Google Analytics vs. Gauges


An Alternative to Google Analytics

Gauges is a website analytics tool that focuses on real-time traffic and data (Oberoi, 2015). This tool is very similar to Google Analytics in that it tracks users and their data, but it focuses upon tracking everything as it happens and allows the analyst to view everything as users move about the site (Oberoi, 2015). With Gauges, there is no need to log into the system to see updates of information, as every piece of data is displayed in real-time (Gauges, 2018). Gauges focuses on a few main things to deliver data: the number of visitors to the website, the origin of those visitors, and where those visitors proceed after they leave the website (Gauges, 2018). Setup is very similar to that of Google Analytics; to start using Gauges, users only need to insert a Javascript snippet in their code to allow the service to begin analysis of the website ("Gauges Analytics Integration", 2018).


 

Top Features

One of the features offered by Gauges is live site analytics, which allows the analyst to “access every page view as it comes in” without the need to wait for a sync time or going through a refresh ("Website Analytics | Real Time Customer Analytics | Gauges", 2018). This feature is especially great for anyone looking for a fast-paced form of analytics when they are short on time, or just want to check how fast the new feature launched that day is doing. They only need to log into Gauges and take a peek at how things are going; no wait times needed. This instant feedback will help give insight into how the website is doing from the beginning. Google Analytics does offer a real-time feature as well, so the two services are closely matched with that.

Gauges also gives instant access to the views of the website and also gives information about the visitors to the website ("Website Analytics | Real Time Customer Analytics | Gauges", 2018). Demographic data from users is collected in real-time, just as is all the other data like page views ("Website Analytics | Real Time Customer Analytics | Gauges", 2018).

Gauges offers an “intuitive user interface” allowing both experienced and inexperienced users a chance to see and study their data without a large learning curve (Oberoi, 2015). This ability to jump in with both feet and start understanding data is great for new analysts or smaller businesses or bloggers. There is not a lot of guesswork involved in learning the platform or understanding what they are looking at when they check Gauges for information about their website.





(Gauges Dashboard Overview, 2018)

This platform offers more than just website data for analysis. Gauges also offers a chance to study data from not just websites, but also apps and offline channels that the analysis may need to understand as well as their website data ("Website Analytics | Real Time Customer Analytics | Gauges", 2018).

If content is considered king and draws people to the website, then the person understanding the best content on their website is the queen; in chess, the queen is the most powerful piece on the board, and understanding which content is popular with users and which is not will give actionable information that will empower the analyst to make their website the best it can be ("Website Analytics | Real Time Customer Analytics | Gauges", 2018).

Gauges also offers what they call “real time air traffic data” that gives analysts a map of where visitors are from and which is updated every time a new visitor arrives on the website ("Website Analytics | Real Time Customer Analytics | Gauges", 2018). This gives analytics a valuable insight on where their users are and offers a chance to see if campaigns in specific targeted areas are working (with a sudden upsurge in website visitors, for instance) or if there is a surprise and an untapped market that the website may not have considered. Untapped markets offer a chance for growth for any business, or a way to branch out in business in new ways. Google Analytics offers a similar function within analytics itself, offering a map and real time information as new users arrive ("Website Analytics | Real Time Customer Analytics | Gauges", 2018).

Possible Disadvantages


The first detriment is human error. If the Javascript snippet necessary for tracking is not installed correctly, data may be missed and lost until the issue is discovered. The same issue is also possible in Google Analytics. Human error could easily make data suddenly lost or unrecoverable if the Javascript snippet is not installed correctly or if website maintenance changed a piece of the code.

The other detriment for Gauges is their narrow focus on just the “basics of Analytics - ‘How Much? Where From? Where To?’” (Oberoi, 2015). No custom events can be set up like it can in Google Analytics ("Gauges Analytics Integration", 2018). This narrow focus on this type of information may not offer enough for some users, and they may find themselves diving back into Google Analytics if they are searching for specific information concerning behavior or bounce rate in relation to social media arrival as opposed to a direct referral (as an example). Google Analytics gives analysts a chance to look at the surface information and then go further should they decide they need more information. Google Analytics is what people make it, and it offers basic information to basic users and more advanced information to advanced users.

One large advantage that Google Analytics holds over Gauges is that Google Analytics is free, whereas Gauges charges for their services. The monthly charge for Gauges can be up to $48.00 if page views reach 1,000,000 in a month ("Clicky vs Gauges | Clicky", 2018). The more popular the website, the more you pay for Gauges, it seems. While this may turn some people off of the service entirely, the number of features they offer may help to justify the cost to some reluctant to pay for an analytics service.

What do you think? Is Gauges something you would consider over Google Analytics? Why? 

References

Clicky vs Gauges | Clicky. (2018). Clicky.com. Retrieved 2 April 2018, from https://clicky.com/compare/gauges

Gauges Analytics Integration. (2018). Segment. Retrieved 2 April 2018, from https://segment.com/integrations/gauges

Guages Dashboard Overview. (2018). Retrieved from https://get.gaug.es/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/realtime_browser@2x.jpg

Oberoi, A. (2015). The Top 31 Best Web Analytics Tools | Google Analytics Alternative. AdPushup Blog. Retrieved 2 April 2018, from https://www.adpushup.com/blog/web-analytics-tools-google-analytics-alternatives/

Overview - Analytics. (2018). Analytics.google.com. Retrieved 2 April 2018, from https://analytics.google.com/analytics/web/#realtime/rt-overview/a115760908w171961021p171561504/

Website Analytics | Real Time Customer Analytics | Gauges. (2018). Gauges. Retrieved 2 April 2018, from https://get.gaug.es/website-analytics/

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