You hear the phrase “website analytics,” and your mind likely goes straight to Google Analytics, doesn’t it?
Being free, widely-used, and prevalent on more than half the websites across the globe, it’s an understandable association. However, have you ever wondered why it costs you nothing? The catch is, Google uses the data for its advertising purposes.
There are several other problems too. Since it operates on cookies, it becomes mandatory to obtain user consent before interacting with your site. Doing so is not only legally sound but also ethically responsible. However, it does mean some users may opt out of being tracked, thus preventing you from gathering analytics data from them. Plus, with an increasing number of ad-blockers and browsers blocking Google Analytics, you miss out on a considerable volume of data considering that around 42% of web traffic employs ad-blockers.
With the big switch to GA4, it’s the perfect time to rethink your choice of analytics. This re-evaluation should begin with determining what type of data you actually need. You’re likely interested in stats like:
- Unique visitors
- Page views
- Referrals
- Event tracking
- Landing pages
- Dwell times
The good news is, there’s a growing list of privacy-centric analytics tools available today, which may prove more beneficial than the standard Google Analytics for your business. Here’s why:
- More Traffic Insight – Without cookies, these tools are less likely to be blocked, meaning you stand a better chance of collecting data from all your visitors.
- Legal Ease – By choosing privacy-focused tools, you reduce worries about compliance with regulations like GDPR and CCPA.
- No Cookie Banners – If your website solely uses cookies for analytics, employing a privacy-friendly tool could eliminate the need for cookie banners, making your site visually cleaner and enhancing the user experience.
- Faster Load Times – As these tools typically use lighter scripts, your site doesn’t slow down, resulting in a faster website that also contributes to reducing your carbon footprint.
- Privacy is Paramount – Did you know that typically, only one in four users agree to be tracked when asked? Imagine the goodwill you could generate by demonstrating your genuine respect for their privacy.
Wondering where to start when it comes to finding an alternative? I’ve given a run down of four top choices here, plus my top pick.