and offer a more pleasing, exciting website with interesting content.

Google Analytics is a free product that tracks your Web site and gives detailed statistics about visitors to your Website. For example, Analytics can show you how people found your site, how they explored it, and how you can enhance their visitor experience. With this information, you can improve your Web site return on investment, increase conversions, and make more money on the Web. (WVU. 2016)

Google Analytics is not the only analytics option out there but when compared with other analytic software providers Google is one of the best to start out with as it is easily navigable and it provides solid results in many different categories.  Google Analytics is always improving the analysis experience by adding new features, providing new updates and customization along with many more features.    

But Google is not the only analytics provider, there are many more to choose from and although each provider may have their own style they have the same purpose, which is to make sure they are providing their customers and businesses with the most accurate and informative information they can find, report and analyze. 

Google Analytics has over 80 reports to help you gauge your site's performance—whether by usage metrics, return visit numbers, or time on page. (WVU. 2016)

Mint, which is an extensible, self-hosted web site analytics program whose interface is an exercise in simplicity which can all be seen from a flexible dashboard. (Mint. n.d.) Mint has some really great features I have compared and contrasted below. This information comes from Software Insider and they have laid out the differences and likes between Google and Mint and although I did not list all of them I have provided some important comparisons and contrasts between the two services based on their features, pricing and company information.  In the analysis the Y means they provide the service and the X means they do not. 

GOOGLE ANALYTICS VS. MINT

Overview:

Business Size	Google Analytics	Mint
Large Enterprise	Y	X
Small-Medium Business	Y	Y

Industry	Google Analytics	Mint
Information Technology	Y	X
Internet & Telecommunications	Y	X

Features:

Trackable Domains	Google Analytics	Mint
Non-exclusive, non-transferable license to install and use the Software on a single Website.	X	Y
Free Up to 5 million pageviews per month per Account	Y	X

Track Geo Stats	Google Analytics	Mint
City	Y	X
County	Y	X
State	Y	X
ISP	Y	Y

Track Robot Visits	Google Analytics	Mint
	X	X

Track Traffic Sources	Google Analytics	Mint
Direct	Y	Y
Referring	Y	Y
Search Engine		Y    Y

Track Visitors	Google Analytics	Mint
Time on Site	Y	X
Pageviews	Y	Y
Returning Visitors	Y	Y
Unique Visitors	Y	Y

Mobile Tracking	Google Analytics	Mint
Mobile Devices	Y	X
Mobile Operating System	Y	X

Mobile Email Report Delivery	Google Analytics	Mint
	X	X

Customizable	Google Analytics	Mint
	Y	Y

Real Time Analysis	Google Analytics	Mint
	Y	Y

Keyword Analysis	Google Analytics	Mint
	Y	X

Additional Features

Reports	Google Analytics	Mint
Conversion Funnel	Y	X
Custom (any event)	Y	X
Geosegmentation	Y	X
Next Page Flow	X	Y
Page Summary	Y	Y

Track Content	Google Analytics	Mint
Favorite/Bookmark Stats	Y	X
Top Exit Pages	Y	Y
Top Landing Pages	Y	Y

Statistics Available	Google Analytics	Mint
Daily	Y	Y
Monthly	Y	Y
Weekly	Y	Y

Pricing

Price Ranges	Google Analytics	Mint
Starting From	Free	$30.00

Reports	Google Analytics	Mint
Conversion Funnel	Y	X
Custom (any event)	Y	X
Geosegmentation	Y	X

Specifications

Platform	Google Analytics	Mint
Mobile	Y	X
Online	Y	Y

Operating Systems	Google Analytics	Mint
Windows	X	Y
Mac	X	Y
Linux	X	Y

Mobile	Google Analytics	Mint
Mobile Website	Y	X
Android	Y	Y
IOS	Y	Y

(Software Insider. n.d.)

Google Analytics and Mint are both exploring new ways to understand customers, visitors and site visits better by providing insight through analytics.  Google who is a top name seems to be able to provide more than Mint as you can see in the charts and comparisons and Google is free, which is a huge bonus especially to anyone who is new to analytics.  Google is a great place to start not only because of the price but because their system is great for beginners to learn. 

Mint is always looking for ways of improvement and you can find their latest and greatest version of Mint as well as their plugins they like to call Pepper at the Peppermill.

Whether a business is using Google Analytics, Mint or any other analytic provider it is important to work with the one that will get you and your business the best results and reports that satisfies your needs.  Each provider has their own uniqueness and by exploring and understanding what they provide will help them better provide for you with understanding of your users and their behavior.    

Reference

Software Insider. (n.d.). Google Analytics vs Mint - Web Analytics Software Comparison Retrieved November 7, 2016, from http://web-analytics.softwareinsider.com/compare/1-2/Google-Analytics-vs-Mint

Mint. (n.d.). Mint A Fresh Look at your Site. Retrieved November 07, 2016, from http://haveamint.com/

WVU:Reed College of Media. (2016).  Lesson 1: Intro to Web Analytics and the Basics of Web Analytics Retrieved November 8, 2016 from https://ecampus.wvu.edu/webapps/blackboard/execute/displayLearningUnit?course_id=_69901_1&content_id=_3398295_1&framesetWrapped=true