I'm curious about how web developers handle analytics for clients. Do you typically charge clients for web analytics, or is it included in your services? If you don't use Google Analytics, what alternative tools do you recommend?
5 Answers
I include basic analytics setup for free, but I do charge for any custom event tracking or detailed reporting. If clients are into privacy-friendly options, I usually suggest alternatives like Plausible or Fathom. The size of the client often affects this too.
I avoid client-side analytics since they can negatively impact site performance. Instead, I use manual Lighthouse metrics for load times and anonymized server-side metrics like Prometheus for tracking traffic. This way, I can maintain a more privacy-friendly approach.
I've developed a package that integrates analytics as a fundamental feature, so I don't charge extra for that. You can check out my GitHub package for more details!
For me, it really depends on the client's needs. I always set up Google Analytics for free as part of the package, but if they ask for complex event tracking and detailed features, I charge my standard hourly rate for that.
I generally view web analytics as a standard part of web development, so I set it up for clients at no extra cost. Google Analytics is my go-to unless a client has specific preferences, which is rare.
But isn't the impact on load times minimal? If privacy is key, I understand the concern, but it feels like removing analytics just to speed things up isn't that effective.