Most webmasters eventually will find web stats scripts and services that help them discover the information they want to know about who is visiting their website, where they are coming from, and what they are doing on their website. But are you going over board? You might be obsessed with your web stats if:
1. You check your stats at least once each hour. Even worse, you reload your stats just after viewing them to see if any new visitors show up.
2. You have all your stats opened in a lock tab window on your browser. Even worse, you have your stats opened in its own browser window all together. Possibly even a completely different browser type!
3. You write a script to reload your stats automatically in each tabbed window. Even worse, you write a browser plugin to display your stats on your browsers status or toolbar updated hourly.
4. You have multiple stats checkers for the exact same stats. Even worse, you install every single web stats program that is recommended.
5. You have your stats emailed to you daily. Even worse, you have them e-mailed to you every hour and you actually read them.
6. You buy a laptop just to check your stats when you are not at home. Even worse, you buy an iPhone to check your stats when you can’t take your laptop.
7. You see other websites stats and you secretly try to compete with them for better stats. Even worse, you run up a huge bill on your credit cards for advertising and holding contests to make sure you get better stats.
Are you obsessed, maybe just a little? Try to limit your time on checking your web stats to just 2-3 times a day and check your least important stats once a day. Take the extra time you have from not obsessing over your stats and use it to further improve your website. If there is anything to obsess over, it is making your website better!
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Funny stuff. I’m guilty of a few of those myself.
I’m guilty of number 1 - though I’m making an effort to cut back on the number of times a day I check my stats. However, the thought of setting the stats to autorefresh is taking it just one step too far.
Sephyroth
I’m sure all of us get pretty darn obsessed with our stats every once in a while! Just need to keep a reality check around so we don’t get into the ‘even worse’ category of stats checking.
Guilty. Hate it too. Time to quit doing it, right now. : )
I’m guilty of all of them. Especially number 6! I’ve got a PDA for that purpose!
Guilty of all
haha im guilty of some of those. awsome post stumbled it
Thanks for the stumble Shaun! I wonder if we will find a webmaster/blogger not guilty of these things, do we need a support group for being addicted to our stats?
lol - Great post. I’m going to look for a “Stataholics Anonymous” after this I think!
I force myself to look at my stats only once a day now. Thankfully Feedburner helps me out by only updating once a day!
Hmm, I don’t think I am. Should I be? I check maybe 2x per week. Should I be checking more frequently.
Hehehe I am definitely a stat addict
Sarah nice research I just love the way you read the mind of bloggers 
Stumbled
I’m guilty of this in a big way. If I could turn off that part of my mind obsessed with clickthrough rates then productivity would increase dramatically
guilty of similar habits, but not web related though
funny stuff
100% obsessed here, and proud of it. At least it’s an addiction that doesn’t affect my health. I think I’ll go for a jog actually ;P
This is so funny. I was just thinking about the amount of time that I spend checking stats on my blog. It seems that I traded in my Blackberry habit for a stats checking one! I’m a 1,4 and 7…
Stats rehab …… Maybe? I am also guilty as charged!
Yes I vote we open a statistics addiction rehab center.
My productivity would skyrocket.
This was a fun read :). I am slightly less addicted than I used to be. I now force myself to checking stats only 3 times per day and have become much more productive.
I think if you are not addicted to checking your stats, consider yourself lucky :c)
haha that was a good read.
I think I check about once or twice a week. I had no idea some people were that addicted.
Funny stuff! I’m happy to report that I have moved past that period of my blogging life. I’ll stumble this post.
Sad huh Dee? hehehe It is true some of us are truly addicted to it.
Thanks for the Stumble Shelia!
I’m obsessed, but not THAT obsessed. WOW! This is a great post, I’m definitely going to stumble it….plus it made me smile on this HOT day.
Thanks for the stumble Susan! I’m glad it made you smile and it is super hot here too, for once. I am pretty darn addicted since starting the blog, before I never minded them much. It just seems to fluctuate so much so it is fun to watch.
[...] Sarah from BlueJar.com posts the Top 7 Signs That You Are a Web Stats Obsessed Whore! [...]
Well, now I’m officially obsessed! After adding this post to my Technorati favorites, I immediately proceed to checking my authority lol….
@Sleeping Dude aka Wake Up Early: Oh no, this is suppose to help you tame your addiction. Welcome to Web Stats Anonymous!
[...] Top 7 Sign’s You Are an Obsessed Web Stats Whore by Sarah Pacopac [...]
[...] Top 7 Sign’s You Are an Obsessed Web Stats Whore by Sarah Pacopac [...]
Haha! Very true. I’m getting addicted, I’ve to reduce the time I spend for viewing stats
Funny, I’m getting to that point now..
I am definately a stat checker. My friend got my into the whole SEO/PR thing and it’s been my disease ever since.
I knew I was an obsessed stat whore before reading the signs, but after reading the signs now I’m positive! I can’t help it, I love to know how things are going, what is making things do well and what isn’t. This was really funny, thanks for sharing it!
I’m so there!
Phew, I’m not there yet!
I’m not a stats whore. I actually check my Google Ads income more often!
I’m just a tad over a month old, so I’m still pretty new. I only check stats 2-3x a day. So far.
[...] I read a great post on bluejar.com called Top 7 Signs You Are an Obsessed Web Stats Whore. [...]
[...] Top 7 Sign’s You Are an Obsessed Web Stats Whore - By GnomeyNewt [...]
I think you should have added at least 5-7 stat checking scripts and sites for those that don’t quite have enough stats yet.
Thanks for the post it was great fun reading it.
I can certainly relate myself to what you’ve written.
Btw, since you have gradients in your theme, why not add a hover/click effect on the comment textarea? Use :hover or :focus
(me and my big mouth!)you must already know that….
@TechZilo: I like to keep it simple. :c) It is just my style to take things back to basics. But I don’t head that direction with stat checking, thats a whole other picture.
Heehee nice blog entry!
Here are my stats of checking the stats… Let me know if I should be honored for that
- Twice a day
- Two scripts to keep records - GA and W3
- Weekly email for records.
- Alexa check once in 2-3 days, to get the pulse.
What else? I guess nothing. Ah I am obsessed with other things though. Not related to this topic.
What do you think about me? …
Oh great. I just found this post and I can say that I’m guilty. I refresh my StatCounter page every 15 mins, I have a browser window just for my affiliate and traffic stats.
Any tips on how to stop being a stat freak?
I am definately a stats whore. I run a LOT of different sites so i know this can take up way too much time. I also have the stupid credit card bills trying to get better advertising for my sites. Hell, if you had advertisements on your site, i would buy adspace here! Just to advertise my webhosting company. Haha, it is quite sad but you know we enjoy it waaaaaay too much.
Hahaha, yes - too much stat checking and not enough link building for me
Tom
I check after atleast 3-4 days, daily checking sucks..
I thought I was bad for stat checking, but these 7 points take it to another level!
This is funny and very true. I think I am a web stats whore. I need to refresh my stats every 5 minutes
[...] să recunosc că îmi verific şi eu statisticile on a daily basis, dar nu am ajuns aşa de obsedat şi sper să nu ajung vreodată. Probabil că are probleme grave individul care bifează toate cele [...]